Been fined £5.36m with a 35 point deduction for breach of salary cap rules.
It is subject to an appeal and it will interesting to see how that turns out.
Football could learn a lesson from this and start to impose much harsher punishment for breaches of rules
and regulations.
Saracens
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Funkydrummer
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Re: Saracens
Couldn’t agree more. That is a deterrent whereas the current ‘penalties ‘ in football just aren’t.
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Tricky Trevor
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Re: Saracens
They’ve won two Premiership titles and three of the last four Champions Cups by cheating.
The salary cap might not apply in the Champions Cup but they wouldn’t have had the depth of squad without breaching the Premiership cap.
They should be taken of them.
The salary cap might not apply in the Champions Cup but they wouldn’t have had the depth of squad without breaching the Premiership cap.
They should be taken of them.
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LeadBelly
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Re: Saracens
This topic was also raised on "magic money tree" thread.
Yes- it's a severe punishment compared to what little gets dished out in football but not enough of a punishment for some interested parties.
The Chief Exec of Exeter suggests they should be relegated, his club have been beaten by Saracens in the Grand Final by Saracens in 3 of the last 4 or 5 years.
Ive not read the full report on the judgement but I guess it depends on how much Saracens knew they were breaking rules rather than skirting narrowly round them. The "overpayments" were due to some star players having investment/property partnership dealings with Nigel Wray -the owner of Saracens.
"Payments by the back door" I guess as per (in my view) some of the expensive sponsorship deals etc made with owner-connected companies in English footy.
Yes- it's a severe punishment compared to what little gets dished out in football but not enough of a punishment for some interested parties.
The Chief Exec of Exeter suggests they should be relegated, his club have been beaten by Saracens in the Grand Final by Saracens in 3 of the last 4 or 5 years.
Ive not read the full report on the judgement but I guess it depends on how much Saracens knew they were breaking rules rather than skirting narrowly round them. The "overpayments" were due to some star players having investment/property partnership dealings with Nigel Wray -the owner of Saracens.
"Payments by the back door" I guess as per (in my view) some of the expensive sponsorship deals etc made with owner-connected companies in English footy.
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dougcollins
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Re: Saracens
35 points- wow.
Re: Saracens
You can’t skirt narrowly around a rule. A rule is a rule. You either obey a rule or break it.
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LeadBelly
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Re: Saracens
I beg to differ. Rules are often not black and white and open to different interpretations.You can’t skirt narrowly around a rule. A rule is a rule. You either obey a rule or break it
You only have to look at the debates around handball/diving/offsides/red-cards etc in football for starters. Staying with football, there are some "loopholes" in Financial Fair play that some take advantage of (image rights, ground sale/leaseback, overpriced sponsorships etc.)
Some accountants make a lot of money helping rich people skirt around rules/laws re taxation.
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conyoviejo
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Re: Saracens
A very interesting read..No doubt they will somehow wriggle their way out of the punishment ..
Saracens 'absolutely devastated' by punishment
The charges relate to a failure to disclose player payments in each of the 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
Saracens previously claimed they "readily comply" with salary cap rules and were able to spend above the £7m cap because of the high proportion - almost 60% - of home-grown players in their squad.
The club apologised for "administrative errors relating to the non-disclosure of some transactions" to Premiership Rugby Limited, but added it will "continue to vigorously defend this position especially as PRL precedent already exists whereby co-investments have not been deemed part of salary in the regulations".
In a separate statement, Wray said: "This is absolutely devastating for everyone associated with this amazing group of players, staff, partners and fans.
"It's been acknowledged by the panel that we never deliberately sought to mislead anyone or breach the cap.
"That's why it feels like the rug is being completely pulled out from under our feet. We will appeal [against] all the findings."
During an independent disciplinary panel hearing, Saracens saw their challenge of the validity of the regulations on competition law grounds rejected.
Premiership Rugby introduced its salary cap in 1999 to ensure the financial viability of all clubs and the competition.
The regulations are also designed to control inflationary pressures on clubs' costs and provide a level playing field for clubs and a competitive Premiership.
"The decision upholds both the principle of the salary cap and the charges brought following an extensive investigation," a Premiership spokesperson said.
"We're pleased this process has reached a conclusion."
Analysis - 'the biggest story in English club rugby history'
BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones
Saracens have been the dominant force in the domestic game for the best part of a decade - scooping eight major titles and providing the spine of the England World Cup team - but that success will now be considered tainted.
How long has it been going on? Will the club keep their titles? What will happen with their review, given they insist they were involved in legitimate business dealings with players? What happens now to the current squad, which may need to be dismantled, especially with a £5m fine and the threat of relegation?
And what do players, coaches and fans at other clubs think, given everyone is affected in some way by this? On that note, do any other clubs in the league have something to hide?
Like with the Bloodgate scandal involving Harlequins 10 years ago, the fallout to this will be significant and lengthy, and will damage the integrity of the Premiership just at the point the league is looking to launch a global expansion.
Saracens 'absolutely devastated' by punishment
The charges relate to a failure to disclose player payments in each of the 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
Saracens previously claimed they "readily comply" with salary cap rules and were able to spend above the £7m cap because of the high proportion - almost 60% - of home-grown players in their squad.
The club apologised for "administrative errors relating to the non-disclosure of some transactions" to Premiership Rugby Limited, but added it will "continue to vigorously defend this position especially as PRL precedent already exists whereby co-investments have not been deemed part of salary in the regulations".
In a separate statement, Wray said: "This is absolutely devastating for everyone associated with this amazing group of players, staff, partners and fans.
"It's been acknowledged by the panel that we never deliberately sought to mislead anyone or breach the cap.
"That's why it feels like the rug is being completely pulled out from under our feet. We will appeal [against] all the findings."
During an independent disciplinary panel hearing, Saracens saw their challenge of the validity of the regulations on competition law grounds rejected.
Premiership Rugby introduced its salary cap in 1999 to ensure the financial viability of all clubs and the competition.
The regulations are also designed to control inflationary pressures on clubs' costs and provide a level playing field for clubs and a competitive Premiership.
"The decision upholds both the principle of the salary cap and the charges brought following an extensive investigation," a Premiership spokesperson said.
"We're pleased this process has reached a conclusion."
Analysis - 'the biggest story in English club rugby history'
BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones
Saracens have been the dominant force in the domestic game for the best part of a decade - scooping eight major titles and providing the spine of the England World Cup team - but that success will now be considered tainted.
How long has it been going on? Will the club keep their titles? What will happen with their review, given they insist they were involved in legitimate business dealings with players? What happens now to the current squad, which may need to be dismantled, especially with a £5m fine and the threat of relegation?
And what do players, coaches and fans at other clubs think, given everyone is affected in some way by this? On that note, do any other clubs in the league have something to hide?
Like with the Bloodgate scandal involving Harlequins 10 years ago, the fallout to this will be significant and lengthy, and will damage the integrity of the Premiership just at the point the league is looking to launch a global expansion.