Sport
12 October, 2026
Clubs unite over fee hike
FOOTBALL Queensland has bowed to statewide club pressure and paused the introduction of a new fee structure while it conducts more consultation.
The move comes after an unprecedented show of solidarity with the Mareeba United Football Club, as well as Cairns and Innisfail clubs, joining more than 70 others across Queensland in criticising FQs new Competition Access Fees (CAF) for 2027.
A joint statement across the clubs’ social media sites called for a pause on the proposed CAF model, full financial transparency, consultation with clubs and for FQ to work with them to advance a “fair and sustainable way forward”.
“Our clubs may represent different communities, regions and competitions, but we are united,” the statement says.
“This is not about resisting change. It is about ensuring that change is reasonable, properly planned and does not place unfair costs, risks or administrative burdens on families and volunteer-run clubs.
“We remain committed to working constructively with Football Queensland for the benefit of everyone involved in our game.”
Mareeba United president Angelo Tatti said the current situation was very “up in the air”.
“It’s a bit of a mess really,” he said last week.
“We got an email from Football Queensland, probably about a week ago, about their fees, and you know, their fees just seem to be increasing all the time, and in this day and age ... families are struggling enough as it is.
“Everything’s just about money and they just take, take, take; they don’t give us anything.”
He said the difference this time was that the fee hike had even riled the southern clubs.
“The big teams in Brisbane are starting to feel the pinch about the fees going up – per child!”
Tatti said the costs for families with several children in the sport, as well as hidden costs such as kits, boots, transport, and even entry fees to watch the games, added up to a point where clubs were worried families would walk away.
“It goes against the state government’s push for more young people in sport and supporting kids playing sport, and young people getting involved,” he said.
“And for us up in regional areas, our numbers aren’t as big as other clubs. So the price is just creeping up all the time. It goes right from the young kids right up to the A grade players.”
He also added that the clubs were concerned over how the information around the fee changes had been delivered.
“Like, even the terminology. Just put it in plain English where everyone can understand it,” Tatti said. “At the moment, like I said, it’s all up in the air.”
Media reports earlier last week had quoted an FQ spokesman as saying the fees would work out as “broadly comparable”, taking into account the method with which fees would be collected.
The body said “inflation-adjusted changes” within the CAF reflected less than a $10 per person increase.
The fee reforms were a more “accurate alignment of costs through a simplified structure, built around the specific competition and associated delivery costs ... combining all fees into one”.
This would “also reduce administrative complexity and significantly lower administrative transaction volumes across the ecosystem”.
The Express contacted FQ for additional comment but did not get a response.
However, last Friday it circulated a statement on its website saying it was taking club concerns seriously and recognised further consultation and clearer communication was needed.
“As the custodians of football in Queensland, our responsibility is to make decisions in the best interests of the game as a whole. That means being prepared to listen, reflect and, as appropriate, adjust and pause our approach, which we will do as of today,” it said.
“The proposed 2027 Competition Access Fee model was developed following careful consideration, financial modelling and consultation.
“The review was also driven in part by changes to card surcharging rules, which require transaction costs to be managed differently. Our aim was to simplify the fee structure, reduce administration and create a more efficient way of managing football competitions across Queensland.
“Importantly, the model was not designed to increase participation costs, and our modelling showed that it would not result in a material increase to the fees paid to Football Queensland by participants.”
FQ said its board would meet with FQ congress over coming days, work with stakeholders and provide further updates to all clubs the following week.
