# Football: The Association Game/Appendix

APPENDIX.
RULES OF THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. LTD.
These Rules must be read in conjunction with the Articles of Association (see Article 49). Many of the provisions previously contained in the Rules are now embodied in the Articles, and are not therefore repeated in these Rules.
The decisions of the Council are printed as notes at the foot of the page.
1. The Association shall consist of such Clubs and Associations playing Association Football and being otherwise qualified according to the Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Bye-laws of the Association as the Council may approve.
2. In the interpretation of these Rules the words "The Football Association," "The Association," or "This Association," mean "The Football Association, Limited," except where the context requires a different meaning.
3. All Clubs, before being affiliated to the Association, shall satisfy the Council that they are properly constituted Clubs, and playing football according to the Laws of the Association.f the Northern Rugby Union during the same season, and vice versâ. ​Each Club shall forward to the Secretary on or before the first day of October in each year, a return in accordance with form A. A Club shall not withdraw its membership from an Affiliated Association without the consent of this Association. Except as provided by Rule 4, no Club shall be affiliated to this Association unless it has been in existence for at least two years immediately previous to application being made for affiliation, and has during that period been a member of its County or District Affiliated Association if the Rules of such Association permit. No application for affiliation shall be made between the 1st day of March and the 1st day of August in each year. A Club shall cease to be a member of this Association when it ceases to be a member of its County or District Affiliated Association, but this condition shall not apply to a Club which was a member of this Association on the 1st day of May, 1899, and which was not at that date a member of its County or District Affiliated Association, nor to a Professional Club within the area of an Association, the Rules of which do not permit of the affiliation of Professional Clubs.
4. A Professional Club within the area of an Association, the rules of which do not permit of the affiliation of Professional Clubs, may affiliate to this Association, but a Club so affiliated shall not be entitled to representation or voting power, until full membership has been granted by the Council under Rule 3.
5. All Associations before being affiliated to the Association shall consist of properly constituted Clubs. Each Association shall cover a defined area, and shall neither extend nor alter such area without having obtained the consent of the Council. Each Association shall forward to the Secretary on or before the 1st day of November in each year, a return in accordance with form B.
6. The Subscription for each affiliated Association or Club shall be 10s. 6d. per annum (payable during the first week in May, or within one week after joining), with an entrance fee of 10s. 6d. The Council shall have the power to admit any Foreign or Colonial Associations or Clubs as members of this Association on payment of an Annual Subscription of 5s. Such Foreign or Colonial Associations or Clubs shall not be entitled to send any representative to the Council. An Association or ​Club whose subscription is unpaid on the 1st day of August shall cease to be a member of this Association.
7. The Annual General meeting shall be held between the 20th and the 31st of May in each year. The Secretary shall give seven clear days' notice to all affiliated Associations and Clubs, of the place, the day and the hour of such Meeting, A printed abstract of the Treasurer's accounts and an agenda specifying the nature of the business to be transacted at that Meeting shall accompany the notice.
8. The names of the proposed Officers and Auditors, with the names of their proposers and seconders, shall be sent to the Secretary on or before the 1st day of May in each year.
9. Notice of any business (other than the Election of Officers, appointing Auditors, and the consideration of the Accounts and Balance Sheet, and of the Report of the Council, and not being such as by Statute requires a special resolution) to be submitted at the Annual General Meeting, shall be given to the Secretary on or before the 1st day of May in each year, and a copy of such notice, with the names of the proposer and seconder, shall be sent to the affiliated Associations and Clubs on or before the 8th day of May in each year. Notice of any amendment to the business to be so submitted shall be given to the Secretary on or before the 15th day of May in each year.
10. The Secretary shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting at any time on receiving a requisition stating the objects of the Meeting and signed by the Secretaries of not less than twenty Associations or Clubs affiliated to this Association. The Council have power at any time to convene a Special General Meeting for the purpose of submitting to the Meeting any alterations or additions to these Rules that the Council may deem expedient. An agenda of the business to be transacted at any such Meeting (or at any Extraordinary General Meeting convened by the Council under Article 20) shall accompany the notice convening the Meeting.
11. The Association shall be governed by a Council, consisting of the officers (i.e. a President, six Vice-Presidents, and a Treasurer), ten representatives of Divisions, and representatives from affiliated Associations, all of whom shall be duly qualified according to the Articles and Rules, and elected annually as therein provided. The retiring Council shall be eligible for re-election. The representatives of Divisions and Associations shall retire on the 30th day of June in each year. All past ​Presidents of the Association shall ex officio be members of the Council and entitled to vote.
12. Each Association that has been affiliated to this Association for the last three years, and has fifty or more Clubs which have been members thereof for at least one year, shall be entitled to send a representative to the Council, who must be elected as herein provided, and shall not be changed except by previous consent of the Council. Every Association claiming to return a representative to the Council, shall, during the month of June in each year, forward the name and address of such representative to the Secretary, together with a return in accordance with form C. Where Associations overlap each other, the senior Association shall have jurisdiction over a Club which is a member of that and another Association. The Secretary, on ascertaining the correctness of the claims, shall declare such representative duly elected. Any subsequent claims shall be submitted to the Council. The Clubs playing Association Football at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge shall collectively be deemed to be Associations within these Rules, and each University Association shall be entitled annually to appoint a Representative to the Council, but such Representative may not be changed during the year, except with the previous consent of the Council. The Council shall have power annually to elect to the Council a Representative of the Public School Clubs of the country.
13. The Secretary shall, immediately after the meeting held according to Article 42, send a form of nomination, with a list of all the Divisions and the Clubs composing them, to each Club belonging to this Association, and such form shall be duly filled up and returned to the Secretary on or before a date to be therein named (not being less than seven nor more than fourteen days after the date upon which the same shall be so sent by the Secretary).
14. Every candidate shall be nominated by three Clubs on form F. Such nomination shall be signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Committee of each Club for and on behalf of their Clubs. If only one candidate is nominated for a division, the Secretary shall declare him elected. If more than one candidate is nominated for any division the Secretary shall forthwith, after the time fixed for the close of the nominations, send a list of the candidates nominated and a form of voting paper to each Club in every such division, and such voting paper shall be duly filled up and returned to the Secretary on or before a date to be therein named (not being less than three ​nor more than six days after the date upon which the same shall be so sent by the Secretary). Every such voting paper shall be marked on the outside, "Voting Paper," and shall be opened only by the Returning Officer or his Deputy. The President shall be the Returning Officer, and he may appoint a Deputy.
15. The Returning Officer shall, immediately after the date fixed for the return of Voting Papers, open and examine such Voting Papers. The candidate for each Division receiving the greatest number of votes shall be declared duly elected. If there is a tie, the election shall be determined by a vote of the members present at the first meeting of such members of the Council as shall have been duly elected. Where there are more than two candidates for any Division, unless one candidate has an absolute majority of Clubs in the division, the candidate receiving the least number of votes shall retire. The division shall be polled again, until there is either ah absolute majority or a tie.
16. A candidate shall not, neither shall any person on behalf of any candidate, offer any bribe, consideration, or other improper inducement to any Club for the purpose of procuring the vote of the said Club in the election of such candidate to the Council. Breach of this Rule shall be deemed serious misconduct. In addition to any other penalty which the Council may deem fit to impose, this offence shall render void the election of such candidate, if he shall have been elected a member of the Council.
17. In case of an objection to any election the Council may order a new election, or fill up a vacancy instead of ordering a new election if they shall think proper.
18. If in any Division no candidate is nominated, the Secretary shall report the circumstance to the Council, who may fill the vacancy.
19. The Council shall keep three separate accounts: (1) The International Match Account, which shall contain all receipts and payments in connection with the International Matches; (2) The Investment Account, containing all receipts and payments in connection with the Interest, Dividends, and Investments of the Association; (3) The General Account, being all the other receipts and payments of the Association. If any dispute arises as to the apportionment of any item to a particular account, the Council shall settle such dispute, and their decision shall be final.
20. The Council may each year appropriate such part of ​the moneys standing to the credit of the International Match Account, or the Investment Account, as they may deem necessary, for the purposes of a Benevolent Fund, and may distribute the moneys so appropriated among necessitous players and others who have rendered service to the game.
21. For the transaction of business at a Council Meeting, five members shall form a quorum. The Council may fill any vacancy that occurs in their body, appoint a Secretary and such other assistance as they think fit, appoint such Committees or Commissions as they may consider necessary, delegate all or any of their powers to any such Committee or Commission of the Council, or to any affiliated Association or Associations, and make such regulations for the management of the Association and control of the game as from time to time may be necessary. Resolutions and decisions of the Council shall be binding upon all affiliated Associations and Clubs and all members thereof, until they are rescinded or varied by the vote of a majority present and voting at a General Meeting.
