World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte has been remanded in police custody after appearing for an interview with France's anti-fraud squad over his links to Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad, who is also in custody.
Three other men were also placed in custody this morning at the headquarters of the French financial conduct authority, according to reports in the French media: Serge Simon, vice-president of the Frech Rugby Union (FFR); Nicolas Hourquet, manager of international relations at the union; and Claude Atcher, the director general for the organising committee of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which is due to be held in France. Their involvement is unclear.
The fraud investigation concerns why the FFR's appeals committee reduced a sanction against Montpellier, owned by businessman Altrad, who owns the Altrad Group, the current sponsors of the France national team.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2020/09/22/world-rugby-vice-chairman-bernard-laporte-custody-france/ *
If your French is pretty good, then Le Monde, has more details. As you may expect, L'Équipe also covers the story, but in less detail.
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