Salford have been deducted two points for fielding a weakened team in their opening Super League game of the season against St Helens in February.
With the club operating under a £1.2m salary cap imposed by the Rugby Football League and prohibited from registering key senior players for the opening game of the season, the Red Devils fielded a team mostly made up of academy players and were routed 82-0 – a competition record defeat.
In a statement, the RFL confirmed the selection had breached a number of operational rules and said the club acknowledged that several first-team players had been available for selection.
Salford have been operating under strict salary cap restrictions throughout the season due to financial issues and their failure to pay players and staff on time.
The sanction reduces last-placed Salford’s final points tally for the season from six to four and whilst it may appear cosmetic, it could have grave implications for their slim hopes of retaining their top-flight status.
Salford Red Devils were shockingly not among the nine clubs to have submitted formal applications to be considered for the Super League’s expansion to 14 teams in 2026.
This means they are beholden to the IMG’s grading rules. Instead of conventional promotion and relegation, teams’ position in the pyramid will be determined by five categories: Fandom, Finance, On-field Performance, Stadium, and Community/Catchment – the clubs receive points for each category, with the top 12 teams being guaranteed a spot in the top-flight next season.
Salford, who were unlikely to rank among the top 12 clubs, have been dealt another blow by the RFL, as the points deduction means they will receive a 0.25 penalty to their already poor score.
In reality, it is the least of Salford’s concerns, with the club, who ended their campaign with a 52-16 home defeat to Wakefield on Friday, facing a winding-up petition by HMRC next month.
In addition, they are likely to face a further points deduction for failing to fulfil a separate fixture against Wakefield in August.
Salford have also been fined £5,000, half of it suspended until 2029.
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