22. Associations, Leagues, or other Combinations of Clubs shall not be formed without the consent of this Association, or of an affiliated Association. All applications for formation shall be made on form D. All Associations, Leagues, or other Combinations of Clubs shall observe the Rules, Regulations, and Bye-laws of this Association. Associations or Clubs belonging to this or an affiliated Association shall not play against any Association or Club belonging to any Association, League, or Combination of Clubs to which such consent has not been given.
23. Charity Associations or Benefit Competitions shall not be formed without the consent of this Association or of an affiliated Association. All applications for formation shall be made on form E. All Charity Associations or Benefit Competitions shall observe the Rules, Regulations, and Bye-laws of this Association. Associations or Clubs belonging to this or an affiliated Association shall not play or take part in any Charity Association or Benefit Competition to which consent has not been given.
24. This Association, or any affiliated Association, shall have power to prohibit the Clubs under its jurisdiction from ​playing with or against any Club which is not a member of this or any affiliated Association.
25. Clubs and players shall not compete in any match or competition, the proceeds of which are not devoted to a recognized Football Club or Football Association or some other object approved of by this or by an affiliated Association. Six a side and similar irregular competitions at which gate money is taken are forbidden, unless the consent of the local affiliated Association has been obtained. Where two affiliated Associations cover the same area, the permission must be obtained from the senior Association.
26. Matches shall not be played on Sundays within the jurisdiction of this Association, A player shall not be compelled to play on Sundays outside the jurisdiction of this Association. A Club shall not be compelled to play any match on Good Friday or Christmas Day.
27. Matches are prohibited during the close season, which commences on the 1st May and ends on the 31st August in each year. After the 15th August practice matches may be played between teams of the same Club, and professionals who have not been engaged for the following season may be given a trial by any Club. Except for some institution approved by this or an affiliated Association, gate money must not be taken at practice matches in the close season. Army and Navy teams, and teams of the Auxiliary Forces, may play in competitions in the close season whilst in camp, and registered players may take part therein. The competitions shall be strictly confined to the units concerned, and gate money must not be taken.
28. Clubs shall not play matches with Scratch Teams, when any consideration is paid to the Scratch Teams or any one connected therewith, without the permission of this Association, or of the local affiliated Association. Two Scratch Teams shall not play against each other when gate money is taken without the permission of this Association, or of the local affiliated Association in whose district the match takes place. ​Where two affiliated Associations cover the same area the permission must be obtained from the Senior Association.
29. Players are either amateur or professional. Any player registered with this Association as a professional, or receivings remuneration or consideration of any sort above his necessary hotel and travelling expenses actually paid, shall be considered to be a professional. Training expenses not paid by the players themselves will be considered as remuneration beyond necessary travelling and hotel expenses. Amateur players receiving any payment must give a written receipt for the same, stating" particulars of expenses, and secretaries must produce such receipt to the Council of this Association at any time if required to do so. If an amateur player is engaged by a Club in any capacity for which he receives remuneration, the Club may be required to prove, to the satisfaction of the Association, that his services as a player do not affect the amount of remuneration paid to him. Players competing for any money prizes in football contests shall be considered professionals. When a player is registered as a professional, he at once loses his status as an amateur. When an amateur player is injured whilst playing football, he shall, upon obtaining the consent of this Association, or the local affiliated Association, be entitled to receive his doctor's fees, or the proceeds of any benefit match, subscription or collection, without losing his amateur status. Where two affiliated Associations cover the same area, the permission must be obtained from the Senior Association.
30. Every professional shall be registered on form G. Each form, after all particulars have been filled in, including the date of signature, must be signed by the professional (his signature being attested), and returned to the Secretary of this Association within five days of such signature. Except as ​provided by Rule 27 a professional shall not be allowed to play until this Rule has been complied with, and the Secretary of the Club registering the player shall have received the acknowledgment on the official form from the Secretary of this Association. Players may be transferred from one Club to another (see Form H). A club shall not be allowed to register a professional unless he is a member of this Association, or an affiliated Association. After the 1st of January, 1908, no Club shall be entitled to pay or receive any transfer fee or other payment exceeding £350 upon or in respect of the transfer of any player.
31. The registration of professionals shall be binding for only one season, except as otherwise provided by these Rules, but a professional may during the month of April register himself for the following season for his own Club, but shall not enter into any engagement with another Club until his existing engagement has terminated. Until the period of registration of a professional player has expired, he shall not be approached by any other Club, or an official of any other Club, or any other person, with the view to induce him to leave the Club for which he is registered when his engagement has terminated. No payment shall be made to Commission Agents or other persons than Clubs and players concerned in transfers and engagements of players. Clubs shall be entitled to retain players to whom they are prepared to pay the maximum wages, unless the players satisfy the Council that there are special grounds for allowing them to change their club.
32. Clubs shall not pay any Player a bonus of more than £4 as a consideration for his signing a professional form. A bonus cannot be paid to a player on his re-signing for his own Club. The maximum wages which may be paid ​to any player shall be £4 per week or £208 per annum, but this restriction shall not apply to any payment made by this Association in respect of any of its matches. The payment of bonuses dependent on the result of any match shall not be allowed. A player may be allowed a benefit (1) after five years' service with a Club, (2) in case of accident or illness, or (3) when he is giving up playing. A player shall not be entitled to a second benefit within five years of the previous benefit. The consent of the Council of this Association must be obtained before a player is promised or receives a benefit.
33. The Council shall, subject to these Rules, have power to cancel the registration of a professional at any time upon application of the player, or of his Club, or may transfer him from one Club to another. A professional transferred must be re-registered by the Club to which he is transferred. The Council shall also have power to re-instate as an amateur any professional. All applications for re-instatement must be made on the Form to be supplied by the Secretary of this Association marked K in the Schedule annexed to these Rules, and, except in the case of a professional joining the Army, must be sent to the Secretary between the 1st and 31st of May in each year, and the Council will decide upon the same. A professional joining the Army may be re-instated immediately on application, but shall not be again registered as a professional until the expiration of two years from the date of his re-instatement; neither, during that period, shall he play as an amateur for any Club except an Army Club.
34, All agreements between Clubs and professional players must be in writing, and signed within seven days of the player signing the registration form. Except by mutual consent no Club or player shall be entitled to determine the agreement ​between them during a current season without the consent of the Council of this Association. Agreements may provide that a player shall only be paid when played in matches, but if any such player is not played for a period of one month, he shall be at liberty to apply to this Association for the cancellation of the Agreement without conditions.
35. Except as provided by Rule 27, a professional player shall only play for the Club by which he is registered without the special permission of this Association.
36. Any League or other combination of Clubs sanctioned by this Association may provide in its Rules for a system whereby a player registered with such League or Combination may be retained, or a transfer fee demanded after the end of a season's engagement. If such provision is made, the Rules of any such League or Combination must provide that a player, if professional, cannot be retained at the end of the season without payment of wages, or the offer of reasonable terms of re-engagement, or if amateur, without being played regularly. Any player unable to agree upon terms of re-engagement or transfer with the Club by which he is registered, shall have a right of, and must, in the first instance, appeal to the Committee of Management of the League or Combination to which such Club is attached. Every League or Combination must, if this Association so requires it, annually elect a Board of Appeal consisting—(1) In the case of Leagues or Combinations operating in areas controlled by more than one County or District Association, of three Members of the Council of this Association, or (2) Where the Clubs comprising such League or Combination are all within the area of the same County or District Association, of three Members of the Committee of that County or District Association. The Members forming the Boards of Appeal elected by the various Leagues or Combinations must in all cases be approved by the Council of this Association. Any appeal as to terms of re-engagement or transfer as aforesaid from the decision of a Management Committee must be to the Board of Appeal, but no appeal shall be entertained unless the Board of Appeal is satisfied that the decision of the Committee of Management is contrary to the Rules of such League or Combination as sanctioned by the Council of this Association.
37. A professional shall not be allowed to serve on the ​Council of this Association, or on the Committee of any Association, League, or Club, or represent his own or any other Association, League, or Club at any football meeting. When any person gives notice in writing to the Secretary of this Association that he has ceased to play football, the Council may, if they think fit, exempt such person from the operation of this Rule.
38. An amateur player may in writing intimate to the Secretary of this Association the Clubs for which he is a playing member, and lists shall be published. Without at least forty-eight hours' notice to the Clubs of which he is a member, no Club or Official of any Club shall induce or attempt to induce a bonâ fide player of any Club to become a professional, or leave his club until the end of the current season. A bonâ fide player is one who has played for his club during the current season or who has intimated to the Secretary of the Association as provided by this Rule.
39. An amateur player may be insured by his Club against accidents which occur during play. The insurance must be effected with a recognized Assurance Company.
40. In International Matches the qualification shall be birth. In the case of British subjects born abroad, their nationality shall be decided by the nationality of their fathers. In County and District Association Matches a player may only represent one County Association and one District Association in the same season, and he must be a bonâ fide member of a Club belonging to the County or District Association for which he plays.
