Western Sydney Wanderers FC Pty Ltd v Football Australia Limited [2024] NSWSC 426

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Western Sydney Wanderers FC Pty Ltd v Football Australia Limited [2024] NSWSC 426 Hearing dates: 26 July 2023 Date of orders: 19 April 2024 Decision date: 19 April 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Richmond J Decision: See [88]–[89] Catchwords: ASSOCIATIONS AND CLUBS — domestic and private tribunals — interpretation of rules governing domestic sporting tribunal CONTRACTS — construction — interpretation — natural and ordinary meaning Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australian Performing Rights Association Ltd (1973) 129 CLR 99; [1973] HCA 36 Australian Football League v Carlton Football Club [1998] 2 VR 546 Australian Vintage Ltd v Belvino Investments No 2 Pty Ltd (2015) 90 NSWLR 367; [2015] NSWCA 275 Barrie Toepfer Earthmoving and Land Management Pty Ltd v CGU Insurance Ltd (2016) 75 MVR 108; [2016] NSWCA 67 Cameron Australasia Pty Ltd v AED Oil Ltd [2015] VSC 163 Darlington Futures Ltd v Delco Australia Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 500 at 510; [1986] HCA 82 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Funtastic Ltd v Madman Film and Media Pty Ltd [2016] VSC 708 H & E Van Der Sterren v Cibernetics (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1970) 44 ALJR 157 Incollingo v Tax Practitioners Board [2023] FCA 878 Legal & General Life of Australia Ltd v A Hudson Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 314 Morris v Victorian Farmers Federation [2022] VSC 407 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Notesco Pty Ltd v Australian Financial Complaints Authority Ltd (2022) 365 FLR 163; [2022] NSWSC 285 Schott AG v Melton Willows Pty Ltd [2023] VSC 364 Shoalhaven City Council v Firedam Civil Engineering Pty Ltd (2011) 244 CLR 305; [2011] HCA 38 Simic v New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation (2016) 260 CLR 85; [2016] HCA 47 Singh v Singh [2023] NSWSC 436 Wilkie v Gordian Runoff Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 522; [2005] HCA 17 Texts Cited: JW Carter, Contract Law in Australia (JW Carter Publishing, 8th ed, 2023) Macquarie Dictionary, 9th ed, 2023 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Western Sydney Wanderers FC Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Football Australia Ltd (First Defendant) Daniel Lopar (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: F Corsaro SC (Plaintiff) I Griscti (First Defendant) C P O'Neill (Second Defendant)