Melbourne Storm loses three sponsors over scandal 26/04/2010 |
|
| |
| |
Three of Melbourne Storm’s sponsors have terminated their deals with the National Rugby League team after it was stripped of two titles for breaching the competition’s salary cap.
Members Equity Bank and pension fund Hostplus, who are both listed on Melbourne’s website as “major partners”, as well as fourth-tier sponsor Skins International Trading, a sportswear maker, have withdrawn their support following the revelations.
The NRL revealed last week that the club had gone to “extraordinary lengths” to cover up the payments that had allowed it to “recruit and retain some of the best players in the game”.
“ME Bank believes in the principles of strong governance, transparency, integrity, and fairness and we seek to ensure that all of our corporate and community partnerships uphold these same values,” chief executive Jamie McPhee said. “The bank is extremely disappointed by the events.”
Hostplus added that the gravity of Melbourne’s conduct had “made the relationship untenable”.
“The revelations about the actions of some members of the Melbourne Storm management contradict everything we believe in,” Hostplus chief David Elia said.
Skins chief executive Jamie Fuller said the sportswear maker was “appalled” by Melbourne’s actions. The company, which sponsors more than 150 athletes and sports teams in Australia, uses the slogan “cheat legal” in its latest advertising campaign.
“We understand that sometimes there is a need to give second chances, but this level of systemic deceit is inexcusable and therefore we will not be continuing with our partnership,” Fuller added.
Japanese automaker Suzuki, sportswear company Kooga and power tool maker Makita said they had not made any decisions on their sponsorship of the team.
“Some sponsors will obviously want to move on,” Melbourne chairman Rob Moodie said. “We understand that.”
|
| Back |
| |
| |
|
|
 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
