Leading rugby clubs in England have voted in favor of "suspending investigations into potential salary-cap breaches to protect the image of the Aviva Premiership," according to Westerby & Slot of the LONDON TIMES. At a time when Saracens and one other club had "reportedly been under investigation for alleged breaches," a majority of clubs have voted for inquiries to be suspended, "in part for fear of alienating sponsors and fans," and jeopardizing their position in negotiations with the Rugby Football Union over a new relationship governing the release of England players. Sources have claimed that the proposal was introduced as "part of the same package of measures that includes the potential expansion of the Premiership and the scrapping of relegation" from the '16-17 season. According to regulations, recommended penalties for breaches of the £5M ($7.7M) salary cap should range from four points for a minor breach to 40 points for a breach in excess of £250,000 ($386,000). The suspension of investigations would "enable clubs to escape a penalty this season." A source said, "They're trying to sweep it under the carpet." Premiership Rugby declined to comment on whether investigations had been suspended, "but reaffirmed that any clubs found to have committed breaches would be made public." Plans to discuss the expansion of the league from 12 to 14 clubs and to abandon relegation "have been publicly confirmed, but the salary-cap process remains confidential" (LONDON TIMES, 4/29).
