When lockdowns led to the cancellation of sporting leagues this past winter, many competitions were called off without awarding a trophy.

Dozens of soccer clubs across Victoria are pushing to reverse that decision and be rewarded for their positions at the end of a truncated season, with one going to court to be crowned premiers.

Joey Katebian of Avondale FC celebrates after scoring their second goal during the FFA Cup in 2018.Credit:Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Avondale FC was leading Victoria’s National Premier League, the sport’s highest level below the A-League, by seven points when the season was cancelled with eight games to go in September.

At the time, the game’s governing body, Football Victoria, announced that no premiers, champions or runners-up would be named for 2021 as pandemic lockdowns prevented community sport from continuing.

Last week, Avondale FC filed documents in the Supreme Court to have that ruling thrown out and the club named league premiers, with a trophy and pennant awarded to recognise the title.

In its application, the club cited the league’s competition rules, which state that the team on top of the ladder at the end of the season will be crowned as premiers.

Avondale FC is going to court to be awarded the NPL premiers’ trophy.Credit:Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Avondale FC did not comment on its legal efforts when contacted by The Age, however a press release on the club website stated that those same rules should apply for the latest season.

“Since FV [Football Victoria] announced the cancellation of the 2021 NPL season, Avondale FC has been in discussions with FV seeking an amicable resolution of the matter,” the statement said.

“As FV has failed to announce Avondale FC as 2021 NPL premier, Avondale FC is bringing these proceedings seeking an order that Avondale FC be rightfully acknowledged as the 2021 NPL premier.”

A separate legal effort is also under way from clubs in lower competitions seeking to be elevated to higher leagues under the sport’s promotion and relegation system.

Liam Boland of Avondale FC celebrates after scoring in the FFA Cup in 2018.Credit:Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Football Victoria has declared that teams will not move up and down the leagues in 2022, in addition to the decision not to name any premiers or champions.

The collection of teams, known as the United Football Group of Clubs, is demanding independent mediation with Football Victoria to reverse the decision blocking promotion.

The group is being represented by Zak Gruevski, former president of Preston Lions FC. The club was equal top of NPL 3, the third division of Victorian soccer, when the season was cancelled.

Under the NPL’s structure, the top two teams of each league are automatically promoted at the end of each season.

Mr Gruevski said he represented 17 clubs currently seeking promotion, however there were at least 40 clubs who had shown support down to soccer’s grassroots levels.

He said that Football Victoria had not adequately planned for another disrupted season after lockdowns led to similar cancellations in 2020.

“The clubs feel aggrieved that for two years they’ve got nothing to show for it,” he said.

“We wanted to be rewarded for our efforts, we have ambitious clubs who want to improve and get themselves better. [Promotion] is at the heart of our sport.”

In a submission prepared by lawyers and sent to Football Victoria, the clubs state they were “induced, misled and betrayed” with promises of promotion and relegation in 2021.

“Clubs have planned and invested accordingly, only to be let down by this decision,” the submission states.

“Among other aspects, the financial impact on clubs cannot be ignored.”

Mr Gruevski said that the clubs would be pursuing legal action if the matter was not resolved with mediation.

“Our intention is to get them to the table, we don’t want to drag this out through court cases,” he said.

As for the Avondale FC case, the team in second place, Oakleigh Cannons, was philosophical about the legal efforts of its rival.

President Stan Papayianneris said it was unfortunate that nobody was entitled to be named premiers and that he could understand why Avondale FC would like the trophy.

“Maybe if it was us we’d do the same thing,” he said.

Football Victoria declined to comment on the Supreme Court matter due to it being before the courts.

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