Gaza Football Club fined $186,000 and loses six premiership points for salary cap breaches

A local footy club’s early guilty plea and willingness to co-operate with salary cap investigators has softened some of the fallout. See what changed.

A South Australian local footy club has had a monetary fine for a salary cap breach significantly downgraded due to making an early guilty plea.

Gaza faces a fine of $186,000 and the loss of six premiership points following the sentencing hearing to determine penalties for serious breaches of player payment regulations between 2018 and 2022.

“The SANFL originally issued the maximum penalties for breaches of salary cap regulations, but offered substantial concessions had the club been prepared to make an early guilty plea and work with us,” SANFL executive general manager football Matt Duldig said.

“The penalties recommended by the salary cap commissioner should serve as a reminder to all community football clubs that breaches of the salary cap regulations are taken extremely seriously.

“Ultimately, we have player payment regulations in place to ensure the sustainability of community football clubs, as well as to provide equalisation measures across the state.”

Former Gaza Football Club president Don Rosella, right, has been suspended for five years from holding any official role at a football club. Picture Mark Brake

The club was originally staring at a fine of $380,000.

But the revised fine amount and sanctions, which require ratification by the SA Football Commission next week, also includes the loss of six players points for the 2024 season and former club president Don Rosella being suspended from holding any official role with an affiliated league or club for five years.