Football Federation Australia will have to explain its controversial national club identity policy to the Human Rights Commission following two complaints about the banning of a Melbourne Knights' sponsorship deal with a community club for an FFA Cup match.
Melbourne Knights and the Melbourne Croatia Soccer Club submitted complaints against the FFA and attacked the identity policy after the Knights were banned from displaying a deal with the related community and junior club for their FFA Cup match against Queensland side Olympic FC.
The policy prevents clubs from adding ethnic, religious, political or broad geographic symbols, words or imagery to their name, logo or jersey. The Knights were forced to find replacement jerseys and print cup badges the day before the match after the FFA informed them their original kit submission would be denied due to the sponsorship deal.
The Knights were also warned to remove two sleeve sponsors, the Australian Croatian Association of Geelong and the Australian Croatian Association of Melbourne. Both sponsors remained in view, however, as the club was forced to play in its Victorian Premier League jerseys, which have displayed those sponsors for four years. It is understood the Knights are furious with the ban as they had been encouraged to seek sponsorship deals for the FFA Cup as long as there was no conflict of interest with the competition's commercial partners.
The club threatened legal action against the FFA if no resolution was found as a result of their complaint to the commission.
"Melbourne Knights FC intends to see out the process handled by the Human Rights Commission in the hope of a resolution," the club said. "Failing that, the club has already retained legal representation and is ready to challenge the FFA’s national club identity policy in the Federal Circuit Court. Should that situation eventuate, Melbourne Knights Football Club will call an extraordinary general meeting of all members to give more detailed information about the situation."
The FFA defended the implementation of the identity policy and said it would respond to the commission in due course.
“FFA’s national club identity policy has the key principle of promoting football as Australia’s most inclusive, accessible and multicultural sport," an FFA spokesman said.
