Football Australia Integrity Framework

Football Australia is dedicated to promoting and strengthening the reputation of football in Australia, and the reputation of Australian football on the world stage. A dedicated integrity framework for football in Australia is an important mechanism for both protecting and enhancing the standards of safety, fairness and conduct for all football participants and stakeholders in Australia.

The regulations, policies and guidelines which underpin Football Australia’s integrity framework include the following:

Football Australia’s Integrity team leads on national integrity policy for football in Australia, to provide governance and oversight and to provide support to Football Australia’s Member Federations and the APL where issues arise within the sport throughout the country.

Football Australia also works with relevant external stakeholders in managing integrity threats to football, including Sport Integrity Australia, FA’s integrity partner (Sportradar), FIFA and AFC, national, state and territory law enforcement and other government agencies as well as its approved sports betting providers.

Ethical Misconduct

The Football Australia National Code of Conduct and Ethics and the FIFA Code of Ethics impose obligations and restrictions on Players and Officials (such as coaches, referees, medical staff, administrators and volunteers) in relation to Ethical Misconduct.

Ethical Misconduct means engaging in any of the following:

Corrupt and dishonest practices: includes acts of bribery, offering a Benefit to a Player or Official in an attempt to incite violation of Football rules and statues.
Betting: this includes placing a wager, lottery, bet, or similar form of speculation for a financial or non-financial benefit. Registered football participants must not bet on any aspect of any football match or competition in Australia or across the globe.
Match-fixing: a registered football participant must not influence or manipulate the result or any aspect of a match or competition. This includes facilitating or encouraging another person to engage in match-fixing.
Misuse of inside information: inside information is information which is not in the public domain (for example, starting line-ups, injury news etc.). A registered football participant must not use inside information for betting purposes, disclose inside information to a person who misuses that information, or disclose inside information for a benefit.

Football Australia acknowledges gambling on sport is a common activity for many Australian adults which, when undertaken responsibly may be enjoyable. Football is also one of the most popular sports to bet on worldwide. However, gambling presents a risk to the integrity to football given it may lead to engagement in Ethical Misconduct. In accordance with clause 4.1 of the National Code of Conduct and Ethics, registered football participants must immediately report to Football Australia if they have engaged in Ethical Misconduct or another person has approached them to engage in Ethical Misconduct.

Reporting Integrity Related Matters (including for Member Protection)

What types of concerns can be raised?

Football Australia aims to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all Members participating in Football. Individuals can raise concerns about conduct they have experienced, observed or heard about.

Ethical Misconduct concerns (corruption, betting, match-fixing and inside information) should be reported directly to Football Australia.

The National Complaints Procedure is intended to deal with member protection matters which are not Ethical Misconduct, such as discrimination, bullying, harassment and abuse in football (other than Child abuse or abuse of an Adult at Risk). If your complaint relates to the abuse of a Child or Adult at Risk, please refer to Football Australia’s Safeguarding Policy available here .

The National Complaints Procedure is not intended to deal with disputes outside Football Australia’s Member Protection Framework. Examples of matters which fall outside the scope of the Member Protection Framework include:

On-field decisions: most on-field disciplinary matters that are governed by the Laws of the Game are managed by the referee. Complaints about an on-field decision should be directed to the relevant Competition Administrator to manage in accordance with the relevant disciplinary regulations. The relevant Competition Administrator will typically be your local association or Member Federation.
Disciplinary proceedings: disciplinary processes and decisions made by football tribunals administered under disciplinary regulations. Disciplinary regulations will include details on your right to appeal a decision made by a tribunal. Football Australia’s Judicial Bodies By-Law and Grievance Procedure By-Law sets out the limited circumstances where an appeal of such a decision to Football Australia’s Judicial Bodies may be permitted.
Competition matters: application of local competition regulations. Complaints about competition related decisions should be directed to the relevant Competition Administrator to manage. Football Australia’s Judicial Bodies By-Law and Grievance Procedure By-Law sets out the limited circumstances where an appeal of such a decision to Football Australia’s Judicial Bodies may be permitted.
Contractual matters: commercial disputes related to a contract a person may have with a local club. Football Australia does not review or intervene in private contractual disputes. You may wish to take personal legal advice.
Selection disputes: lack of game time or team selection should be referred to your local club at first instance.
Ethical Misconduct: as referenced above.

How to raise your concerns

If it is safe, reasonable and appropriate to do so, individuals are encouraged to attempt to resolve Member Protection complaints directly with the other person involved in the first instance.

Where self-management of a complaint is not appropriate, concerns should be reported and handled at the lowest level first, wherever possible. This means that complaints should be directed to the relevant Football Entity at the level at which the behaviour or incident occurred (i.e. club matters be dealt with at the club level; district association matters at the district association level and state matters at the local state Member Federation level).

Matters occurring at the national level and Ethical Misconduct matters should be directed to Football Australia. The most serious matters at a state or territory level may also be directed to Football Australia if Football Australia considers it would be in the best interests of Football for Football Australia to handle such a matter.

Matters received by Football Australia may be re-directed to the most appropriate entity to deal with the matter. Please refer to the relevant Member Federation websites below to access information about their reporting and complaints processes and mechanisms:

Escalating a matter

If you are not satisfied with the handling of a complaint by a Football Entity, you may escalate your complaint to the next level up. For example, if you make a complaint to your local association and do not believe your complaint was handled in accordance with the minimum requirements of the National Complaints Procedure you may escalate your complaint to your state Member Federation. It is not enough to escalate your complaint only because you disagree with the outcome reached. You must demonstrate the appropriate processes were not followed by the lower level.

Football Australia only considers escalations of complaints that have been escalated or considered by a state Member Federation, or the most serious matters at state or territory level which Football Australia considers would be in the best interests of Football as a whole for Football Australia to determine.

How can I get support?

Member Protection Information Officers (MPIOs) are responsible for providing information about a person's rights, responsibilities and options for making complaints or raising concerns under the Member Protection Framework, as well as providing support during the process. They may reside within a Club, District Association, Competition Administrator, State Body Member or Football Australia.

Details of MPIOs within Member Federations can be found on the websites of Member Federations (links above).

How can I report a concern?

When reporting an incident, you can choose to remain anonymous or provide your personal details. The information provided will be treated with confidentiality as far as practicable.

General Club and Competition Administrator Resources

Clubs and Competition Administrators – Available below are links to some useful posters that you may want to print off and put up around your Club change rooms and facilities to make participants aware of some of their obligations under the Football Australia National Code of Conduct and Ethics:

Football Australia Integrity - No Betting Poster

Football Australia Integrity – Keep it Confidential Poster

Football Australia Integrity – Play with Integrity Poster

Football Australia Integrity - Recognise, Resist, Report Poster

To obtain high-resolution, print quality versions of these posters, please contact integrity@footballaustralia.com.au.