Football Queensland make drastic last-minute change to NPL finals series after lengthy debate

Football Queensland has announced major changes to the structure of its NPL finals after a dispute regarding player eligibility forced multiple clubs to take legal action. It has huge ramifications for some going for the title. Hear from them here

Football Queensland has announced an additional two teams will compete in this year’s NPL Queensland mens’ final series after a lengthy dispute regarding player eligibility forced multiple clubs to take legal action.

The sudden change was made public on August 25, just one week out from the finals series which will now feature six of the competition’s 12 teams.

The teams involved in the dispute are Brisbane City (fifth) and Peninsula Power (sixth).

Football Queensland provided a media release to address the situation and provide an explanation for the new finals series arrangement.

“During the course of the 2023 NPL Queensland Men’s season, an issue has arisen in relation to a disciplinary matter and player eligibility, which has resulted in the provision of inadvertent advice and a subsequent determination from Football Queensland,” the statement read.

“Legal avenues and other formal processes outlined within Football Queensland’s regulations and by-laws were initiated by both clubs.
“We have concluded the fairest, least intrusive and most practical outcome permissible within the regulations … is to make an alteration to the NPL Finals Series and extend the number of qualifying clubs from 4 teams to 6 teams for 2023.”

Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci could not provide further details on the matter, instead stating it was simply a consequence of a player eligibility issue which arose halfway through the regular season.

“There is nothing uncommon about it,” Cavallucci said.

He said the NPL finals had in previous years featured six teams, so the addition is not new.

One of the team’s who could be disadvantaged by the changes is Gold Coast United.

Gold Coast United are currently third on the ladder with one regular season game left and if they remain there the club could be forced to play three games, not two, to seal a potential title.

“Initially, speaking with emotion it isn't fair and I don’t like it, I hate it,” Gold Coast United chairman Andrew Parkes said.

“From an administrator point of view I can understand what Football Queensland have done.

“If an eligible player has played on the advice of Football Queensland then this is the fairest thing they could do.”

With the change impacting initial playoff arrangements, Football Queensland released an updated schedule, as seen below.

“Teams that finish 1st and 2nd on the ladder at the conclusion of the regular season will rest for week 1 of the finals (1st to 3rd September) as per the original format.

“Teams that finish 3rd and 6th on the ladder at the conclusion of the regular reason will now play a semi final (S1) on week 1 of the finals (1st to 3rd September) with 3rd place to host.

“Teams that finish 4th and 5th on the ladder at the conclusion of the regular reason will play a semi final (S2) on week 1 of the finals (1st to 3rd September) with 4th place to host.

“The team that finished 1st on the ladder will play the lowest ranked winner from S1/S2 in a preliminary final (P1) on week 2 of the finals (8th to 10th September).

“The team that finished 2nd on the ladder will play the highest ranked winner from S1/S2 preliminary final (P2) on week 2 of the finals (8th to 10th September).

“The winning teams from P1 and P2 will play each other in the grand final on the 17th September as per the original format.”