National Premier Leagues Victoria side Melbourne Knights' "legal challenge of Football Federation Australia's
controversial National Club Identity Policy has taken another turn
after the FFA refused to enter mediation with the club" and warned it
would be "banned from sanctioned competitions if it did not comply with
the policy," according to Dominic Bossi of THE AGE. A court case between the governing body and the Knights looms
as the two sides are "no closer to settling a complaint lodged to the
Australian Human Rights Commission under the Racial Discrimination Act
of 1975." The FFA questioned the "validity of a
complaint against the banning of the Knights' sponsorship deal with two
Croatian community clubs for their FFA Cup match against Olympic FC on
July 29 and ruled out entering mediation unless requested by the
commission." The FFA warned the club it "may not be permitted to play in
sanctioned competitions" should it "breach the identity policy, which
prohibits registered football clubs from adding ethnic, religious,
political or broad geographic symbols, words or imagery to their name,
logo or jersey" (THE AGE, 9/29).