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Rivals want Saracens like punishment for Montpellier, despite huge fine in salary cap case
By Ian Cameron
The noses of Montpellier Hérault's Top 14 rivals has been left out of joint after the club came to an "amicable" settlement in their salary cap case this week.
Montpellier were fined €3 million, but face no further sanctions, after coming to an agreement with the LNR. The club had been accused of irregularities during the 2018/19, following an expose by L'Equippe and RMC. The LNR stated that the "parties are pleased that an amicable solution has been found and that it is allows us to work in the future in a peaceful atmosphere."
The accusation revolved around the signing of South African flyhalf Johan Goosen, and a number of other top players. A report had suggested that money paid sums to Goosen and other players via a shell company in South Africa, so that the majority of their salaries would not be counted towards the salary cap.
Unsurprisingly, their rivals are not best pleased at what will effectively amount to modest fine for billionaire MHR owner Mohed Altrad. Racing 92’s Jacky Lorenezetti and Toulon owner Bernard LeMaitre have both voiced disapproval of the punishment.
"But this mediation leads to another question: is there justice for the rich and justice for the poor? What a wealthy president can buy himself offenses as he sees fit?," Lorenezetti told L'Equipe. "For Saracens, the financial punishment was negligible considering the fortune of the owner. Is the financial penalty appropriate in sport? It's a hell of a snub for the FFR Appeal Commission."
New Toulon owner LeMaitre said he was 'surprised' by the cozy arrangement. "I am simply surprised and astonished that the League lends itself to" arrangements "with serious offenders. In this context, what's the point of the rules? And what is the value for those who insist on respecting them despite the difficulties of succeeding."
Montpellier are no strangers to the salary cap manager. Last year the club had a €470,000 salary cap fine – €70,000 for the failure to communicate certain elements and €400,000 for exceeding the ceiling – for the 2017/18 season annulled.
The Top 14 club was originally sanctioned for having exceeded the €11.3million per annum payroll ceiling. This decision was taken by the salary cap section of the league’s disciplinary committee, the body set up to strengthen control over how clubs spend their money.
They were already in the dock for exceeding the ceiling by an estimated €350,000 to €400,000 during the 2016-2017 season.
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The Bok teams have transformed the level of the URC, increased engagement across the board and the financial rewards are already beginning to flow for all concerned. This proves beyond doubt the value of their contribution and it can absolutely be similar for the Champions Cup but the conditions and structures have got to be right. Last minute trans continental jaunts for any team need to end and this will require a cohesive negotiated structure across the URC, GP, Top14 & EPCR. Removing the restriction on SA teams to achieve home ko’s will help but it’s only one step towards addressing the issues.
The headroom for growth is tremendous IF the people involved can work out a way to schedule the calendar such that each of the different comp priorities are managed and the compromises that will almost certainly be required are evenly shared. After all, it’s not like rugby couldn’t use some additional commercial gain!
The alternative option would leave every club, competition and union worse off, because logistics can be flexible and adaptable with the requisite level of detailed planning, time zones not so much…
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