FIFA LEGALHANDBOOK
Edition September 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS
FIFA Regulations:FIFA Statutes [2021 ed] ................................................................................................................................................................................

3

FIFA Governance Regulations [2020 ed] ....................................................................................................................................................

95

FIFA Disciplinary Code [2019 ed] ................................................................................................................................................................

168

FIFA Code of Ethics [2020 ed] .....................................................................................................................................................................

219

FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations [2021 ed] ....................................................................................................................................................

270

FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players [August 2021 ed] .............................................................................................

417

FIFA Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal [2021 ed] ..........................................................................................................

509

FIFA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries [2015 ed] ..................................................................................................................

537

FIFA Regulations Governing International Matches [2014 ed] ................................................................................................................

558

FIFA Match Agents Regulations [2003 ed] .................................................................................................................................................

588

FIFA Regulations Club Licensing [2008 ed] ................................................................................................................................................

597

FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations [2013 ed] .........................................................................................................................

645

FIFA Equipment Regulations [2015 ed] ......................................................................................................................................................

751

FIFA FORWARD Development Programme Regulations Forward 2.0 [2018 ed] .....................................................................................

850

FIFA Data Protection Regulations [2019 ed] ..............................................................................................................................................

882

FIFA Regulations Governing the Admission of Associations to FIFA [2013 ed] ......................................................................................

896

FIFA Regulations for World Cup 2022 Preliminary Competition [2020 ed] .............................................................................................

905

FIFA Circular letters:
1691: A rticle 42 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and article 38bis of the FIFA Code of
Ethics–legal aid and pro bono counsel ............................................................................................................................................

951

1635: Refugees and protected persons; best efforts to obtain “no TPO” document .............................................................................

954

 rt 64 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code – new approach adopted by the FIFA Disciplinary
1628: A
Committee with respect to debtor club ..........................................................................................................................................

957

1609: FIFA TMS administrative sanction procedure change of process ...................................................................................................

962

1587: International transfers of professional minor players ...................................................................................................................

965

1576: Limited Minor Exemption .................................................................................................................................................................

967

1249: R egulations on the Status and Transfer of Players –training compensation and the categorisation of clubs ................................................................................................................

973

1010: Independent and duly constituted arbitration tribunal .................................................................................................................

976

FIFA Standard documents:
Standard Statutes [2005 ed] .......................................................................................................................................................................

978Standard Electoral Code [2007 ed] .............................................................................................................................................................

1041

National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC) Standard Regulations [2008 ed] ....................................................................................

1060

FIFA Legal Guides:
FIFA Guide to Submitting a Minor Applications .......................................................................................................................................

1079

FIFA Guide to submitting a request for eligibility or change of association ..........................................................................................

1117

FIFA COVID-19 Football Regulatory Issues ................................................................................................................................................

1138

FIFA COVID-19 Football Regulatory Issues (FAQs and new matters) ......................................................................................................

1154

Further updates and information can be found at legal.fifa.com

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FIFA STATUTESANTI-DOPINGREGULATIONS[2019 ED.]FIFASTATUTESREGULATIONS GOVERNING THE APPLICATION
OF THE STATUTES
STANDING ORDERS OF THE CONGRESSMay 2021 edition

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CONTENTS 3

FIFA STATUTES
DEFINITIONS

8

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1 Name and headquarters
2 Objectives
3 Human rights
4 Non-discrimination, equality and neutrality
5 Promoting friendly relations
6 Players
7 Laws of the Game
8 Conduct of bodies, officials and others
9 Official languages

10
10
10
11
11
11
12
12
12
13

II. MEMBERSHIP
10 Admission, suspension and expulsion
11 Admission
12 Request and procedure for application
13 Member associations’ rights
14 Member associations’ obligations
15 Member associations’ statutes
16 Suspension
17 Expulsion
18 Resignation
19 Independence of member associations and their bodies
20 Status of clubs, leagues and other groups of clubs

14
14
14
15
15
16
17
18
19
19
20
21

III. HONORARY PRESIDENT, HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENT
AND HONORARY MEMBER
22
21 Honorary president, honorary vice-president and honorary member 22
IV. CONFEDERATIONS
22 Confederations
23 Confederations’ statutes

23
23
25

V. ORGANISATION
24 Bodies

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4 CONTENTS

A. CONGRESS
25 Congress
26 Vote, delegates, observers
27 Candidates for the office of FIFA President, for the Counciland for the chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and members of
the Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee andthe judicial bodies
28 Ordinary Congress agenda
29 Adoption of and amendments to the Statutes,
the Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes
and the Standing Orders of the Congress
30 Elections, other decisions, requisite majority
31 Minutes
32 Effective dates of decisions

28
28
28

29
31

33
34
35
35

B. COUNCIL
33 Composition, election of the President, the vice-presidents
and the members of the Council
34 Powers of the Council

36

C. PRESIDENT
35 President

40
40

D. GENERAL SECRETARIAT
36 General secretariat
37 Secretary General

41
41
41

E. BUREAU OF THE COUNCIL
38 Bureau of the Council

43
43

F. STANDING COMMITTEES
39 Standing committees
40 Finance Committee
41 Development Committee
42 Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions
43 Football Stakeholders Committee
44 Member Associations Committee
45 Referees Committee
46 Medical Committee

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44
45
46
46
47
47
47
47

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VI. ANNUAL MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS CONFERENCE
47 Annual member associations conference48
48

VII. INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES
48 Institutional independence
49 Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee
50 Judicial bodies
51 Disciplinary Committee
52 Ethics Committee
53 Appeal Committee

49
49
49
51
53
53
54

VIII. FOOTBALL TRIBUNAL
54 Football Tribunal

55
55

IX. DISCIPLINARY MEASURES
55 Disciplinary measures

56
56

X. ARBITRATION
56 Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)57 Jurisdiction of CAS
58 Obligations relating to dispute resolution

58
58
58
59

XI. SUBMISSION TO DECISIONS OF FIFA
59 Implementation of decisions
60 Sanctions

61
61
61

XII. FINANCE
61 Financial period
62 Auditors
63 Membership subscriptions
64 Settlement
65 Levies

62
62
62
62
63
63

XIII. RIGHTS IN COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS
66 Rights in competitions and events
67 Authorisation to distribute

64
64
64

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6 CONTENTS

XIV. COMPETITIONS

65

A. FIFA FINAL COMPETITIONS
68 Competition venues

65
65

B. INTERNATIONAL MATCHES AND COMPETITIONS
69 International match calendar
70 International matches and competitions
71 Contacts
72 Authorisation

67
67
67
67
68

XV. FINAL PROVISIONS
73 Dissolution
74 Transitory provisions
75 Enforcement

69
69
69
70

REGULATIONS GOVERNING
THE APPLICATION OF THE STATUTES
I. APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO FIFA
1 Application for admission
2 Confederations

71
71

II. MATCH AGENTS AND FOOTBALL AGENTS
3 Match agents
4 Football agents

72
72
72

III. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS
73
5 Principles
73
6 Nationality entitling players to represent more than one association 74
7 Acquisition of a new nationality
75
8 Stateless individuals
76
9 Change of association
76

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CONTENTS 7
IV. SPORTING INTEGRITY
10 Principle of promotion and relegation

80
80

V. LAWS OF THE GAME
11 Amendments to the Laws of the Game

81
81

VI. REFEREES AND ASSISTANT REFEREES
12 Nomination
13 Report
14 Reimbursement

82
82
82
83

VII. FINAL PROVISIONS
15 Objectives
16 Enforcement

84
84
84

STANDING ORDERS OF THE CONGRESSSTANDING ORDERS OF THE CONGRESS
1 Participation in the Congress
2 Chair
3 Scrutineers
4 Interpreters
5 Debates
6 Speakers
7 Proposals
8 Procedural motions and closing of debates
9 Votes
10 Elections
11 Calculation of majorities
12 Enforcement

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8 DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS
The terms given below denote the following:
1

FIFA: “Fédération Internationale de Football Association”.

2

Association: a football association recognised as such by FIFA. It isa member of FIFA, unless a different meaning is evident from thecontext.

3

League: an organisation that is subordinate to an association.

4

British associations: the four associations in the United Kingdom –The Football Association, The Scottish Football Association,
The Football Association of Wales and The Irish Football Association(Northern Ireland).

5

The IFAB: The International Football Association Board (IFAB).

6Country: an independent state recognised by the international
community.

7

Confederation: a group of associations recognised by FIFA thatbelong to the same continent (or assimilable geographic region).

8

Congress: the supreme and legislative body of FIFA.

9

Council: the strategic and oversight body of FIFA.

10

Bureau of the Council: the bureau of the Council as defined inart. 38 of these Statutes.

11

Laws of the Game: the laws of association football issued by
The IFAB in accordance with art. 7 of these Statutes.

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DEFINITIONS 9
12

Member association: an association that has been admitted into
membership of FIFA by the Congress.

13

Official: any board member (including the members of the Council),committee member, referee and assistant referee, coach, trainer andany other person responsible for technical, medical and administrative
matters in FIFA, a confederation, a member association, a league ora club as well as all other persons obliged to comply with the FIFA
Statutes (except players, football agents and match agents).

14

Club: a member of an association (that is a member association ofFIFA) or a member of a league recognised by a member associationthat enters at least one team in a competition.

15

Player: any football player licensed by an association.

16

Association football: the game controlled by FIFA and organised
by FIFA, the confederations and/or the member associations inaccordance with the Laws of the Game.

17

Official competition: a competition for representative teams
organised by FIFA or any confederation.

18

Stakeholder: a person, entity or organisation which is not a member
association and/or body of FIFA but has an interest or concern in FIFA’s
activities, which may affect or be affected by FIFA’s actions, objectives
and policies, in particular clubs, players, coaches and professional
leagues.

NB: Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders.
Any term in the singular applies to the plural and vice versa.

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I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1Name and headquarters

1.
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is anassociation registered in the Commercial Register of the Canton of Zurich inaccordance with art. 60 ff. of the Swiss Civil Code.
2.
FIFA’s headquarters are located in Zurich (Switzerland) and may only
be transferred to another location following a resolution passed by theCongress.

2

Objectives

The objectives of FIFA are:(a) to improve the game of football constantly and promote it globally inthe light of its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values,
particularly through youth and development programmes;(b) to organise its own international competitions;(c) to draw up regulations and provisions governing the game of footballand related matters and to ensure their enforcement;(d) to control every type of association football by taking appropriate steps
to prevent infringements of the Statutes, regulations or decisions ofFIFA or of the Laws of the Game;(e) to use its efforts to ensure that the game of football is available to andresourced for all who wish to participate, regardless of gender or age;(f) to promote the development of women’s football and the fullparticipation of women at all levels of football governance; and(g) to promote integrity, ethics and fair play with a view to preventing
all methods or practices, such as corruption, doping or match
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I. GENERAL PROVISIONS 11
manipulation, which might jeopardise the integrity of matches,competitions, players, officials and member associations or give rise toabuse of association football.

3

Human rights

FIFA is committed to respecting all internationally recognised human rights
and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights.

4

Non-discrimination, equality and neutrality

1.
Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group ofpeople on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin,gender, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other
opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any otherreason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.
2.
FIFA remains neutral in matters of politics and religion. Exceptions may bemade with regard to matters affected by FIFA’s statutory objectives.

5

Promoting friendly relations

1.
FIFA shall promote friendly relations:(a) between and among member associations, confederations, clubs,
officials and players; and(b) in society for humanitarian objectives.
2.
FIFA shall provide the necessary institutional means to resolve any disputethat may arise between or among member associations, confederations,clubs, officials and players.
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12 I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

6

Players

The Council shall regulate the status of players and the provisions fortheir transfer, as well as questions relating to these matters, in particular
the encouragement of player training by clubs and the protection ofrepresentative teams, in the form of special regulations from time to time.

7

Laws of the Game

1.
Each member association shall play association football in compliance with
the Laws of the Game issued by The IFAB. Only The IFAB may lay down andalter the Laws of the Game.
2.
The IFAB is an association in accordance with Swiss law with its
headquarters located in Zurich (Switzerland). The members of The IFAB are
FIFA and the four British associations.
3.
The organisation, duties and responsibilities of The IFAB are governed by
the statutes of The IFAB.
4.
Each member association shall play futsal in accordance with the Futsal
Laws of the Game, as issued by the Council.
5.
Each member association shall play beach soccer in accordance with the
Beach Soccer Laws of the Game, as issued by the Council.

8

Conduct of bodies, officials and others

1.
All bodies and officials must observe the Statutes, regulations, decisions
and Code of Ethics of FIFA in their activities.

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I. GENERAL PROVISIONS 13
2.
Executive bodies of member associations may under exceptional
circumstances be removed from office by the Council in consultation withthe relevant confederation and replaced by a normalisation committee fora specific period of time.
3.
Every person and organisation involved in the game of football is obliged
to observe the Statutes and regulations of FIFA as well as the principles offair play.

9

Official languages

1.
English, Spanish, French and German are the official languages of FIFA.
English is the official language for minutes, official correspondence andannouncements.
2.
Member associations are responsible for translations into the language(s)of their country.
3.
English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Arabic and Portuguese are theofficial languages at the Congress. Qualified interpreters shall translate
into these languages. Delegates may speak in their mother tongue if they
ensure interpretation into one of the official Congress languages by aqualified interpreter.
4.
The Statutes, Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes, theStanding Orders of the Congress, decisions and announcements of FIFA
shall be published in the four official languages. If there is any divergencein the wording, the English text shall be authoritative.

