The importance of reading the terms and conditions of agreements which you enter into in everyday life has been reaffirmed by a strange announcement by Football Federation Australia (FFA).
When registering to play football (soccer) at any level in Australia – be it amateurs playing for fun with mates, semi-professional or professional level – a player is required to agree to various FFA policies and documents – including the National Code of Conduct. Many players neglect to read these conditions and requirements and merely sign their life away, or if registering online, simply tick the box.
Many players (particularly amateurs) may be surprised to learn that the National Code of Conduct prohibits betting on football matches – anywhere.
Clause 4.1(a) of the National Code of Conduct includes:
4.1 A Member must not engage, directly or indirectly, in:
(a) any bet, wager, gamble or any other form of financial speculation where the relevant person stands to win or gain from the win, draw or loss of any Club competing in a Match;
This is very problematic given the popularity of online betting and fantasy leagues where a registered player could easily place a bet (small or large) on a football match, such as an A League final, without realising that they have breached the rules. This could apply even if the person betting is registered to play football at the most amateur level or if they permit others to bet using their online account.
This is not mere speculation as:
- A registered player from New South Wales recently found out the hard way – he was given a $1,000 fine after betting on an A-League match. The FFA statement can be read here.
- Three players from Western Australia were also sanctioned under the Code in April when two players and a coach were found to have placed bets on National Premier League matches in 2014. The FFA in this instance released a statement that each individual would not be “sent off” but would receive a suspended penalty.
The FFA have released a statement reaffirming their position that players must comply with the rules concerning betting on football matches.
This is a lesson that terms and conditions are not always as they seem – and to win the game, you need to understand the rules.
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