Gaza Football Club players warned over fines list, nude photo incident
A local footy club has issued a warning to senior players over a controversial ‘fines list’ and an alleged nude photo scandal. See the list.
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An Adelaide Footy League club has issued a verbal warning to its senior group over a controversial ‘fines list’ and an alleged nude photo scandal.
The Gaza Football Club has addressed senior players over a fines list and a nude photo incident dating back to January.
Club emails seen by this masthead detailed a ‘fines list’ set up by some of its senior players which included a $50 fine “if you don’t get the wand out in the shower.”
The emails also detailed an alleged incident involving some senior players sending photos taken of topless barmaids to a player and coach group chat which included players aged under 18.
Some players and coaches were also accused of making sexist and degrading comments and it is understood at least one senior player and one committee member have left the Eagles in disgust over the incident.
In a statement made to this masthead, the club said it would not tolerate the alleged behaviour.
“The Board of Directors at Gaza Sport & Community Club was made aware of an online incident involving members of its senior playing group and coaching team in late January 2025.
“As a football club that has been involved in community football since 1903, the safety and wellbeing of our club and community members is and has always been our highest priority.
“At the time of the reported incident, the entire senior playing group was subsequently addressed and issued with a verbal warning, attendance was recorded, and expectations regarding conduct and club protocols were clearly communicated and understood.
“The club also actioned child safeguarding processes, including mandated notifying, and communicated directly with families of the younger playing group.
“The club does not condone the conduct in question and acknowledges that the reported incident does not align with its values or expectations of its members.
“To reinforce our commitment to a safe and respectful club environment, the Committee passed a motion to formally adopt the SANFL Member Protection Policy as a club-wide standard. These and other policies have now been made publicly available on our website.
“Additionally, we are committed to complying with Child Safeguarding requirements in line with our legal responsibilities and duty of care and the committee has also engaged an external education provider to deliver further training.
“The Board of Directors will not give further weight to the harmful and misleading claims directed at our senior players or football coaches.”
Adelaide Footy League chief John Kernahan said the club had been “as transparent in its dealings with this matter as we could hope.”
“We acknowledge the trials and tribulations for 69 clubs facilitated by volunteers with circa 12,000 18 to 35-year-olds to manage.
“The Adelaide Footy League have long counselled our clubs in an age-old idiom that it is never the crime but the cover up that is more incriminating than the crime itself.
“The seriousness of the incident aside, we can at least take some comfort that the Gaza FC has managed the issue head on and adhered to protocols surrounding it in the process.”
The Gaza Football Club was at the centre of controversy last season after it was found guilty of up to 223 charges of salary cap breaches dating back to 2018 and fined $186,000.
The club has reportedly experienced a turnaround with increased numbers at the senior level and will compete in D5 after suffering relegation last season.