Max Basheer

Max Rafeek Basheer (9 May 1927 – 14 September 2025) was an Australian football administrator and lawyer. He was the longest-serving administrator with the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). He was involved in a number of key decisions affecting the SANFL from the 1970s to the 1990s, ultimately leading to the inclusion of two South Australian sides in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life and education Max Rafeek Basheer was born on 9 May 1927 to Archie and Labeebee Basheer, who were Lebanese immigrants to Australia who were of Druze ethnicity. He was the fifth of six children. His father first migrated to South Australia in 1896 to work at the Port Pirie smelter, returning to Lebanon between 1913 and 1925, where he married and had his first four children. He played football for the University of Adelaide while a student. which became the SANFL's headquarters in 1971.

As SANFL president in the 1990s, he also presided over the introduction of South Australia's two AFL teams, Adelaide and Port Adelaide. It was regarded by many as his greatest achievement, standing firm against the VFL, leading to the creation of the AFL, with two participating SA teams.

In 1992, Basheer became a partner with Reilly Basheer Downs & Humphries, and finally with DBH Lawyers, formerly Duncan Basheer Hannon, until his retirement in 2019. 1988: Member of the Order of Australia, for services to the game of Australian football was named in honour of Basheer's contributions to the game.

The Max Basheer Stand in the Adelaide Oval is named after him.

Personal life Basheer married Elaine Christobel Basheer, and they had two children.