I thought it an interesting contrast on how the RFU have just dealt with a Club that have been systematically cheating for years, with their treatment of Saracens. No pissing around. An investigation, then a 35 point deduction when guilt has been proved. Another investigation. Still cheating. Fine - another 35 point deduction. Doesn’t matter that you are the English and European Champions, you’ve achieved your success through wilful and systematic cheating so you now have to pay the price. Contrast that with the English football authorities: the Premier League, the EFL, the FA. “You’ve been cheating. Oh, mmm, we’ll, mmm, never mind but don’t do it again.” Or, “well okay then we’ll just wait while the season end and we can decide your points deduction so that it has no impact.” Truly pathetic and shameful.
Spot on. The way the RFU have dealt with Saracens for cheating should be a source of major embarrassment for the football authorities. The RFU should be applauded.
The FA and EFL are too concerned with affecting the business machines that ultimately make them rich too.
The EFL are threatened with a PL 2 if they upset the big spending ex Prem teams . It needs govt intervention imo otherwise the whole system is held to ransom by zCharlatan owners flouting the rules . Fines of any size are laughed off by these Monopolies with the riches that Sky provides . Just like the betting industries it needs intervention before all the big city clubs make the smaller clubs totally irrelevant.
To be absolutely fair, Saracens have been allowed to get away with it for years. Only got a warning along with other clubs in 2015. Other clubs responded but Saracens just arrogantly plowed on undeterred. They were given the 35 point deduction and fine back in November but just stuck two fingers up and made no changes. Guess they hoped to keep doing well in Europe and just avoid relegation. Now they have done a deal to accept relegation and not have their books audited. They can spend a year in the Championship and win every match and come back. Not too much punishment for having years of dominance in English and European competition. Key point now is what happens to their 10 (yes 10 !) current England players and overall 25 (yes 25!) current internationals from around the world.
