A Northern Territory premier league football club has been threatened with a $10,000 fine after forfeiting a game due to “unrest” and “illness”.
Key points:
- The Tiwi Bombers forfeited their Men’s Premier League game in Darwin on Saturday
- The club says the forfeiture was due to “unrest” and “illness” in Tiwi Islands communities
- AFL NT has issued them a $10,000 fine suspended until the end of the season
The Tiwi Bombers Football Club, made up of players from communities across the remote Tiwi Islands, was set to play against Waratah in Darwin on Saturday afternoon.
The club announced through social media on Saturday afternoon that their Men’s Premier League team would be forfeiting.
“Due to some unrest and illness in our communities, a number of our playing group has been unavailable to travel to Darwin,” the post read.
“We will regroup in the coming days with the aim of finishing the season as strongly as possible.”
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, AFL NT said the club would receive a $10,000 fine, which would be suspended for the remainder of the season.
“The suspended amount will be implemented if the club has any connection to any similar instances,” the statement read.
“For a Premier NTFL fixture not to have occurred due to a forfeit is disappointing for the clubs involved, the players, the league, and the community more broadly.”
However, AFL NT said the Tiwi Bombers “face challenges that most community football clubs across the country don’t face”.
“As such, AFL NT will continue to work with the Tiwi Bombers Football Club, and the Tiwi community, to plan for the sustainability of the club moving forward.”
NT Police in mid-December responded to a “disturbance” in one of the Tiwi Island’s remote communities involving “up to 100 people armed with a variety of edged weapons”.
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