Club Payments Crackdown

[Fricky]

Crackdown on regional football players' match payments could see end of country teams, clubs fear
By Chloe Hart

A crackdown on match payments for regional South Australian footballers could see an exodus of players from country leagues and result in teams collapsing, some clubs have said.

Currently there are no limits on how much a community football club can pay players.

But from next year, match payments will be limited to $3,000 a club per match.

Each club can pay one "marquee" player up to $1,000 per game, and a maximum of $500 to others.

Player awards and petrol money are also being capped and player incomes must be declared to the tax office.

Clubs found breaching the player payments could face fines of up to $25,000 plus the amount exceeded, as well as lose 12 premiership points over the next three years.

"Clubs have effectively gone out and bought a premiership, you know spending over $100,000 and the next year they're getting beaten by 20 and 30, 40 goals, and that's not sustainable," Riverland Football League chairman Gary Pfeiler said.

But some clubs fear country teams will collapse under the changes.

"We struggled even this year to file a quality A-grade team, without travelling players," Peter Hoffman from Berri Football Club said.

Many are concerned the new rules will have a devastating effect on the community.

"If we lose our country town spirit, you know we as a community might as well shut up," Mr Pfeiler said.

Financial incentives have long been used to recruit sportspeople, but there is concern that could worsen under the changes.

President of the Renmark Rovers Football Club, David Birch, does not think the changes will work.

"There's going to be too many loopholes, and I think that's why it won't work," he said.

"Some clubs may be different to others, we'd abide by it, but I can't tell you if every club would do the same."

The South Australia Community Football League said regulation was needed to curb sharply rising payments, which are placing financial strain on clubs and communities.

"I still don't think this will be the answer at this stage, but to know what the answer is is a whole demographic thing," Mr Hoffman said.

"I think it's bigger than football to keep kids in country zones."

The managing body is being urged to review the changes.

[jo172]

If this is to work the League needs to be absolutely merciless on the first person caught in breach. The penalty for a first offence needs to be so severe that everyone is too petrified to take the risk (i.e Deregistration for a first offence)

[marbles]

Mitchell park will be screwed!

Just pay triple petrol compensation

[marbles]

Or pay the coach triple and he gifts he boys a few hundred each cash style!

[morell]

Mitchell park will be screwed!

Just pay triple petrol compensation

We will hopefully be one of the beneficiaries marbles as you very well know.

[Jim05]

If this is to work the League needs to be absolutely merciless on the first person caught in breach. The penalty for a first offence needs to be so severe that everyone is too petrified to take the risk (i.e Deregistration for a first offence)

Yeah like they are going to catch anyone.
Sponsors and supporters will just give players gifts each week, not a thing anyone can do about it

[jo172]

If this is to work the League needs to be absolutely merciless on the first person caught in breach. The penalty for a first offence needs to be so severe that everyone is too petrified to take the risk (i.e Deregistration for a first offence)

Yeah like they are going to catch anyone.
Sponsors and supporters will just give players gifts each week, not a thing anyone can do about it

You'd be naive to think someone wouldn't spill the beans somewhere at some point.

Will they catch everyone? Of course not.

Will they catch anyone. Wouldn't rule it out. And if they de-register the first club they find, would you be willing to take the chance that you'll be one of the ones that won't be caught?

[Arch44]

If this is to work the League needs to be absolutely merciless on the first person caught in breach. The penalty for a first offence needs to be so severe that everyone is too petrified to take the risk (i.e Deregistration for a first offence)

Yeah like they are going to catch anyone.
Sponsors and supporters will just give players gifts each week, not a thing anyone can do about it

You'd be naive to think someone wouldn't spill the beans somewhere at some point.

Will they catch everyone? Of course not.

Will they catch anyone. Wouldn't rule it out. And if they de-register the first club they find, would you be willing to take the chance that you'll be one of the ones that won't be caught?

Spilling the beans and proving would be 2 different things.

[Jim05]

If this is to work the League needs to be absolutely merciless on the first person caught in breach. The penalty for a first offence needs to be so severe that everyone is too petrified to take the risk (i.e Deregistration for a first offence)

Yeah like they are going to catch anyone.
Sponsors and supporters will just give players gifts each week, not a thing anyone can do about it

You'd be naive to think someone wouldn't spill the beans somewhere at some point.

