Storm's owner embarrassed over salary cap scandal
An owner of Melbourne Storm acknowledge that the salary cap breaches by the NRL (National Rugby League) club was "embarrassing" for the company.
Chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch of News Corporation, which owns Storm and half of the NRL competition, explained that the cheating was never discovered at the club.
"We didn't enjoy it, it was very embarrassing but it certainly was not us," Murdoch told media during a conference call on Wednesday.
"We're far from sure that we're the only the only club involved."
Melbourne were forced to forfeit their two premierships in 2007 and 2009, penalized with $500,000, and was ordered to pay back $1.1 million in prize money after the club was discovered to surpass its salary cap by $1.7 million for five years.
The Storm will not also earn any premiership points for this year's competition, which is adding salt to its wounds.
Murdoch also revealed that John Hartigan, News chief executive, took some measures when the company discovered an excessive salary cap.
Murdoch also declined to comment when asked on the company to continue its half-stake in NRL.
"I'm afraid I'm a bit too far removed, I don't know enough about it," Murdoch said.
NRL club was established in 1997, and owned by News Corporation's Australian division, News Limited.
News Limited owns a 50 per cent stake of the NRL competition.