41. The knickerbockers worn by players must be long enough to reach the knee.
42. Players, officials, and spectators are only allowed to take part in or attend matches on condition that they observe the Rules, Regulations, and Bye-laws of this Association, and every affiliated Association or Club is required to observe and enforce such Rules, Regulations, and Bye-laws.
43. Every Association or Club is responsible to the Council for the action of its players, officials, and spectators, and is required to take all precautions necessary to prevent spectators threatening or assaulting officials and players during or at the conclusion of matches. No official of an Association or Club, Referee, Linesmen, or player shall bet on any Football Match, and Associations and Clubs are also required to prevent betting and the use of objectionable language by spectators. In the case of a breach of this Rule, any player, official, or spectator ​may be removed from any ground, and such force used as may be necessary for the purpose of effecting such a removal.
44. Associations affiliated to this Association shall have the power to deal with violations of the Laws of the Game, the Rules, Regulations, and Bye-laws of this Association, or misconduct, by any of their Clubs or Associations which are not directly affiliated to this Association, or by any of their players, officials, or members.
45. In the event of any Association, Club, player, official, member, or spectator being proved to the satisfaction of the Council to have been guilty of any violations of the Laws of the Game, the Rules, Regulations, and Bye-laws of this Association, or of any misconduct, the Council shall have the power to order the offending Association, Club, player, official, member, or spectator to be removed from this Association, suspended for a stated period, or dealt with in such a manner as the Council may think fit. Any Association, Club, or player, playing with or against the offending Association, Club, or player after such removal, or during such time of suspension, shall also be dealt with in such manner as the Council may ​think fit. No suspended player or member of any Association or Club so suspended or removed from this Association shall be eligible for membership of any other Association or Club belonging to this Association without the special permission of the Council. The Council may also order offending Clubs to pay all expenses incurred in hearing the case.
46. The Association shall be entitled to publish in the public press, or in any other manner it shall think fit, reports of its proceedings, acts, and resolutions, whether the same shall or shall not reflect on the character or conduct of any club, official, player, or spectator, and every such club, official, player, or spectator shall be deemed to have assented to such publication.
47. Appeals from the decisions of Affiliated Associations may be made to the Council, but the operation of such decisions shall not be suspended pending the hearing of an appeal unless the Council so order. Every appeal under this rule must be accompanied by a deposit of £10. On the hearing of the appeal the Council shall have power to vary, reverse, reduce, or increase the penalty imposed by the Affiliated Association. No appeal shall be entertained unless the Council is satisfied that the decision of the Affiliated Association is contrary to the ​principles and practice of this Association and the Football Association heretofore.
48. The Council may call upon the Associations, Clubs, or individuals charged with offending against the Rules, to prove to the satisfaction of the Council that the offence has not been committed, and failing such satisfactory proof the Clubs or individuals may be adjudged guilty of the offence. The Council shall have power to call upon any Associations, Clubs, or players to produce any books, letters, or documents, and other evidence the Council may desire.
49. Any complaint or claim made by a Club or player shall be in writing, and duplicate copies shall be sent to the Secretary accompanied by a deposit of twenty shillings, which deposit shall be forfeited if the complaint be not sustained. In the event of a frivolous or vexatious complaint being made, the Council shall have power to compel the complaining Club or player to pay such expenses of the Club or player complained of as may be deemed fit Any complaint relating to the non-fulfilment of a match fixture, or claim under guarantee, must be made within twenty-eight days from the date upon which the match was played or should have been played. Neither barrister nor solicitor shall represent a Club or player at the hearing of a complaint or claim unless he be the Secretary of the Club concerned, and appear as such in the printed list of secretaries in the official rule book.
50. Any player selected to play in any International or other match arranged by this Association and (without good and sufficient cause) refusing to comply with the arrangements of the Council for playing the match, or failing to play in such ​match, may be adjudged by the Council to have been guilty of misconduct, and any Club who may be deemed to have encouraged or instigated such player to commit^ a breach of instruction or rule, shall be deemed guilty of a similar offence.
THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.
The Laws of the Game.
1. The game should be played by eleven players on each side. The field of play shall be as shown in the plan (see page 41) subject to the following provisions: The dimensions of the field of play shall be—maximum length, 130 yards; minimum length, 100 yards; maximum breadth, 100 yards; minimum breadth, 50 yards. The field of play shall be marked by boundary-lines. The lines at each end are the goal-lines, and the lines at the sides are the touch-lines. The touch-lines shall be drawn at right angles with the goal-lines. A flag with a staff not less than 5 feet high shall be placed at each corner. A half-way line shall be marked out across the field of play. The centre of the field of play shall be indicated by a suitable mark, and a circle with a 10 yards' radius shall be made round it. The goals shall be upright posts fixed on the goal-lines, equidistant from the corner flag-staffs, 8 yards apart, with a bar across them 8 feet from the ground. The maximum width of the goal-posts and the maximum depth of the cross-bar shall be 5 inches. Lines shall be marked o yards from each goalpost at right angles to the goal-lines for a distance of 6 yards, and these shall be connected with each other by a line parallel to the goal-lines; the space within these lines snail be the goal area. Lines shall be marked 18 yards from each goal-post at right angles to the goal-lines for a distance of 18 yards, and these shall be connected with each other by a line parallel to the goal-lines; the space within these lines shall be the penalty area. A suitable mark shall be made opposite the centre of each goal, 12 yards from the goal-line; this shall be the penalty kick mark. The circumference of the ball shall not be less than 27 inches nor more than 28 inches. The outer casing of the ball must be of leather, and no material shall be used in the construction of the ball which would constitute a danger ​to the players. In International matches, the dimensions of the field of play shall be—maximum length, 120 yards; minimum length, 1 10 yards; minimum breadth, 70 yards; and at the commencement of the game the weight of the ball shall be from 13 to 15 ounces.
2. The duration of the game shall be 90 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon. The winners of the toss shall have the option of kick-off or choice of goals. The game shall be commenced by a place-kick from the centre of the field of play in the direction of the opponents' goal-line; the opponents shall not approach within 10 yards of the ball until it is kicked off, nor shall any player on either side pass the centre of the ground in the direction of his opponents* goal until the ball is kicked off.
3. Ends shall only be changed at half-time. The interval at half-time shall not exceed five minutes, except by consent of the Referee. After a goal is scored the losing side shall kick off, and after the change of ends at half-time the ball shall be kicked off by the opposite side from that which originally did so; and always as provided in Law 2.
4. Except as otherwise provided by these Laws, a goal shall be scored when the ball has passed between the goal-posts under the bar, not being thrown, knocked on, nor carried by any player of the attacking side. If from any cause during the progress of the game the bar is displaced, the Referee shall have power to award a goal if in his opinion the ball would have passed under the bar if it had not been displaced. The ball is in play if it rebounds from a goal-post, cross-bar, or a corner flag-staff into the field of play. The ball is in play if it touches the Referee or a Linesman when in the field of play. The ball is out of play when it has crossed the goal-line or touch-line, either on the ground or in the air.
5. When the ball is in touch, a player of the opposite side to that which played it out shall throw it in from the point on the touch-line where it left the field of play. The player throwing the ball must stand on the touch-line facing the field of play, and shall throw the ball in over his head with both hands in any direction, and it thall be in play when thrown in. A goal shall not be scored from a throw-in, and the thrower shall not again play until the ball has been played by another player.
​This Law is complied with if the player has any part of both feet on the line when he throws the ball in.
6. When a player plays the ball, or throws it in from touch, any player of the same side who at such moment of playing- or throwing-in is nearer to his opponents' goal-line is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself, nor in any way whatever interfere with an opponent, or with the play, until the ball has been again played, unless there are at such moment of playing or throwing-in at least three of his opponents nearer their own goal-line. A player is not out of play in the case of a corner-kick, or when the ball is kicked off from goal, or when it has been last played by an opponent.
7. When the ball is played behind the goal-line by a player of the opposite side, it shall be kicked off by any one of the players behind whose goal-line it went, within that half of the goal nearest the point where the ball left the field of play; but, if played behind by any one of the side whose goal-line it is, a player of the opposite side shall kick it from within 1 yard of the nearest corner flag-staff. In either case an opponent shall not be allowed within 6 yards of the ball until it is kicked off.
8. The goal-keeper may, within his own half of the field of play, use his hands, but shall not carry the ball. The goalkeeper shall not be charged except when he is holding the ball, or obstructing an opponent, or when he has passed outside the goal area. The goal-keeper may be changed during the game, but notice of such change must first be given to the Referee.
9. Neither tripping, kicking, nor jumping at a player shall be allowed. A player (the goal-keeper excepted) shall not intentionally handle the ball. A player shall not use his hands to hold or push an opponent. Charging is permissible, but it must not be violent or dangerous. A player shall not be charged from behind unless he is intentionally obstructing an opponent.
