2027 CLUB AFFILIATION AGREEMENT FAQS
Football Queensland (FQ) has considered the matters clubs have raised about the 2027 Affiliation Agreement. These FAQs set out FQ’s position on each matter, where it will refine wording for 2028, and where provisions will remain unchanged. References to FA are to Football Australia.
Important: Football Queensland has reissued the 2027 Affiliation Agreement. Where FQ has agreed to a change below, those agreed amendments have now been incorporated into the revised Agreement.
KEY DATES
FQ has extended the affiliation date to close of business, Friday 13 November 2026.
The 2028 Affiliation Agreement will be available by 1 September 2027.
FQ looks forward to clubs affiliating for the benefit of football in Queensland.
AFFILIATION AND THE STRUCTURE OF FOOTBALL
Football is governed in a pyramid structure, with regulatory obligations flowing down through the governing bodies to provide a consistent regulatory framework throughout the sport. FA has a mandate to govern football within Australia under its obligations in the FIFA Statutes. In carrying out this mandate, and as a national sporting organisation recognised by the Australian Sports Commission, FA has established objects and rules in its Constitution that flow through to State Body Members such as FQ.
Each Constituent is required to comply with the FA Statutes, including any by-laws, statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FA. FA has granted each State Body Member a mandate to organise, promote and administer football throughout its state or territory, and to implement and enforce the FA Statutes, including by ensuring clubs within its jurisdiction comply (Article 6 of the FA Constitution). Consistent with the FIFA Statutes, each State Body, Competition and Club in Australia is subordinate to, and must be recognised by, FA. Affiliation is fundamental to this obligation.
No. The Affiliation Agreement has largely remained unchanged in its current format since 2021, with a significant portion in place since 2012. During this time, no concerns had been tabled or raised with FQ. The agreement is designed around FQ’s constitutional obligation to bind all affiliated clubs to FA’s statutes, policies and by-laws.
Football Queensland (FQ) recognises the critical work of our Congress: the Zone Committee Members from across the state who are the voice of our clubs. Over the past few weeks, FQ has worked closely with Zone Committee Members who have raised concerns and passed on valuable feedback from all clubs and all regions across the state regarding affiliation. That feedback led directly to the outcomes outlined in these FAQs, and we thank our Zone Committee Members for their work and for the important role they play in our game.
MATCH OFFICIALS AND CLUB REFEREES (CLAUSE 3.4)
This is a policy to be achieved over the next three years. There is no game of football without a referee, and it is important that clubs develop referees from a young age. FQ will amend clause 3.4 so that achieving the ratios and numbers in clause 3.4(b)(i) is a goal. Clubs will be required to use their best endeavours, in the spirit of the game, to achieve the ratio set out in the policy.
Clause 3.4(a) is a statement about the new Club Referee policy. It provides context for the substantive elements in clause 3.4(b), which relate specifically to club referee enrolment requirements, that is, how a club referee enrols with FQ.
The clause aligns with the updated FA requirements in Articles 6.17 and 16 to 16.3 of the FA National Registration, Status and Transfer Regulations (NRSTR). Clauses 3.4(b)(iii) to (vi) ensure that club referees enrol properly (and are not refereeing while unregistered), are bound by the FA statutes, and are enrolled in the correct format in Squadi, which FQ requires to collect data on match coverage rates and appointments.
No. The words “referees” and “officials” are often used interchangeably in football. Because this clause deals with club referees, it refers explicitly to match officials, that is, referees.
THIRD-PARTY FOOTBALL SERVICE PROVIDERS (CLAUSES 2.1(Y) AND 2.1(Z))
No. Both clauses have appeared in their current form since November 2021. As far as FQ can determine, earlier versions were also included in agreements dating back to 2012.
No. The clauses do not apply to clubs engaging general support services such as medical, physiotherapy or specialist technical staff. These individuals often work under the club’s brand, as club employees or contractors, and are not a concern.
They are aimed specifically at clubs deliberately outsourcing their football operations to private companies in a way that undermines the not-for-profit federated club system. Their purpose is to:
- prevent private companies from using an affiliated club as a vehicle to improperly profit from Federated Football;
- protect the sustainability of federated clubs; and
- protect Federated Football, which owns the intellectual property, brands, rights and assets of the game, from direct or indirect privatisation.
As the governing body for football in Queensland, FQ acts in the interests of its affiliated clubs. It will not act to advance the commercial interests of private businesses or academies seeking to profit from the federated football system at the expense of affiliated clubs. This is FQ’s long-standing position.