Will they catch everyone? Of course not.

Will they catch anyone. Wouldn't rule it out. And if they de-register the first club they find, would you be willing to take the chance that you'll be one of the ones that won't be caught?

Doesnt matter if anyone spills the beans.
As long as the club isnt paying its all fine.
No law against giving another person a gift as long as it cant be traced back to the club

[LaughingKookaburra]

Pay a bloke $500 and give them cash for being in best players.... Every week

[jo172]

If this is to work the League needs to be absolutely merciless on the first person caught in breach. The penalty for a first offence needs to be so severe that everyone is too petrified to take the risk (i.e Deregistration for a first offence)

Yeah like they are going to catch anyone.
Sponsors and supporters will just give players gifts each week, not a thing anyone can do about it

You'd be naive to think someone wouldn't spill the beans somewhere at some point.

Will they catch everyone? Of course not.

Will they catch anyone. Wouldn't rule it out. And if they de-register the first club they find, would you be willing to take the chance that you'll be one of the ones that won't be caught?

Doesnt matter if anyone spills the beans.
As long as the club isnt paying its all fine.
No law against giving another person a gift as long as it cant be traced back to the club

Fairly sure the rules will be written to catch greater situations than that. Namely if the Club is aware of or procured a benefit in return for the player playing for that club.

Can't see any reason why a Club involved in what I've written couldn't be sanctioned

[jo172]

Pay a bloke $500 and give them cash for being in best players.... Every week

Allegedly "incentives" will be limited to $150 over the whole team each week.

[jo172]

If this is to work the League needs to be absolutely merciless on the first person caught in breach. The penalty for a first offence needs to be so severe that everyone is too petrified to take the risk (i.e Deregistration for a first offence)

Yeah like they are going to catch anyone.
Sponsors and supporters will just give players gifts each week, not a thing anyone can do about it

You'd be naive to think someone wouldn't spill the beans somewhere at some point.

Will they catch everyone? Of course not.

Will they catch anyone. Wouldn't rule it out. And if they de-register the first club they find, would you be willing to take the chance that you'll be one of the ones that won't be caught?

Spilling the beans and proving would be 2 different things.

They'll write their own standard of proof and it won't be beyond reasonable doubt.

They'll more than likely establish the standard of proof as either "balance of probabilities" or "reasonably satisfied".

[jo172]

My bigger question is what to do about players who get "side benefits" in addition to or in lieu of match payments. Some clubs quite proudly utilise their networks to get professional, high paying jobs for recruits in industries which are hard to break into.

In my view this should be policed with equal vigour

[Jim05]

They'll write their own standard of proof and it won't be beyond reasonable doubt.

They'll more than likely establish the standard of proof as either "balance of probabilities" or "reasonably satisfied".

They cant even catch SANFL clubs so no hope of country clubs being caught.
There are plenty of SANFL footballers still being employed by supporters/sponsors and earning good money despite working little or no hours. That is another way around it.

[jo172]

@Jim05 You're correct in that it is impossible to devise a perfect system.

AFL Clubs have found ways around salary caps.

No reason not to make one and use your best efforts to enforce it though.

A much more cogent argument is whether a salary cap is in fact good for the game and whether it is a reasonable and proportionate restraint of trade for a legitimate end.

[LaughingKookaburra]

The end of the day of you have an individual who chooses to give a bloke money out of his own pocket cash in hand there ain't much you can do about it. You just wouldn't document it.

[jo172]

The end of the day of you have an individual who chooses to give a bloke money out of his own pocket cash in hand there ain't much you can do about it. You just wouldn't document it.

What you'd be looking to do is be very creative in ways you didn't know that the bloke was giving money to an individual out of his own pocket.

It's possible, but in practice bloody difficult and I would think most clubs were more than capable of stuffing it up.

[morell]

"its too hard to catch them" isn't really a good enough argument to justify not having rules in place. It's flawed logic at best.

Good on them for trying to do something about this scourge on our game.

[Q.]

Pay a bloke $500 and give them cash for being in best players.... Every week

Allegedly "incentives" will be limited to $150 over the whole team each week.

Serious?! Our BOG award alone is $100. I'd rather see generous best player awards at my club, than blokes on $500 a game.