No More: FV introduces ‘draconian’ Three-strike Rule with Mass Points Deductions

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Football Victoria (FV) has ratified an uncompromising new “Three Strike Policy” for the 2026 season.

The regulatory overhaul targets the systemic abuse of match officials, shifting liability directly onto club administrations for the behaviour of all associates, including spectators.

The policy responds to critical workforce retention data. In 2022, over 50% of first-year referees exited the system, creating a sustainable coverage crisis. With 2025 data revealing a persistent trend of “egregious incidents” (including threatening language and physical violence), FV aims to arrest the decline by enforcing strict club accountability.

The Framework

The policy targets specific offences, including inappropriate physical contact, intimidation, spitting, and violence committed by any Club Associate. Crucially, this definition encompasses coaches, players, parents, and general spectators. Strikes apply cumulatively over a rolling 12-month period.

Strike 1: A suspended 3-point deduction is issued to all club teams. This places the entire membership on notice immediately.

Strike 2: If a second offence occurs within 12 months, the 3-point deduction is triggered immediately for the offending team. A mandatory $2,000 fine applies. Operationally, FV may also mandate closed-door matches or venue reversals, stripping clubs of home-ground advantage and vital matchday revenue.

Strike 3: A third offence triggers the 3-point deduction for every team in the club that has not yet been penalised. A mandatory $5,000 fine is levied. Furthermore, Club Executives are summoned to a mandatory meeting with FV leadership to explain the pattern of behaviour. FV reserves the right to remove teams from competition or revoke club affiliation entirely.

Implementation

Significantly, there is no right of appeal against a strike. This removes the traditional tribunal pathway for these specific offences, streamlining the punishment process. If a club accumulates a fourth strike, fines escalate to $10,000.

This zero-tolerance approach ensures clubs can no longer view behavioural fines as a mere operational cost. By tying spectator and associate behaviour directly to the league table, FV has effectively monetised the culture of abuse, forcing committees to police their sidelines or face relegation.

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FQ Reinstates WinterFest 2026 at the Sunshine Coast

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Football Queensland (FQ) has confirmed WinterFest, the state’s premier junior football carnival, will return to the Sunshine Coast from 1 to 5 July 2026; this time at a new home in the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC).

Delivered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast, the five-day carnival will span USC and Sunshine Coast Wanderers FC, hosting Under 9 to Under 11 Boys and Under 11 Girls teams from every corner of the state.

WinterFest is not simply a competition. Within FQ’s development framework, the carnival serves a dual function, to expose elite junior players to FQ Technical staff, whilst providing emerging referees with live matchday experience under the guidance of senior officials.

“The carnival plays an important role in nurturing not only our most promising young players, who can showcase their abilities in front of FQ Technical staff who continue to monitor their ongoing development, but also our cohort of emerging referees from across Queensland,” said Ryan Fett, FQ General Manager- Football, Infrastructure & Club Development.

The shift to USC is deliberate. FQ has signalled an intention to elevate the event experience year-on-year, and a university campus venue, with its infrastructure and capacity, reflects that ambition more than a traditional football ground would.

Beyond the Pitch

The tournament’s footprint, however, extends well beyond the pitch. With thousands of visiting families descending on the region across five days, WinterFest functions as a significant economic activation for the Sunshine Coast during what is otherwise a quieter winter period.

“WinterFest brings enormous energy to the region, the USC and Buderim fields will be buzzing and the talent on show outstanding,” said Sunshine Coast Resilient Economy Portfolio Councillor Terry Landsberg.

The language- “Resilient Economy”- is worth noting. Landsberg’s portfolio title alone signals how local government now frames junior sport: not as community goodwill, but as economic infrastructure.

His reference to Brisbane 2032 made that explicit. “As we move closer to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, these experiences are invaluable for aspiring athletes and equally important for boosting local tourism and supporting our businesses during the winter period.”

Whether a regional Under 11 carnival genuinely feeds an Olympic pipeline is debatable. What isn’t is that the political incentive to frame it that way, with 2032 drawing every level of government into the orbit of sport, is very real.

Victorian Parliament Hosts Landmark Launch Event for Level the Playing Field Initiative

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Victoria’s football community gathered at Parliament House on Thursday for the launch of the Level the Playing Field initiative, bringing together government representatives, councils, administrators and grassroots clubs in a rare show of unity for the game.

Held in Queen’s Hall at Parliament House Melbourne, the event marked the formal introduction of the campaign and highlighted the growing collaboration between football stakeholders and government to support the sport’s rapid growth across the state.

The launch was organised through the Parliamentary Friends of Football Victoria, a newly established group aimed at strengthening ties between football and policymakers at federal, state and local levels.

Speaking at the event, co-convenor Anthony Cianflone emphasised the significance of bringing the sport’s diverse ecosystem together under one roof.

“This is the very purpose of establishing the Parliamentary Friends of Football Victoria,” he said.

“It’s about bringing together federal, state and local governments with the entire football ecosystem – something that has never been done before.”

Cianflone described the gathering as a historic moment for the sport in Victoria, noting that the state’s parliament had never previously hosted a dedicated football event of this scale.

“Queen’s Hall being booked out for football has never happened before,” he said. “Hopefully it leaves a lasting impression about what football means to local communities and why continued investment and support is so important.”

The event drew representatives from clubs across Victoria, alongside administrators and officials from across the football landscape, reflecting the sport’s deep grassroots foundations and broad community reach.

Leaders from Football Victoria also addressed the gathering, highlighting the role football plays in promoting health, social inclusion and community connection across the state.

The launch comes at a time of significant momentum for the sport nationally, following the record-breaking success of the Australia women’s national soccer team and growing participation numbers at grassroots level.

With football participation continuing to rise across Victoria, organisers said the event represented an important step toward strengthening collaboration between clubs, governing bodies and government to support the future of the game.

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