The WA Football Commission has found West Perth in breach of its playing licence and has threatened significant financial penalties unless it removes a Channel 9 logo from its jumper for any matches broadcast during the finals.
WAFC chairman Murray McHenry said yesterday the club would not be banned from playing in any finals but wearing the logo would conflict with the broadcast agreement with rights holder Channel 7.
Mr McHenry said possible penalties included seeking damages for the commission, its broadcast sponsors and other WAFL clubs.
“The football commission has been very patient with West Perth having worked to resolve this for the past eight months,” he said.
“We have formed the view that WPFC is in breach of its licence agreement.
“It is now up to West Perth to rectify the matter and comply with that licence agreement.”
The Weekend West can reveal a timeline of events going back to February last year that shows West Perth and Channel 9 knew a sponsorship deal would be in conflict because Channel 7 would be the broadcast partner.
WAFC chief executive Gary Walton said West Perth was warned “well in advance” of the club signing a three-year $300,000 contract with Channel 9 that the deal would cause a conflict.
Mr Walton said that warning came on February 28 last year.
In the following days, West Perth provided a proposal, dated March 4, for the contract with Channel 9, which the station had not signed.
He asked the Falcons to include an opt-out clause for the 2015 and 2016 seasons while final details with Channel 7 were being confirmed.
Last month, when Mr Walton asked for another copy of the contract, he received it with the date removed and adjustments made to the initial document.
On March 14, all nine clubs and Channel 9 were formally advised that Channel 7 would be the broadcast partner from 2015.
On March 26, West Perth advised the WAFC an agreement with Channel 9 had been signed despite the warnings.
It was the only club not to attend a briefing on the timeline of events at the WAFC offices last month.
After hearing the details, the other eight clubs indicated they would support any action the WAFC took.
“We think this is a pity for all of the WAFL,” Mr Walton said yesterday.
“All WAFL clubs are urging West Perth to make the right call.”
Under clause 11 of the licensing agreement, clubs are not permitted to enter into any sponsorship deal that conflicts or “may potentially conflict” with major sponsors of the WAFC.
It also states sponsorships and apparel advertising must be agreed to by the WAFC, which has never ratified West Perth’s jumper logo.
It is understood Channel 9 rejected a compromise to change the logo to streaming service Stan, as well as a $50,000 buy-out package from McDonalds for all West Perth broadcast matches during the finals and next year.
West Perth yesterday responded to a 2pm deadline set by the WAFC by saying it was not “lawfully possible” to come to a final position by that time.
“The WPFC’s board and executive are doing everything within their power to conclude a lawful, commercial and timely resolution,” president Brett Raponi wrote.
Mr Raponi later toldThe Weekend West the club did not know about a deal between the WAFC and Channel 7 when it signed with Channel 9.
The club had lost $180,000 in 2013, making the new sponsorship deal an attractive offer.
Channel 7, part of Seven West Media which publishesThe Weekend West , has maintained it will not broadcast West Perth games unless the Channel 9 logo is removed.
West Perth finished second on the ladder.
The team will play Peel in a qualifying final tomorrow.
The West Australian
