Matabele
Journey Man
Ailing Super League club Celtic Crusaders could face a fine of over $100,000 because of visa irregularities involving six Australian players.
The United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) stopped short of issuing criminal charges against the Wales-based club but made it clear that they had been irresponsible in not checking the eligibility of the Australian contingent that includes former Queensland State of Origin centre Josh Hannay.
Darren Mapp, Jace van Dijk, Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn and Mark Dalle Cort were the other Australians on the Crusaders' books and the group of six have been deported and banned from the United Kingdom for 10 years.
"Having considered all the circumstances of this case, it was not considered appropriate to pursue a criminal prosecution against Crusaders Rugby League Club," said UKBA in Wales and the South West regional director Jane Farleigh.
"However, the club has been served with a civil penalty notice for employing six illegal workers.
"The employers now face a fine of up to 60,000 pounds unless they can prove to the agency that they carried out legally-required checks before employing workers from outside Europe.
"Businesses have a legal responsibility to carry out the correct checks and the consequences are severe for those who do not.
"The players involved have left the country and are now prohibited from working in the UK."
The Rugby Football League, the Super League's governing body, is to launch its own probe into the affair.
The United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) stopped short of issuing criminal charges against the Wales-based club but made it clear that they had been irresponsible in not checking the eligibility of the Australian contingent that includes former Queensland State of Origin centre Josh Hannay.
Darren Mapp, Jace van Dijk, Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn and Mark Dalle Cort were the other Australians on the Crusaders' books and the group of six have been deported and banned from the United Kingdom for 10 years.
"Having considered all the circumstances of this case, it was not considered appropriate to pursue a criminal prosecution against Crusaders Rugby League Club," said UKBA in Wales and the South West regional director Jane Farleigh.
"However, the club has been served with a civil penalty notice for employing six illegal workers.
"The employers now face a fine of up to 60,000 pounds unless they can prove to the agency that they carried out legally-required checks before employing workers from outside Europe.
"Businesses have a legal responsibility to carry out the correct checks and the consequences are severe for those who do not.
"The players involved have left the country and are now prohibited from working in the UK."
The Rugby Football League, the Super League's governing body, is to launch its own probe into the affair.
FFS