10. When a free kick has been awarded, the kicker's ​opponents shall not approach within 6 yards of the ball unless they are standing on their own goal-line. The ball at least must be rolled over before it shall be considered played—i.e. it must make a complete circuit or travel the difference of its circumference. The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been played by another player. The kick-off (except as provided by Law 2), corner-kick, and goal-kick, shall be free kicks within the meaning of this Law.
11. A goal may be scored from a free kick which is awarded because of any infringement of Law 9, but not from any other free kick.
12. A player shall not wear any nails, except such as have their heads driven in flush with the leather, or metal plates or projections, or gutta percha, on his boots, or on his shin guards. If bars or studs on the soles or heels of the boots are used, they shall not project more than half an inch, and shall have all their fastenings driven in flush with the leather. Bars shall be transverse and flat, not less than half an inch in width, and shall extend from side to side of the boot. Studs shall be round in plan, not less than half an inch in diameter, and in no case conical or pointed. Any player discovered infringing this Law shall be prohibited from taking further part in the match. The Referee shall, if required, examine the players' boots before the commencement of a match.
13. A Referee shall be appointed, whose duties shall be to enforce the Laws and decide all disputed points; and his decision on points of fact connected with the play shall be final. He shall also keep a record of the game, and act as timekeeper. In the event of any ungentlemanly behaviour on the part of any of the players, the offender or offenders shall be cautioned, and if the offence is repeated, or in case of violent conduct without any previous caution, the Referee shall have power to order the offending player or players off the field of play, and shall transmit the name or names of such player or players to his or their National Association, who shall deal with the matter. The Referee shall have power to allow for time wasted, to suspend the game when he thinks fit, and to terminate the ​game whenever, by reason of darkness, interference by spectators, or other cause, he may deem necessary; but in all cases in which a game is so terminated he shall report the same to the Association under whose jurisdiction the game was played, who shall have full power to deal with the matter. The Referee shall have power to award a free kick in any case in which he thinks the conduct of a player dangerous, or likely to prove dangerous, but not sufficiently so as to justify him in putting in force the greater powers vested in him. The power of the Referee extends to offences committed when the play has been temporarily suspended, and when the ball is out of play.
14. Two linesmen shall be appointed, whose duty (subject to the decision of the Referee) shall be to decide when the ball is out of play, and which side is entitled to the corner-kick, goal-kick, or throw-in; and to assist the Referee in carrying out the game in accordance with the Laws. In the event of any undue interference or improper conduct by a Linesman, the Referee shall have power to order him off the field of play and appoint a substitute, and report the circumstances to the National Association having jurisdiction over him, who shall deal with the matter.
15. In the event of a supposed infringement of the Laws, the ball shall be in play until a decision has been given.
16. In the event of any temporary suspension of play from any cause, the ball not having gone into touch or behind the goal-line, the Referee shall throw the ball down where it was when play was suspended, and it shall be in play when it has touched the ground. If the ball goes into touch or behind the goal-line before it is played by a player, the Referee shall again throw it down. The players on either side shall not play the ball until it has touched the ground.
17. In the event of any infringement of Laws 5, 6, 8, 10, or 16, a free kick shall be awarded to the opposite side, from the place where the infringement occurred. In the event of any intentional infringement of Law 9 outside the penalty area, or by the attacking side within the penalty area, a free kick shall be awarded to the opposite side from the place where the infringement occurred. In the event of any intentional infringement of Law 9 by the defending side within the penalty area ​the Referee shall award the opponents a penalty kick which shall be taken from the penalty kick mark under the following conditions: All players, with the exception of the player taking the penalty kick and the opponents' goal-keeper, shall be outside the penalty area. The opponents' goal-keeper shall not advance beyond his goal line. The ball must be kicked forward. The ball shall be in play when the kick is taken, and a goal may be scored from a penalty kick; but the ball shall not be again played by the kicker until it has been played by another player. If necessary, time of play shall be extended to admit of the penalty kick being taken. A free kick shall also be awarded to the opposite side if the ball is not kicked forward, or is played a second time by the player who takes the penalty kick until it has been played by another player. The Referee may refrain from putting the provisions of this Law into effect in cases where he is satisfied that by enforcing them he would be giving an advantage to the offending side. If when a penalty kick is taken the ball passes between the goal-posts, under the bar, the goal shall not be nullified by reason of any infringement by the defending side.
DEFINITION OF TERMS.
A Place Kick is a kick at the ball while it is on the ground in the centre of the field of play.
A Free Kick is a kick at the ball in any direction the player pleases, when it is lying on the ground.
A Place Kick, a Free Kick, or a Penalty Kick must not be taken until the Referee has given a signal for the same.
Carrying by the goal-keeper is taking more than two steps while holding the ball, or bouncing it on the hand.
Knocking on is when a player strikes or propels the ball with his hands or arms.
Handling and Tripping.— Handling is intentionally playing the ball with the hand or arm, and Tripping is intentionally throwing, or attempting to throw, an opponent by the use of the legs, or by stooping in front of or behind him.
​Holding includes the obstruction of a player by the hand or any part of the arm extended from the body.
Touch is that part of the ground on either side of the field of play.
THE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BOARD.
RULES.
1. This Board shall be called the International Football Association Board. The Football Association, the Scottish Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, and the Irish Football Association, shall each be entitled to send two representatives, who shall constitute the Board.
2. The Board shall discuss and decide proposed alterations in the Laws of the Game, and such matters affecting Association Football in its International relations, as may be referred to them after consideration by either the governing bodies or General Meetings of the Associations forming the Board.
3. The governing bodies of each Association shall forward in I writing, on or before the 1st day of April in each year, to the Secretary of the Association entitled to convene the next meeting, any suggestions or alterations deemed desirable, which shall be printed and distributed on or before the 20th day of April for consideration at the Annual General Meetings of the Associations.
4. The Board shall meet annually on the second Saturday in June, at the invitation of each Association in order of seniority. One of the representatives of the Association convening the meeting shall preside, and the other shall act as Secretary.
5. The Minute Book of the proceedings shall be fully entered up by the Secretary, and forwarded to the Association next in rotation before the 1st of June ensuing.
6. Business shall not be proceeded with at any meeting unless three Associations are represented.
7. No alterations shall be made in the Laws of the Game except at the Annual Meeting in June, and then only on the unanimous vote of the members present. Other resolutions shall not be adopted unless agreed to by three-fourths of those present.
8. The Association, which by order of rotation is entitled to ​convene the Annual Meeting for the current year, on receiving a written requisition signed by two of the Associations, accompanied by a copy of the proposals intended to be submitted, shall call a Special Meeting of the Board. Such Special Meeting must be held within twenty-eight days of the receipt of the requisition, and the four Associations forming the Board must receive twenty-one days' notice, together with a copy of the proposals.
9. The decisions of this Board shall be at once binding on all the Associations, and no alteration in the Laws of the Game made by any Association shall be valid until accepted by this Board.
RULES OF THE CHALLENGE CUP COMPETITION.
1. The Cup shall be called "The Football Association Challenge Cup."
2. The Cup is the property of the Football Association, Limited.
3. The entire control and management of the competition shall be vested in the Council.
4. The competition shall be open to all Clubs belonging to this or an affiliated Association and approved by the Council. The Cup shall be competed for annually in accordance with these rules by eleven members, who, unless a satisfactory reason is given, shall represent the full available strength of each competing Club. The players shall also be duly qualified according to the Rules of the Association.
5. Each Club desirous of competing shall give notice of such desire to the Secretary of the Association on or before 1st day of May previous to that season in which such Club proposes to compete, and shall with such notice forward an entrance fee of ten shillings. Clubs (other than the four Clubs which competed in the Semi-final Ties of the previous season) desiring to be exempted in the Qualifying Competition must give notice of such desire and forward the entrance fee before the 20th day of March. An Amateur Club competing for this Cup may also compete for the Amateur Challenge Cup. The Council may reject the entry of any Club if they deem such a course desirable.
​6. A player shall not in the same season play for more than one competing Club, but the members of each respective team may be changed during the series of matches. In the preliminary and the first and second rounds of the Qualifying Competition, it is not necessary for a player to possess any other qualification than that required by the rules of the Association. Except in the preliminary and the first and second rounds of the Qualifying Competition^ a player must have been a recognised playing member of his Club for at least fourteen days previous to the date fixed for playing the match. A playing member is one who has either actually played for his Club in the current season, or who has, in writing, intimated to the Secretary of the Association that he is a playing member of that Club. The Secretary shall, in writing, acknowledge the receipt of every such intimation. A player qualified to play in any round, shall be deemed qualified to play in any subsequent round by virtue of his original qualification. In the case of postponed, drawn, or re-played matches, only those players shall be allowed to play who were eligible on the date fixed for the completion of the round in which the match was originally played.
