The Australian Football League (AFL) has strengthened its regulations regarding ethical conduct, implementing new wagering limitations on journalists reporting on the sport within Australia.
Reporters and commentators with accreditation will be prohibited from placing wagers on games they are assigned to cover.
These modifications will be enforced starting this Thursday, aligning with the commencement of the NAB Challenge Series.
A five-hour “restricted period” will be enforced on media by the AFL, commencing two hours prior to a game and concluding three hours after the final whistle.
“For clarity, if you are reporting on a match from the venue, you are still permitted to place a wager on that match outside of the five-hour timeframe, such as during the week, or before entering the stadium on game day,” an AFL representative explained.
These new limitations were established due to apprehensions that certain media personnel, once inside the stadiums, could obtain confidential information regarding team rosters before the 90-minute cutoff when teams must submit their final lineups to the AFL.
AFL employees have long been subject to a ban on wagering on matches.
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