Football Federation Australia (FFA) has sanctioned a Queensland registered player for betting on football matches, in breach of the FFA National Code of Conduct.
The breaches included betting on matches involving his own club, as well as other Football Brisbane Premier League, National Premier League, FFA Cup and A-League matches.
FFA has issued a sanction of a $500 fine payable now and an immediate two (2) match suspension. The sanction also includes a further suspended two (2) match suspension, to be triggered immediately in the event of another breach of the Code of Conduct.
In determining the sanction, FFA took into account the participant's immediate cooperation with FFA's investigation.
FFA CEO David Gallop said that this incident served as a timely reminder that all registered football participants are prohibited from betting on football matches.
"Protecting the integrity of football is paramount to the reputation of our game. The FIFA Code of Ethics prohibits registered players, coaches, referees and club officials from betting on football matches anywhere in the world," Gallop said.
"The FFA National Code of Conduct serves to protect the integrity of football in Australia and reflects the principles in FIFA's regulations. While the regulations do not differentiate between placing bets on your own local club or an overseas professional team the integrity risk is much higher when bets are placed on matches that are directly connected to the participant."
The participant has a right of appeal under the Code of Conduct to FFA's independent Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.
The FFA National Code of Conduct contains the following prohibition:
BETTING, MATCH-FIXING AND CORRUPTION
4.1 A Member must not engage, directly or indirectly, in:
(a) any bet, wager, gamble or any other form of financial speculation where the relevant person stands to win or gain from the win, draw or loss of any Club competing in a Match;
(b) the throwing or fixing of a Match; or
(c) any conduct or behaviour intended to unfairly affect the result of a Match, including accepting or agreeing to accept any Benefit connected with or relating to the ability of a Member to exercise control over or influence the outcome of a Match so as to bring about a result other than that which would be achieved in a fair contest between the competing teams.
The full National Code of Conduct can be viewed at: https://www.ffa.com.au/governance/statutes-and-regulations
