Noel Le-Graet France Sporting handball Rugby Noel Le-Graet France

French handball league chief handed suspended prison sentence for corruption of a minor

channelnewsasia.com

PARIS :The head of France's LNH Handball league has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence for corruption of a minor and recording of child pornography images, his lawyer said on Wednesday.Police questioned Bruno Martini, 52, on Monday and Tuesday and he "admitted to the facts", his lawyer, Elie Dottelonde, told Reuters.

Martini subsequently resigned as LNH president."Bruno Martini presented today his resignation as president of the National Handball League, with immediate effect," the LNH said in a statement.Martini went through a fast-track procedure for defendants who admit the charges they face.

Martini was known for winning two world championship titles with France as a goalkeeper in 1995 and 2001.The court sided with the prosecution office, which had requested a one-year suspended prison sentence as well as a 2,500 euro ($2,719.00) fine and a five-year ban from professional activity which could result in contact with minors.Franceinfo radio, which first reported the case, said the investigation dated back to a 13-year-old boy's complaint in 2020 and quoted Martini as saying he believed the boy was over 15 - the age of consent in France.

Reuters was unable immediately to confirm this.The case is the latest judicial investigation involving a high-level sports official as France gears up to host the 2024 Olympic Games.

Related News
Ethan Dumortier will make his debut for France when they begin their Six Nations title defence against Italy in Rome on Sunday.
This year's Six Nations Championship starts on Saturday - and for officials confronting multiple crises among Europe's elite, kick-off cannot come soon enough.
Former France back-row Olivier Magne said off-the-field problems bedevilling the country's rugby are "sad" to see as Les Bleus prepare to start the defence of their Six Nations crown on Sunday.
Bernard Laporte on Friday resigned his role as president of France's rugby union federation after being convicted of corruption, the sports minister said.
French rugby was thrown into further turmoil just over seven months before the World Cup as Bernard Laporte resigned as president of the French rugby federation (FFR).

Latest News

Change privacy settings
This page might use cookies if your analytics vendor requires them.