Capital Football has been urged to restore a Queanbeyan team to its 2025 competition level. Photo: Monaro Panthers FC/Facebook.
Clubs and parents are calling on a major regional sporting competition to reverse plans that would see some clubs “punted” in a shake-up.
This month, Capital Football announced the football leagues for 2026, confirming that the Monaro Panthers Football Club’s Premier League Boys (NPLB) team would be relegated to a lower competition.
It means the club’s boys team will compete in the Junior League Opens in 2026.
The peak body for football (which takes in players from the ACT, as well as regional areas like Queanbeyan and the Riverina) made the decision in a review of the league’s structure.
For the Monaro Panthers NPLB coordinator, Tina Brandt, the decision means more than having the kids play against a different group of teams.
“Players themselves have said to me that they don’t want to leave, but they’re going to have to leave if they want to play at a higher level … and that’s pretty devastating.
“They may not all make it in the same club, so they’re having to look at other clubs.”
Now that some clubs have been “punted” from their current competition, Ms Brandt said there will be impacts on player development and clubs’ ability to plan for future years.
She also said Capital Football had shown a lack of consideration for player welfare during the review (which she described as “demoralising” for players), while consultation with clubs was limited.
The club also previously launched an online petition ahead of the decision, calling for the team to remain in the Premier League.
The fallout from the review has also been felt in government circles, with NSW and ACT politicians urged to intervene.
At its September meeting, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) voted to call on Capital Football to set aside the decision.
Councillors also decided to write to the ACT and NSW sports ministers with their concerns.
This week, Mayor Kenrick Winchester told Region that his first meeting request was sent to Ms Berry in late August.
“We were told the earliest we can get in to see her was in November … Capital Football had [the announcement of leagues] come out on the first or second of October, so that really brought the urgency forward.”
He also mentioned that he hadn’t received a response to an email sent to Capital Football CEO Samantha Farrow in August.
“I would have thought as a council – someone that provides many football players and many football facilities for the local region – that we’d be worthy of at least a reply, if not a meeting to hear us out,” he said.
“That is disappointing, but I’m still very open to meeting … [We want to] put our point across about how we get what you’re [Capital Football] trying to do, but you are cutting one club off at the knees.”
He is also the dad of one of the affected players and says his son is facing a difficult choice about which club to join in the upcoming trials.
“The decision is his at the end of the day … He’s literally played with a similar group of boys every year up until this point.
“They’ve grown up together, and this could potentially tear them apart.”
Mr Winchester pointed to Capital Football’s decision to include Wagga City Wanderers in the NPLB competition, after an initial plan to ban them.
“We want a similar outcome [to that],” he said.
“I, honestly, see no difference between having a 10-team competition and an 11-team competition next year.”
A ban for Yoogali Soccer Club, based in the Riverina town of Griffith, from the Premier League’s competition was upheld.
Meanwhile, Ms Brandt said the Monaro Panthers were considering an alternative model for 2026.
“This moment has really forced us to consider whether, in fact, playing under Capital Football is the right thing to do and whether we should consider playing under a NSW construct,” she said.
“We’ll just see what the season ahead brings.”
ACT Sports Minister Yvette Berry says decisions around participation in the NPL are at the “sole discretion” of Capital Football, but acknowledges community upset. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
In a statement to Region, ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation Yvette Berry said she was willing to meet with Mr Winchester to discuss the issue.
“I understand there is significant community interest in this matter.
“The ACT Government does not intervene in decisions made by independent sporting organisations. However, I am aware of this matter and I have asked to be updated on any further decisions where appropriate.”
Capital Football was contacted for comment.
