Complaints & Member Protection
If something has happened in football on the Coast that you want to report, this page explains how to do it, what we’ll do with it, and who handles what. Most matters are resolved at the club level. CCF supports clubs through this and takes on inter-club, serious, and league-wide matters.
Is anyone in Danger?
If a child or adult is at risk, or a crime has occurred, do not use this page. Call 000, then notify Football Australia Safeguarding.
Refereeing Decision?
On-field decisions are the referee’s call and are not handled through this page. Red card reviews and on-field disciplinary matters go through the existing process.
Something Else?
For all other concerns, including bullying, harassment, discrimination, sideline behaviour, social media and complaints about decisions made by CCF or your club, read on.
TYPES OF COMPLAINT
Not every concern goes through the same process. Use this as a guide before you lodge.
ON FIELD
Not via this form.
Red cards, refereeing decisions, send-offs, on-field conduct during a match.
Handled through the existing referee report and Judiciary Panel under the CCF Grievance and Disciplinary Regulations.
Conduct and behaviour
Sometimes via this form.
Sideline behaviour, abuse off the field, social media breaches, and code of conduct breaches.
Most matters should be reported directly to your Club Secretary. If it is likely to meet the threshold of seriousness, it can be submitted via this form
MEMBER PROTECTION
Bullying, discrimination, harassment, victimisation between members, parents, coaches, players, officials, or volunteers.
Your club handles this first, with support from CCF. If unresolved, sensitive, or there is a conflict of interest, CCF takes it.
Safeguarding
Any concern about the safety of a child or an adult at risk. This includes abuse, neglect, grooming, or harm.
Goes straight to Football Australia Safeguarding and, where appropriate, NSW Police. CCF does not investigate safeguarding matters.
BEFORE YOU LODGE
A complaint to CCF is a formal process. It takes time, involves multiple people, and asks something of the person you’re complaining about. Read this section before you lodge.
Have you tried these first? Most issues are resolved more quickly through:
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- Speaking to the person directly, if it is safe and appropriate
- Speaking to your team coach or manager
- Raising it with your club’s MPIO, Secretary, or President
If you’ve tried one or more of these and the matter hasn’t been resolved, or if it is too serious or sensitive for that approach, this form is the right place.
What CCF will action:
- Conduct causing real harm to a person’s safety, dignity, or wellbeing
- A sustained pattern of behaviour, or a single incident serious enough to warrant intervention
- Bullying, harassment, discrimination, vilification, or victimisation
- Repeated or serious breaches of the Code of Conduct
- Substantive concerns about how CCF or a club is governed
What CCF won’t action:
- Disagreements with a referee’s on-field decision
- Personal disputes unrelated to football
- One-off rudeness that could have been raised at the time
- Matters not first raised at club level
Lodge a complaint
The form takes about five minutes. You can lodge anonymously, though this may limit what we can do.
All complaints come to CCF. We share information only with people who need to know to handle the matter properly
YOUR RIGHTS & PRIVACY
CONFIDENTIALITY
We keep complaints confidential, sharing information only with people who need to know to handle the matter properly, or where required by law.
Anonymous Complaints
You can lodge anonymously. We accept anonymous complaints and we will act on them where we can. Anonymity may limit what we are able to do, particularly where the person responding needs information to answer the complaint.
PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS
Anyone who is the subject of a complaint will be told enough about the complaint to respond, before any decision is made about it. Decisions are made by people without a conflict of interest in the matter.
SUPPORT & EXTERNAL RESOURCES
