Field of play decisions and fairness: Lessons from Sirengate

The general reluctance of the Court of Arbitration for Sport and local courts to review field of play decisions except in limited circumstances raises questions about fairness and access to natural justice. This article seeks to reconcile our understanding of fairness in sporting field of play decisions with the jurisprudence which has developed in recent years. In doing so this article takes a detailed look at the legal issues arising from the 2006 Sirengate football match between St Kilda and Fremantle and the ongoing implications for the AFL.