Kybybolite FC accepts penalties for player salary cap breach

Kybybolite Football Club in the State’s south east has accepted fines totalling $18,350 and will be stripped of 16 premiership points (the equivalent of 4 wins) in 2019 for breaches of player payment regulations.

In addition to penalties imposed on the club, player Lachlan McGregor has been suspended for eight matches and fined $3,500 for accepting a sign-on payment.

Charges for breaches of regulations pertaining to the Player Payment Salary Cap were laid by SANFL Community Football earlier this month against the club, as well as McGregor, another player whose name is suppressed, senior coach at the time of the breaches, Tim Leehane, and club official John Cooper.

The charges against the club, which competes in the Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League (KNTFL), were in relation to upfront sign-on payments and offers made to three players in the lead up to the 2018 season, along with a breach of the match payment limit and failing to declare full payment details.

The charges followed an investigation by SANFL’s Player Payments Investigation Committee.

A summary of the penalties is as follows:

Club penalties

• $18,350 fine (with $6,000 suspended until the end of the 2021 season) issued to the club for upfront player payments and offers, as well as a breach of the total match fee limit and failing to lodge full payment details.
• Loss of four Approved Player Points System (APPS) points in both season 2019 and 2020.
• Loss of 16 premiership points in 2019 (equivalent of 4 wins).

Individual penalties

• Club official John Cooper suspended for three years from holding any official role with an affiliated League or club and fined $2,000.
• Senior coach at the time, Tim Leehane, suspended for 12 months from holding any official role with an affiliated League or club and fined $1,000.
• Player Lachlan McGregor fined $3,500 ($1,000 of which is suspended) and suspended for eight matches in the 2019 season.
• A second player, whose name is supressed, fined $1,500 ($1,000 of which is suspended) and suspended for two matches in the 2019 season.

SANFL Community Football Manager Matt Duldig said the penalties issued to Kybybolite FC and individuals involved were a reminder to all community football clubs that breaches of the salary cap regulations will be taken extremely seriously.

“The regulations, which are clear in not permitting any sign-on payments for players, have been in place for the past three years and there is no excuse for any player or official breaching these rules,” he said.

Mr Duldig said the Kybybolite FC, led by new President Jamie Tidy, had been fully co-operative during the investigation and that the current Executive of the club, all of whom were not involved in the breaches, had demonstrated a commitment to improving internal controls and taking the club in a positive direction.

Jamie Tidy said Kybybolite FC had a proud history and accepted full responsibility for the club’s actions.

“We are now working closely with SANFL to implement new processes within the club and ensure Kyby gets back on track to becoming a successful and sustainable football club in the future,” Mr Tidy said.

Media inquiries:
Paula Brinkworth
SANFL Senior Media & Communications Advisor
0414 805 153
[email protected]