7. Every Club playing in the Competition proper shall, not less than five days before the match, send to the opposing Club a list of players from which the team for such match will be selected; and no objection to the qualification of any player mentioned in such list shall be entertained, unless notice of objection, stating particulars, is given at least twenty-four hours before the commencement of the match. In the case of a postponed, drawn, or re-played match, the above periods of time shall be observed so far as circumstances will permit. Lists and objections must be sent by registered letter.
8. If the Council have any doubt as to the qualification of any player taking part in this competition, they shall have power to call upon such player, or the Club to which he belongs, or for which he played, to prove that he is qualified according to the Rules, and failing satisfactory proof the Council may disqualify such player, and may remove the Club from the competition, or impose such other penalty as they may think fit. Any Club making a frivolous objection will be liable to removal from the Competition.
9. The Council shall have the power to disqualify any competing Club, or player, or players for any competing Club, who ​may be proved to be guilty of any breach of the Rules of the Association,
10. There shall be—
A Qualifying Competition, and A Competition Proper.
The four Clubs which competed in the] Semi-Final Ties of the previous season, and (provided they have again entered) forty-eight Clubs to be selected by the Council from those which competed in the previous season shall be exempted till the Competition Proper. Notice shall be given of the date upon which such selection: will be made, but application must be made for exemption before the 20th day of March, according to Rule 5.
11. The Qualifying Competition shall consist of all other Clubs. Of these twelve Clubs shall be selected by the Council from those which competed in the previous season (provided they have again entered), and these shall be exempted until the last round of the Qualifying Competition. The other Clubs shall be divided into twenty-four Divisions geographically convenient and as nearly equal in number of Clubs as possible, and these shall compete until only one is left in each Division. The winners in the twenty-four Divisions shall be divided into twelve Divisions geographically convenient, and these shall flay one round. The twelve Clubs selected under this rule and the winners of the twelve Divisions shall then be drawn together, and compete in the last round of the Qualifying Competition. The winners of this round shall compete in the Competition Proper. All necessary byes shall be given in the first round of the Qualifying Competition, and the Competition shall be completed on or before the 22nd day of December. The Qualifying Competition (except the last round) shall be managed by Divisional Committees appointed by the Council, whose decisions shall be final, and whose powers for managing the Competition shall be the same as those of the Council.
12. The Competition Proper shall consist of the fifty-two Clubs which are exempted from the Qualifying Competition and the twelve winners of the Qualifying Competition. These shall compete until the Final Tie is played, when the winning Club shall hold the Cup for the current year.
13. The Clubs after having been placed by the Council in their proper Competitions shall be drawn in couples. These couples shall compete, and the winners shall be drawn and shall compete in the same manner, and this shall be continued until the end of the Competition. Immediately after each ​draw is made notice shall be given to each Club of the name of its opponent, and the date and hour when the tie shall be played. All ties in each round shall be played on one date and at such hours as the Council may determine.
14. Unless otherwise mutually arranged, the Club which is in each instance first drawn in the ballot shall have choice of ground. Except as provided by Rule 29, a Club shall not be allowed to select a ground other than that on which it is accustomed to play without the consent of the opposing Club. In the case of replayed matches, the Club which had not the choice of ground for the first match shall have the choice of ground for the second match. If the ground of the Club having choice of ground is considered unsuitable for a Cup Tie, the opposing club may appeal to the Council within three days of the receipt of the official intimation of the draw. Such appeal must be accompanied by a fee of two guineas, which shall be forfeited if the appeal is not sustained. The Council may order the match to be played on the ground of the appealing Club, or on a neutral ground. If such appeal be not sustained, the complaining Club may be called upon to pay the expenses incurred in deciding the appeal. Each Club must take every precaution to keep its ground in playing condition, and if necessary, either Club may require the referee to visit the ground two hours before the advertised time to kick off, and decide as to its fitness for play. Clubs shall not mutually arrange to play a match in lieu of a Cup Tie. If a match is played to a conclusion, it must be a Cup Tie, but if from any cause a match is not completed, it must be re -played the full time of one hour and a half. Postponed matches shall be played on the following Saturday, unless the Clubs agree to an earlier date. This Rule does not apply to Semi-final and Final Ties.
15. The duration of each match shall be one hour and a half, and the referee shall allow for time wasted or lost through accident or other cause.
16. In all matches preceding the Semi-final Ties the following provisions shall apply. An extra half-hour may be played in matches which result in a draw, provided the two Clubs mutually agree and intimate their decision to the referee before ​the match commences. When a match has resulted in a draw, it must be replayed on the following Thursday, unless the Clubs mutually agree at the conclusion of the match to an earlier day, and at once jointly intimate their decision to the Secretary of the Association. If the second match should also result in a draw, it must be replayed not later than the following Monday, and the Council shall fix the ground and day, unless the Clubs mutually agree at the conclusion of the match and at once jointly intimate their decision to the Secretary of the Association. When a replayed match has resulted in a draw an extra half hour must be played.
17. Any Club intending to scratch, must give information of their intention to do so to the Secretary of the opposing Club not less than eight days before the date fixed for playing. A Club failing to comply with this rule shall be reported to the Council, who shall have power to compel such offending Club to pay the expenses incurred by their opponents, or of taking such action as they may deem expedient. If a Club decides to scratch after a drawn game, intimation must be given to its opponent at the close of the match.
18. The Council shall fix the grounds for all Semi-final and Final Ties, and shall have direct control of all the arrangements connected with these matches. When a Semi-final match has resulted in a draw, it must be replayed on the following Thursday, unless the Clubs mutually agree at the conclusion of the match to play on the Wednesday, and at once jointly intimate their decision to the Secretary of the Association. If the second match should also result in a draw, it must be replayed on the following Monday, unless the Clubs mutually agree at the conclusion of the match to play on an earlier day, and at once jointly intimate their decision to the Secretary of the Association. When a final match has resulted in a draw it must be replayed on or before the following Saturday, as the Council may determine. If the second match should also result in a draw, it must be replayed on or before the following Thursday, as the Council may determine. When a replayed match under this Rule has resulted in a draw an extra half-hour must be played.
19. In the Semi-final and Final Ties any Club failing to play, ​without showing a good and sufficient cause for such failure to play, may be adjudged by the Council to have been guilty of serious misconduct, and liable to be dealt with under Rule 45 of the Association.
20. The dimensions of the field of play for Cup Ties shall be as follows:—For Semi-final and Final Ties, 115 yards by 70 to 75 yards. For all other ties, maximum length, 120 yards; minimum length, 110 yards; maximum breadth, 80 yards; minimum breadth, 70 yards. Goal nets must be used in all ties.
21. In the Qualifying Competition (except the last round thereof) Referees shall be appointed by the Divisional Committees, and the Clubs may appoint Linesmen. In the last round of the Qualifying Competition^ and in the Competition Proper, the Council shall appoint the Referees and Linesmen, and neither past nor present members of the contending Clubs shall be eligible. The expenses of all officials appointed by the Council to officiate in any match prior to the Semi-final and Final Ties shall be paid by the Club upon whose ground the match takes place.
22. The Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches, and in other respects the duties of the Referee and Linesmen shall be as defined in Laws of the Game 13 and 14.
23. The Secretary of the winning Club, or in case of a draw the Secretary of each Club, shall send notice of the result, in writing, to the Secretary of the Association within two days after the match is played (Sundays not included). Clubs failing to comply with this rule shall be subject to a fine of 10s., and in default of payment shall be struck out of the competition.
24. All questions relating to the qualification of competitors, or interpretation of the Rules, or any dispute or protest whatever, shall be referred to the Council, whose decision shall be final and binding on both Clubs. Every protest must be made in writing, and must contain the particulars of the grounds upon which it is founded. Two copies of the protest must be lodged with the Association, accompanied by a fee of two guineas, within two days of the match to which it relates ​(Sundays not included). The fee shall be forfeited to the Association in the event of the protest not being sustained. The Council may order any Club engaged in a dispute or protest to pay such sum as may be considered necessary towards defraying the expenses incurred. Any protest relating to the ground, goal-posts or bars, or other appurtenances of the game, shall not be entertained by the Council unless an objection has been lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. The Referee shall require the responsible Club to remove the cause of objection, if this is possible without unduly delaying the progress of the match. When an objection has been lodged with the Referee, a protest must be made to the Association, and neither objection nor protest shall be withdrawn, except by leave of the Council.
25. The Secretary of the Association shall send a copy of the protest and particulars to the Club protested against. Each Club may support its case by witnesses. If a member of the Council IS connected with a Club concerned in a dispute or protest, he shall not sit on the Council while the dispute or protest is being considered. Neither Barrister nor Solicitor shall represent a Club at the hearing of a dispute or protest, unless he be the Secretary of the Club concerned, and appear as such in the printed list of Secretaries in the Official Rule Book.
26. The proceeds of matches (except re-played matches in consequence of breach of Rule) shall, after paying thereout the advertising, ground, and other expenses of the match, and third-class railway fares of the eleven players of the visiting Club, be divided as follows:—
(2) In a match in the Competition Proper (except Semi-final and Final ties), five per cent, of the gross gates shall be paid to the Association, and the balance equally divided between the Competing Clubs.
