Football Queensland celebrates National Volunteer Week

Football Queensland (FQ) recognises the hundreds and thousands of dedicated individuals during the 2025 National Volunteer Week. Those who contribute their time, energy and passion to keep the game thriving in communities across the state are being celebrated.

From coaching duties and canteen shifts to late nights balancing club finances, volunteers are the lifeblood of football in Queensland. While their efforts often go unnoticed, their impact is felt at every training session, match day, and milestone moment.

Club Treasurer at Jimboomba United, Caitlin Dahl, being recently named Queensland’s 2025 Female Football Week Volunteer of the Year, has tirelessly orchestrated behind-the-scenes work at the club to help create a stronger, more sustainable environment for players, families, and fellow volunteers.

“Football has been a big part of my family’s life – my children have played for years, along with my husband and extended family. Seeing the fun and sense of community they experienced, along with meeting our amazing committee motivated me to step up and help out,” she said via press release. 

“What keeps me volunteering is seeing first hand the difference it makes – helping ensure the club runs smoothly so players of all ages can continue to enjoy the game is incredibly rewarding.” 

As Club Treasurer, Caitlin plays a crucial role in managing the club’s financial wellbeing—but her influence extends well beyond the books. Her dedication embodies the spirit of countless volunteers across the state who show up week in, week out to support the game they love.

“It means being part of something bigger than just the sport. Jimboomba United Football Club is more than just matches and training sessions – it’s a place where friendships form, families connect, and people support one another,” she continued to say via press release. 

Whether it’s securing grants to upgrade club facilities and keep the game affordable for local families, or helping out with everyday club operations, Caitlin Dahl is one of many volunteers who go the extra mile to make football welcoming and accessible for everyone.

“I’ve experienced that first hand, making some beautiful new friendships over the last couple of years at JUFC. Volunteering allows me to contribute to that strong sense of community, ensuring players, parents, and fellow volunteers can enjoy and benefit from a well-run club,” she extended her remarks by emphasising the value of being a volunteer. 

FQ CEO, Robert Cavallucci, has highlighted the vital role volunteers play in the game, encouraging all clubs this National Volunteer Week to take a moment to recognise and celebrate those who generously give their time and who help football thrive in communities across Queensland.

“Volunteers are the foundation of our great game. Whether they’re leading committees, managing equipment, or helping with club operations, their contribution is invaluable, and their impact to our game’s growth is long-lasting,” he said via press release. 

“National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to say thank you, not only to those already involved, but also to encourage more Queenslanders to step forward and give back to their local football clubs and communities.”

FQ extends its heartfelt thanks to every volunteer helping to deliver football in communities right across the state. From setting up fields and managing teams to refereeing matches and running canteens, volunteers are the backbone of football in Queensland, bringing passion, commitment, and community spirit to every level of the game.

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Manchester City must pay the ultimate price for financial cheating

Manchester City’s financial scandal has reached boiling point. On the 29th of September, an independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the league’s financial rules across nine seasons, from 2009/10 to 2017/18. The commission also upheld three of four charges concerning the club’s failure to cooperate with the Premier League investigation.

The Premier League says City used sham commercial arrangements and disguised owner funding to inflate revenue and reduce costs by more than $1.7 billion (£900 million). Abu Dhabi United Group funded $1.58 billion (£830.69 million) that appeared in City’s accounts as sponsorship money from Abu Dhabi companies. The commission concluded that City’s accounts concealed the true financial position from auditors and regulators.

The 115 charges cover inaccurate financial information, player and manager payments, financial rules and the investigation itself. City has lodged its appeal against the guilty verdict, but for such a serious sporting scandal, attention has already turned to the potential punishments. In a Premier League era where foreign investment is king and revenues have skyrocketed, we should be asking questions. How did Manchester City get away with this for so long, and how can the punishment act as a deterrent to keep the reputation of football’s biggest league intact?

The hack that exposed the story

The most uncomfortable part of this saga is how the authorities discovered it and how most likely City never would have been exposed. In 2018, German publication Der Spiegel published leaked internal City emails and documents obtained through Football Leaks. Rui Pinto, the Portuguese hacker behind Football Leaks, supplied material that alleged City had disguised owner investment as sponsorship revenue and manipulated arrangements to satisfy financial regulations.

The Premier League investigation began in December 2018. City were formally charged in February 2023, after a four-year investigation, and the hearing finally began in September 2024. That timeline is nothing short of extraordinary; eight years between the leaks being exposed and charges being brought to Manchester City does significant sporting damage.

