Angry Canberra CEO Don Furner has threatened legal action over sensational claims from former Raider Steve Irwin that the club directed him to lie to save star half-back Todd Carney from going to jail.
Irwin says Canberra officials ordered him to tell police Carney had not been drinking after the Raiders No.7 led them on a high-speed car pursuit in June last year.
Carney fled the scene, with Irwin, who was a passenger in the car, left to deal with police.
Irwin now says he was pressured into telling investigating officers that Carney, whose licence was suspended, had not been drinking.
Carney escaped jail after being charged with the lesser crime of driving while unlicensed.
Irwin was later sacked by the Raiders, while Carney was spared the axe.
"The Raiders are taking this issue very seriously and have sought legal advice in relation to Irwin's comments," Furner said.
"At the time of the incident and with police present, Irwin was advised by club officials to fully cooperate with police and tell the truth in regard to everything involved with the incident, including identification of the driver of the vehicle at the time."
"The Raiders will make no further comment on the issue at this time."
Irwin's stunning revelations come days after Carney was suspended indefinitely for allegedly urinating on a patron at a Canberra nightclub.
Carney's career with the Raiders remains in the balance.
"It's disappointing. We've come off a very good win and we've got some momentum and we spend the best part of a week dealing with this," Furner said.
"Todd's away for a couple of days. We'll get the senior leadership group in and have a chat to them and see what happens."
"Perception is part of the problem because no-one really knew what happened in there (in the nightclub)."
"I won't go into speculation. The board will have a chat on Saturday and we'll go from there."
"We'll get this game (against Gold Coast on Saturday) out of the road and then address it next week and try and move on."
Asked if star players were afforded preferential treatment in such cases, Furner admitted: "Probably it's true in certain incidences. Without a doubt that is taken into account, it is a factor."
"I'd by lying if I said it wasn't a factor."
He then added: "We have to be very careful in what we do."
"You can't control every aspect of their lives. You can't follow them 24 hours."
"Players have to impose drinking bans on themselves rather than having people telling them to do it."