Gaza Football Club launches GoFundMe as it prepares to appeal $380,000 salary cap fine

A local SA footy club has launched a public fundraiser in a bid to raise legal funds to appeal a record fine handed down by the SANFL for years of salary cap breaches.

Gaza Football Club has lodged an appeal of its $380,000 fine and launched a GoFundMe. Picture: Facebook

A local SA footy club has launched a public fundraiser in a bid to raise legal funds for an appeal of a record fine handed down by SANFL for years of salary cap breaches.

Adelaide Footy League club Gaza was handed a $380,000 fine – the largest ever in SA sport – by SANFL after being charged with a number of salary cap breaches between 2018-2022.

The club also received a reduction in player and premiership points and club president Don Rosella received a 10-year suspension from holding any official role with a SANFL-affiliated club, while two other officials received three years each.

The club has since launched an appeal of the fine and set up a GoFundMe to cover $30,000 in legal costs, with only $2,700 raised so far.

“It’s open for anyone who wants to donate towards our legal costs for defending ourselves and the appeal. We’ve had donations from people all over the country so far,” Rosella said.

Gaza Football Club has lodged an appeal of its $380,000 fine and launched a GoFundMe. Picture: Facebook

“The target is $30k – the appeal won’t be that much but we anticipate we might need to make this a matter for the Supreme Court if the appeal doesn’t go in our favour.

“We’ve decided enough is enough – the way Gaza has been treated, it’s destroying our legacy.”

While a date has not yet been set for the appeal proceedings, Rosella said the club would be trying everything it could to raise the funds.

He believed the club’s future would be in major jeopardy if it could not foot the bill.

“We’ve got 30 or 40 members who are willing to donate at the moment but we’re calling on anyone at all.

“This fine is so big, it would make an example of us and could see us finish up as a club.”

Adelaide Lawyer Greg Griffin has been engaged to lead Gaza’s appeal. Picture: Ben Clark

Gaza engaged high-profile SA lawyer Greg Griffin to head its appeal.

Griffin said the club had evidence it did not breach community football salary cap rules and regulations.

“There is serious dispute as to whether Gaza did anything wrong when it comes to salary cap,” Griffin said.

“The club vehemently objected to the transfer of a player to another club earlier this year after the player refused $4,000 which was loaned to him for personal reasons.

“The player then decided to treat it as a sign-on fee, but Gaza has evidence to the contrary and never treated it as anything other than an advance.

“This incident has been used as a main pillar of the breaches.”

Earlier this month, SANFL chief Darren Chandler told Triple M’s The Rush Hour the goal was not to wipe Gaza off the local footy map.

“This was an extensive investigation that went over a long period of time and that process is continuing, so our team will continue to work with Gaza,” Chandler said.

“We’re certainly not in this to shut the doors of clubs but at the same time we want to make sure that all clubs throughout the state abide by the rules and regulations that are in place.

“We’ll work with Gaza and let’s hope we can get an outcome that is appropriate … and we want to make sure we the club for many years to come.”