French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra has called for the resignation of the entire FFR Executive Committee ©Getty Images

France's Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra has called for the resignation of the French Rugby Federation's (FFR) entire Executive Committee in the wake of a corruption scandal.

It has led to President Bernard Laporte reluctantly stepping down from the helm last week, albeit only temporarily.

Laporte also "self-suspended" himself from his role as World Rugby vice-chair after being convicted of corruption, bribery, and influence peddling.

"I remain convinced that the best solution is to go through the route of Article 15 (a collective resignation or a sufficient number of members of the Management Committee)," Oudéa-Castéra said as reported by Midi Olympique.

"This is the clearest option, the most respectful of the expression of the clubs and also the most effective to get out of the rut since a ballot would then be organised within six weeks, then leaving a straight line of several months before the World Cup."

France is due to stage the Rugby World Cup this year from September 8 to October 28, but the country's first hosting of the event since 2007 has been overshadowed by the controversy.

Amélie Oudéa-Castéra's demands come in the wake of Bernard Laporte, centre, being convicted of corruption, bribery, and influence peddling ©Getty Images
Amélie Oudéa-Castéra's demands come in the wake of Bernard Laporte, centre, being convicted of corruption, bribery, and influence peddling ©Getty Images

Laporte's charges related to his relationship with Mohed Altrad, the billionaire owner of Top 14 side Montpellier, whose eponymous company became the first-ever sponsor to appear on the French national team's jerseys in 2017.

He was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence and fined €75,000 (£66,000/$81,600) in the case.

Oudéa-Castéra is eager for the Executive Committee to resign and trigger elections for a new panel.

"I told them, 'since you have nothing to reproach yourself with personally, since you argue that your balance sheet is positive, why should you have to fear that there will be an election?'" she added.

France 2023 chief executive Claude Atcher was sacked in October of last year after a report outlining "deep social malaise" within the organisation was released.

The Sports Minister claims that happiness has been restored in the FFR since his dismissal.

"What was analysed in the social malaise at France 2023, is that it was indeed the management of Claude Atcher which was at the origin of psychosocial risks for the employees," said Oudéa-Castéra.

"Today, stability has returned around Julien Colette and Jacques Rivoal."