Hi all,

Football Victoria will be implementing a 3 Strike Rule to stamp out inappropriate behaviour by club members towards game day match officials, relevant documents are attached outlining the possible ramifications for any breaches. The most important points to note for all club members are as follows:

THE 3 STRIKE POLICY takes points off ALL CLUB TEAMS (or just the relevant team if the club demonstrates measures) after the 1st strike and substantial monetary fines.

Strike 1 • Issue a strike notice to the Club citing details of the Offence. • All Club Teams will be issued a suspended 3-point deduction.

Strike 2 • Issue a second strike notice to the Club citing details of the Offence or behaviour, if within 12 months of the date of a first strike notice. • The relevant Team will have their 3-point deduction triggered with immediate effect. • The Club will be issued with a request for response which must be received within 10 days and which must demonstrate measures, to FV’s satisfaction, that the Club will implement to address the Offence/behaviour including future mitigation. • Upon receipt, FV will determine which, if any, other Teams will have their 3-point deduction triggered. • Additional requirements may be imposed by FV in conjunction with the Football Operations Department, such as the playing of fixtures with no spectators, movement of Kick-Off times of Home Matches, reversal of fixtures to the opposition team venue or matches to be played at neutral venues. • The Club will receive a mandatory $2,000 fine for any second strike.

Strike 3 • Issue a third strike notice to the Club citing details of the Offence or behaviour, if, within 12 months of the date of a second strike notice. • The relevant Team will have their 3-point deduction triggered with immediate effect (regardless of whether they were issued a deduction of points in the Second Strike in which case a further 3 points shall be deducted from that Team). • All Teams not yet deducted 3-point deductions under the First and/or Second Strikes will have these penalties enacted. • A request for response will be issued to the Club which will provide a summary of the incidents across all three strikes. • Club Executive Committee members must attend a meeting with FV’s Executive to discuss the issues and pattern of behaviour at the Club. • FV will make a determination regarding sanctions. • In circumstances where affiliation is not revoked under a third strike, one or more Teams involved in the offending conduct, across any number of competitions the Club may be involved in, could be removed from those competitions for the remainder of the Season or be mandated to participate without the possibility of earning points. • The Club will receive a mandatory $5,000 fine.

SUFC members are also reminded that our Club has a Disciplinary Procedure in place, which incorporates the Football Victoria GDT sanctions, to ensure our Club is also taking a pro-active approach to stamp out inappropriate behaviour by Club members.

We thank all our Club members for their continued support in assisting the Club to promote a fun and safe game day environment for all volunteers, spectators, players, referees, assistant referees and other match day officials during the 2026 season.

Kind Regards,

Gabrielle Clare
SUFC President