Yes. FQ is open to refining the definition in the 2028 Affiliation Agreement to remove any possible ambiguity.
TERMINATION (CLAUSE 11, INCLUDING CLAUSES 11.1 TO 11.4)
Concerns were raised about the first sentence of clause 11, which reads: “Football Queensland may terminate this agreement by giving two weeks’ written notice to the applicant club.” FQ’s position is that deleting this sentence addresses those concerns. All other rights to terminate arise, as would be expected, from breaches of the agreement.
PUBLIC COMMENT AND CRITICISM (CLAUSE 2.1(S))
There is a strong emphasis across sport on protecting referees, administrators and participants from online abuse. The obligations in this clause are imposed on the club and require the club to use its best endeavours to achieve the outcomes set out in the clause. The clause reflects, and binds clubs to, FA’s National Code of Conduct and Ethics, which all clubs and participants must adhere to, in particular clauses 2.2, 2.5 and 2.6.
Criticism is highly subjective, and FQ considers it reasonable that FQ be the arbiter of what constitutes a breach. It has been suggested that the term “critical” is broad, and that the author should decide whether their criticism is reasonable and measured. Experience suggests that authors are generally not objective about their own comments.
No. Any disclosure, reporting or escalation required under legislation or the National Integrity Framework is not restricted by this clause, as these are obligations.
No. This clause will not be amended.
COMMUNICATION WITH FOOTBALL AUSTRALIA
The clause reflects the governance structure of football in Australia, under which FA has delegated responsibility for governing the game in each state to that state’s member federation. Consistent with this structure, matters raised with FA outside its direct responsibility are referred to the relevant member federation, which in Queensland is FQ. This clause was amended after feedback received from FA. It now reads:
“Respect the regulatory and administrative frameworks of the game by directing communication and enquiries to the appropriate and responsible governance layer within the game. Outside of formal grievance, and appeals processes (including in accordance with FA’s Member Protection Framework), PlayFootball, Club Changer, Growing Football Fund, Coles MiniRoos KickOff, and other Football Australia administered programs, services and initiatives, clubs shall not communicate directly with FA, and will ensure all other communication is directed to Football Queensland;”
The clause has existed in its current form since November 2021 and carried over from earlier agreements in other forms going back to 2012 (as far as FQ can determine). There will be no further changes to the FA-amended wording above.
INDEMNITY, LIABILITY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Yes. FQ has accepted the clubs’ proposal to limit the broad indemnity and the clause has been edited to reflect this.
FQ has agreed to limit the licence over club intellectual property, as proposed by clubs.
FEES AND CHARGES
No. The schedule noting specific MiniRoos charges has been removed.
REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPANT ACTIVITY
Yes. Clause 3.2.1 directly adheres to and complies with the NRSTR clauses that FA has strengthened twice in recent months, specifically clauses 6, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6 and 6.17. These remain a critical obligation for each club.
Each season, FQ releases a simple Intent to Trial process and form so clubs can account for and manage all pre-registration activities of participants who have not yet decided which club they will ultimately play for.
The updated Affiliation Agreement clauses 2.1(g) and 2.1(h) do not currently read this way as they had been previously amended.
Clause 3.3 directly adheres to and complies with the same NRSTR clauses that FA has recently strengthened, specifically clauses 6, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6 and 6.17.
The use of Club Management Software platforms is acceptable, however clubs must ensure compliance with section 3.3(d) of the 2027 Football Queensland Affiliation Agreement is strictly maintained at all times to avoid breaching FA’s NRSTR’s which can be found here.
This is covered in the 2027 Sanctioning Policy.
COMMERCIAL RIGHTS AND VENUE ACCESS (CLAUSES 4.1 TO 4.3)
Clubs undertake activities using the intellectual property, brands, competitions, sponsors and assets of FA and FQ. As provided for in the FIFA Statutes, FA is the original owner of all rights emanating from competitions and other events within its jurisdiction in Australia, without any restriction as to content, time, place and law. These include intellectual property, media, data, marketing and promotional rights in Australia associated with sanctioned football.
This includes the intellectual property in the ribbon ball logo, a well-recognised symbol used by football governing bodies in Australia and owned by FA, along with other brands (such as MiniRoos) and materials including coach education, curriculum documents, policies and regulations. FA has granted State Body Members, and through them their affiliated bodies, certain rights to use and exploit its intellectual property and commercial rights. No person or organisation can use this intellectual property without FA’s authorisation.