If the receipts are not sufficient to cover the entire expenses of the match, the advertising, ground, and other expenses (except railway fares), shall be a first charge. The home Club shall ​provide for the sale of tickets, and the visiting Club for checking the sale. The expenses of sellers and checkers shall not be a charge on the gate. All members or ticket holders shall pay the admission charges to the ground and stands. The gate receipts shall be approximately divided immediately after the match, and a full statement and settlement shall be made within seven days of the match.
27. When a match is postponed through causes over which neither Club has any control, the expenses shall be paid out of the receipts of the second match.
28. In any match ordered to be re-played in consequence of a breach of Rule, the Club in default shall not receive any share of the proceeds of such re-played match (except third-class railway fares for the eleven players) without the consent of the Council, and such consent shall only be given under special circumstances. If consent be not given, the share shall be taken by the Association.
29. A Club not having a private ground shall provide a private or enclosed ground, where gate-money shall be charged for Cup Ties, free of all charge to the visiting Club, or play on its opponents' ground.
30. The Council shall, at the end of each year, ascertain the balance in favour of the General Account (as provided for by Rule 19 of the Association), and shall divide such balance amongst the Clubs competing in the Semi-final and Final Ties pro rata as to the net gate receipts of each particular tie, provided always, that the sum to be so divided shall not in any case exceed the total sum of the net gate receipts of the Semi-final and Final Ties.
31. When the winning Club shall have been ascertained, the Association shall deliver the Cup to such Club, which shall be responsible for its return to the Treasurer of the Association ​on or before the 1st day of February in the ensuing year, in good order and condition. Should the Cup be destroyed or damaged by fire or other accident whilst under the care or custody of the Club, the Club shall refund to the Association the amount of its original value or the cost of thorough repair, and should the Cup be lost or destroyed from any other cause whilst under the care or custody of the Club, the Club shall in addition to any other penalty which the Association may impose, pay to the Association a sum of £100 as and for liquidated damages.
32. In addition to the Cup, the Association shall present Medals or Badges to the players in the Final Tie.
33. All notices required to be given to the Association by any of these Rules shall be addressed to the Secretary, at the offices of The Football Association, Ltd., 104, High Holborn, London, W.C.
34. The Council shall have power to alter or add t6 the above Rules as they from time to time deem expedient.
RULES OF THE AMATEUR CHALLENGE CUP COMPETITION.
1. The Cup shall be called "The Football Association Amateur Challenge Cup."
2. The Cup is the property of the Football Association, Limited.
3. The entire control and management of the Competition shall be vested in the Council.
4. The Competition shall be open to all amateur Clubs belonging to this or an affiliated Association and approved by the Council. The Cup shall be competed for annually in accordance with the following rules by eleven members (amateurs), who, unless a satisfactory reason is given, shall represent the full available strength of each competing Club. Any Club having one or more professionals registered is not an Amateur Club within the meaning of this Rule.
5. A professional who has been reinstated as an amateur after 1902 shall not be eligible to play in this Competition.
6. Each Club desirous of competing shall give notice of such desire to the Secretary of the Association, on or before the 1st day of September previous to that season in which such Club proposes to compete, and shall with such notice forward an entrance fee of ten shillings. The Council may reject the entry ​of any Club if they deem such a course desirable, Clubs desiring to be excused the Qualifying Competition under Rule ii, must give notice of such desire, and forward their entrance fees before the 15th day of May in each year.
7. A member shall not be allowed to play for more than one competing club, but the players of each representative team may be changed during the series of matches. In the Qualifying Competition each player must have been a playing member of the Club for which he proposes to compete at least twenty-eight days previous to the day fixed for playing the match, except as hereinafter provided. In the first round of the Qualifying Competition no such twenty-eight days' qualification is required, and in the second round, when it is fixed to be played within twenty-eight days from the date fixed for the first round, each player must have been a playing member of the Club for. which he proposes to compete at least fourteen days previous to the day fixed for playing the match. For the purposes of the Qualifying Competition a playing member of a Club is one who has either actually played for the Club during the current or the previous Season, or one who has since the previous Season m writing intimated to the Secretary of the Association that he is a playing member of that Club. The Secretary of the Association shall, in writing, acknowledge the receipt of every such intimation. In the Competition proper each player must have played twice for his Club in the current season twenty-eight days at least previous to the day fixed for playing the match. In the case of postponed, drawn, or re-played matches, only those players shall be allowed to play who were eligible on the date fixed for the completion of the round in which the match was originally played. The twenty-eight and fourteen days qualifications are not required for a player playing with a Club consisting of old boys of any one Public School. Such Public School player shall also be eligible to play in the Competition Proper, although he may not have played twice for his Club in the current season.
8. If the Council have any doubt as to the qualification of any player taking part in this competition, they shall have power to call upon such player, or the Club to which he belongs, or for which he played, to prove that he is qualified according to the Rules, and failing satisfactory proof the Council may disqualify such player, and may remove the Club from the ​Competition, or impose such other penalty as they may think fit.
9. The Council shall have the power to disqualify any competing Club, or player, or players for any competing Club, who may be proved to be guilty of any breach of the Rules of the Association.
10. The Council shall divide the competing Clubs into two Divisions, viz. The Northern Division and the Southern Division, and in each of these two Divisions there shall be a Qualifying Competition and a Competition Proper.
11. The Competition shall be conducted in the following manner:—
All Clubs, including the two last Clubs left in each Division, desiring to be excused, shall give notice before the 15th day of May in each year, according to Rule 6.
12. The Qualifying Competitions shall be completed by December 31st. All the necessary byes shall be given in the Qualifying Competitions, and all the Ties in each round shall be played on one date and at such hours as the Council may determine.
13. The Clubs excused the Qualifying Competitions, together with the District winners in each Division, shall enter the Competition Proper. The Clubs in the Competition Proper of each Division shall then be subdivided into groups at the discretion of the Council and drawn in couples and shall compete among themselves until one Club is left. The winner of the Northern Division shall meet the winner of the Southern Division in the Final Tie, and the winning Club shall hold the Cup for the current year.
14. The Secretary of the Association shall, immediately after each draw is made, intimate to each Club the name of its opponent and the date and hour when the Tie shall be played.
15. Unless otherwise mutually arranged, the Club which is in each instance first drawn in the ballot shall have choice of ​ground. Except as provided by Rule 31, a Club shall not be allowed to select a ground other than that on which it is accustomed to play, without the consent of the opposing Club. In the case of re-played matches, the Club which had not the choice of ground for the first match shall have choice of ground for the second match. If the ground of the Club having choice of ground is considered unsuitable for a Cup Tie, the opposing Club may appeal to the Council within three days of the receipt of the official intimation of the draw. The Council may order the match to be played on the ground of the appealing Club, or on a neutral ground. If such appeal be not sustained, the complaining Club may be called upon to pay the expenses incurred in deciding the appeal. Each club must take every precaution to keep its ground in playing condition, and if necessary, either Club may apply to the Association, and the Secretary shall require the Referee or some other person to examine the ground and decide as to its fitness for play in sufficient time to save expenses being incurred by the Clubs of unnecessary journeys. Clubs shall not mutually arrange to play a match in lieu of a Cup Tie. If a match is played to a conclusion, it must be a Cup Tie, but if from any cause a match is not completed it must be replayed the full time of one hour and a half. Postponed matches shall be played on the following Saturday, unless the Clubs agree to an earlier date. This Rule does not apply to the last match in each Division (which matches shall be considered the Semi-final Ties) and to the Final Tie.
16. The duration of each match shall be one hour and a half, and the Referee shall allow for time wasted or lost through accident or other cause.
17. In all matches preceding the Semi-final Ties, the following provisions shall apply. An extra half-hour may be played in matches which result in a draw, provided the two Clubs mutually agree and intimate their decision to the Referee before the match commences. When a match has resulted in a draw it must be re-played on the following Saturday, unless the Clubs mutually agree at the conclusion of the match to an earlier day, and at once jointly intimate their decision to the Secretary of the Association. If the second match should also result in a draw it must be re-played not later than the following Wednesday, and the Council shall fix the ground and day unless the Clubs mutually agree at the conclusion of the ​match, and at once jointly intimate their decision to the Secretary of the Association. When a re-played match has resulted in a draw, an extra half-hour must be played.
18. Any Club intending to scratch must give information of their intention to do so to the Secretary of the opposing Club not less than eight days before the date fixed for playing. A Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be reported to the Council, who s(hall have power to compel such offending Club to pay the expenses incurred by their opponents, or of taking such action as they may deem expedient.
