River Murray Football League club Jervois cops massive penalty for salary cap breaches

River Murray Football League powerhouse Jervois has copped a whopping penalty for salary cap breaches ahead of the 2023 season. See what punishments have been delivered by the SANFL.

Jervois has been dealt major punishment for a salary cap breach. Picture: File

River Murray Football League club Jervois has been revealed as the country footy side found guilty of salary cap breaches, with the club receiving a massive punishment.

The club has accepted a whopping $26,500 fine from the SANFL and will also receive the loss of premiership points and player points over the next two seasons.

The punishments are for breaches of player payment regulations in 2022.

Jervois will be stripped of four premiership points in 2023 and four points in season 2024, and will be limited to four points under the Approved Player Points System (APPS) for 2024 and 2025.

Charges for breaches of Player Payment Salary Cap regulations were laid by SANFL earlier this month against the club after an extensive investigation conducted by SANFL’s Integrity department.

The penalties were approved last week by the SA Football Commission before being formally accepted by the club.

The charges against the club were in relation to travel payments (including flights), which led to breaches of the match payment limit and failing to declare full payment details.

SANFL’s investigations found there were no breaches of the salary cap by the club in seasons 2020 and 2021, the years in which the Bluds won consecutive premierships in the RMFL.

Club officials and players involved fully co-operated throughout the investigation and this was reflected in the penalties and sanctions imposed.

Jervois Football Club Jervois has been hit with penalties for salary cap breaches. Picture SARAH REED

SANFL Head of Country Football Shawn Ford said the penalties issued to Jervois were a reminder to all community football clubs that breaches of the salary cap regulations would be comprehensively investigated by the SANFL Integrity and Compliance department.

“The club, led by newly appointed president Zane Barry, has been fully co-operative throughout the investigation,” he said.

“The current executive of the club also has demonstrated a commitment to improving internal controls and taking the club in a positive direction.

“The club’s co-operation, including that of the officials and players who were the subject of the various salary cap breaches, have been taken into consideration with the imposed sanctions. Furthermore, no charges were brought against the individual offending players and officials.

“The salary cap regulations have been in place for some time and there is no excuse for any player or official breaching these rules.

“It is crucial that all those involved in community football are aware that it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure compliance with salary cap regulations including club officials and players.”

The SANFL last week confirmed “a number of salary cap investigations” regarding community clubs in SA were ongoing.

It’s understood the SANFL rang each RMFL club before the announcement and warned them a ruling was imminent.

The penalties are similar to the punishment handed to Kowree Naracoorte and Tatiara Football League club Kybybolite in 2019 after it breached player payment regulations by awarding players upfront sign-on payments.

The club was fined $18,350 by the SANFL and stripped of 16 premiership points for the next season.

The SANFL, RMFL and Jervois were contacted for comment.

Full summary of Jervois salary cap penalties

$26,500 fine ($9,500 of which is suspended)

Limited to a total of four points allocated under the Approved Player Points System (APPS) in both season 2024 and 2025

Loss of 8 premiership points in 2023 and 2024 (four points per year).