Adelaide Footy League club Gaza to cop biggest fine in SA sports history

An Adelaide Footy League club has been hit with what could be the biggest fine in SA sporting history for years of salary cap breaches.

An Adelaide Footy League club has been hit with the biggest fine in SA sporting history for breaches of salary cap.

Sources close to The Advertiser have confirmed division three Adelaide Footy League club Gaza has been charged with systematic breaches of salary cap dating as far back as season 2018 and fined $380,000 by the SANFL.

It is also understood Gaza president Don Rosella will be handed a suspension of 10 years from holding any official role with a SANFL-affiliated club, while the club’s chairman and football director have each been suspended for three years.

The six-figure fine could be the biggest in SA sports history and may threaten Gaza’s future as a community club.

The penalty is $80,000 more than Adelaide’s $300,000 fine for salary cap breaches involving Kurt Tippett in 2012, and $280,000 more than the $100,000 fine Port Adelaide recently received for failing to adhere to AFL concussion protocols.

The club will also be stripped of player points used to recruit players under the Approved Player Points System through the next two years, and begin next season with a deduction of 12 premiership points.

Gaza is set to be charged for systematic salary cap breaches and fined $380,000 by SANFL. Picture: Facebook

Charges for breaches of Player Payment Salary Cap will be laid by SANFL after an extensive investigation dating back to May.

Under the SANFL’s latest Community Football Rules and Regulations, local suburban clubs are not to exceed a total amount of $2500 in player payments each week.

Clubs can also not exceed payment of $500 to a player per match, while coaches cannot be paid more than $20,000 a season.

Upfront or sign-on payments are not allowed.

Punishments for breaches of player payment regulations can include fines, deduction of premiership points for clubs and suspension from multiple games for individual players or club members.

“Gaza Football Club has been charged with the offences relating to serious breaches of the SANFL Community Football Player Payments regulations,” SANFL said in a statement.

Gaza has been charged with serious breaches of player payment regulations by SANFL. Picture: Facebook

“The charges relate to breaches during the 2018 to 2022 seasons and include sign-on payments and match payments which significantly exceeded the maximum allowable under the Player Payment Regulations.

“The club has 14 days to consider its position and either accept the charges or lodge an appeal and contest some or all of the charges before the Tribunal.”

Gaza president Don Rosella - who has been part of the Eagles since 1969 - said the club would be appealing the punishment.

“A number of players have gained a financial advantage through deception and we will be appealing the decision and making it a legal issue if we need to,” Rosella said.

“Gaza is a club made up of volunteers, this fine would effectively wipe the club off of the local footy universe.”

The club also made a statement to fans.

“The Gaza Sports & Community Club would like to take this chance to acknowledge the publications in the media over the past few days in relation to sanctions that have been passed onto the club.

“The matter will be considered further over the course of the next few weeks & the club will make an official statement when it is appropriate to do so.

“We understand the importance of our club community as a home for our extended Eagles family and ask for your continued patience, positivity and respect for all involved at this time.”

Gaza’s last A Grade premiership was its 2011 division one flag.

The Eagles were relegated to division three at the end of season 2022 and have been relegated to division four for season 2024.