Laporte denies double-dealing

UNDER PRESSURE: Don't point the finger at me, says French coach Bernard Laporte as questions are raised over his off-field work.

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Bernard Laporte denied on Friday he was mixing coaching and business after being criticised by the media for selling signed France jerseys on his web site.

"It's such a low blow that I don't want to talk about it. I'm the sponsor of a charity and I give them all the money I get from the sale of the jersey," the French coach told a news conference.

"The people of this organisation Greffe de Vie (transplant of life) asked me to help them. I like the charity and I'm going to fight for them," he added.

"I don't have to justify myself because I have a clear conscience. I don't need to sell 20,000 books and 10,000 jerseys to earn a living."

The controversy started when an announcement saying "Special offer: 20 percent discount on a unique France jersey signed by Bernard Laporte" appeared on Tuesday on the web site of the France national coach.

The jerseys are for sale at 146 euros (101 pounds) including postage, while the regular version retails for 76 euros at the online shop of the French Federation and the Paris stores.

The advert said 10,000 were available and there was no mention of a charity.

Laporte is wearing three caps at the World Cup as France national coach, businessman and future junior minister for sport.

- Reuters