What registration fees can a club charge, and who handles refunds?

Question

Accepted Answer

Charging fees (article 6.15): a Club may charge Players a reasonable fee provided it discloses in the National Online Registration System all fees, levies and charges imposed by the Club, its District Association and/or Member Federation, and the national registration fee payable to Football Australia (FA), and the fee reflects actual expenses related to the Player's participation in a Competition. The onus is on the Club imposing the fee to satisfy its District Association, Member Federation and/or FA that it is reasonable. Processing: FA fees, levies and charges for a registration, and any later amendment or management of the record, must be processed through the National Online Registration System (PlayFootball) unless FA approves otherwise (article 6.17). Refunds (National Registration Fee Refund Policy, applicable from 1 November 2025): FA decides refunds of the national registration fee only where exceptional circumstances exist, where a Player pays the fee again after changing Clubs during a Season, where a request is declined or cancelled before the Participant is "Active" and has taken part in organised football, or where the law requires it. Refunds of fees imposed by a Club, Competition Administrator, District Association or Member Federation are for the body that imposed them to decide, under its own policy. Refund requests for fees paid through PlayFootball go through PlayFootball, not directly to those bodies. Fees paid directly to a body are requested from that body. Where a Club has paid the national registration fee for a Participant, the Club (not the Participant) requests that refund, through PlayFootball. Bodies that receive a request through PlayFootball must decide it within a reasonable time. Sources: NRSTRs, National Registration Fee Refund Policy.