澳大利亚A-League球队Macarthur Bulls被曝将用于学校足球诊所的纳税人补助金挪作他用[1]。调查发现，俱乐部将超过80,000美元的资金用于支付教练和球员工资[1]，同时员工还以补助金支付餐饮开支，包括Outback Steakhouse 850美元、Woollahra Hotel和Narellan Hotel共648美元、Crea意大利餐厅1,225美元、以及Prince Wine Store 571美元的酒类消费[1]。
审计机构发现，俱乐部高管和员工拥有或主导的公司在两年内获得超过300,000美元的支付，具体包括Pennytel Holdings 52,908美元（IT服务）、Titanium Waste Management 148,941.54美元（租金）、以及Sportzology 128,469美元[1]。Grant Thornton在2024年12月的外部审计认定，俱乐部在IT、数字和媒体费用上"未能提供清晰理由或支持证明"[1]。澳大利亚教育部部长在1月23日的草稿信中明确指出"A-League球员或比赛相关的薪资"属于不符合条件的支出[1]。
教育部已宣布将暂扣今年的补助金直至所有审计发现得到纠正，首次警告于2月提出[1]。俱乐部方面声称已在130多所学校提供相关项目，组织了380场免费假期诊所[1]。
Australian A-League team Macarthur Bulls has been found to have diverted taxpayer-funded grants intended for school football clinics toward unauthorized expenses, including coach and player salaries exceeding $80,000, as well as staff dining and entertainment purchases [1]. An investigation revealed that companies owned or controlled by club executives received over $300,000 in payments across two years, with specific recipients including Pennytel Holdings ($52,908 for IT services), Titanium Waste Management ($148,941.54 for rent), and Sportzology ($128,469) [1]. Dining expenditures traced to the grant included $850 at Outback Steakhouse, $648 across Woollahra Hotel and Narellan Hotel, $1,225 at Crea Italian restaurant, and $571 at Prince Wine Store [1].
An external audit conducted by Grant Thornton in December 2024 determined that the club had failed to provide clear justification or supporting evidence for IT, digital, and media expenses [1]. The Department of Education formally advised in a January 23 draft letter that "A-League player or game-related salaries" constituted ineligible expenditures under the funding agreement [1]. In response, the education department announced it would withhold this year's grant allocation until all audit findings are addressed, with the initial warning issued in February [1]. The club has stated it has delivered programming to over 130 schools and organized 380 free holiday clinics [1].