Non-affiliated bodies cannot benefit from this intellectual property or the many other benefits of affiliation with sanctioned football, including:
- Participation in the national cup competition, i.e. the Australia Cup
- Participation in State Cup competitions.
- Ability to participate in the Domestic and International Transfer System, including the receipt of training compensation for clubs.
- Access to elite player, referee and coach pathways (including state representation).
- The Member Protection Framework and associated resources, including access to state and national Member Protection Information Officers.
- The integrity framework and resources.
- National Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures and arbitration tribunals.
- National and state policies and procedures developed with access to best practice information.
- Nationally accredited referees.
- Inclusion of coaching CPD hours for the purposes of accreditation revalidation.
- FIFA Club Benefits Program.
- Nationally funded football programs.
- National and state government funding, and government connections for local funding, including for facilities.
- Club resources, such as those available under the National Club Development Program or any national club licensing program.
- Association with a trusted brand through affiliation to the national sporting organisation.
No alteration to these clauses will be considered.
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
This clause has now been modified to reflect the varying statutory obligations of clubs.
Yes. Clause 9.3 is reasonable and responsible on FQ’s part, and any inspection occurs at no cost to the club.
FQ has agreed to the change proposed by clubs to this clause which outlines commitment to consultation for club accounting changes.
Clubs, not FQ, are responsible for redeeming PlayOn vouchers entered by club-based participants. Clubs must promptly redeem these vouchers in the Government ‘Enquire’ Portal using the codes participants provide. Participants receive the discount and benefit of the government voucher, yet some clubs do not follow through on their obligations to enter the codes in the portal and redeem them in Squadi, which exposes FQ to unacceptable risk, including chargebacks.
Yes. It is not unusual or unreasonable that where FQ has to remedy a default and incurs costs in doing so, it is entitled to pass those costs on to the club. A club avoids any such obligation simply by complying with its obligations. This rarely occurs.
The warranties and notice requirements in clauses 7.1(f) and 7.2 are not unreasonable, and FQ does not consider it in any way unreasonable to ask clubs to warrant these matters. The words “as necessary” can be added after the word “advice” in clause 7.1(f).
FQ is prepared to exclude “genuinely disputed debts and compliant payment plans”, as determined by FQ. FQ will also give seven days’ notice before any affiliation consequences take effect.
COMPLIANCE AND BREACHES
Clause 2.1 provides that these matters are material. Whether something is material is ultimately a question of fact, and an affiliate can always argue in court (if necessary) that a breach is not a material breach. FQ acknowledges that the clause assists FQ’s contention that a matter is material.
Proportionate warnings and the opportunity to rectify minor breaches are what currently occur in practice. There is no reasonable or sensible way to specify in the document whether each issue is immaterial, because circumstances affect this. FQ relies on its history of dealing reasonably with these matters.
No. There are no special conditions that are not set out in the policy.
Rising Through the Ranks 📈
Congratulations to our Queensland match officials who have achieved a significant career milestone by making their national debut across the A-Leagues and Australian Championship this season. Every match official`s journey starts with a first appointment, and these debuts are a reflection of the dedication and hard work shown throughout their refereeing careers.
👏 Join us in recognising these officials and their achievements.
Level Up These School Holidays
Looking for a way to keep the kids active these school holidays? The FQ x @brisbaneroarfc Holiday Clinics are returning across Queensland, with every registration including a Brisbane Roar 4-Game Membership to keep the football experience going beyond the clinic.
Find your closest clinic via the FQ Website.
The stage is set for a massive Futsal Fiesta on the Sunshine Coast! 🌴
With more than 60 FQ Academy Futsal matches taking place across the weekend, the coast will be buzzing with futsal action.
🔗 View fixtures via Squadi.
A Futsal Fiesta Featuring Queensland`s Best at One Venue
Some of the state`s leading Men`s and Women`s futsal players will be on show at Ripley Valley State Secondary College this weekend, with seven #FLeague fixtures scheduled across a packed day of action.
Don`t miss the chance to experience Queensland`s premier futsal competition up close. View the full fixture schedule and plan your day via the F-League page: http://footballqueensland.com.au/f-league/
The road to the 2027 Kappa Pro Series starts tomorrow. 🏆
Join us live at 4pm as the official draw reveals all the groups for the season ahead. Watch on FQ Facebook and be among the first to see how the competition takes shape.
