Sounds a bit like how rugby league came about, after Northern Clubs being penalised by posh southern rugby union types. The Northern Clubs used to beat the Southern clubs, and as the Northern players, miners etc couldn’t afford to take time off work many received pay. Whilst the more affluent players down south could afford time off work. The rah rah lot then changed the rules to make it amateur only. Hence the Northern clubs broke away and formed Rugby League.