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14 II. MEMBERSHIP

II. MEMBERSHIP

10

Admission, suspension and expulsion

The Congress shall decide whether to admit, suspend or expel a member
association solely upon the recommendation of the Council.

11

Admission

1.
Any association which is responsible for organising and supervisingfootball in all of its forms in its country may become a member association.
Consequently, it is recommended that all member associations involve all
relevant stakeholders in football in their own structure. Subject to par. 5
and par. 6 below, only one association shall be recognised as a member
association in each country.
2.
Membership is only permitted if an association is currently a member ofa confederation. The Council may issue regulations with regard to theadmission process.
3.
Any association wishing to become a member association shall apply in
writing to the FIFA general secretariat.
4.
The association’s legally valid statutes shall be enclosed with the application
for membership and shall contain the following mandatory provisions:(a) always to comply with the Statutes, regulations and decisions of FIFAand of the relevant confederation;(b) to comply with the Laws of the Game in force;(c) to recognise the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as specified in these
Statutes.

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II. MEMBERSHIP 15
5.
Each of the four British associations shall be recognised as a separate
member association of FIFA.
6.
An association in a region which has not yet gained independence may,with the authorisation of the member association in the country on which
it is dependent, also apply for admission to FIFA.
7.
This article shall not affect the status of existing member associations.

12

Request and procedure for application

1.
The Council shall request the Congress either to admit or not to admit anassociation. The association may state the reasons for its application to theCongress.
2.
The new member association shall acquire membership rights and duties
as soon as it has been admitted. Its delegates are eligible to vote and beelected with immediate effect.

13

Member associations’ rights

1.
Member associations have the following rights:(a) to take part in the Congress;(b) to draw up proposals for inclusion in the agenda of the Congress;(c) to nominate candidates for the FIFA presidency and the Council;(d) to participate in and cast their votes at all FIFA elections in accordancewith the FIFA Governance Regulations;

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16 II. MEMBERSHIP(e) to take part in competitions organised by FIFA;(f) to take part in FIFA’s assistance and development programmes; and(g) to exercise all other rights arising from these Statutes and otherregulations.
2.
The exercise of these rights is subject to other provisions in these Statutes
and the applicable regulations.

14

Member associations’ obligations

1.
Member associations have the following obligations:(a) to comply fully with the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisionsof FIFA bodies at any time as well as the decisions of the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS) passed on appeal on the basis of art. 56 par.
1 of the FIFA Statutes;(b) to take part in competitions organised by FIFA;(c) to pay their membership subscriptions;(d) to cause their own members to comply with the Statutes, regulations,directives and decisions of FIFA bodies;(e) to convene its supreme and legislative body at regular intervals, at least
every two years;(f) to ratify statutes that are in accordance with the requirements of theFIFA Standard Statutes;(g) to create a referees’ committee that is directly subordinate to themember association;(h) to respect the Laws of the Game;TABLE OF CONTENTS
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II. MEMBERSHIP 17(i) to manage their affairs independently and ensure that their own affairs
are not influenced by any third parties in accordance with art. 19 ofthese Statutes;(j) to comply fully with all other duties arising from these Statutes andother regulations.
2.
Violation of the above-mentioned obligations by any member association
may lead to sanctions provided for in these Statutes.
3.
Violations of par. 1 i) may also lead to sanctions, even if the third-party
influence was not the fault of the member association concerned. Eachmember association is responsible towards FIFA for any and all acts ofthe members of their bodies caused by the gross negligence or wilful
misconduct of such members.

15

Member associations’ statutes

Member associations’ statutes must comply with the principles of good
governance, and shall in particular contain, at a minimum, provisions
relating to the following matters:(a) to be neutral in matters of politics and religion;(b) to prohibit all forms of discrimination;(c) to be independent and avoid any form of political interference;(d) to ensure that judicial bodies are independent (separation of powers);(e) all relevant stakeholders must agree to respect the Laws of the Game,the principles of loyalty, integrity, sportsmanship and fair play as wellas the Statutes, regulations and decisions of FIFA and of the respective
confederation;(f) all relevant stakeholders must agree to recognise the jurisdiction andauthority of CAS and give priority to arbitration as a means of dispute
resolution;
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18 II. MEMBERSHIP(g) that the member association has the primary responsibility to regulatematters relating to refereeing, the fight against doping, the registrationof players, club licensing, the imposition of disciplinary measures,
including for ethical misconduct, and measures required to protect the
integrity of competitions;(h) definition of the competences of the decision-making bodies;(i) to avoid conflicts of interests in decision-making;(j) legislative bodies must be constituted in accordance with the principles
of representative democracy and taking into account the importance ofgender equality in football; and(k) yearly independent audits of accounts.

16

Suspension

1.
The Congress may suspend a member association solely at the request of
the Council. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Council may, without avote of the Congress, temporarily suspend with immediate effect a member
association that seriously violates its obligations. A suspension approved by
the Council shall be in effect until the next Congress, unless the Council has
revoked such suspension prior to such Congress.
2.
A suspension of a member association by the Congress requires athree-quarter majority of the member associations present and eligible
to vote. A suspension of a member association by the Congress or theCouncil shall be confirmed at the next Congress by a three-quarter
majority of the member associations present and eligible to vote.
If it is not confirmed, such suspension shall be automatically lifted.
3.
A suspended member association may not exercise any of its membershiprights. Other member associations may not entertain sporting contact witha suspended member association. The Disciplinary Committee may impose
further sanctions.

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II. MEMBERSHIP 19
4.
Member associations which do not participate in at least two of all FIFA
competitions over a period of four consecutive years shall be suspended
from voting at the Congress until they have fulfilled their obligations in thisrespect.

17

Expulsion

1.
The Congress may expel a member association only at the request of theCouncil if:(a) it fails to fulfil its financial obligations towards FIFA; or(b) it seriously violates the Statutes, regulations or decisions of FIFA; or(c) it loses the status of an association representing association football in
its country.
2.
The presence of an absolute majority (more than 50%) of the member
associations eligible to vote at the Congress is necessary for an expulsionof a member association to be valid, and the motion for expulsion must be
adopted by a three-quarter majority of the valid votes cast.

18

Resignation

1.
A member association may resign from FIFA with effect from the end of acalendar year. Notice of resignation must reach the general secretariat nolater than six months before the end of the calendar year and be sent to
the general secretariat by registered letter.
2.
The resignation is not valid until the member association wishing to resign
has fulfilled its financial obligations towards FIFA and its other member
associations.

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20 II. MEMBERSHIP

19

Independence of member associations and their bodies

1.
Each member association shall manage its affairs independently andwithout undue influence from third parties.
2.
A member association’s bodies shall be either elected or appointed in thatassociation. A member association’s statutes shall provide for a democratic
procedure that guarantees the complete independence of the election or
appointment.
3.
Any member association’s bodies that have not been elected or appointed
in compliance with the provisions of par. 2, even on an interim basis, shallnot be recognised by FIFA.
4.
Decisions passed by bodies that have not been elected or appointed incompliance with par. 2 shall not be recognised by FIFA.

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II. MEMBERSHIP 21

20

Status of clubs, leagues and other groups of clubs

1.
Clubs, leagues or any other groups affiliated to a member association shallbe subordinate to and recognised by that member association. The member
association’s statutes shall define the scope of authority and the rights andduties of these groups. The statutes and regulations of these groups shallbe approved by the member association.
2.
Every member association shall ensure that its affiliated clubs can takeall decisions on any matters regarding membership independently of any
external body. This obligation applies regardless of an affiliated club’s
corporate structure. In any case, the member association shall ensure thatneither a natural nor a legal person (including holding companies andsubsidiaries) exercises control in any manner whatsoever (in particularthrough a majority shareholding, a majority of voting rights, a majority ofseats on the board of directors or any other form of economic dependenceor control, etc.) over more than one club whenever the integrity of any
match or competition could be jeopardised.

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22 III. HONORARY PRESIDENT, HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENT AND HONORARY MEMBER

III. HONORARY PRESIDENT, HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENT AND
HONORARY MEMBER

21

Honorary president, honorary vice-president andhonorary member

1.
The Congress may bestow the title of honorary president, honorary
vice-president or honorary member upon any former member of theCouncil for meritorious service to football.
2.
The Council shall propose these nominations.
3.
The honorary president, honorary vice-president or honorary member
may take part in the Congress. They may join in the debates but may not
vote.

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IV. CONFEDERATIONS 23
IV. CONFEDERATIONS

22

Confederations

1.
Member associations that belong to the same continent have formed thefollowing confederations, which are recognised by FIFA:(a) Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol – CONMEBOL(b) Asian Football Confederation – AFC(c) Union des associations européennes de football – UEFA(d) Confédération Africaine de Football – CAF(e) Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association
Football – Concacaf(f) Oceania Football Confederation – OFC
Recognition of each confederation by FIFA entails full mutual respectof each other’s authority within their respective institutional areas ofcompetence as set forth in these Statutes.
2.
FIFA may, in exceptional circumstances, authorise a confederation to grant
membership to an association that belongs geographically to anothercontinent and is not affiliated to the confederation on that continent. The
opinion of the confederation concerned geographically shall be obtained.
3.
Each confederation shall have the following rights and obligations:(a) to comply with and enforce compliance with the Statutes, regulations
and decisions of FIFA;(b) to work closely with FIFA in every domain so as to achieve the objectives
stipulated in art. 2 and to organise international competitions;

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24 IV. CONFEDERATIONS(c) to organise its own interclub competitions, in compliance with theinternational match calendar;(d) to organise all of its own international competitions in compliance with
the international match calendar;(e) to ensure that international leagues or any other such groups of clubs orleagues shall not be formed without its consent and the approval of FIFA;(f) at the request of FIFA, to grant associations applying for membershipthe status of a provisional member. This status shall grant associations
the right to take part in the confederation’s competitions andconferences.
Any other rights and obligations of the provisional member shall be
regulated by the confederation’s statutes and regulations. Provisional
members may not take part in FIFA final competitions;(g) to nurture relations and cooperation with FIFA actively andconstructively for the good of the game through consultative meetings
and to discuss and resolve any problems relating to the interests of theconfederations and FIFA;(h) to ensure that the representatives appointed to FIFA bodies or electedto the Council carry out their activities on these bodies with mutual
respect, solidarity, recognition and fair play, and in accordance withthese Statutes and any related regulations issued by FIFA;(i) to set up committees that work closely together with the corresponding
committees at FIFA;(j) exceptionally to allow, with FIFA’s consent, an association from anotherconfederation (or clubs belonging to that association) to participate in acompetition that it is organising;(k) with the mutual cooperation of FIFA, to take any action considerednecessary to develop the game of football on the continent concerned,
such as arranging development programmes, courses, conferences, etc.;(l) to set up the bodies necessary to fulfil the duties incumbent upon it; andm) to procure the funds necessary to fulfil its duties.

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4.
The Council may delegate other duties or powers to one or more (or all)confederations by agreement with such confederations or confederation.
5.
The confederations’ statutes and regulations, as revised from time to time,shall be submitted to FIFA for approval.

23

Confederations’ statutes

The confederations’ statutes must comply with the principles of good
governance, and shall in particular contain, at a minimum, provisions
relating to the following matters:(a) to be neutral in matters of politics and religion;(b) to prohibit all forms of discrimination;(c) to be independent and avoid any form of political interference;(d) to ensure that judicial bodies are independent (separation of powers);(e) all relevant stakeholders must agree to respect the Laws of the Game,the principles of loyalty, integrity, sportsmanship and fair play as wellas the Statutes, regulations and decisions of FIFA and of the respective
confederation;(f) all relevant stakeholders must agree to recognise the jurisdiction andauthority of CAS and give priority to arbitration as a means of dispute
resolution;(g) regulation of matters relating to refereeing, the fight against doping,club licensing, the imposition of disciplinary measures, including forethical misconduct, and measures required to protect the integrity ofcompetitions;(h) definition of the competences of the decision-making bodies;(i) to avoid conflicts of interests in decision-making;

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26 IV. CONFEDERATIONS(j) legislative bodies must be constituted in accordance with the principles
of representative democracy and taking into account the importance ofgender equality in football; and(k) yearly independent audits of accounts.

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V. ORGANISATION 27
V. ORGANISATION

24

Bodies1.
The Congress is the supreme and legislative body.
2.
The Council is the strategic and oversight body.
3.
The general secretariat is the executive, operational and administrative
body.
4.
Standing and ad hoc committees shall advise and assist the Council and thegeneral secretariat in fulfilling their duties. Their primary duties are definedin these Statutes and their composition, function and additional duties aredefined in the FIFA Governance Regulations.
5.
The independent committees fulfil their functions in accordance with these
Statutes and the applicable FIFA regulations.
6.
The Football Tribunal fulfils its function in accordance with these Statutes
and the applicable FIFA regulations.
7.
The independent auditors perform all audits of FIFA’s accounts and financial
statements as required by Swiss law.

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28 V. ORGANISATION

A. CONGRESS

25

Congress

1.
A Congress may be an Ordinary or an Extraordinary Congress. A Congress
may be held in person, by teleconference, by videoconference or by anothermeans of communication.
2.
The Ordinary Congress shall be held every year. The Council shall fix theplace and date. The member associations shall be notified in writing at least
four months in advance of the place and date of such Ordinary Congress.
The formal convocation shall be made in writing at least one month before
the date of the Congress. This convocation shall contain the agenda, thePresident’s report, the financial statements, including the consolidated
financial statements, and the auditors’ report.
3.
The Council may convene an Extraordinary Congress at any time.
4.
The Council shall convene an Extraordinary Congress if one-fifth of themember associations make such a request in writing. The request shallspecify the items for the agenda. An Extraordinary Congress shall be held
within three months of receipt of the request.
5.
The member associations shall be notified of the place, date and agenda
at least two months before the date of an Extraordinary Congress. The
agenda of an Extraordinary Congress may not be altered.