19. The Council shall fix the grounds for all Semi-final and Final Ties, and shall have direct control of all the arrangements connected with these matches. When a Semi-final match has resulted in a draw, it must be re-played on the following Saturday. If the second match should also result in a draw, it must be re-played on the following Thursday, unless the Clubs mutually agree at the conclusion of the match to play on an earlier day, and at once jointly intimate their decision to the Secretary of the Association. When a Final match has resulted in a draw, it must be re-played on the following Saturday. If the second match should also result in a draw, it must be re-played as the Council may determine. When a re-played match under this Rule has resulted in a draw, an extra half-hour must be played.
20. In the Semi-final and Final Ties any Club failing to play, without showing a good and sufficient cause for such failure to play, may be adjudged by the Council to have been guilty of serious misconduct, and liable to be dealt with under Rule 45 of the Association.
21. The dimensions of the field of play for Cup Ties shall be:—Maximum length, 120 yards; minimum length, no yards maximum breadth, 80 yards; minimum breadth, 70 yards. Goal nets must be used m all ties in the Competition Proper, and the Council recommend their use in the Qualifying Competition.
22. The Referee in all matches shall be neither a past nor present member of either of the contending Clubs. The fees ​and travelling expenses of all officials appointed by the Council to officiate in any match prior to the Semi-final and Final Ties shall be paid by the Club upon whose ground the match takes place. Subject to Rule 15, the Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches, and in other respects the duties of the Referee and Linesmen shall be as defined in Laws of the Game 13 and 14.
23. In the Qualifying Competition the competing Clubs may agree upon a Referee, in which case either side must notify such appointment to the Secretary of the Association. If, however, they should be unable to agree upon a Referee, they shall apply to the Secretary, who shall appoint one, such application to be made seven days before the day of the match. Each Club may appoint a Linesman.
24. The Council shall appoint the Referees in the Competition Proper, and Linesmen in the Semi-final and Final Ties. In the Competition Proper, previous to the Semi-final Ties, Clubs may agree upon neutral Linesmen. If, however, they should be unable to agree upon Linesmen, they shall apply to the Secretary, who shall appoint them, such applications to be made seven days before the day of the match.
25. The Secretary of the winning Club, or in the case of a draw the Secretary of each Club, shall send notice of the result, in writing, to the Secretary of the Association within two days after the match (Sundays not included). Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be subject to a fine of 10s., and in default of payment shall be struck out of the competition.
26. All questions relating to the qualification of competitors, ​or interpretation of the Rules, or any dispute or protest whatever, shall be referred to the Council, whose decision shall be final and binding on both Clubs. Every protest must be made in writing, and must contain the particulars of the grounds upon which it is founded. Two copies of the protest must be lodged with the Association, accompanied by a fee of two guineas, within two days of the match to which it relates (Sundays not included). The fee shall be forfeited to the Association in the event of the protest not being sustained. The Council may order any Club engaged in a dispute or protest to pay such sum as may be considered necessary towards defraying the expenses incurred. Any protest relating to the ground, goal posts, or bars, or other appurtenances of the game, shall not be entertained by the Council, unless an objection has been lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. The Referee shall require the responsible Club to remove the cause of objection, if this is possible without unduly delaying the progress of the match. When an objection has been lodged with the Referee, a protest must be made to the Association, and no objection or protest shall be withdrawn except by leave of the Council.
27. The Secretary of the Association shall send a copy of the protest and particulars to the Club protested against. Each Club may support its case by witnesses. If a member of the Council is connected with a Club concerned in a dispute or protest, he shall not sit on the Council while the dispute or protest is being considered. Neither Barrister nor Solicitor shall represent a Club at the hearing of a dispute or protest, unless he be the Secretary of the Club concerned, and appear as such in the printed list of Secretaries in the Official Rule Book.
28. The proceeds of matches (except re-played matches in consequence of a breach of Rule, and Semi-final and Final Ties) shall be equally divided between the competing Clubs, after paying thereout the advertising, ground, and other expenses of the match, and third-class railway fares of the eleven players of the visiting Club. In cases where the receipts are not sufficient to cover the entire expenses of the match, the fees and travelling expenses of the officials shall be a first charge upon the receipts, after payment of which the residue of the receipts shall be applied pro rata in payment of the railway fares of the visiting team and the ground and other expenses. ​The home Club shall provide for the sale of tickets, and the visiting Club for checking the sale. The expenses of sellers and checkers shall not be a charge on the gate. All members or ticket holders shall pay the admission charges to the ground and stands. The gate receipts shall be approximately divided immediately after the match, and a full statement and settlement shall be made within seven days of the match. Clubs which, in the Qualifying Competition, do not charge for admission to their ground shall not be entitled to a share of the admission charges of other Clubs in re-played matches.
29. When a match is postponed through causes over which neither Club has any control, the expenses shall be paid out of the receipts of the second match.
30. In any match ordered to be re-played in consequence of a breach of Rule, the Club in default shall not receive any share of the proceeds of such re-played match (except third-class railway fares for the eleven players) without the consent of the Council, and such consent shall only be given under special circumstances. If consent is not given, the share shall be taken by the Association.
31. A Club not having a private or enclosed ground, shall provide a private or enclosed ground, free of all charge to the visiting Club, or play on its opponents' ground. In the Competition proper, gate money must be charged.
​32. The Council shall, at the end of each year, ascertain the balance in favour of the General Account (as provided by Rule 19 of the Association), and shall divide, such balance amongst the Clubs competing in the Semi-final and Final Ties pro rata as to the net gate receipts of each particular Tie, provided always, that the sum to be so divided shall not in any case exceed the total sum of the net gate receipts of the Semi-final and Final Ties.
33. When the winning Club shall have been ascertained, the Association shall deliver the Cup to such Club, which shall be responsible for its return to the Treasurer of the Association on or before the 1st day of February in the ensuing year, in good order and condition. Should the Cup be destroyed or damaged by fire or other accident whilst under the care or custody of the Club, the Club shall refund to the Association the amount of its original value or the cost of thorough repair; and should the Cup be lost or destroyed from any other cause whilst under the care or custody of the Club, the Club shall, in addition to any other penalty which the Association may impose, pay to the Association a sum of £100 as and for liquidated damages.
34. In addition to the Cup, the Association shall present Medals or Badges to the players in the Final Tie.
35. All notices required to be given to the Association by any of these Rules shall be addressed to the Secretary, at the offices of The Football Association, Limited, 104, High Holborn, London, W.C.
36. The Council shall have power to alter or add to the above Rules, as they from time to time deem expedient.
* ↑ Membership of any Club having a name similar to one already affiliated with the Association, shall not be recognized or accepted. The word "Association'* or "Rugby" is not a sufficient distinction within the meaning of the agreement between the Association, the Rugby Union, and the Northern Rugby Union to enable a Club under one authority taking a name identical with that already held by a Club under the other authority. A professional player under the Rules of the Football Association or the Rugby Union cannot play as an amateur under either Code of Laws. A professional player of the Football Association cannot play under the auspices o
* ↑ The forms mentioned in the Rules may be obtained from the Secretary of the Association.
* ↑ Second or Reserve Teams must be known by the name of the Club to which they belong, as S—O 2nd, or S—O Reserve.
* ↑ For the necessary majority requisite to pass such alterations or additions to these Rules, see Article 22.
* ↑ All applications for a grant under this Rule must be made to the Council upon the printed form issued by the Association.
* ↑ Regulations and Bye-laws for the sanction and control of all Leagues and Competitions are issued by the Association.
* ↑ No player (except under provisions of Rule 29) is entitled to take the proceeds of a benefit match until he has been registered as a professional.
* ↑ Linesmen are not considered players for the purposes of Rule 27.
* ↑ Application is not necessary for Scratch Teams where gate money is not taken. No player (except under provisions of Rule 29) is entitled to take the proceeds of a benefit match until he has been registered as a professional.
* ↑ See note on page 65.
* ↑ Wages paid by an Amateur Club to a trainer are training expenses within the meaning of Rule 29.
* ↑ No player (except under provisions of Rule 29) is entitled to take the proceeds of a benefit match until he has been registered as a professional.   It is misconduct for any Association or Club, or any player, official, or member of any Association or Club, to offer or attempt to offer, either directly or indirectly, any consideration whatever to another Club, player, or players of any other Club, with a view to influence the result of a match. It is misconduct for any Club, player, or players to accept any such consideration.
* ↑ Professional Registration forms signed on a Sunday are not valid. It is an offence for a Club to induce a player to sign on a Sunday. The signing of a second registration form before the Council have declared the first form invalid, is also an offence. Clubs and players can be dealt with for these irregularities. A professional player is not a member of a Club until he has been registered with this Association.
* ↑ No player (except under provisions of Rule 29) is entitled to take the proceeds of a benefit match until he has been registered as a professional.
* ↑ A list will be kept by the Secretary of all players to whom Clubs are prepared to pay the maximum wages, and of which he shall have received notice from the Club. On receipt of notice from the Club the Secretary shall advise the player that such notice has been received. A player on such list shall not be registered for any other Club until the Council has been satisfied of the special grounds as required by Rule 31.