Man City won eight major titles during the alleged period, including three Premier League titles. Recalling titles in any sport leaves a sour taste in any sports fan’s mouth. The fans of opposing sides given titles feel robbed of the special moment, and Manchester City fans could feel rightfully deceived. But it goes beyond even this as we look at who Manchester City signed during those seasons. Players such as Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne played vital roles in City’s later titles beyond the 2017/2018 season. Would they have joined if this had been uncovered earlier? It’s impossible to say, but it shows how City’s early investment from 2009/10 still contributed to their titles in the 2020’s.

The Premier League’s credibility

That delay is not just embarrassing for City; it damages the Premier League. The league is the most competitive and commercially powerful domestic competition in football. Its rules are supposed to create a framework in which clubs compete on sporting merit while remaining financially sustainable. If a club can allegedly distort its accounts by hundreds of millions of dollars and the process takes years to reach a verdict, despite City’s potential obstruction, every other club has a reason to question whether the system works.

The irony is obvious: if Football Leaks hadn’t shared what they found on Manchester City through its hack, the scheme never would have been uncovered. If financial rules were designed to stop clubs gaining an unfair competitive advantage, then the Premier League may need to change how it investigates how its clubs’ finances are being managed. If anything should be gained from this, it may be that financial regulation needs to be improved as the Premier League and its clubs spend billions.

As for Manchester City, punishment cannot simply be a fine that becomes another operating cost.

Relegation is the only serious answer

If the verdict survives the appeal, Manchester City should be removed from the Premier League and those three aforementioned league titles removed. A fine would be inadequate and, depending on what points deduction City got, would punish the club in one season while leaving the historical record largely intact. Nottingham Forest received a four point deduction for a charge of Profitability and Sustainability rules in 2023-2024. City’s 114 charges will see much greater punishment then that.

Even if City are relegated they would almost be guranteed to be promoted the next season so even that feels like a slap on the wrist. Despite their investment during the nine seasons being questioned their five titles subsequent to that period will be expected to remain in their hands. My solution is to relegate City to the Championship without the potential of promotion for three seasons, one for each title won during that time.

City fans will call that harsh but their is strong reason to come down hard and that’s because this is bigger than Manchester City. Foreign ownership has brought huge investment into English football, but investment cannot mean exemption from the rules. Owners, executives and clubs must know that the Premier League’s financial regulations carry consequences that cannot be negotiated away.

The league has a choice. It can impose a manageable punishment and move on, or it can demonstrate that competitive integrity matters more than the commercial power of its biggest clubs. If City’s appeal fails, the answer should be clear: relegation, a reckoning over the titles and a message to every owner that the Premier League’s rules are not optional.

Australian referee strike ends ahead of new A-League season

Australia’s referee crisis is over as Football Australia (FA), the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and the Professional Football Referees Association (PFRA) have reached an agreement ahead of the 2026/27 domestic season.

The deal ends industrial action that began on September 4th. Nearly 100 of Australia’s top referees had refused appointments during the dispute. The agreement provides immediate certainty for officials. It also clears the way for Australia’s top referees to return for the Australia Cup Final this week and the opening rounds of the A-League Men and Women competitions.

Under the new framework, referees will be contracted and employed exclusively by Football Australia. The APL will cover the cost of referees appointed to A-League matches. The arrangement runs through the end of the 2026/27 season. The three organisations will continue discussions on a longer-term structure for elite refereeing in Australia.

The agreement resolves the central dispute between the parties. Football Australia had proposed shifting responsibility for A-League referees to the APL. The referees opposed the move. They raised concerns about employment certainty. They also questioned the independence of referees working under a league controlled by the clubs they officiate.

The dispute had already disrupted Australian football. Singaporean officials were brought in for the Australia Cup semi-final between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. Rookie Australian officials also took charge of another Cup fixture during the strike. The crisis therefore moved beyond a contractual disagreement. It affected the delivery of major matches.

The A-League Men season begins on October 16 with the Sydney derby at Allianz Stadium and the A-League Women season will also begin in October. The agreement solves the immediate problem. It does not end the wider debate over refereeing in Australian football.

FA, the APL and the PFRA must now build a sustainable model for elite officials. The strike exposed uncertainty around contracts, funding and governance. Those issues cannot return every time a new season approaches. Australian football can moves forward, but this is an issue that should be reviewed for the sustainability of Australian referees.

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