After being held as part of a tax fraud investigation, Bernard Laporte, head of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), was freed on Tuesday.
The day before, Laporte, who has been in office since 2016, received a summons from tax authorities.
Jean-Pierre Versini-Campinchi, the 58-year-attorney, old’s told AFP that his client was later released.
“It is a case in which he is implicated for having been associated with rugby friends a long time ago,” Versini-Campinchi said.
“He has neither been accused of having defrauded nor of having received any money.”
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In December, Laporte resigned from his position as FFR president after receiving a two-year prison term with a year of probation and a €75,000 fine for corruption.
Within hours of the conviction, the former France coach was also relieved of his duties as vice-chairman of World Rugby and given a two-year suspension from all rugby-related activities.
He adamantly denied any misconduct and plans to challenge the court’s penalties. In light of Laporte’s efforts to clear his record, the FFR has not yet permanently removed him from office.
Around 2,000 French rugby clubs decided on Tuesday whether to accept Patrick Buisson’s nomination as interim president of the FFR.
“It’s perfectly scandalous the prosecutors have chosen the date of Patrick Buisson’s election for the questioning and that the disclosure of this questioning was made on the same day,” Versini-Campinchi added.
France are due to host the Rugby World Cup in September.