FFR HQ Raided By French Police

French police have raided the French rugby federation (FFR) headquarters in Marcoussis, outside Paris. 

According to L'Equipe newspaper, a dozen police officers conducted the searches where the French squad are preparing for the Six Nations.

The raids were carried out amid investigation into an alleged conflict of interest involving federation president Bernard Laporte.

Laporte is suspected of pressuring the FFR appeal's committee to reduce a sanction against MHR, owned by Syrian-born French billionaire Mohamed Altrad, who owns the Altrad Group.

Following a three-month investigation, the French sports ministry said Laporte contacted the appeal commission's president on June 30 and stressed that the phone call resulted in a change of decision from the committee members.

Montpellier's penalty of €70,000 was reduced to €20,000 and a one-game stadium ban canceled after Laporte's intervention.

Prosecutors can now decide to open a formal investigation that could lead to Laporte being handed preliminary charges.