Zaparas Lawyers rejoins the Melbourne Victory family

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The club announced on Wednesday last week that it would be partnering once again with Zaparas Lawyers, reestablishing connections between two entities with strong ties to the Melbourne community.

Reuniting old partners

The connection between Melbourne Victory and Zaparas Lawyers, although recently announced, is far from new. They previously enjoyed a partnership spanning three seasons between 2017 and 2020, a period which saw the club finish as runners-up in the A-League Men’s Championship in 2017 and as champions in 2018.

Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, revealed her excitement ahead of another season partnered with the Victoria-based law firm.

“We are excited to have reignited our partnership with Zaparas Lawyers, who have provided vital legal support to families across Victoria and been long-time supporters of football at all levels,” Carnegie said via press release.

“As the newest partners of the Victory Academy, we are grateful for the support Zaparas Lawyers will help us continue to provide for the next generation of talent coming through the Club and we look forward to continuing our relationship into the future.”

For Melbourne Victory, partnering with a dedicated and community-focussed team in Zaparas Lawyers gives plenty of reason to be optimistic. Zaparas has long-been committed to supporting Victorian clubs both on and off the field, proving to be a valuable source of support for youth development and long-term community growth.

A history of support

News of a reforged alliance between Zaparas Lawyers and Melbourne Victory comes as no surprise when considering the law firm’s commitment to supporting the football landscape in Victoria.

In December 2025, NPL VIC outfit, The Oakleigh Cannons, announced Zaparas Lawyers as their official grandstand sponsor of Jack Edwards Reserve. With connections to two clubs in the Victoria community, it is clear that Zaparas Lawyers remains as committed as ever to giving back to the community.

The mission going forward will be to continue making a positive, meaningful impact on the fans, players and future talents associated with football in Victoria.

 

About Zaparas Lawyers

Founded in 1981 as a family business, the firm has grown into a larger organisation of over 200 members. Their team of  dedicated professionals specialises in personal injury and compensation law, as well as addressing WorkCover, TAC (road accident), superannuation, public liability, occupational diseases and hearing loss.

For over 40 years, Zaparas Lawyers has developed into a law firm renowned for balancing compassion, expertise and a desire to truly help their clients get their lives back on track.

 

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Football Victoria marks World Autism Understanding Month with Expanded Inclusion Program

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Image Credit: Football Victoria

Football Victoria has marked World Autism Understanding Month with a series of practical inclusion initiatives delivered in partnership with Aspect, reinforcing the governing body’s commitment to making football accessible for autistic participants across all levels of the game.

The partnership, now in its second year, has moved beyond awareness into structural change. Environmental assessments have been completed across multiple programs and match days, including at Collingwood City FC and the All-Abilities League match day at Northcote City FC. Each assessment identifies accessibility barriers and provides concrete inclusion principles integrated into the physical and operational realities of football environments.

Ahead of the 2025 Football For All Gala Day, Aspect conducted an environmental assessment of The Home of the Matildas, informing the development of a Visual Story designed to help participants with autism understand the venue and event before arriving. The same approach has been applied to FV’s GO Camps program, giving participants and families the information they need to engage with confidence.

Aspect has also delivered multiple education sessions for coaches throughout the partnership, with a dedicated session for referees held on April 20, the first of its kind, extending autism understanding across match officials and into all parts of the game day experience.

Football Victoria has also joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative, with training and education to be rolled out across the organisation in the coming months, strengthening its capacity to recognise and support participants with non-visible disabilities.

The initiatives reflect a recognition that access to sport is not guaranteed by an open registration form. For many participants with autism and their families, the barriers are environmental, informational and social; and removing them requires sustained investment in education, assessment and design.

UEFA reaffirm partnership with Oceania Football Confederation

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Image credit: UEFA.com

Last week, UEFA signed a Memoriam of Understanding (MoU) with Oceania’s football governing body to continue its commitment  to football in Oceania.

 

United through football

While being two governing bodies separated by distance, the MoU stands as a symbol of unity and collaboration which supports mutual growth.

The agreement will run until 2031, displaying both parties’ commitment to long-term development through football.

“Europe and Oceania are connected by a shared belief in the importance of investing in people as the foundation of football’s future,” said UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin, via press release.

“This Memorandum of Understanding brings together UEFA’s experience in elite development and education with OFC’s clear focus on nurturing young talent and strengthening football leadership.”

Furthermore, OFC President, Lambert Maltock, also expressed his confidence in the agreement to support players and pathways alike.

“Our partnership with UEFA reflects a shared commitment to developing the game at every level – from grassroots to elite,” said Maltock.

“By investing in our people and working collaboratively, we are building a more connected, capable and globally competitive football ecosystem for Oceania.”

 

What the agreement promises

Continuing UEFA’s recent MoUs with CAF (Africa), Concacaf (North, Central America and the Caribbean) and CONMEBOL (South America), the partnership will seek to address several key aspects. These include:

  • Youth football opportunities – supporting OFC’s annual boy’s and girl’s U15 tournaments.
  • Knowledge exchange – reciprocal observer programmes at club finals and national team tournaments.
  • Football development – delivered through the UEFA Together programme.
  • Coach education – sharing of technical expertise and learning activities.
  • Refereeing – opportunities to referee youth tournaments, courses and technical programmes.

Moreover, the agreement outlines a commitment to ensuring football remains a tolerant and inclusive sport, capable of uniting communities and empowering individuals.

Therefore, the MoU between UEFA and the OFC is symbolic of aligned values, principles and vision for the future of football in both regions.

 

Final thoughts

An alliance of this nature – especially in these uncertain times for global cooperation – is vital.

Football has the power to unite like nothing else.

So governing bodies must recognise the value of connecting across cultures, countries and continents, not only for what it can do for football, but how it can promote fundamental values within the sport as a whole.

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