SA lawyer Greg Griffin set to lead Gaza Football Club salary cap breach appeal
A top SA lawyer has revealed new details of a local footy club’s alleged salary cap breaches as he prepares to represent the club in its appeal of a record penalty.
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A local SA footy club is set to lodge an appeal over the coming days of a record penalty handed down by SANFL for alleged salary cap breaches dating back to 2018.
Division four Adelaide Footy League club Gaza has enlisted high-profile SA lawyer Greg Griffin as it prepares to lodge an appeal to SANFL after being charged with a number of salary cap breaches between 2018-2022.
The club received a state record $380,000 fine and a reduction in player and premiership points as a result.
Club president Don Rosella also received a 10-year suspension from holding any official role with a SANFL-affiliated club, while two other club officials received three years each.
Griffin said the club had evidence it did not breach community football salary cap rules and regulations and revealed details regarding the payment of a past player.
“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.”
Griffin said Gaza was confident an appeal would be successful but that he was sceptical of the SANFL’s appeal process.
“Gaza is confident and would not invest in this process unless there was a prospect of success,” he said.
“I have serious reservations about the process though and my grave concern is that the SANFL conducts the inquiry and determines the penalty but then you have to go to the SANFL to appeal their own decision.
“Why isn’t this going out to an independent person or body who can properly assess the situation?”
Gaza will hold a meeting on Sunday to determine how it will fund the appeal.
It is expected members of the public and club members and supporters will be able to provide a boost.
“These sorts of events usually galvanise clubs, particularly community clubs, and there’s people coming out of the woodwork who are willing to help,” Griffin said.
While Gaza has aired concerns a $380,000 fine would eradicate the club, SANFL chief Darren Chandler said the sporting body’s goal was not to wipe the club off of the 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 told Triple M’s The Rush Hour.
“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.
“If they reject the charges it will go to a tribunal but if not there will be a process we go through to make sure we get an appropriate outcome everyone is satisfied with.
“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.”
The club has 10 days left to officially lodge an appeal.
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