26

Vote, delegates, observers

1.
Each member association has one vote in the Congress and is represented
by its delegates. Only the member associations present are entitled tovote. Attendance by teleconference, by videoconference or by anothermeans of communication shall constitute presence. Voting by proxy orby letter is not permitted at a Congress held in person. When a Congress
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V. ORGANISATION 29
is held by teleconference, by videoconference or by another means ofcommunication, voting by correspondence and/or online is permitted.
2.
Delegates must belong to the member association that they represent andbe appointed by the appropriate body of that member association.
3.
Confederation delegates may take part in the Congress as observers
without a right to vote.
4.
During their term of office, members of the Council may not be appointed
as delegates for their association.
5.
The President shall conduct the Congress business in compliance with theStanding Orders of the Congress.

27

Candidates for the office of FIFA President, for theCouncil and for the chairpersons, deputy chairpersons
and members of the Governance, Audit and Compliance
Committee and the judicial bodies

1.
Only the member associations may propose candidatures for the office ofFIFA President. A candidature for the office of FIFA President shall only bevalid if supported by a total of at least five member associations. Member
associations must notify the FIFA general secretariat, in writing, of acandidature for the FIFA presidency at least four months before the startof the Congress, together with the declarations of support of at least fivemember associations. A candidate for the office of FIFA President shall haveplayed an active role in association football (e.g. as a player or an official
within FIFA, a confederation or an association, etc.) for two of the last five
years before being proposed as a candidate and must pass an eligibility
check carried out by the Review Committee in accordance with the FIFA
Governance Regulations.
2.
The general secretariat shall notify the member associations of the namesof proposed candidates for the office of FIFA President at least one month
before the date of the Congress.
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30 V. ORGANISATION

3.
Subject to par. 4 below, only member associations may propose
candidatures for the Council. The relevant confederation shall be in receiptof the candidatures for the Council proposed by the member associationsat least three months before the start of the respective confederation
congress on the occasion of which the said election shall take place. The
confederations shall notify the FIFA general secretariat, in writing, of all
candidatures submitted to them within five days of the expiration of thethree-month deadline. The confederations shall furthermore provide FIFA
with the evidence of timely submission of the candidatures. Each member
association is entitled to submit only one proposal for a member of theCouncil. If a member association presents proposals for more than one
candidate, all of its presented proposals shall be deemed invalid. A member
association may only propose candidates affiliated to its confederation.
4.
The elections by the member associations of the female candidates for theCouncil (at least one per confederation) are set out in art. 33 par. 5 of these
Statutes.
5.
Council members shall be elected by the member associations on theoccasion of their confederation congresses in accordance with the FIFA
Governance Regulations. Candidates for the Council must pass an eligibility
check carried out by the Review Committee in accordance with theFIFA Governance Regulations. The election of Council members shall bemonitored by FIFA.
6.
The conditions to be observed during a candidature for the office ofPresident and for positions on the Council are stipulated in the FIFA
Governance Regulations.
7.
The Council shall submit proposals for the positions of chairperson,
deputy chairperson and members of each of the Governance, Audit andCompliance Committee and the judicial bodies to the Congress. The Council
shall determine the number of seats to be assigned to each confederationin the relevant committee. Proposals shall be submitted, in writing, to thegeneral secretariat at least four months before the start of the Congress.
The procedure shall be laid down in the FIFA Governance Regulations.

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V. ORGANISATION 31
8.
Candidates for the positions of chairperson, deputy chairperson andmembers of the judicial bodies must pass an eligibility check carriedout by the Review Committee in accordance with the FIFA GovernanceRegulations.
9.
Candidates for the positions of chairperson, deputy chairperson andmembers of the Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee must passan eligibility check carried out by the investigatory chamber of the Ethics
Committee in accordance with the FIFA Governance Regulations.

28

Ordinary Congress agenda

1.
The Secretary General shall draw up the agenda based on proposals fromthe Council and the member associations. Any proposal that a member
association wishes to submit to the Congress shall be sent to the generalsecretariat in writing, with a brief explanation, at least two months before
the date of the Congress.
2.
The Congress agenda shall include the following mandatory items:(a) a declaration that the Congress has been convened and composed incompliance with the Statutes;(b) approval of the agenda;(c) an address by the President;(d) appointment of five member associations to check the minutes;(e) appointment of scrutineers;(f) suspension or expulsion of a member association (if applicable);(g) approval of the minutes of the preceding Congress;(h) activity report (containing the activities since the last Congress);
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32 V. ORGANISATION(i) report from the Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee;(j) presentation of the annual audited financial statements, including theconsolidated financial statements and the annual report as well as theauditors’ reports;(k) approval of the annual audited financial statements, including theconsolidated financial statements and the annual report;(l) approval of the budget;(m) admission for membership (if applicable);(n) votes on proposals for adopting and amending the Statutes, theRegulations Governing the Application of the Statutes and the Standing
Orders of the Congress (if applicable);(o) discussion of proposals duly submitted by the member associations andthe Council within the period stipulated under par. 1 (if applicable);(p) appointment of auditors (if applicable);(q) election or dismissal of the President in accordance with these Statutes(if applicable);(r) election or dismissal of the chairpersons, deputy chairpersons andmembers of the following committees (if applicable) on proposal of theCouncil:- Disciplinary Committee- Ethics Committee- Appeal Committee- Governance, Audit and Compliance Committees) vote on the designation of the host country/countries of the FIFA World
Cup™ and FIFA Women’s World Cup™ final competitions (if applicable).
3.
The agenda of an Ordinary Congress may be altered, provided
three-quarters of the member associations present at the Congress andeligible to vote agree to such a motion.

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V. ORGANISATION 33

29

Adoption of and amendments to the Statutes, theRegulations Governing the Application of the Statutes
and the Standing Orders of the Congress

1.
The Congress is responsible for adopting and amending the Statutes, theRegulations Governing the Application of the Statutes and the Standing
Orders of the Congress.
2.
Any proposals for an amendment to the Statutes must be submitted inwriting with a brief explanation to the general secretariat by a member
association or by the Council. A proposal submitted by a member
association shall be valid, provided it has been supported in writing by atleast two other member associations.
3.
For a vote on an amendment to the Statutes to be valid, an absolutemajority (more than 50%) of the member associations eligible to vote must
be present.
4.
A proposal to adopt or amend the Statutes shall be adopted if approved bythree-quarters of the member associations present and eligible to vote.
5.
Any proposal to adopt or amend the Regulations Governing theApplication of the Statutes and the Standing Orders of the Congress mustbe submitted in writing with a brief explanation to the general secretariat
by a member association or by the Council.
6.
For any proposal to adopt or amend the Regulations Governing theApplication of the Statutes and the Standing Orders of the Congress tobe adopted, a simple majority (more than 50%) of the valid votes cast isrequired.

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30Elections, other decisions, requisite majority

1.
Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.
2.
Any other decision that requires a vote shall be reached by a show of hands
or by means of an electronic count. If a show of hands does not result in aclear majority in favour of a motion, the vote shall be taken by calling theroll, member associations being called in English alphabetical order.
3.
For the election of the President, where there is only one candidate, theCongress may decide to elect him by acclamation. Otherwise, if there
are two or fewer candidates, a simple majority (more than 50%) of thevalid votes cast is necessary. If there are more than two candidates forthe election of the President, two-thirds of the votes of the member
associations present and eligible to vote are necessary in the first ballot.
As from the second ballot, whoever obtains the lowest number of votes iseliminated until only two candidates are left.
4.
Council members shall be elected by the member associations in accordancewith art. 27 par. 5 of these Statutes.
5.
Each confederation president shall be a vice-president ex officio of theCouncil.
6.
Each vice-president and each member of the Council shall be required
to fulfil the eligibility check conducted by the Review Committee inaccordance with the FIFA Governance Regulations.
7.
For the election of the chairperson, deputy chairperson and members ofeach of the judicial bodies and of the Governance, Audit and Compliance
Committee, the candidate(s) who receive(s) the most votes in respect of thefree seat(s) shall be elected.

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V. ORGANISATION 35
8.
The election of the chairperson, deputy chairperson and members ofeach of the judicial bodies and of the Governance, Audit and Compliance
Committee by the Congress may be conducted en bloc. At the request of
at least ten member associations, however, a separate vote for a specificcandidate shall take place.
9.
Unless otherwise stipulated in the Statutes, a simple majority (more than50%) of the valid votes cast is sufficient for elections, votes and otherdecisions to be valid.
10.
Further details are stipulated in the Standing Orders of the Congress.

31

Minutes

1.
The Secretary General shall be responsible for recording the minutes at theCongress.
2.
The minutes of the Congress shall be checked by those member associations
designated.

32

Effective dates of decisions

Decisions passed by the Congress shall come into effect for the member
associations 60 days after the close of the Congress, unless the Congress
fixes another date for a decision to take effect.

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36 V. ORGANISATION

B. COUNCIL

33

Composition, election of the President, the vice-presidents
and the members of the Council

1.
The Council shall consist of 37 members:
1 President, elected by the Congress,
8 vice-presidents, and28 other members.
Upon being elected to office, every member of the Council undertakes, andaccepts responsibility, to faithfully, loyally and independently act in thebest interests of FIFA and the promotion and development of football at
global level.
2.
The President shall be elected by the Congress for a period of four years in
the year following a FIFA World Cup™. His term of office shall begin after
the end of the Congress at which he was elected. No person may serve as
President for more than three terms of office (whether consecutive or not).
Previous terms served as a vice-president or as a member of the Council
shall not be considered in determining the term limits of a President.
3.
The members of the Council shall be elected by the member associations
on the occasion of the respective confederation congresses for a term offour years. Their terms of office shall begin after the end of the congress at
which they were elected. A member of the Council may serve for no morethan three terms of office (whether consecutive or not).
4.
The confederations are allocated the following places on the Council:(a) CONMEBOL vice-president (1)(b) AFC
vice-president (1)(c) UEFA
vice-presidents (3)(d) CAF
vice-president (1)(e) Concacaf
vice-president (1)(f) OFC
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members
members
members
members
members
members

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(6)
(6)
(6)
(4)
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V. ORGANISATION 37
5.
The members of each confederation must ensure that they elect at least
one female member to the Council. In the event that no female candidate
is elected by the members of a confederation for the Council, the seatreserved for a female member of such confederation will be deemed
forfeited by all members of such confederation and shall remain vacant
until the next election of members of the Council.
6.
No more than one representative from the same member association may
serve on the Council simultaneously.
7.
If the President is permanently or temporarily prevented from performing
his official function, the longest-serving vice-president shall assume thepowers and responsibilities of the President until the next Congress. This
Congress shall elect a new President, if necessary. If the longest-serving
vice-president is prevented from assuming the powers and responsibilitiesof the President, the next longest-serving vice-president shall assume thepowers and responsibilities of the President.
8.
Any vice-president or other member of the Council who is permanently
or temporarily prevented from performing his official function shall be
replaced by the members of the relevant confederation which elected suchvice-president or member for the remaining period of office.

34

Powers of the Council

1.
The Council defines FIFA’s mission, strategic direction, policies and values, inparticular with regard to the organisation and development of football atworldwide level and all related matters.

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As regards business- or finance-related matters, the Council shall, inter alia:••••

define the standards, policies and procedures applicable to theawarding of commercial contracts by FIFA;
define the standards, policies and procedures applicable to footballdevelopment grants;
define the standards, policies and procedures regarding the operationalcosts of FIFA; anddefine the standards, policies and procedures regarding all otherbusiness- or finance-related matters of FIFA.

The Council delegates the execution and management of business- or
finance-related matters to the general secretariat, which operates under
the authority and supervision of the Council and is accountable to it.
3.
The Council oversees the overall management of FIFA by the generalsecretariat.
4.
The Council approves the budget and the annual audited financial
statements, including the consolidated financial statements, preparedby the Finance Committee and the annual report to be submitted to theCongress for approval.
5.
The Council appoints the chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and membersof the standing committees and of the chambers of the Football Tribunal.
6.
The Council shall propose to the Congress for election the chairpersons,deputy chairpersons and members of the Disciplinary Committee, theEthics Committee, the Appeal Committee and the Governance, Audit andCompliance Committee.
7.
The Council may decide to set up ad hoc committees if necessary at any
time.

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8.
The Council shall appoint the three representatives of FIFA who shallattend the general assembly of The IFAB in addition to the FIFA President.
Furthermore, the Council is entitled to decide on how the representativesof FIFA shall vote in The IFAB.
9.
The Council shall appoint the Secretary General on the proposal of the
President. The Secretary General may be dismissed by the Council acting
alone.
10.
The Council shall decide the place and dates of the final competitionsof FIFA tournaments and the number of teams taking part fromeach confederation. This shall not apply to decisions on the hostcountry/countries of the FIFA World Cup™ and FIFA Women’sWorld Cup™ final competitions, which shall be voted on by the Congress.
11.
The Council shall issue regulations generally and, in particular, the FIFA
Governance Regulations.
12.
The Council shall deal with all matters relating to FIFA that do not fallwithin the sphere of responsibility of another body, in accordance withthese Statutes.
13.
The powers and responsibilities of the Council may be specified in greater
detail in the FIFA Governance Regulations.

