Northern NSW Football has reaffirmed its Zero Tolerance policy ahead of the upcoming premier competition season, reminding clubs, players and spectators of the standards and measures in place to address match official abuse across competitions in the region.
The Zero Tolerance policy has been in force since 2024 for all Northern NSW Football competitions including NPL Northern NSW, Premier Youth League, Junior Development League, Regional Super League and related cup competitions under Northern NSW Football’s jurisdiction.
In 2024, the Match Official Support Standards – Zero Tolerance policy introduced measures targeted at stamping out abuse and creating a safer, more supportive and welcoming environment for match officials in NNSWF competitions. The initiatives were part of a three-pillar strategy to implement zero tolerance including:
- Clear messaging for everyone in the game
- Tangible support for match officials
- Tougher sanctions
While a number of these initiatives had an immediate impact on the match day experience for NNSWF match officials, the policy continues to drive long-term cultural change on the pitch, on the sidelines and online, to create an atmosphere where all clubs, along with Northern NSW Football, have a zero tolerance approach to abuse against match officials.
NNSWF General Manager Football Operations Liam Bentley said there had been a clear improvement since introducing the Zero Tolerance policy but maintaining these standards remained a key focus heading into the season.
“Since the introduction of the Zero Tolerance policy, we have seen a noticeable improvement in behaviour across our competitions,” Bentley said.
“The progress is encouraging but it is vital especially ahead of the season to keep that standard front of mind for everyone involved.
“We want players, coaches and spectators to remain focused on showing respect for match officials and understanding that abuse of any kind will not be tolerated.
“It is key that we continue to build a positive match day environment and ensure that the progress we’ve made over the last two years is maintained.”
Find out more about the Zero Tolerance policy HERE.