Charges over 2018 and 2019 illegal sign-on payments against Gaza Football Club dropped

A number of charges that led to a record fine for an amateur South Australian footy club have been dropped.

The SANFL has dropped several charges laid against an amateur footy club, effectively clearing a South Australian football icon of any wrongdoing.

Lawyers for the state’s peak footballing body this week confirmed charges against the Gaza Football Club over alleged illegal sign-on payments made to former captain Brett Heintze in the 2018 and 2019 Adelaide Footy League season would be dropped.

The league will continue with charges related to alleged overpayments in those seasons, as well as charges over the payment of alleged $4000 sign-on fees in 2021 and 2022. Neither the Gaza Football Club nor any individuals involved is accused of any criminal wrongdoing.

The dropping of the football charges effectively clears South Australian football legend and former Gaza Football Club head coach Andrew Jarman of any wrongdoing despite Mr Heintze alleging the sporting icon orchestrated the sign-on payment arrangement.

Charges related to alleged salary cap breaches at the Gaza Football Club while Andrew Jarman was coaching have been dropped despite the SANFL’s key witness alleging the footy icon was the orchestrator of an illegal sign-on payment arrangement. Picture Dean Martin

Mr Heintze told SANFL integrity officers Mr Jarman approached him before the 2018 season offering a $4000 sign on payment as an incentive when he expressed interest in leaving Gaza after he was offered full immunity from any potential SANFL prosecution.

He was the one I spoke to,” Mr Heintze said.

The Sunday Mail last year revealed the SANFL had not investigated the allegations against Mr Jarman during its probe into the Gaza Football Club.

The club was hit with a record $380,000 fine in September over the alleged salary cap breaches between 2018 and 2022, which included the sign-on payments to Mr Heintze, as well as matchday payments to several other players.

Mr Jarman left the club in 2018.

“I have never been investigated,” Mr Jarman told the Sunday Mail last year in response to Mr Heintze’s allegations.

Mr Jarman denied any knowledge of the sign-on payments.

He did not respond to the Sunday Mail’s request for comment on Saturday.

Gaza Football Club’s lawyer Greg Griffin said the SANFL’s prosecution of the club was “disgraceful”.

Gaza Football Club’s lawyer Greg Griffin said the SANFL’s prosecution of the club was “disgraceful”. Picture: Ben Clark

Mr Griffin said the prosecution had been “calamitous” for the club.

“The entire prosecution stands in tatters,” Mr Griffin said.

The SANFL has previously declined to comment on its investigation or the allegations against Mr Jarman.

The Gaza Football Club, which has denied any wrongdoing, is appealing the record penalty, most of which is understood to be related to overpayments across the four seasons.

It is understood Mr Heintze was the only player who received the sign-on payment and the majority of the breaches relate to weekly player payments.

The club’s appeal will continue at a hearing on Monday.