FFR boss Bernard Laporte resigns with immediate effect - report

Bernard Laporte has reportedly resigned as French rugby federation president with immediate effect following the ‘no’ outcome of this week’s referendum vote on the appointment of Patrick Buisson. A report on rugbyrama.fr stated that the embattled official, who stepped back from his FFR presidential duties while awaiting the appeal of a December 13 court judgment, had now completely quit that role.

“This Friday morning, in the steering committee of the federation, although physically absent, Bernard Laporte submitted his resignation with immediate effect. An interim president is expected to be named, and new elections just for the president's post are due to take place in the coming weeks.

“Since the announcement on Thursday of the victory of the ‘no’ vote in the referendum (51.06 per cent) on the appointment of a delegate president in the person of Patrick Buisson, we have been carefully scrutinising the reaction of president Laporte.

“Withdrawn since January 6 at the request of the Minister of Sports, Amelie Oudea-Castera, Laporte has decided to submit his resignation, according to information from Midi Olympique. The announcement was made this morning at the FFR's steering committee, which is being held in Marcoussis in the presence of the minister.

“The latter took note of Laporte's departure but called for a global resignation from the steering committee. That's what she said when she left.

“For the post of interim president, the name of Alexandre Martinez, current treasurer, comes up insistently. According to the statutes, an election for the post of president must take place at the next FFR congress, from June 29 to July 1, in Lille. However, if the entire steering committee resigns according to the ministerial wish, then elections should be held within six weeks.”