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C. PRESIDENT

35

President

1.
The President represents FIFA generally.
2.
The President shall aim to foster a positive image of FIFA and to ensurethat FIFA’s mission, strategic direction, policies and values, as defined by theCouncil, are protected and advanced.
3.
The President shall seek to maintain and develop good relations between
and among FIFA, the confederations, member associations, political bodies
and international organisations.
4.
The President chairs the Congress and meetings of the Council. The
President shall have no right to vote at the Congress; he shall have one
ordinary vote on the Council.
5.
Any powers and responsibilities of the President may be defined in greater
detail in the FIFA Governance Regulations.

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D. GENERAL SECRETARIAT

36

General secretariat

1.
The general secretariat shall perform its tasks under the direction of theSecretary General, in particular, as regards:
•
•

•
•

•

organisation of competitions and all related matters, in accordance withthe decisions and directions of the Council;
the negotiation, execution and performance of all commercial
contracts, in accordance with the standards, policies and procedures
established by the Council;
administrative support for the standing committees of FIFA, in particularwith regard to the awarding of football development grants;
management of the operations and day-to-day business of FIFA, in
accordance with the parameters established by the Council and within
the budget established by the Finance Committee; andall other administrative matters necessary for the efficient operationand organisation of FIFA, as required and authorised by the Council.

2.
The general secretariat is supervised by, and is accountable to, the Council
with regard to the discharge of its functions.
3.
The powers and responsibilities of the general secretariat may be definedin greater detail in the FIFA Governance Regulations.

37

Secretary General1.
The Secretary General is the chief executive officer (CEO) of FIFA.
2.
The Secretary General is appointed and may be dismissed by the Council, in
accordance with art. 34 par. 9 of these Statutes. The Secretary General shallreport to the Council.

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3.
The Secretary General shall be required to fulfil an eligibility checkperformed by the Review Committee.
4.
The powers and responsibilities of the Secretary General may be defined ingreater detail in the FIFA Governance Regulations.

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V. ORGANISATION 43
E. BUREAU OF THE COUNCIL

38

Bureau of the Council

1.
The Bureau of the Council shall deal with all matters within the competenceof the Council requiring immediate decision between two meetings of theCouncil. The Bureau of the Council shall consist of a maximum of sevenmembers. The FIFA President and the six confederation presidents are ex
officio members of the Bureau of the Council.
2.
The President shall convene meetings of the Bureau of the Council. If
a meeting cannot be convened within an appropriate period of time,decisions may be passed through other means of communication. Suchdecisions shall have immediate legal effect. The President shall notify theCouncil immediately of the decisions passed by the Bureau of the Council.
3.
All decisions taken by the Bureau of the Council shall be ratified by theCouncil at its next meeting.
4.
If the President is unable to attend a meeting, the longest-serving
vice-president of the Council available to attend such meeting shalldeputise for the President and act as the presiding official of such meeting.
5.
The President is entitled to designate a deputy for any member who isunable to attend or has a conflict of interest. The deputy shall belong to
the Council and the same confederation as the member who is unable toattend or has a conflict of interest.

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F. STANDING COMMITTEES

39

Standing committees

1.
The standing committees are:(a) Finance Committee(b) Development Committee(c) Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions(d) Football Stakeholders Committee(e) Member Associations Committee(f) Referees Committee(g) Medical Committee
2.
The standing committees shall report to the Council. They shall advise andassist the Council in their respective fields of function.
3.
Members of the standing committees may at the same time be membersof the Council, with the exception of (i) the independent members of the
Finance Committee in accordance with art. 40 par. 2 of these Statutes,
and (ii) the independent members of the Development Committee inaccordance with art. 41 par. 1 of these Statutes.
4.
The chairperson, deputy chairperson and members of each standing
committee shall be appointed by the Council on the proposal of themember associations, the President of FIFA or the confederations. The
Council shall ensure appropriate female representation on standing
committees. Their terms shall last for four years, beginning upon therespective date of appointment by the Council. Members of the standing
committees may be relieved of their duties at any time by the Council.

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5.
Candidates for the standing committees must pass an eligibility checkcarried out by the Review Committee.
6.
The composition and structure, including qualification and number ofmembers having to fulfil the independence criteria as defined in the FIFA
Governance Regulations as well as the specific duties and powers of theindividual committees, shall be stipulated in the FIFA Governance Regulations.
7.
Each chairperson shall represent his committee and conduct business incompliance with the FIFA Governance Regulations.
8.
The Council and each committee, the latter with the approval of theCouncil, may, if necessary, set up a bureau and/or sub-committee to settle
urgent matters.
9.
Each committee may propose amendments to its regulations to the Council.

40

Finance Committee

1.
The Finance Committee shall consist of at least three members and not
more than 12 members, all of whom must be qualified to deal withfinancial matters.
2.
No fewer than half of the committee’s members shall fulfil the
independence criteria as defined in the FIFA Governance Regulations.
3.
The Finance Committee shall determine FIFA’s strategy regarding financial
and asset management and advise the Council on these matters. The
Finance Committee shall in particular prepare FIFA’s budget to be submitted
to the Council for approval, analyse the accounts and consolidated financial
statements and issue a recommendation to the Council as to whether or
not to approve them, and draft policies, rules and guidelines regarding
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46 V. ORGANISATION

FIFA’s overall strategy in financial and asset management matters andsubmit them to the Council for approval.
4.
Details of the Finance Committee’s responsibilities are stipulated in the FIFA
Governance Regulations.

41

Development Committee

1.
The Development Committee shall consist of at least three members. No
fewer than half of the committee’s members shall fulfil the independence
criteria as defined in the FIFA Governance Regulations.
2.
The Development Committee shall deal with FIFA’s global development
programmes. It shall devise and propose appropriate strategies, checkthese strategies and analyse the support and programmes provided tomember associations and confederations in this regard. The Development
Committee shall in particular analyse the major development challenges
at stake, advise and assist the Council on FIFA’s member associations anddevelopment programmes, propose new development activities andaddress the related budget matters, draw up guidelines and regulations on
development programmes, approve the thematic focus, types of activity
and budget allocation per continent and/or per member association,and instruct the administration on the execution of the Development
Committee’s decisions. The Development Committee may structure itself in
different sub-committees depending on relevant areas of expertise.
3.
Details of the Development Committee’s responsibilities are stipulated in
the FIFA Governance Regulations.

42

Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions

The Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions shall organise all official
FIFA competitions in compliance with the provisions of the regulations

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applicable to the respective competitions, the hosting documents and thehosting requirements contained or referred to therein, and shall also deal
with all matters relating to futsal and beach soccer.

43

Football Stakeholders Committee

The Football Stakeholders Committee shall deal with football matters,
particularly the structure of the game and the relationship between clubs,
players, leagues, member associations, confederations and FIFA as well aswith issues relating to the interests of club football worldwide, draw up
regulations governing these matters, and also analyse the basic aspects offootball training and technical development.

44

Member Associations Committee

The Member Associations Committee shall deal with relations between FIFAand its member associations as well as the member associations’ compliancewith the FIFA Statutes and draw up proposals for optimum cooperation.
The committee shall also monitor the evolution of the Statutes andregulations of FIFA, the confederations and member associations.

45

Referees Committee

The Referees Committee shall implement and interpret the Laws of theGame and may propose amendments to the Laws of the Game to theCouncil. It shall appoint the referees and assistant referees for matches incompetitions organised by FIFA.

46

Medical Committee

The Medical Committee shall deal with all medical aspects of football,including the fight against doping.

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VI. ANNUAL MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS CONFERENCE

47

Annual member associations conferenceFIFA shall organise at least once a year, at its own cost, a member
associations conference for the presidents of the member associations
and/or their top executives, in order to address issues of high relevance forthe football world, such as, for instance, football development, integrity,social responsibility, governance, human rights, racism, match-fixing,
gender equality, protection of clean athletes and youth, and security.

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VII. INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES

48

Institutional independence

The independent committees as well as their individual members shallconduct their activities and perform their duties entirely independently
but always in the interests of FIFA and in accordance with the Statutes andregulations of FIFA.

49

Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee

1.
The Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee shall consist of at least
three members and not more than 15 members, all of whom must not belong
to any other FIFA body. The committee members shall be knowledgeable andexperienced in governance and/or financial and/or legal matters and may not
be involved in any decision affecting the operations of FIFA.
2.
Candidates for any position on the Governance, Audit and Compliance
Committee as well as the incumbent members of the committee shall fulfil
the independence criteria as defined in the FIFA Governance Regulations.
3.
The chairperson, deputy chairperson and members of the Governance,
Audit and Compliance Committee shall be elected by the Congress. Theirterms shall last four years, beginning at the end of the Congress which has
elected them. The chairperson, deputy chairperson and other members of
the Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee may only be relieved of
their duties by the Congress.
4.
The chairperson, deputy chairperson and members of the Governance,
Audit and Compliance Committee may serve a maximum of three terms(whether consecutive or not).
5.
If the chairperson, deputy chairperson or a member of the Governance,
Audit and Compliance Committee resigns or becomes permanently
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incapacitated with regard to performing his functions during his termof office, the Council shall appoint a replacement to serve until the next
Congress, when a replacement shall be elected by the Congress for theremainder of the initial term of office.
6.
The Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee shall report to theCongress.
7.
The Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee shall advise, assist
and oversee the Council in monitoring FIFA’s financial, governance andcompliance matters, and monitor compliance with the FIFA GovernanceRegulations. It shall supervise the general secretariat.
8.
The Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee shall review theRelated-Party Declarations submitted by the members of FIFA committees inaccordance with the relevant provisions of the FIFA Governance Regulations.
9.
The Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee shall ensure thecompleteness and reliability of the financial accounting and review thefinancial statements, the consolidated financial statement and the external
auditors’ report. The committee shall furthermore monitor FIFA’s financial,governance and compliance matters including, in particular, the distribution
and flow of development-related funds, and suggest to the appropriate FIFAbodies any action that it deems necessary as a result of such monitoring.
10.
The Review Committee shall be composed of members of the Governance,
Audit and Compliance Committee, in accordance with the GovernanceRegulations.
11.
The Review Committee shall conduct eligibility checks in respect ofcandidates and incumbent members of the Council (including thePresident), of the standing committees, of the judicial bodies, of theFootball Tribunal and in respect of the Secretary General, and shall also
conduct independence reviews in respect of candidates and incumbent
members of the judicial bodies and the standing committees who must
fulfil the independence criteria in accordance with these Statutes and theFIFA Governance Regulations.
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12.
The committee shall establish a Compensation Sub-Committee, consistingof the chairperson of the Finance Committee, the chairperson of theGovernance, Audit and Compliance Committee and a third member to be
jointly appointed by the two chairpersons. This third member shall fulfil the
independence criteria as defined in the FIFA Governance Regulations.
13.
The Compensation Sub-Committee shall in particular define Compensation
Rules and determine the compensation of the FIFA President, the membersof the Council and the FIFA Secretary General. The individual compensationof the FIFA President, the members of the Council and the FIFA Secretary
General shall be made public.
14.
Details of the Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee’s and theCompensation Sub-Committee’s responsibilities, their internal cooperationand other procedural matters are stipulated in the FIFA GovernanceRegulations.

50

Judicial bodies

1.
The judicial bodies of FIFA are:(a) the Disciplinary Committee;(b) the Ethics Committee; and(c) the Appeal Committee.
2.
The Disciplinary Committee and the Appeal Committee shall consist of achairperson, a deputy chairperson and a specific number of other members.
Both chambers of the Ethics Committee shall each consist of a chairperson,
two deputy chairpersons and a specific number of other members. The
composition of the judicial bodies should respect the fair distribution of
positions and take account of the member associations. When proposing
chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and other members of judicial bodies
to the Congress, the Council shall take into account appropriate female
representation on the judicial bodies.
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3.
The judicial bodies are to be composed in such a way that the members,
together, have the knowledge, abilities and specialist experience thatis necessary for the due completion of their tasks. The chairpersons anddeputy chairpersons of the judicial bodies shall be qualified to practise law.
4.
The chairperson and deputy chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee
and the chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and members of both chambersof the Ethics Committee and of the Appeal Committee shall fulfil the
independence criteria as defined in the FIFA Governance Regulations.
5.
The chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and other members of the judicial
bodies shall be elected by the Congress and shall not be members of
any other FIFA body. Their terms shall last four years, beginning at theend of the Congress which has elected them. The chairpersons, deputy
chairpersons and other members of the judicial bodies may only be relievedof their duties by the Congress.
6.
The chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and members of the judicial bodies
may each serve a maximum of three terms (whether consecutive or not).
7.
If a chairperson, a deputy chairperson or a member of a judicial body
resigns or becomes permanently incapacitated with regard to performing
his functions during his term of office, the Council shall appoint a
replacement to serve until the next Congress, when a replacement shall beelected by the Congress for the remainder of the initial term of office.
8.
The investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee shall conduct theeligibility checks and independence reviews in respect of candidates andincumbent members of the Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee.
9.
The decision-making powers of certain committees remain unaffected.

