Football Federation Australia (FFA) has today announced that a National Club Identity Policy will be implemented for all clubs affiliated to FFA-approved competitions, effective from today.

The policy has been developed after the Member Federations and FFA identified a need for ‎a national policy in regard to club names and identities, which will provide consistency and certainty across all jurisdictions..

FFA CEO David Gallop explained that the key principle of the National Club Identity Policy is to promote football as Australia’s most inclusive, accessible and multicultural sport.

“Football is now a part of the mainstream of Australian society and has achieved that status while also retaining its rich diversity,” said Gallop.

“The intent of the National Club Identity Policy is to ensure the game remains inclusive and accessible, not just in the way we organise ourselves, but in how we engage with the community.

“The very name and logo of a club sends a message about what that club stands for. We want clubs that stand for uniting people through the joy of football,” concluded Gallop.

The National Club Identity Policy says that any new or revised club names, logos and emblems of clubs may have the following components; words or letters in English; and/or references to the broader geographic area in which the club is located; and/or colours; and/or references to flora; and/or references to fauna, provided that these components do not carry any ethnic, national, political, racial or religious connotations either in isolation or combination.

The policy will not be applied retrospectively, in deference to those clubs with long-standing usage of names that would otherwise not comply with the new policy.

Click the link to read the full FFA National Club Identity Policy or visit the websites of the nine State and Territory Member Federations.