Saracens' salary cap penalty under scrutiny over conflict of interest claims

"The allegation has been made that Saffery Champness had a conflict of interest in this matter due to providing independent' expert advice to PRL on seven out of the nine charges, at the same time as being a service provider to other parties, who benefited financially from the outcome of the panel's determinations and that the conflicts in relation to the other parties were disclosed neither to the panel nor Saracens."

"Saracens were fined an unprecedented 5.36m for salary cap breaches over the previous three seasons and were relegated to the Championship, but the punishment has come under fresh scrutiny with these new allegations. There is no suggestion of deliberate wrongdoing in the advice provided by Saffery Champness, but the fact that one of the firm's clients benefited from the punishment handed down to Saracens calls the disciplinary process into question."

Saracens received an unprecedented 5.36m fine and Championship relegation for salary cap violations spanning three seasons. The club now contests this punishment, alleging a conflict of interest in the disciplinary process. Accounting firm Saffery Champness provided independent expert advice to Premier Rugby Ltd on seven of nine charges against Saracens while simultaneously serving as auditor for Sale Sharks. Sale received over 350,000 from Saracens' fine distribution. Saracens contends these conflicts were neither disclosed to the disciplinary panel nor to the club itself. While no deliberate wrongdoing is suggested regarding the advice quality, the financial benefit received by Saffery Champness's client raises questions about the disciplinary process's impartiality and integrity.

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