And that is what happened in 2010 when Australian Rugby League team the Melbourne Storm were caught systematically breaking the competition's salary cap.

BBC: Business

In April the Storm were stripped of two championships in Australia's National Rugby League for breaching the competition's strict salary cap rules.

BBC: Wigan Warriors sign Melbourne Storm trio

It is a hard question to answer in Britain, where the new Labour government is poised to levy a windfall tax on privatised utilities, where the electricity regulator will impose a tighter cap on electricity distribution charges in 2000, and where competition in the supply of electricity to domestic consumers is due to start next year.

ECONOMIST: Intoxicated by power