INTEGRITY FRAMEWORK

New Zealand Football Integrity Framework

The New Zealand Football (NZF) Integrity Framework is a guiding structure of Membership Protection and Regulatory measures to enhance and maintain positive experiences for all involved in Football in New Zealand.

It helps enable a reliable, timely, and consistent approach to any potential threats to the integrity of football in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Membership Protection

A substructure of policies and procedures to support positive, safe, and inclusive environments in football.

Membership Protection Focus Areas:

Standards of behaviour and conduct

NZF endeavours to ensure that positive behaviours and high standards are encouraged and upheld to create an enjoyable, safe and inclusive Football environment across New Zealand.

Safeguarding

Everyone involved in Football should be treated with respect and dignity and be free to participate without being discriminated against, harassed, bullied or abused. NZF recognise that it is the responsibility of every Member to safeguard the welfare and wellbeing of all participants involved in Football.

To understand more about NZF Safeguarding please see here.

Organisational Culture

Maintaining integrity is a collective responsibility and organisational culture starts from the top. As the controlling authority for Football in New Zealand, NZF champions all focus areas of the Integrity Framework and provides safeguarding and protective measures to all participants equally, including fit for purpose internal organisational policies and procedures for NZF staff.

Regulatory

A suite of regulations which uphold fair and honest competition in football.

Regulatory Focus Areas:

Anti-doping

Doping in Football is both unhealthy to the individual and contrary to the law and ethics of sport. NZF fully supports the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the use of banned substances and methods used to gain an unfair advantage.

Anti-corruption

Corruption which can include but is not limited to bribery, forgery and falsification has no place in Football in New Zealand and NZF has a duty to ensure the organisation and those within the Football environment are operating in a fair and transparent manner. Any form of corruption in Football has the potential to affect the integrity, growth and reputation of Football in New Zealand.

Anti-match-fixing

NZF is committed to maintaining the fundamental character of sporting competition as an honest test of skill and ability and to prevent match-fixing from undermining the integrity of the sport. Football in New Zealand could be a potential target of match-fixing and other illegal and unethical gambling activities. This infiltration damages the reputation of the sport and undermines its value.

Disciplinary

Infringements on and off the Football field require reliable, transparent and standardised processes and judicial bodies to regulate compliance with FIFA, OFC, NZF and Federation rules, regulations and codes to ensure fair and honest competition.

Policies and Procedures

Membership Protection:

NZF Code of Conduct

NZF Code of Ethics

NZF Code of Ethics (2026)

NZF Safeguarding Policy

Regulatory:

NZF Disciplinary Code

NZF Anti-Doping Regulations

NZF Anti-Match Fixing Regulations

WADA Prohibited List

Resources

Complaints Process Flowchart for Federations

Investigation Report Checklist

Initial Triage Checklist for Federations

Notice of Charge Template

Guidance and Matrix when Assessing Seriousness

Notice of Appeal Template

Terms of Reference Template

Complaints & Case Management

On-Field Infringements

Governed by the NZF Disciplinary Code.
Managed by the relevant Competition Administrator or Federation Disciplinary, and Ethics Committee or NZF Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.

Off-Field Complaints

Complaints can be made HERE.
Governed by the NZF Code of Conduct and NZF Code of Ethics.
Has little or no connection to the field of play but connected to football.
Complaints can also be made directly with your Federation by visiting their website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find the Complaints Procedure?

See Section 3 of the Code of Ethics or refer to the Complaints Process for Federations in the resources above.
These set out the overall process of making a complaint and the options available for resolution.

Who do I make a complaint to?

You can make a complaint directly to NZF or the relevant Federation.
Either option will be managed under the same process within the Code of Ethics.

Can I remain anonymous?

Both anonymous and named complaints are valid but there are certain distinctions between the two types of complaints. An anonymous complaint may limit the steps NZF can take with the information provided.
An anonymous complaint allows individuals to report concerns without fear of reprisal or retaliation, particularly in sensitive or high-stakes situations.
In the context of natural justice, anonymous complaints can raise issues of fairness and due process. In most instances, individuals who have been complained about have a right to know the specific allegations against them and have the opportunity to respond to them. With a named complaint, the respondent is always aware of the identity of their accuser, and they are given the opportunity to address the accusations. Named complaints may carry more weight as the credibility of the complainant can be assessed.

Can I appeal a decision?

Parties to the proceedings may appeal a decision of the relevant Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, but only once and to the immediatley next higher body. The grounds for an appeal are:
- Natural Justice: that natural justice was denied.
- Power and Jurisdiction: that the decision make or decision making body acted outside of its powers and/or jurisdiction.
- New Evidence: that substantial evidence became available after the decision which is being appealed was made.
- Sanction or Penalty: that the sanction or penalty was excessive or inapproproate.

When lodging an appeal, please use the Notice of Appeal template located in the resources above.

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