Football Victoria outlines updates to 2020 competitions

Metropolitan Football
Senior metropolitan competitions (NPL and community) will not proceed or resume as fixtured, with alternative competitions and football options over the spring and summer to be discussed with clubs on an opt-in basis
Junior NPL competitions to resume in modified form, with a target date in September (subject to Government restrictions)
Community junior competitions to resume in modified form on an opt-in basis, with a target date in September (subject to Government restrictions)

Following the Victorian Government’s decision to reintroduce lockdown restrictions due to the number of active Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, Football Victoria is today announcing a series of changes to its competition structures for the remainder of 2020.

The decisions made by FV have always been made with the intention of enabling football to be played by as many people as possible. However, despite the best efforts of our amazing clubs and their volunteers, FV staff and every one of the game’s stakeholders, it will be impossible to run complete competitions for every age group and level.

As such, FV has made a series of decisions to establish which competitions can proceed as fixtured, which can be altered and which we have been forced to cancel. These have been incredibly difficult decisions to make in a challenging and complex environment.

On the whole, we are incredibly disappointed that we have not been able to host a complete season for every participant who wishes to play football, however the health and safety of community remains our number one priority.

In regions that are not facing lockdowns (outside of metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire), junior (18 and under) football can continue to be played, and we intend to create a schedule that allows for competition to take place, noting that some of those competitions are fixtured by FV and some are managed by the local Association.

FV is still working through a vast number of issues related to fixturing, including those pertaining to regional clubs who participate in metropolitan competitions, or where there is significant crossover with clubs who are marginally outside the boundaries of affected regions.

We are also cognisant that there will be players in affected areas who play for clubs outside those zones, and vice versa. Issues of club and player eligibility will be clarified in the coming days.

For those players currently in lockdown zones who want to play later in the year, Football Victoria will operate modified competitions and other football options on an ‘opt-in’ basis, giving as much of our community as possible the opportunity to step onto the pitch.

We anticipate from September, the following competitions structures are projected to be in place (subject to State Government advice).

COMPETITIONS FOR SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2020

As outlined above, Football Victoria will look to create modified competitions and other football options that clubs can participate in during the later months of 2020.

Our aim is to give participants a football experience this season, and we are committed to shaping a revised competition – potentially in a cup-style, round-robin or pool-stage competition.

FV 2020 FEE POLICY

We understand the football community (reasonably) would like to have certainty in relation to both club and FV/FFA fees. It is noted that both clubs and FV have incurred costs to date in twice preparing for the commencement of seasons, and in some competitions, the season had already commenced.

In these unprecedented and rapidly changing times, FV has a responsibility to ensure the viability of our clubs and ultimately the game in Victoria. FV is working through this issue as an absolute priority in conjunction with our clubs and will respond on this once we have established a position that balances the best interests of the game and a reasonable apportionment of costs and accordingly fees. Please note, the previously communicated fee-relief offer will be superseded by the policy established.