The president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) Bernard Laporte, was heard Tuesday morning by the financial police, in Paris, in the investigation into his links with the Altrad group, owner of Montpellier and sponsor of the Blues.
The PNF announces that Laporte, Altrad and three other people are in police custody.
French rugby boss Bernard Laporte, 56, who is seeking a second term on October 3, arrived Tuesday morning for a hearing at the premises of the Economic Crime Repression Brigade (BRDE), to whom the national financial prosecutor had entrusted the investigations in 2017, corroborating sources told AFP.
Laporte, Altrad and three other people are in police custody, according to the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF).
Investigation into its links with the Altrad group
The vice-president of the FFR, Serge Simon, number two on Laporte's list in the next election for the presidency of the Federation, also presented to the BRDE on Tuesday morning, noted an AFP journalist.
In this case, which started three years ago, Laporte is notably suspected of having favored Montpellier Hérault Racing (MHR), by intervening with the FFR appeal committee to soften the sanctions against the club, end June 2017. The former coach of the Blues (2000-2007) and former Secretary of State for Sports under Nicolas Sarkozy (2007-2009), has always defended himself, even if he admitted to having telephoned the president of the commission, Jean-Daniel Simonet.
Inspectors general of the Ministry of Sports have also established in a report that the decisions were "modified", between June 29 and 30, 2017, the fine going from 70,000 to 20,000 euros, and the club seeing itself spared the match at huis closed decided at first.
Three months earlier, the Altrad Group, specializing in building materials, became the first shirt sponsor of the XV of France, before supporting the French bid, ultimately successful, to host the World Cup 2023.
By revealing the case in August 2017, the JDD also uncovered the existence of an image contract between BL Communication, a company headed by Bernard Laporte, and Altrad Investment Authority, for an amount of 150,000 euros.
Under pressure, the former Toulon manager finally gave up this contract.
The police have already heard from several protagonists in 2019, in particular the three members of the FFR appeal commission.