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51

Disciplinary Committee

1.
The function of the Disciplinary Committee shall be governed by the FIFA
Disciplinary Code. The committee shall pass decisions only when at least
three members are present. In certain cases, the chairperson may rulealone.
2.
The Disciplinary Committee may pronounce the sanctions described inthese Statutes and the FIFA Disciplinary Code on member associations,clubs, officials, players, football agents and match agents.
3.
These provisions are subject to the disciplinary powers of the Congress
and Council with regard to the suspension and expulsion of member
associations.
4.
The Council shall issue the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
5.
The Disciplinary Committee may propose amendments to its regulations to
the Council.

52

Ethics Committee

1.
The function of the Ethics Committee shall be governed by the FIFA Codeof Ethics. It is divided into an investigatory chamber and an adjudicatorychamber. The adjudicatory chamber shall pass decisions if at least threemembers are present. The chairperson may pass decisions alone in specificcases.
2.
The Ethics Committee may pronounce the sanctions described in these
Statutes, the FIFA Code of Ethics and the FIFA Disciplinary Code on officials,
players, football agents and match agents.

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54 VII. INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES

3.
The Council shall issue the FIFA Code of Ethics.
4.
The Ethics Committee may propose amendments to its regulations to theCouncil.

53

Appeal Committee

1.
The function of the Appeal Committee shall be governed by the FIFA
Disciplinary Code and the FIFA Code of Ethics. The committee shall passdecisions only when at least three members are present. In certain cases,
the chairperson may rule alone.
2.
The Appeal Committee is responsible for hearing appeals against decisions
from the Disciplinary Committee and the Ethics Committee that are notdeclared final by the relevant FIFA regulations.
3.
Decisions pronounced by the Appeal Committee shall be irrevocable andbinding on all the parties concerned. This provision is subject to appeals
lodged with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

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VIII. FOOTBALL TRIBUNAL

54

Football Tribunal

1.
The Football Tribunal shall pass decisions relating to football-related
disputes and regulatory applications. It shall comprise three chambers:(a) the Dispute Resolution Chamber;(b) the Players’ Status Chamber; and(c) the Agents Chamber.
2.
The functions of the Football Tribunal shall be governed by the Procedural
Rules Governing the Football Tribunal, as issued by the Council.
3.
The Football Tribunal may pronounce the sanctions described in these
Statutes and the FIFA Disciplinary Code on member associations, clubs,
officials, players, football agents and match agents.
4.
These provisions are subject to the disciplinary powers of the Congress
and Council with regard to the suspension and expulsion of member
associations.
5.
The Football Tribunal may propose amendments to its regulations to theCouncil.

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IX. DISCIPLINARY MEASURES

55

Disciplinary measures

The disciplinary measures are primarily:
1.
for natural and legal persons:(a) a warning;(b) a reprimand;(c) a fine;(d) the return of awards.
2.
for natural persons:(a) suspension for a specific number of matches or for a specific period;(b) a match suspension;(c) a ban from the dressing rooms and/or the substitutes’ bench;(d) a ban from entering a stadium;(e) a ban on taking part in any football-related activity;(f) social work;(g) compliance training;(h) community football service;(i) suspension or withdrawal of a football agent’s licence;(j) suspension or withdrawal of a match agent’s licence.

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3.
for legal persons:(a) a ban on registering new players, either nationally or internationally;(b) playing a match without spectators;(c) playing a match with a limited number of spectators;(d) playing a match on neutral territory;(e) a ban on playing in a particular stadium;(f) annulment of the result of a match;(g) deduction of points;(h) relegation to a lower division;(i) expulsion from a competition in progress or from future competitions;(j) forfeit;(k) replaying a match;(l) implementation of a prevention plan;(m) (for member associations) payment of restitution to an affiliated club;(n) (for member associations) reduction or restriction of development
funding.

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X. ARBITRATION

56

Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)1.
FIFA recognises the independent Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) with
headquarters in Lausanne (Switzerland) to resolve disputes between FIFA,member associations, confederations, leagues, clubs, players, officials,
football agents and match agents.
2.
The provisions of the CAS Code of Sports-related Arbitration shall apply tothe proceedings. CAS shall primarily apply the various regulations of FIFA
and, additionally, Swiss law.

57

Jurisdiction of CAS

1.
Appeals against final decisions passed by FIFA’s legal bodies and against
decisions passed by confederations, member associations or leagues shall belodged with CAS within 21 days of receipt of the decision in question.
2.
Recourse may only be made to CAS after all other internal channels havebeen exhausted.
3.
CAS, however, does not deal with appeals arising from:(a) violations of the Laws of the Game;(b) suspensions of up to four matches or up to three months (with the
exception of doping decisions);(c) decisions against which an appeal to an independent and duly
constituted arbitration tribunal recognised under the rules of an
association or confederation may be made.

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4.
The appeal shall not have a suspensive effect. The appropriate FIFA body or,
alternatively, CAS may order the appeal to have a suspensive effect.
5.
FIFA is entitled to appeal to CAS against any internally final and binding
doping-related decision passed in particular by the confederations, member
associations or leagues in accordance with the provisions set out in the FIFA
Anti-Doping Regulations.
6.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is entitled to appeal to CAS
against any internally final and binding doping-related decision passed inparticular by FIFA, the confederations, member associations or leagues inaccordance with the provisions set out in the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.

58

Obligations relating to dispute resolution

1.
The confederations, member associations and leagues shall agree torecognise CAS as an independent judicial authority and to ensure that theirmembers, affiliated players and officials comply with the decisions passed
by CAS. The same obligation shall apply to football agents and matchagents that are licensed by FIFA.
2.
Recourse to ordinary courts of law is prohibited unless specifically provided
for in the FIFA regulations. Recourse to ordinary courts of law for all typesof provisional measures is also prohibited.
3.
The associations shall insert a clause in their statutes or regulations,stipulating that it is prohibited to take disputes in the association or
disputes affecting leagues, members of leagues, clubs, members of clubs,
players, officials and other association officials to ordinary courts of law,unless the FIFA regulations or binding legal provisions specifically provide
for or stipulate recourse to ordinary courts of law. Instead of recourse toordinary courts of law, provision shall be made for arbitration. Such disputes
shall be taken to an independent and duly constituted arbitration tribunal
recognised under the rules of the association or confederation or to CAS.
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The associations shall also ensure that this stipulation is implemented in theassociation, if necessary by imposing a binding obligation on its members.
The associations shall impose sanctions on any party that fails to respect thisobligation and ensure that any appeal against such sanctions shall likewise
be strictly submitted to arbitration, and not to ordinary courts of law.

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XI. SUBMISSION TO DECISIONS OF FIFA

59

Implementation of decisions

1.
The confederations, member associations and leagues shall agree to comply
fully with any decisions passed by the relevant FIFA bodies which, according
to these Statutes, are final and not subject to appeal.
2.
They shall take every precaution necessary to ensure that their own
members, players and officials comply with these decisions.
3.
The same obligation applies to football agents and match agents.

60

Sanctions

Any violation of the foregoing provisions will be punished in compliancewith the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

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XII. FINANCE

61

Financial period1.
The financial period of FIFA shall be four years and shall begin on each
1 January in the year following the final competition of the FIFA World Cup™.
2.
The revenue and expenditure of FIFA shall be managed so that they balanceout over the financial period. FIFA’s major duties in the future shall be
guaranteed through the creation of reserves.
3.
The Secretary General is responsible for drawing up the annual consolidated
accounts of FIFA with its subsidiaries as at 31 December.

62

Auditors

The auditors shall audit the accounts and annual financial statements,
including the consolidated financial statements, approved by the Council andpresent a report to the Congress in accordance with applicable Swiss civil law.
The auditors shall be appointed for a period of three years. Their mandates
may be renewed.

63

Membership subscriptions

1.
Membership subscriptions are due on 1 January of each year. The annual
subscription for new member associations for the year in question shall be
paid within 30 days of the close of the Congress at which they were admitted.
2.
The Congress shall fix the amount of the annual subscription every four years
on the recommendation of the Council. It shall be the same for every member
association and amount to no more than USD 1,000.

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64

Settlement

FIFA may debit any member association’s account to settle claims.

65

Levies1.
The confederations may demand a levy on international matches
played between two “A” representative teams, in accordance with theconfederations’ statutes and regulations.
2.
Member associations may demand their own levy on matches played intheir territory, independently of their confederation, in accordance withthe member associations’ statutes and regulations.

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XIII. RIGHTS IN COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS

66

Rights in competitions and events

1.
FIFA, its member associations and the confederations are the original
owners of all of the rights emanating from competitions and other events
coming under their respective jurisdiction, without any restrictions as tocontent, time, place and law. These rights include, among others, every
kind of financial rights, audiovisual and radio recording, reproduction andbroadcasting rights, multimedia rights, marketing and promotional rights
and incorporeal rights such as emblems and rights arising under copyrightlaw.
2.
The Council shall decide how and to what extent these rights are utilised
and draw up special regulations to this end. The Council shall decide alone
whether these rights shall be utilised exclusively, or jointly with a third
party, or entirely through a third party.

67

Authorisation to distribute

1.
FIFA, its member associations and the confederations are exclusively
responsible for authorising the distribution of image and sound and otherdata carriers of football matches and events coming under their respective
jurisdiction, without any restrictions as to content, time, place and technicaland legal aspects.
2.
The Council shall issue special regulations to this end.

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XIV. COMPETITIONS
A. FIFA FINAL COMPETITIONS

68

Competition venues

1.
The Council shall decide the venue for the final competitions organised
by FIFA, with the sole exception of the venue for the final competition of
the FIFA World Cup™ and the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, which shall bedecided by the Congress in accordance with par. 2 of this article.
2.
The decision on the venue for the final competition of the FIFA World
Cup™ and the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ aims to achieve the objective ofsecuring the best possible hosting conditions in the host country/countries
and shall follow the procedure below:(a) Based on specific regulations to be issued by the Council, the FIFA
general secretariat shall establish a fair and transparent bidding
procedure, inviting all qualified member associations to submit a bid
and defining in detail the requirements for the bidding and hosting aswell as criteria for selecting the host of the event.
(b) Based on its best judgement, the FIFA general secretariat shall submit
to the Council a public report evaluating the compliance of all bids withthe bidding procedure and the requirements for hosting the event,taking into consideration the defined criteria for selecting the host.
(c) The Council shall review the report and designate, based on its best
judgement and in an open ballot, up to three bids to be submitted
to the Congress for a final decision. The result of each ballot and therelated votes by the members of the Council shall be made public.
(d) The Congress shall select the host venue from the bids designated by
the Council. An absolute majority (more than 50%) of the member
associations present and eligible to vote is necessary in the first ballot.
If an absolute majority is not reached in the first ballot, then the bid
with the lowest number of votes in the first ballot is eliminated. In thesecond ballot, or if fewer than three bids are presented to the Congress,a simple majority (more than 50%) of the valid votes cast is sufficient.
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The result of each ballot and the related votes by the members of theCongress shall be made public.
3.
A Congress may not award the hosting rights to more than one FIFA World
Cup™ at the same meeting.
4.
The right to host the event shall not be awarded to members of the same
confederation for two consecutive editions of the FIFA World Cup™.

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XIV. COMPETITIONS 67
B. INTERNATIONAL MATCHES AND COMPETITIONS

69

International match calendar

The Council shall compile an international match calendar that shall bebinding upon the confederations, member associations and leagues, after
conferring with the confederations.

70

International matches and competitions

1.
The Council shall be responsible for issuing regulations for organisinginternational matches and competitions between representative teams andbetween leagues, club and/or scratch teams. No such match or competition
shall take place without the prior permission of FIFA, the confederations
and/or the member associations in accordance with the Regulations
Governing International Matches.
2.
The Council may issue further provisions for such matches andcompetitions.
3.
The Council shall determine any criteria for authorising line-ups that are
not covered by the Regulations Governing International Matches.
4.
Notwithstanding the authorisation competences as set forth in theRegulations Governing International Matches, FIFA may take the final
decision on the authorisation of any international match or competition.

71

Contacts

1.
Players and teams affiliated to member associations or provisional membersof the confederations may not play matches or make sporting contacts

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with players or teams that are not affiliated to member associations orprovisional members of the confederations without the approval of FIFA.
2.
Member associations and their clubs may not play on the territory of
another member association without the latter’s approval.

72

Authorisation

Associations, leagues or clubs that are affiliated to a member association
may only join another member association or take part in competitions onthat member association’s territory under exceptional circumstances.
In each case, authorisation must be given by both member associations, therespective confederation(s) and by FIFA.

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XV. FINAL PROVISIONS 69
XV. FINAL PROVISIONS

73

Dissolution

If FIFA is disbanded, its assets shall be transferred to the supreme court ofthe country in which its headquarters are situated. It shall hold these assets
in trust as “bonus pater familiae” until FIFA is re-established.

74

Transitory provisions

1.
Following the amendments to the FIFA Statutes as adopted at the 71st FIFA
Congress on 21 May 2021:(a) Within 30 days of the conclusion of the Congress, the FIFA Council shallappoint the new members of the Football Tribunal.
(b) The Dispute Resolution Chamber shall continue to operate as before andshall be integrated into the Football Tribunal as from the date of formal
constitution of the Players’ Status Chamber and the Agents Chamber.
(c) Until the Players’ Status Chamber and the Agents Chamber are
constituted, the members of the Players’ Status Committee shall deal
with matters relating to the Players’ Status Chamber and the Agents
Chamber.
2.
For members of committees elected or appointed before 27 April 2016, theterm limits set forth in arts 33, 49 and 50 of these Statutes shall only apply
as from the date of completion of their respective mandates.

