FOOTBALL Queensland has paused its proposed 2027 fee overhaul after a statewide backlash from clubs – including Wynnum Wolves, Redlands United and Capalaba Football Club – over fears higher costs could be passed on to families.
But the united clubs say the pause must now lead to a genuine, transparent statewide consultation process before any revised Competition Access Fee model is introduced.
“The pause creates an essential opportunity for further consultation before changes affecting clubs, volunteers, players and families proceed,” the clubs said in a joint statement.
“Before the most significant change to player registration and fee collection in many years is introduced, clubs’ concerns must be heard and addressed.”
Capalaba Football Club president Meg Brady said the proposed model should still be deferred until at least 2028, allowing volunteer-run clubs time to assess its impact and plan properly.
Football Queensland said on Friday it recognised further consultation and clearer communication were needed over the model, which would replace its member-based charging system with team-based fees from next year.
FQ said it had paused its approach immediately while its board meets with the Football Queensland Congress in coming days, with a further update to clubs expected early this week.
The governing body said the model had been developed through financial modelling and consultation, partly in response to card-surcharge rule changes, and was intended to simplify fee collection and reduce administration.
FQ maintained the proposal was not designed to increase participation costs, with its modelling showing no material increase in fees paid to the governing body by participants.
However, Ms Brady has written to Sport and Racing Minister Tim Mander urging the State Government to seek answers from FQ and support a delay to the model.
Capalaba was among 81 clubs initially backing a formal objection, with support since growing to more than 140 clubs across metropolitan, regional and coastal Queensland.
“The rapid growth in support for the clubs’ position highlights the depth of concern throughout Queensland’s football community,” Ms Brady wrote.
“More than 100 clubs standing together within a matter of days is unprecedented.”
The joint club statement said the proposed CAF model risked increasing costs for players and families while shifting greater financial risk, administration and workload onto the volunteers who kept community football running.
Clubs fear the proposed team-based structure could substantially increase their Football Queensland-related bills, forcing not-for-profit organisations to recover the difference through higher registration fees.
Earlier modelling released by Wynnum Wolves Football Club estimated its annual Football Queensland-related costs for 70 community teams and about 826 players would rise from $55,156 to $90,766.79, including GST – an increase of $35,610.79, or 64.6 per cent.
Ms Brady said some increases exceeded 60 per cent and warned the fixed team-fee structure could particularly disadvantage smaller and regional clubs, along with clubs that kept squad numbers at appropriate levels for player development.
“Most clubs, like mine, are not-for-profit,” she said.
“The increased costs will ultimately be passed directly onto families through higher registration fees.”
The clubs’ statement said consultation could not be limited to a small group, arguing every affiliated club across Queensland should have a meaningful opportunity to understand any revised proposal and help shape the outcome.