* ↑ If a player is engaged for the full period of 12 months, the £208 may be paid to him in any proportion that may be mutually agreed upon between the Club and the player. If a player is not engaged for the full period of 12 months, he must not be paid at a rate exceeding £4 a week during the term of his engagement.
* ↑ No player (except under provisions of Rule 29) is entitled to take the proceeds of a benefit match until he has been registered as a professional.
* ↑ The Council will require to be satisfied that the transfer of players is bonâ fide and applications for the purpose of obtaining players for special matches will not be acceded to.
* ↑ It is not permissible for a provisional agreement to be entered into between Clubs and their professional players.
* ↑ A professional player may, with the consent of the Council, practise on the ground of a club other than the ground of the club for which the player is registered.
* ↑ Any player leaving the field during the progress of a game (except through accident) without the consent of the referee, will be deemed guilty of misconduct, and will render himself liable to be penalized under Rule 45.  Without permission of the referee, no person shall be allowed on the field of play during a match other than the linesmen and players.  It is the duty of members of the Council, officials of clubs, and referees to report to the Council all cases of misconduct likely to bring the game into disrepute; and officials of clubs must report to the Council any infringement of rules without delay.  All Clubs connected with the Association must have bills printed and posted in their grounds, threatening with expulsion any person who is guilty of insulting or improper conduct towards the Referee. Any misconduct towards a Referee away from the field of play will be dealt with in the same way as if the offence had been committed on the field.  Clubs are expected to provide a private way for players and officials from playing ground to dressing room wherever this' is practicable.  It is misconduct for any Association or Club, or any player, official, or member of any Association or Club to offer, or attempt to offer, either directly or indirectly, any consideration whatever to another Club, player, or players of any other Club, with a view to influence the result of a match. It is misconduct for any Club, player, or players to accept any such consideration.
* ↑ A player shall not act as linesman or referee during suspension.  The Rules of the Association are sufficient to enable the Council, as the governing authority, to deal with all cases of misconduct, or failure to carry out the terms of professional players* engagements, and the Council are of opinion that legal proceedings should only be taken as a last resource, and then only with the previous consent of the Council.  Any professional player, whilst under suspension by the Council for breach of rules, shall not receive any wages or money from his Club without the consent of the Council.  It is misconduct for any Association or Club, or any player, official, or member of any Association or Club to offer or attempt to offer, either directly or indirectly, any consideration whatever to another Club, player, or players of any other Club, with a view to influence the result of a match. It is misconduct for any Club, player, or players to accept any such consideration.  Without permission of the referee, no person shall be allowed on the field of play during a match other than the linesmen and players.  Any player leaving the field during the progress of a game (except through accident) without the consent of the referee, will be deemed guilty of misconduct, and will render himself liable to be penalised under Rule 45.  Any suspension of a ground prohibits the Club from playing within a radius of six miles of its ground.
* ↑ The Rules of the Association are sufficient to enable the Council, as the governing authority, to deal with all cases of misconduct, or failure to carry out the terms of professional players* engagements, and the Council are of opinion that legal proceedings should only be taken as a last resource, and then only with the previous consent 01 the Council.
* ↑ All claims by players against Clubs for wages or expenses must be limited to the current season, and will not be considered unless the claims are made within twenty-eight days of the close of the season.  The Rules of the Association are sufficient to enable the Council, as the governing authority, to deal with all cases of misconduct, or failure to carry out the terms of professional players* engagements, and the Council are of opinion that legal proceedings should only be taken as a last resource, and then only with the previous consent of the Council.
* ↑ Decision of the International Board:—The touch and goal-lines must not be marked by a V-shaped rut.
* ↑ Decision of the International Board:—If this Law is not complied with, the kick-off must be taken over again.
* ↑ Decision of the International Board r—The whole of the ball must have passed over the goal-line, or touch-line, before it is out of play
* ↑ Decision of the International Board:—The corner flag must not be removed when a corner kick is taken.
* ↑ Decision of the International Board:—If a goal-keeper has been changed without the Referee being notified, and the new goal-keeper handles the ball within the penalty area, a penalty kick must be awarded.
* ↑ Decision of the International Board:—Cases of handling the ball and tripping, pushing, kicking, or holding an opponent, and charging an opponent from behind, may so happen as to be considered unintentional, and when this is so, no penalty must be awarded.
* ↑ Decision of the International Board:—Wearing soft india-rubber on the soles of boots is not a violation of this Law.
* ↑ Decision of the International Board:—All reports by Referees to be made within three days after the occurrence. Referees may in certain circumstances send their reports to the affiliated Association concerned. See Agreement dated June 17, 1895.
* ↑ Decision of the International Board:— Linesmen, where neutral, should call the attention of the Referee to rough play or ungentlemanly conduct, and generally assist him to carry out the game in a proper manner.
* ↑ Decision of the International Board:—A penalty kick can be awarded irrespective of the position of the ball at the time the offence is committed. In the event of the ball touching the goal-keeper before passing between the posts, when a penalty kick is being taken at the expiry of time, a goal is scored.
* ↑ The current year shall be understood to commence on the second Saturday of June.
* ↑ A player who has been suspended may play in postponed, drawn, or re-played Ties after the term of his suspension has expired.
* ↑ Where the colours of two competing clubs are the same, the home team must change.
* ↑ When an extra half-hour is played, the game shall recommence as provided by Law 2, and fifteen minutes shall be played each way.
* ↑ Clubs failing to give a satisfactory reason for scratching, shall not be allowed to enter the Competition the following season.
* ↑ When ah extra half-hour is played the game shall recommence as provided by Law 2, and fifteen minutes shall be played each way.
* ↑ The scale of charges for officials appointed by the Association shall be One Guinea, and railway and cab fares actually paid. First-class fares will be allowed to officials who do not charge a fee. If a fee is charged, third-class fares will be allowed. When necessary for officials to arrive the night before the match, hotel expenses will be allowed.
* ↑ Ground and other expenses referred to are—printing, posting, advertising, police charges, and referee's charges. Railway fares to be allowed shall be the actual fares paid, but not exceeding third class. A Club may, at its own expense, erect temporary stands and take the proceeds, in cases where the opposing club declines to join in the expenses of the erection, A temporary stand becomes a permanent one if used after the match for which it was erected.
* ↑ All members, and also ladies and boys, must be charged for admission to ground, enclosure, and stands in matches in all Cup Ties. The minimum admission to matches in the Qualifying Competition shall be fourpence, and to matches in the Competition Proper sixpence.  Associations and Clubs are recommended to grant free admission, where practicable, to soldiers and sailors wearing His Majesty's uniform.
* ↑ Expenses for clearing the ground of snow, and in other ways preparing the ground, must be borne by the home Club.
* ↑ A player who has been suspended may play in postponed, drawn, or re-played ties after the term of his suspension has expired.
* ↑ Where the colours of two competing Clubs are the same, the home team must change.
* ↑ When an extra half-hour is played, the game shall recommence as provided by Law 2, and fifteen minutes shall be played each way. In the event of extra time in the first match not being completed, and neither Club being at fault, the match shall be re-played on the ground of the Club which had not the choice of ground for the first match.
* ↑ When an extra half-hour is played, the game shall recommence as provided by Law 2, and fifteen minutes shall be played each way.
* ↑ Officials appointed by the Association are entitled to charge on the following scale:— In all matches preceding the Semi-final Ties:— £ s. d. Referees and Linesmen 10 6 In the Semi-final and Final Ties:— Referees 1 1 0 Linesmen 10 6 Third-class railway fares and cab fares actually paid will also be allowed. Officials who do not charge a fee will be allowed first-class railway fare, if actually paid. When necessary for officials to arrive the night before the match, hotel expenses will be allowed. The home Club must, even in cases where the gate money is insufficient, pay the fees and travelling expenses of the officials.
* ↑ Ground and other expenses are printing, posting, advertising and police charges. The railway fares of the visiting team to be allowed shall be the actual fares paid, as and from the Club's headquarters, but not exceeding third-class.  A Club may, at its own expense, erect temporary stands and take the proceeds, in cases where the opposing Club declines to join in the expenses of the erection. A temporary stand becomes a permanent one if used after the match for which it was erected.  The home Club must, even in cases where the gate money is insufficient, pay the fees and travelling expenses of the officials.
* ↑ All members, and also ladies and boys, must be charged for admission to ground, enclosure, and stands in matches in all the Cup Ties. The minimum admission to matches in the Competition Proper shall be threepence.  Associations and Clubs are recommended to grant free admission, where practicable, to soldiers and sailors wearing His Majesty's uniform.
* ↑ Expenses for clearing the ground of snow, and in other ways preparing the ground, must be borne by the home Club.
* ↑ All members, and also ladies and boys, must be charged for admission to ground enclosure and stands in matches in the Competition proper. The minimum admission to matches in the Competition proper shall be threepence.