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70 XV. FINAL PROVISIONS

75

Enforcement

These Statutes were adopted at the Congress on 21 May 2021 and comeinto force immediately after adoption.

21 May 2021

For FIFA

President
Gianni Infantino

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I. APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO FIFA 71

REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE APPLICATION
OF THE STATUTES
I. APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO FIFA

1

Application for admission

The Council may lay down the procedure for admission in special
regulations.

2

Confederations

1.
The Council shall decide whether the association fulfils the requirements
for admission to FIFA based on the confederation’s final report.
2.
If the requirements have been fulfilled, the next Congress shall decide
whether to admit the association or not.

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72 II. MATCH AGENTS AND FOOTBALL AGENTS

II. MATCH AGENTS AND FOOTBALL AGENTS

3

Match agents

1.
Match agents may be employed to arrange friendly matches.
2.
Match agents shall hold a FIFA licence.
3.
The Council shall issue Match Agent Regulations governing the occupationof match agents.

4

Football agents

1.
Players, coaches, clubs, leagues and associations are entitled to engage
the services of a football agent to provide services in relation to thetransfer and/or employment of players and coaches when concluding an
employment contract and/or a transfer agreement.
2.
Football agents shall hold a FIFA licence.
3.
The Council shall issue Football Agent Regulations governing theoccupation of football agents.

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III. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS 73
III. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS

5

Principles

1.
Any person holding a permanent nationality that is not dependent on
residence in a certain country is eligible to play for the representative
teams of the association of that country.
2.
There is a distinction between holding a nationality and being eligible toobtain a nationality. A player holds a nationality if, through the operationof a national law, they have:(a) automatically received a nationality (e.g. from birth) without being
required to undertake any further administrative requirements (e.g.
abandoning a separate nationality); or(b) acquired a nationality by undertaking a naturalisation process.
3.
With the exception of the conditions specified in art. 9 below, any player
who has already participated in a match (either in full or in part) in an
official competition of any category or any type of football for one
association may not play an international match for a representative teamof another association.
4.
For the purposes of arts 6 to 9 below, the phrase ”lived on the territory of
the relevant association” shall mean a period of physical presence on the
territory of that association. The period shall be for a defined period oftime (in years) in accordance with the relevant provision.
(a) The period of physical presence is not interrupted by:(i) short absences abroad for personal reasons;(ii) holidays abroad during the football off-season;(iii) medical treatment or rehabilitation abroad following injury orillness; or
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III. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS(iv) travel abroad as a result of football employment.
(b) The period of physical presence is interrupted (and time requirement
resets) where:(i) a player is transferred to a club affiliated to a different association;or(ii) a player is absent from a territory for any reason other than thoseset out in par. (a) above.
5.
Notwithstanding art. 5 par. 4 (a), unless exceptional circumstances exist, aplayer must be physically present on the territory of an association for atleast 183 days during a 12 month period to be considered to have “lived
on the territory” of that association for that year.
6.
For the purposes of arts 6 to 9 below, the Procedural Rules Governing theFootball Tribunal shall govern any requests for eligibility or change ofassociation.

6

Nationality entitling players to represent more than one
association

1.
A player who, under the terms of art. 5, is eligible to represent morethan one association on account of his nationality, may play in aninternational match for one of these associations only if, in addition toholding the relevant nationality, he fulfils at least one of the following
conditions:(a) He was born on the territory of the relevant association;(b) His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of
the relevant association;(c) His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of therelevant association;(d) He has lived on the territory of the relevant association for at least five
years.
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III. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS

2.
Regardless of par. 1 above, associations sharing a common nationality may
make an agreement under which item (d) of par. 1 of this article is deletedcompletely or amended to specify a longer time limit. Such agreements
shall be lodged with and approved by the Council.
3.
The associations which share a common nationality shall be identified andupdated as appropriate by the FIFA general secretariat in a circular.

7

Acquisition of a new nationality

1.
Any player who refers to art. 5 par. 1 to assume a new nationality and who
has not played international football in accordance with art. 5 par. 3 shallbe eligible to play for the representative teams of the new association only
if he fulfils one of the following conditions:(a) He was born on the territory of the relevant association;(b) His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of
the relevant association;(c) His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of therelevant association;(d) He has lived on the territory of the relevant association:(i) for players that began living on the territory before the age of 10:
at least three years;(ii) for players that began living on the territory between the age of 10
and 18: at least five years;(iii) for players that began living on the territory from the age of 18:
at least five years.

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III. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS

2.
A player who seeks to rely upon par. d (ii) must:(a) demonstrate that the move to the territory of the association was not
for the purpose of participating for its representative teams; and(b) submit, via the relevant association, a request for eligibility to theFootball Tribunal.

8Stateless individuals

1.
A player that:(a) does not hold any nationality; and(b) due to national law of the country of their domicile, will never be
granted the nationality of such country,
may be declared eligible to play for the representative teams of theassociation concerned, provided that:(c) he has lived on the territory of the relevant association for at least five
years; and(d) he can demonstrate that the move to the territory of the association
was not for the purpose of participating for its representative teams.
2.
A player who seeks to rely upon par. 1 must submit, via the relevant
association, a request for eligibility to the Football Tribunal.

9

Change of association

1.
A player may, only once, request to change the association for which heis eligible to play to the association of another country of which he holds
nationality.
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III. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS

2.
A request to change association may be granted only in the following
circumstances:(a) the player:(i) was fielded in a match in an official competition at any level (withthe exception of “A” international level) in any kind of football for his
current association; and(ii) at the time of being fielded for his first match in an official
competition in any kind of football for his current association, he alreadyheld the nationality of the association which he wishes to represent.
(b) the player:(i) was fielded in a match in an official competition at any level (withthe exception of “A” international level) in any kind of football for his
current association;(ii) at the time of being fielded for his first match in an official
competition in any kind of football for his current association, he did not
hold the nationality of the association which he wishes to represent;(iii) at the time of being fielded for his last match in an official
competition in any kind of football for his current association, he had
not turned 21 years old; and(iv) meets any of the requirements provided in art. 6 or 7.
(c) the player:(i) was fielded in a match in an official competition at “A” international
level in any kind of football for his current association;(ii) at the time of being fielded for his first match in an official competition(at any level) in any kind of football for his current association, he held thenationality of the association which he wishes to represent;(iii) at the time of being fielded for his last match in an official competitionin any kind of football for his current association, he had not turned 21
years old;
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III. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS(iv) was fielded in no more than three matches at “A” international
level in any kind of football for his current association, whether in an
official competition or non-official competition;(v) at least three years have passed since being fielded for his lastmatch at “A” international level in any kind of football for his
current association, whether in an official competition or non-official
competition; and(vi) has never participated in any kind of football at “A” international
level in the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup or a final
tournament of a confederation competition.
(d) the player:(i) wishes to represent an association that was admitted to FIFAmembership after he was fielded in his first match in an official
competition (at any level) in any kind of football for his current
association;(ii) was never fielded in a match in an official competition (at any level)in any kind of football for his current association after the association
which he wishes to represent was admitted to FIFA membership;(iii) at the time of being fielded for his first match in an official
competition (at any level) in any kind of football for his current
association:
a. held the nationality of the association which he wishes torepresent; orb. obtained the nationality of the association which he wishes
to represent as soon as reasonably practicable after the country
was recognised by the majority of members of the United
Nations;(iv) meets any of the requirements provided in art. 6 or 7.
(e) the player:(i) was fielded in a match in an official competition at “A” international
level in any kind of football for his current association;
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III. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS(ii) permanently loses his nationality without his consent or against his
will due to a decision by a government authority; and(iii) holds the nationality of the association that he wishes to represent.
3.
A player is not permitted to play for his new association in any competitionin which he has already played for his previous association.
4.
A player who seeks to rely upon par. 2 must submit, via the relevant
association, a request for change of association to the Football Tribunal.
5.
A player that was:(a) granted a change of association; and(b) was not fielded in a match in any (official or unofficial) competitionin any kind of football by the new association,
may request a change of association back to his former association
provided he continues to hold the nationality of such association.
6.
A player who seeks to rely upon par. 5 must submit, via the relevant
association, a request for change of association to the Football Tribunal.
7.
A player that has filed a request in accordance with this article is not
eligible to participate for any representative team until the request has
been decided upon.

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FIFA STATUTESANTI-DOPINGREGULATIONS[2019 ED.]80 IV. SPORTING INTEGRITY

IV. SPORTING INTEGRITY

10

Principle of promotion and relegation

1.
A club’s entitlement to take part in a domestic league championship shalldepend principally on sporting merit. A club shall qualify for a domestic
league championship by remaining in a certain division or by being
promoted or relegated to another at the end of a season.
2.
In addition to qualification on sporting merit, a club’s participation in adomestic league championship may be subject to other criteria within thescope of the licensing procedure, whereby the emphasis is on sporting,infrastructural, administrative, legal and financial considerations. Licensing
decisions must be able to be examined by the member association’s body of
appeal.
3.
Altering the legal form or company structure of a club to facilitate
its qualification on sporting merit and/or its receipt of a licence for adomestic league championship, to the detriment of the integrity of asports competition, is prohibited. This includes, for example, changing theheadquarters, changing the name or transferring stakeholdings between
different clubs. Prohibitive decisions must be able to be examined by themember association’s body of appeal.
4.
Each member association is responsible for deciding national issues, which
may not be delegated to the leagues. Each confederation is responsiblefor deciding issues involving more than one association concerning its own
territory. FIFA is responsible for deciding international issues involving morethan one confederation.

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V. LAWS OF THE GAME
V. LAWS OF THE GAME

11

Amendments to the Laws of the Game

1.
FIFA shall notify its member associations of any amendments and decisions
regarding the Laws of the Game within one month of the ordinary annual
meeting of The IFAB.
2.
The member associations shall enforce these amendments and decisions
no later than 1 July following The IFAB’s annual meeting. Exceptions may
be granted only to member associations whose football season has not
terminated by this date.
3.
Member associations may apply such amendments and decisions as soon as
they have been issued by The IFAB.

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FIFA STATUTESANTI-DOPINGREGULATIONS[2019 ED.]82 VI. REFEREES AND ASSISTANT REFEREES

VI. REFEREES AND ASSISTANT REFEREES

12

Nomination

1.
Each referee and assistant referee appointed to an international matchshall belong to a neutral member association unless otherwise previously
agreed by the member associations concerned.
2.
The referee and assistant referees chosen to officiate at an international
match shall be included in the official FIFA List of International Referees
and Assistant Referees.

13

Report1.
The referee of every international “A” match shall send a report within
48 hours of the match both to FIFA and the member association on whose
territory the match was played.
2.
This report shall be made on the official form given to the referee by themember association under whose jurisdiction the match was played.
3.
The report shall record all the disciplinary measures taken and the reasonsfor these measures.

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VI. REFEREES AND ASSISTANT REFEREES

14

Reimbursement

1.
Referees and assistant referees at international matches shall be entitled to:(a) a daily allowance;(b) reimbursement of travel expenses.
FIFA shall determine the amounts, travel category and number of days due
for reimbursement to which referees and assistant referees are entitled.
2.
The amount owed to the referees and assistant referees shall be paid tothem in an easily convertible currency on the same day as the match by theorganising member association.
3.
The expenses for hotel and board incurred by referees and assistantreferees of international matches shall be borne by the organising member
association.

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VII. FINAL PROVISIONS

15

Objectives

1.
FIFA shall ensure that its objectives are achieved and secured solely by using
suitable material and human resources either of its own or by delegating
to member associations or confederations or by working with theconfederations in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.
2.
With reference to art. 2 (g) of the FIFA Statutes, FIFA shall take action
especially, but not exclusively, against irregular betting activities, doping
and racism. These activities are prohibited and subject to sanctions.

16

Enforcement

The Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes were adopted
at the Congress on 21 May 2021 and come into force immediately after
adoption.

21 May 2021

For FIFA

President
Gianni Infantino

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STANDING ORDERS OF THE CONGRESSSTANDING ORDERS OF THE CONGRESS

1

Participation in the Congress

1.
Each member association may be represented at the Congress by amaximum of three delegates, all of whom may take part in the debates.
2.
The names of the delegates, including the one with the right to vote,shall be submitted to the general secretariat before the opening of theCongress. The general secretariat enters the delegates mentioned on toa list (numbered 1 to 3). The delegate with the right to vote is enteredas number 1. If the delegate with the right to vote leaves the Congress
during the debates, the delegate entered as number 2 on the member
association’s delegation list is entitled to vote. If this delegate is also absent,
the delegate entered as number 3 is entitled to vote.
3.
FIFA shall bear the costs of travel and accommodation for three delegatesof each member association taking part in the Congress. The Council shallissue appropriate directives in this connection.

2

Chair

1.
The President shall chair the Congress. If the President is unable to attend,
the longest-serving vice-president available shall deputise. If none of thevice-presidents is present, the Congress shall elect a member of the Council
as chairperson.
2.
The chair shall ensure that the Congress is conducted in strict compliancewith these Standing Orders, open and close the Congress and debates, and,
unless the Congress decides otherwise, grant delegates permission to speakand conduct all discussions.

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FIFA STATUTESANTI-DOPINGREGULATIONS[2019 ED.]86 STANDING ORDERS OF THE CONGRESS3.
The chair shall be responsible for maintaining order during debates.
He may take the following action against any Congress participant who
disturbs the debates:(a) a call to order;(b) a reprimand;(c) exclusion from one or more sessions.
4.
If an appeal is made against such action, the Congress shall decide
immediately without debate.

