The French National Olympic and Sporting Committee (CNOSF) has upheld a 16-week ban on Toulon coach Bernard Laporte for verbally abusing a referee, his lawyer said Saturday.
“We have a mixed feeling of regret and failure,” lawyer Paul Mauriac told AFP, adding that Laporte had not yet decided whether to further pursue the issue.
“For the moment, Bernard Laporte has one goal and that’s tomorrow’s match (European Cup quarter-final against Leinster). We’ll let the dust settle and see next week.
“Maybe he’ll get bored of it all and give up, but it’s not his style.”
Laporte had initially been banned for 13 weeks for describing referee Laurent Cardona as “hopeless” and “incompetent” following Toulon’s 22-21 loss to Grenoble in the Top 14 on January 4.
But the ban, which covers access to stadiums as well as referee’s and players’ dressing rooms, was extended by three weeks on appeal, effectively ruling Laporte out to the end of the season — the ban will end on June 3.
Outspoken Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal was even moved to write last month to French president Francois Hollande over what he alleges is the severity of the ban.
European champions Toulon were also fined 10,000 euros over the outburst, club lawyer Christian Chevalier telling AFP that it would appeal as a “matter of principle”.