French Sports Minister Laura Flessel said that she will open a general investigation to “shed light” on the case of alleged favoritism between French Rugby Federation (FFR) President Bernard Laporte and Top14 side Montpellier Owner & President Mohed Altrad, according to L’ÉQUIPE. On June 30, the FFR Appeals Commission reduced sanctions against Montpellier imposed by the National Rugby League Disciplinary Committee. Over the "past few days," six of the 13 members of the Appeals Commission have resigned “following an uneasiness over the decision made in June.” The commission was allegedly under pressure from Laporte to reduce Montpellier’s sanctions, an accusation that Laporte denies (L’ÉQUIPE, 8/30). In London, Ben Coles reported in his resignation letter to Appeals Commission Chair Jean-Daniel Simonet, lawyer Philippe Peyramaure said, “I was informed that the President of the Federation had intervened to ask that we modify our decision in a direction much more favorable to Montpellier.” Laporte’s alleged conflict of interest “stems from a consultancy contract he signed in February between the Altrad Group and Laporte’s company BL Communications” for a fee of €150,000, with Laporte giving management lectures to the company’s employees in return. The relationship between Laporte and Altrad is “now under scrutiny” given the Altrad Group’s sponsorship of the France national side’s jersey and its partnership with the French bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Faced with “a growing media storm” since Peyramaure’s resignation, Laporte “pulled out of the contract with Altrad Investment Authority on Monday” (TELEGRAPH, 8/30).