3

Scrutineers

At the beginning of the first session, the Congress shall appoint anadequate number of scrutineers to count the votes and to assist the
Secretary General in distributing and counting voting papers issued for theelections. The Council may decide to use electronic equipment to determine
the results of a vote.

4Interpreters

Official interpreters shall be appointed to translate into the official
languages of the Congress. They shall be appointed by the Secretary
General.

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5

Debates1.
Debates on each item on the agenda shall be preceded by a short report:(a) by the chair or a member of the Council designated for this purpose;(b) by a representative of the committee designated by the Council togive a report;(c) by a delegate from the member association that requested the item
be included in the agenda.
2.
The chair then opens the debate.

6

Speakers

1.
Permission to speak is granted in the order in which it is requested. A
speaker may not begin speaking until he has obtained permission to doso. Speakers shall address the Congress from the rostrum intended for thispurpose.
2.
A speaker may not speak for a second time on the same item until all otherdelegates who have requested permission to speak have spoken.

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7

Proposals

1.
All proposals shall be submitted in writing. Proposals which are not relevantto the subject under discussion shall not be admitted to the debate.
2.
Any amendment shall be drawn up in writing and passed to the chair
before being put to the debate.

8

Procedural motions and closing of debates

1.
If a procedural motion is made, discussion on the main question shall besuspended until a vote has been taken on the motion.
2.
If a motion is made to close the discussion, it shall immediately be put tothe vote without debate. If the motion is approved, permission to speak
shall only be granted to those member associations who have asked to
speak before the vote was taken.
3.
The chair shall close the discussion unless the Congress decides otherwise bya simple majority (more than 50%) of the valid votes cast.

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9

Votes

1.
Voting by secret ballot is prohibited. Voting by proxy or by letter is not
permitted at a Congress held in person. When a Congress is held byteleconference, by videoconference or by another means of communication,
voting by correspondence and/or online is permitted.
2.
Before each vote, the chair, or the person designated by him, shall read thetext of the proposal aloud and explain the voting procedure (quorum) to theCongress. If an objection is raised, the Congress shall decide immediately.
3.
Votes may be taken by roll call if requested by at least 15 of the member
associations present and eligible to vote.
4.
No-one is compelled to vote.
5.
As a rule, votes are taken by a show of hands (voting cards) or by the use ofelectronic equipment.
6.
Proposals shall be put to the vote in the order in which they are submitted.
If there are more than two main proposals, they shall be put to the vote insuccession and the delegates may not vote for more than one of the proposals.
7.
Alterations to amendments shall be put to the vote before the amendments
proper, and amendments before the main proposal.
8.
Proposals without a vote against are regarded as having been passed.
9.
The chair shall check the result of the vote and announce it to the Congress.
10.
No one is permitted to speak during the vote and until after the result has
been announced.
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10Elections1.
Elections shall be carried out by secret ballot. They shall either be conductedwith ballot papers or by using televoters, electronic vote counters thatguarantee the secrecy of the election. Elections of the President shall not
be carried out by using televoters. The Secretary General, assisted by the
scrutineers, shall conduct the distribution and counting of the ballot papers
or the distribution and evaluation of the televoters.
2.
The number of ballot papers that have been distributed shall be announced
by the chair before the count.
3.
If the number of ballot papers returned is equal to or fewer than thenumber of ballot papers distributed, the election shall be declared valid.
If the number returned exceeds that of the ballot papers distributed,
the vote shall be declared null and void and another vote shall be taken
immediately.
4.
The chair shall announce the result of each ballot.
5.
The Secretary General shall put the ballot papers that have been collected
and counted into envelopes intended for this purpose and seal them
immediately. The general secretariat shall keep these envelopes anddestroy them 100 days after the end of the Congress.

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11

Calculation of majorities

1.
The simple majority (more than 50%) shall be calculated for elections,votes and other decisions on the basis of the number of valid ballot papers
collected or the number of valid votes cast electronically. Blank ballot
papers, invalid votes or electronic votes manipulated in any other way
as well as abstentions shall be disregarded when calculating the simple
majority.
2.
The absolute majority (more than 50%) shall be calculated on the basis of
the number of member associations present and eligible to vote.
3.
If during an election a member association casts two or more votes insupport of one candidate on one ballot paper or through an electronic
vote counter in an election round, or if during a vote a member association
casts two or more votes for the same matter, only the last vote cast shall beconsidered valid and counted.

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12

Enforcement

These Standing Orders of the Congress were adopted by the Congress on
18 September 2020 and come into force immediately after adoption.

18 September 2020

For FIFA

President
Gianni Infantino

Secretary General
Fatma Samoura

05.21 HD 1000 w stm/rsi

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FIFA Governance Regulations(FGR)

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NB: Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders.
Any term in the singular applies to the plural and vice-versa.

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Contents 3
ChapterPage

I. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

4

II. DUTIES, POWERS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND ORGANISATION
OF FIFA BODIES AND HOLDERS OF KEY POSITIONSAnnual member associations conference
CouncilPresident
Secretary GeneralStanding committees- A. General rules- B. Specific rules for individual committees
Independent committees

7
7
8
13
15
20
20
25
38

III. ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT
General provisions
Proposal and announcement of candidatures
Election format
Jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee and Disciplinary Committee
Role of the Governance Committee in the context of election procedures

48
48
52
53
56
56

IV. ELECTION OF THE COUNCIL

58

V. AUDITING

63

VI. FINAL PROVISIONS

64

ANNEXE 1 – ELIGIBILITY CHECKS

65

ANNEXE 2 – RELATED-PARTY DECLARATION

70

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I. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

1

Purpose and scope of these regulations

1.
These FIFA Governance Regulations (FGR) contain the basic principles anddetailed regulations regarding FIFA’s corporate governance.
2.
In particular, they specify, based on the fundamental structure as set out in theFIFA Statutes, general principles regarding the internal organisation of FIFA. They
further specify, within the framework of the general regime of competences as
set out in the FIFA Statutes, general principles regarding the duties, powers andresponsibilities of certain bodies, units and other entities of FIFA as well as of themembers of those bodies and of the FIFA employees. Finally, they regulate theelections for the Council and the FIFA presidency, thereby supplementing andspecifying the relevant provisions in the FIFA Statutes.

2

Implementation

The Council, the President, the standing committees, the independent committees
and the Secretary General are authorised to issue directives, guidelines, policies,
procedures, circular letters, manuals and similar documents for the implementationof these FIFA Governance Regulations as part of their range of duties and powers,
subject to the FIFA Statutes and the provisions of these regulations.

3

General conduct of members of FIFA bodies and FIFA employees– FIFA compliance policy

1.
General principles
During their work and as part of their functions, members of FIFA bodies andFIFA employees shall do everything possible that is conducive to fulfilling FIFA’s
objectives (cf. art. 2 of the FIFA Statutes) and refrain from any action that could
be detrimental to those objectives. Inside and outside FIFA, they shall know
and comply with all applicable laws and regulations, as well as with FIFA’s
internal rules and regulations, such as the present regulations, the FIFA Codeof Ethics, the FIFA Code of Conduct and the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
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2.
The Secretary General shall issue special provisions regarding the conduct ofFIFA employees.

4

Eligibility checks

Pursuant to the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes, all members of
the Council (including the President), of the standing committees, of the
independent committees as well as the Secretary General shall be required tofulfil eligibility checks in accordance with Annexe 1 of these regulations prior
to their (re-)election or (re-)appointment.

5

Independence

1.
The restrictions resulting from the requirement of independence of themembers of the relevant FIFA bodies are as follows:
Membersof standing committees
requiring independence

Chairpersons and deputy
chairpersons of Audit andCompliance Committee
and judicial bodies

Other members of
Audit and Compliance
Committee and judicial
bodiesOther official functionin FIFA

Not permitted
for members themselves
and their immediate family
members including during
the four years preceding
initial term

Not permitted
for members themselves
and their immediate family
members including during
the four years preceding
initial term

Not permitted
for members themselves
and their immediate family
members including during
the four years preceding
initial term

Other official function
in a confederation or amember association

Not permitted
for members themselves
and their immediate family
members including during
the four years preceding
initial term

Not permitted
for members themselves
and their immediate family
members including during
the four years preceding
initial term

Material business
relationship with FIFA,a confederation or amember association

Not permitted
for members themselves
and their immediate family
members including during
the four years preceding
initial term

Not permitted
for members themselves
and their immediate family
members including during
the four years preceding
initial term

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2.
Additional provisions apply to the members of the FIFA Ethics Committee(cf. art. 34 of the FIFA Code of Ethics).
3.
“Immediate family” or “immediate family member” means, with respect toany person, such person’s spouse or domestic partner, parents, grandparents,
uncles, aunts, children (including any stepchild or adopted child),
grandchildren, son-, daughter-, father- or mother-in-law and the spouses ofsuch persons, and including anyone else, whether by blood or otherwise, withwhom the individual has a relationship akin to a family relationship for whichsuch person provides financial support.
4.
“Material business relationship” means, with respect to any person, that (i)such person has been, or (ii) such person is a current director or executive
officer or employee of or owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of theequity of any entity that has made payments to or received payments from
FIFA, any confederation, any member association or any sponsor, auditor,
outside counsel or other paid adviser or contractor of any of FIFA, any
confederation or any member association for property or services in an
amount which, in any single year, exceeds USD 125,000. Any compensation orother amounts paid to any such person in their capacity as a member of theCouncil or of an independent FIFA body shall not constitute a material business
relationship within the meaning of this provision.

6

Disclosure of compensation

The individual annual compensation of the President, of the vice-presidents
and members of the Council, and of the Secretary General, as determined by
the Compensation Sub-Committee pursuant to art. 37 par. 11 (b) of the present
regulations, as well as the compensation of the chairperson of the Audit andCompliance Committee and the costs of the judicial bodies shall be publishedin the annual FIFA Financial Report.

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II. DUTIES, POWERS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND ORGANISATION OF FIFA
BODIES AND HOLDERS OF KEY POSITIONSANNUAL MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS CONFERENCE

7

Strategic football summits: the annual member associations
conference

1.
The annual member associations conference provided for by the FIFA Statutes,
which is a strategic advisory forum for FIFA, may be conducted in the form ofannual strategic football summits and shall be organised under the directionof the President.
2.
The president of each member association shall be an ex officio member of theannual strategic football summits. The president may be accompanied at thesesummits by other association top executives, as the case may be.
3.
The format of the annual strategic football summits as well as the venue
and timing of the meetings shall remain flexible in order to provide theappropriate platform of discussion depending on the topics to be discussed.
4.
The annual strategic football summits shall be dedicated to strategic discussions
on issues of high relevance for the football world as provided for in the FIFA
Statutes, with a particular focus on:a) Football developmentb) Competitionsc) Governanced) Laws of the Gamee) Integrity of the gamef) Diversityg) Women’s footballh) Social responsibility
5.
The conclusions of these meetings shall constitute strategic advice to the FIFA
Council and the FIFA Congress.

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COUNCIL

8

Duties, powers and responsibilities

1.
The duties, powers and responsibilities of the Council are based on theapplicable FIFA Statutes and regulations, and on rulings and decisions
applicable to the Council passed by the appropriate FIFA bodies (e.g. by the
judicial bodies).
2.
The Council defines FIFA’s mission, strategic direction, policies and values, inparticular with regard to the organisation and development of football atworldwide level and all related matters. In accordance with, and subject to,art. 34 of the FIFA Statutes, the Council has, in particular, the following specificduties:a) It deals with global strategies for football and its political, economic andsocial status;b) It defines FIFA’s overall strategy, including with regard to sports-politicaland business matters;c) It oversees the activities of the standing committees and the overallmanagement of FIFA by the general secretariat;d) It appoints and dismisses the chairpersons, deputy chairpersons andmembers of the standing committees, with the exception of the membersof the Governance Committee, who are elected by the Congress and may
only be dismissed by the Congress;e) It proposes to the Congress for election the chairpersons, deputy
chairpersons and members of the Disciplinary Committee, the Ethics
Committee, the Appeal Committee, the Audit and Compliance Committee
and the Governance Committee, thereby striving to ensure appropriate
gender distribution;f) It may decide to set up bureaus and/or sub-committees to the standing
committees and ad-hoc committees if necessary at any time, as well as
approve the set-up of a bureau and/or sub-committee proposed by astanding committee;
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II. Duties, powers, responsibilities and organisationof FIFA bodies and holders of key positions 9g) It may decide to establish ad-hoc Electoral Committees to assume certain
duties that are, in principle, assigned to the Governance Committee;h) It appoints and dismisses the Secretary General upon the proposal of the
President; the Council may also dismiss the Secretary General without sucha proposal, in which case the President shall nevertheless still be obliged
to sign the respective termination notice with regard to the employment
contract of the Secretary General;i) It defines the standards, policies and procedures applicable to theawarding of commercial contracts by FIFA;j) It defines the standards, policies and procedures applicable to footballdevelopment grants;k) It defines the standards, policies and procedures regarding the operationalcosts of FIFA;l) It defines the standards, policies and procedures regarding all otherbusiness- or finance-related matters of FIFA;m) It approves the budget prepared by the Finance Committee to besubmitted to the Congress for approval;n) It approves the accounts and annual audited financial statements,
including the consolidated financial statements, drawn up by the Secretary
General to be submitted to the Congress for approval;o) It approves the annual report to be submitted to the Congress for approval;p) It approves any proposals regarding amendments to the material structureof FIFA’s subsidiaries as well as regarding acquiring and selling holdings incompanies;q) It decides on the place and dates of the final competitions of FIFA
tournaments and the number of teams taking part from eachconfederation, except for the place of the FIFA World Cup™ final
competition;r) It appoints the three representatives of FIFA who shall attend the general
assembly of The IFAB in addition to the President; furthermore, it is entitledto direct how the representatives of FIFA shall vote in The IFAB;
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10 of FIFA bodies and holders of key positionss) It supports the full participation of women at all levels of football,including in governance and technical roles;t) It approves and issues FIFA regulations.
3.
In accordance with art. 27 par. 7 of the FIFA Statutes, the Council shalldetermine the number of seats to be assigned to each confederation in the
Audit and Compliance Committee, in the Governance Committee and in the
judicial bodies, and thereafter submit proposals, in writing, for the membersof the Audit and Compliance Committee, the Governance Committee and the
judicial bodies to the general secretariat at least four months before the startof the relevant Congress.
4.
The Council shall deal with all matters relating to FIFA that do not fall within thesphere of responsibility of another body, in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.
5.
The Council shall not be responsible for matters of an executive nature. Suchmatters shall be dealt with by the FIFA general secretariat.

