1. TOURNAMENT RULES
International Youth Football Tournament ‘ALBION Cup Spain’ will be played in accordance with FIFA and SPANISH FOOTBALL FEDERATION rules (F.E.F.). These rules are with reference to the matches played in 11-a-side.
2. COMPETITION SYSTEM
Teams will be divided into groups of 4 (or 5) teams and will play one group match against each team in the group.
Best two teams of each group will qualify into the Finals. Third and fourth of each group will play Consolation series
SCORING SYSTEM:
- Won matches: 3 points
- Tied matches: 1 point
- Lost matches: 0 point
Length of the matches
2 x 35 min.
Length of the half-times
5 min.
3. SPECIAL PERMITS
A player of a club enrolled in the Tournament can play in 2 different teams of the club if those 2 teams are not in the same category. The player has to be also registered in the list of players of each team.
In any case, all players must be registered before the tournament starts, in their category or in one higher category
In all categories it is allowed to enter 2 players of 1 year older.
4. QUALIFICATION CRITERION
1st Phase (League)
If two teams equalize in the final qualification, the following qualification criteria will be followed to settle the draw:
- The result of the matches played against each other.
- Goal differential
- The highest number of goals scored.
- The lowest number of goals allowed.
- Fair Play (fewest number of cards totalled through group play)
- Penalty Shootout
If there is a draw between more than two teams, it will be settled in the following way:
- Goal differential
- The highest number of goals scored.
- The lowest number of goals allowed.
- Fair Play (fewest number of cards totalled through group play)
- Penalty Shootout
5. QUALIFYING ROUNDS
If an elimination match finishes tied, the match is decided by a penalty shootout.
6. SPECIAL STATES
If a match has to be suspended owing to circumstances beyond our control, the final result will be the one at the moment of the suspension.
7. NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES
A team can dispose 25 players per match from the enrolled players,
Substitutions are unlimited. A replaced player can play again. Substitutions may be made without stopping the game and without consulting the referee, using the following procedure: the player who is going to be replaced has to leave the field before its replacement gets into the field and always by the zone of the benches.
8. DOCUMENTS
15 minutes before kick off, each team must turn in their roster sheet for that match to the organization staff at the field. The line-up will be written in the official form, and given to organization staff in fields.
9. CLOTHING
All shirts will be numbered and must correspond to ones in player’s list. Numbers must be on the back of the shirts. .
10. FIELDS
All fields are artificial grass pitches. It is strictly forbidden to use aluminum studs.
11. PUNCTUALITY
Teams must be ready 15 minutes before kick-off. If the team does not show up to the field, they will lose the match with the result of 3-0.
12. PUNISHMENTS – DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM
– Cards:
A player sent off with a direct red card, will be suspended for one match. All red card sanctions will be fulfilled starting in the next match, even if the match coincides with the beginning of the play off. A player who accumulates three yellow cards will be suspended for the next match.
Yellow cards shown in the qualifiers are applicable to the finals.
– Accumulation of cards
In case of a tie between two or more teams at the end of group play and as the fifth classification criterion, the accumulation of cards will have a negative value (Fair Play):
- One yellow card = 1 point.
- Double yellow cards = 3 points.
- One direct red card = 6 points.
For the amount of cards, the organization will use the official form of the matches.
– Teams behavior
Any team showing bad behavior during the competition (protests to referees decisions, clashes with rivals or with the organization) can be automatically expelled from the Tournament.
All serious cases of expulsion will be reported to the football federation in question by sending the name of the implicated player.
Delegates of the teams will be responsible for the attitude and behavior of their players towards referees, team-mates, opponents, public, organization and sports facilities (changing rooms, benches, pitches…).
The organization will check the changing rooms with the delegate of each team before and after the match to verify that the players have made a correct use of the locker rooms. In case of any damage of the bench, the locker rooms or the pitch, the delegate, the team and the person who produces such damage will be responsible.
13. REFEREES
All matches of the Tournament will be arbitrated by international referees.
The referee will be the maximum authority in the field, and will be able to suspend a match if he sees any negative attitude in the behavior of a team.
14. COMPLAINTS
The protests or complaints will be handed in to the person in charge of the field, in writing and within 30 minutes after the match finishes..
The Organization will not accept any protests regarding the performance of the referee.
15. MATCH SCHEDULE
The Organizing Committee reserves the right to make changes in the match schedule concerning the division of groups, timetables and fields.
The person in charge of the team will be informed about the changes and will also be announced in the official web page.
All changes will be notified to the delegates. All these changes also will be notified by internet and SMS
16. BALLS
All 11-a-side games will be played with an OFFICIAL size 5 ball.
All teams must bring their balls for the warming up exercises.
17. INSURANCE
All PLAYERS are insured during the matches. Any type of injury is covered, with unlimited guarantee for one year.
The organization is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
18. ACCEPTANCE OF REGULATIONS
All participating teams in the ALBION CUP SPAIN TOURNAMENT accept the rules of the organization.