How does an appeal against a Disciplinary and Ethics Committee decision work?

Question

Accepted Answer

A participant has a right to appeal any Determination of the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee. A club can also appeal a sanction Football Australia imposes for Team Misconduct.

Notice: the appellant must tell Football Australia within seven (7) days of receiving the written Determination or notice, using Prescribed Form DR02.
Fee: an appeal fee of $2,500 must be paid. No hearing is convened until the fee is received. A fully successful appellant is refunded.
Grounds: the person was not given a reasonable opportunity to be heard; the Determination was affected by bias; or the decision was not reasonably open on the evidence.
Appeal Committee: three people, including a Chair and at least one former professional player. It can dismiss, allow or vary the decision (reduce or increase), or substitute its own sanction.
Final: the Appeal Committee's decision is final and binding, with no recourse to courts.

Source: A-Leagues Disciplinary Regulations 2026/27 Season, clauses 4.9 to 4.11, 23 and 24.