Its far more complex than that.
The Force IP was purchased this time last year, effectively putting the team in the hands of the ARU.
The Brumbies, Tahs and Reds were never considered for culling, it was only the Rebels and the Force - why?
The Rebels were to Cox by the ARU in 2015 - why?
When the Force were able to buy back their IP, it was refused - why?
I agree that it wasnt a desire to screw over the Force, rather, it was self interest by ARU board members to protect their own back yard that resulted in the Force being the ones dumped. And it was a series of events that lead to it that suggest there is corruption within the ARU.
I don't think it is more complex than that. The Force were the only team that the ARU were in a position to cancel the licence of.
The ARU sold the Rebels to Cox to remove a liability from their balance sheet. They wanted to make it someone else's problem.
From April 2017 the ARU had agreed to cut a team. They were never going to sell the Force back their IP and licence after that.
It was definitely underhanded but I don't think you can realistically say there was corruption.
Rightly or wrongly the ARU first thought that their best path forward financially was to only have four Super Rugby teams. They then committed to SANZAAR that they would do that as part of reducing the competition to 15 teams.
From that point on the Force were toast. There was never anyone else they could possibly cut.
It sucks and it is incredibly disappointing for all Aussie rugby fans so I can't imagine how bad it is for you guys who were passionate about the Force. If the situation had been reversed and the ARU owned the Rebels licence still and didn't own the Force licence, I can guarantee the decision made would have been different.