French rugby boss Bernard Laporte has been allowed a two-year suspended jail sentence and a 75,000 euro (£64,000) fine for defilement, nine months before the nation has the World Cup.
The president of the French Rugby Federation resigned as vice-chair of World Rugby just hours after the verdict.
The matter has been referred to the ethics officer of the world governing body.
The two-year ban on Laporte holding rugby positions has also been suspended pending an anticipated appeal.
In a statement on Tuesday night, World Rugby said, “World Rugby takes note of the decision by World Rugby Vice-Chairman Bernard Laporte to self-suspend from all positions held.
The court ruled, according to the French news agency AFP, that Laporte had chosen France’s shirt sponsor favorably.
Mohed Altrad, the billionaire owner of Montpellier, the Top 14 champions, received a shirt sponsor contract worth 1.8 million euros (1.5 million pounds) from Laporte in March 2017.
Altrad was fined 50,000 euros (£42,800) and given an 18-month suspended sentence. Altrad’s attorney stated that he would examine the decision before deciding whether to appeal. Both men deny any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors claim that Laporte did not provide the services that were paid for when he signed a 180,000 euro (£154,000) deal with Altrad group for his image reproduction rights in February 2017.
France’s shirts still feature Altrad’s logo, and Laporte, 58, is negotiating a follow-up agreement in 2018.
In addition, Laporte was found guilty of taking disciplinary action against Altrad’s club Montpellier after leading France to the World Cup semifinals in 2003 and 2007. He was found guilty of assisting in the reduction of a club fine from 70,000 euros (£60,000) to 20,000 euros (£17,000).
As part of a government investigation into the organization of the 2023 Rugby World.
Cup, financial prosecutors searched the headquarters of the French organizers in November.
Laporte is one of the strongest men in rugby and was expected to be a big deal at the World Cup in France next year. However, this verdict makes it very unlikely that he will play rugby again.
Even though it is likely that Laporte will file an appeal, the governing body of World Rugby has decided to refer the matter to their independent ethics officer, who was. This makes Laporte’s position at World Rugby untenable.
Despite the fact that Laporte’s charges have nothing to do with World Rugby or the Rugby World Cup, it is still regrettable for the governing body due to his influence in France and around the world.
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