9

Meetings and decision-making

1.
The Council shall meet at least three times a year.
2.
The President shall convene the meetings of the Council at least 14 days inadvance by way of letter and/or email, stating the date, time and place ofthe meeting as well as the items of the agenda (the latter to be compiledby the President while considering possible proposals from the otherCouncil members). Meetings may be held in person, by teleconference, byvideoconference or by another means of communication. If a meeting cannot
be convened within an appropriate period of time, decisions may be passed byother methods (e.g. circular resolution). The required documents to enable themembers to prepare properly for the meeting shall be sent to the members atleast seven days in advance by way of letter and/or email. If justified by special
circumstances, additional and/or new documents may be distributed at themeeting. Meetings of the Bureau of the Council shall be convened immediately.
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3.
If at least nineteen (19) members of the Council request a meeting, thePresident shall convene it according to par. 2 above.
4.
The President, as the chairperson of the Council, shall conduct the meetingsin accordance with the FIFA Statutes and these regulations. He shall open andclose the debates and give the floor to the Council members. If the President isunable to attend, the longest-serving vice-president shall conduct the meetingas deputy chairperson. If the longest-serving vice-president is prevented fromconducting the meeting, the next vice-president in line shall conduct themeeting.
5.
If a vote is needed on any matter, a majority of the valid votes cast is required
for a decision to be adopted. Each member of the Council has one vote. As arule, votes of the Council shall be conducted openly.
6.
Decisions of the Council are signed by the President.
7.
Council meetings are confidential.
8.
The minutes of every meeting shall be recorded by the Secretary General, who
attends the Council meetings ex officio and as the secretary of the meetings
without voting rights. Should the Secretary General be unavailable, the Deputy
Secretary General shall deputise. The minutes shall, as a general rule, be signedby the Secretary General.

10

Council members’ duties

1.
The members of the Council shall participate in the meetings in person.
Attendance by teleconference, by videoconference or by another means ofcommunication shall also constitute presence.

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2.
Council members shall show mutual respect and protect the interests of FIFA intheir work. They shall read the agenda carefully as well as any documents sent
to them before the meeting. They shall take an active part in the discussions.
3.
Council members shall adhere to all relevant FIFA rules and regulations in theirwork on the committees, in particular to the FIFA Statutes and the FIFA Codeof Ethics but also to any decisions issued by FIFA.
4.
In particular, Council members shall always be aware of, and comply with, theprovisions of art. 19 of the FIFA Code of Ethics (Conflicts of interest) and adjust
their conduct as necessary (e.g. abstain from performing their duties, notify the
President in cases of potential conflicts of interest).
5.
Council members shall complete and submit two copies, one to the President
and one to the Review Committee, of the Related-Party Declaration (includedin Annexe 2 to these regulations) on an annual basis. The President shall also
complete and submit two copies, one to the Secretary General and one to the
Review Committee, of the Related-Party Declaration.
6.
Every member of the Council undertakes, and accepts responsibility, tofaithfully, loyally and independently act in the best interests of FIFA and thepromotion and development of football at global level.

11

Expenses

Expenses of the Council members shall be reimbursed in accordance with theapplicable FIFA Expenses Regulations.

12

Bureau of the Council

The provisions above shall also apply mutatis mutandis to the Bureau of theCouncil.

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PRESIDENT

13

Contractual relationship with FIFA

In addition to the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes as well as of thepresent and other FIFA regulations, the details regarding the relationshipbetween FIFA and the President including, in particular, compensation matters,
shall be regulated by a contract between the (incumbent) President and FIFA.
This contract shall be approved by the Compensation Sub-Committee andsigned on behalf of FIFA by the Secretary General and a second person having
the power to sign in accordance with the entry in the Commercial Register of
the Canton of Zurich.

14

Role, duties, powers and responsibilities

1.
The President represents FIFA generally (cf. art. 35 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes).
He chairs the Congress and the Council, and coordinates the Council. The
President’s duties, powers and responsibilities are based on the applicable
FIFA Statutes and regulations, and on rulings and decisions applicable to the
President passed by the appropriate FIFA bodies (e.g. by the judicial bodies).
2.
The President shall aim to ensure that FIFA’s statutory objectives, mission,
strategic direction, policies and values are sustainably pursued and to foster apositive image of FIFA. While performing his activities, the President shall be,
and thus contribute to FIFA being, a vanguard for promoting the following
principles, rights and values in particular:a) Integrity, ethics and fair play;b) Human rights and humanitarian values;c) Non-discrimination, gender equality, equal treatment in general, and thestance against racism;d) Solidarity and mutual respect in football as well as in society in general;

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14 of FIFA bodies and holders of key positionse) Promoting friendly and peaceful relations within FIFA as well as in society
in general for humanitarian reasons.
3.
The President shall be recorded in the Commercial Register of the Canton of
Zurich as having joint powers of signature (with one other person).
4.
In accordance with, and subject to, art. 35 of the FIFA Statutes, the President
has, in particular, the following specific duties:a) He proposes the guidelines for FIFA’s overall strategy to the Council;
he oversees, together with the Council, the implementation of theguidelines for FIFA’s overall strategy; he appraises the Secretary General’s
performance.
b) He prepares the business of the Council and the Congress.
c) He may propose the appointment or dismissal of the Secretary General.
d) He engages the members of the Executive Office of the President andterminates their employment.
5.
The President may delegate certain duties, powers and responsibilities thathave been assigned to him to the Secretary General or individual members of
the Council. In such cases, the Secretary General or the individual members of
the Council shall report to the President.
6.
In accordance with art. 33 par. 8 of the FIFA Statutes, if the President ispermanently or temporarily prevented from performing his official function,
the longest-serving vice-president shall assume the powers and responsibilitiesof the President until the next Congress. This Congress shall elect a new
President, if necessary. If the longest-serving vice-president is prevented fromassuming the powers and responsibilities of the President, the next vicepresident in line shall assume the powers and responsibilities of the President.

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SECRETARY GENERAL

15

Secretary General1.
The Secretary General is the chief executive officer (CEO) of FIFA. He chairs andheads the Management Board.
2.
The Secretary General shall be recorded in the Commercial Register of the
Canton of Zurich as having joint powers of signature (with one other person).
3.
The Secretary General reports to the Council through the office of the
President.
4.
The Secretary General shall be employed by FIFA on the basis of an
employment agreement governed by private law. The employment contractof the Secretary General shall be signed on behalf of FIFA by the President
and a second person having power to sign in accordance with the entry in theCommercial Register of the Canton of Zurich.
5.
The organisation and structure of the general secretariat shall be dealt withthrough directives issued by the Secretary General.
6.
Powers and responsibilities
The duties, powers and responsibilities of the Secretary General are basedin principle on the FIFA Statutes and regulations applicable to the Secretary
General, and on rulings and decisions applicable to the Secretary General passed
by FIFA bodies as well as on any applicable legal provisions. The Secretary General
has the responsibility and authority to make decisions on all executive andadministrative matters that do not, based on the FIFA Statutes, these regulationsor the regulations of other bodies, come under the remit of another body or
person. He is authorised to issue implementing regulations, directives, policies,
procedures, circular letters, manuals and similar documents as part of and within
the framework of his duties and powers as set out in the FIFA Statutes, theprovisions of these regulations, and the regulations of other bodies.

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More particularly, the main duties of the Secretary General are as follows:a) He manages the FIFA general secretariat and ensures that all of FIFA’s
executive and administrative work is carried out smoothly, promptly andproperly;b) He proposes targets for the various divisions in accordance with FIFA’s
overall strategy as determined by the Council;c) He approves the organisational structures in each division at the proposalof the respective director; he proposes the creation of new divisions to theCouncil;d) He implements, subject to other rulings stating the contrary, the rulingsand decisions passed by the FIFA bodies, in particular decisions passed by
the Congress and the Council, under the supervision of the President andadhering to the relevant guidelines and directives;e) He prepares the administration and organisation of the Congress;f) He appoints and/or dismisses the directors of FIFA; he approves proposals
from the directors of the various divisions regarding the appointment or
revocation thereof of a deputy; he engages and dismisses personnel in theFIFA general secretariat;g) He appoints or removes one of the division directors as a deputy to theSecretary General;h) He decides, on behalf of FIFA, on the signing powers of members of FIFAbodies and employees for the purpose of concluding legal transactions
and signing correspondence as an addition to these regulations, whereverthese persons are not recorded in the Commercial Register of the Cantonof Zurich;i) He issues guidelines and regulations for all FIFA employees after consulting
the management concerned; he proposes the salary structure (including
bonuses) as well as FIFA’s social benefits to the President for approval;j) He issues guidelines concerning procurement;k) He proposes to the Council amendments to the material structure of FIFA’s
subsidiaries as well as regarding acquiring and selling holdings in companies;
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permitted by applicable law;n) He designates specific persons for overall projects (overall project leaders)and submits the relevant project plans to the Council for approval;o) He is responsible for managing and keeping the accounts of FIFA properly;
he approves the guidelines proposed by the Finance & Corporate Services
Division; he is responsible for preparing the annual and quadrennial
budgets; he is responsible for preparing the annual audited financial
statements;p) He is responsible for asset and foreign exchange management;q) He is responsible for FIFA’s correspondence;r) He facilitates relations with the confederations and member associations;s) He is responsible for compiling the minutes for the meetings of the Congress,
the Council, the standing committees and the ad-hoc committees.
7.
The President may devolve the following range of duties upon the Secretary
General:a) Reporting to the Congress and the Council;b) Preparing decisions to be passed by the Congress and the Council.
8.
Moreover, the Secretary General has the following duties, powers andresponsibilities with regard to compliance:a) He monitors compliance by FIFA employees with the law and with all
relevant FIFA rules and regulations;b) He reviews reports directly submitted to the Secretary General by the Chief
Compliance Officer;
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18 of FIFA bodies and holders of key positionsc) He implements appropriate measures in cases of non-compliance, alleged
corruption or other improper conduct by employees of FIFA and – to theextent permitted by applicable law – all members of executive bodies andemployees of FIFA’s consolidated subsidiaries who are not bound by theFIFA Code of Ethics, except for the Secretary General himself. In this respect,
he ensures that the consolidated subsidiaries of FIFA set up their own
compliance units which exercise the duties, powers and responsibilities inaccordance with the applicable law, and that such compliance units reportto the FIFA Compliance Unit in the absence of mandatory legal provisions
to the contrary;d) Based on reports and proposals from the FIFA Compliance Unit, he
implements appropriate measures in cases of non-compliance, alleged
corruption or other improper conduct by FIFA team members, except for
the Secretary General himself;e) He reports regularly (or, in cases of emergency, immediately) to the Audit
and Compliance Committee on the findings of his compliance monitoringand on the cases reported and submitted to the Secretary General;f) He reports annually to the President and to the Audit and Compliance
Committee on his compliance-related activities.
9.
The Secretary General may delegate duties to his deputy or to another division
director for a certain period and, in particular, delegate mandatory reportingand minutes-taking of the standing committee and ad-hoc committee
meetings to his deputy or to the directors of the various divisions or advisorydivisions.
10.
The Secretary General shall consult with the President concerning majordecisions in order to ensure that the overall strategy, as defined by the Council,
is reflected in FIFA’s day-to-day business, in particular regarding par. 6 c), e), f),g), k), l) and n) of the present article.
11.
If the Secretary General intends to deviate from the principles and provisions
contained in these FIFA Governance Regulations while performing his duties,
he must obtain approval from the Council prior to taking any relevant action.

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II. Duties, powers, responsibilities and organisationof FIFA bodies and holders of key positions 19

Deputy Secretary General

1.
The Deputy Secretary General deputises for the Secretary General if thelatter is temporarily absent or incapacitated with regard to performing his
duties. He further assumes the function of Acting Secretary General if theSecretary General resigns or becomes permanently incapacitated with regard
to performing his functions during his term of office until a new Secretary
General has been appointed in accordance with the FIFA Statutes and theseregulations.
2.
The Secretary General may assign duties in certain areas to the Deputy
Secretary General for a fixed period.

17FIFA Compliance Unit and Chief Compliance Officer

1.
The FIFA Compliance Unit is led by the Chief Compliance Officer.
2.
The FIFA Compliance Unit reports to the Secretary General and to the Audit
and Compliance Committee.
3.
The organisation and functions as well as any other details of the FIFA
Compliance Unit and the Chief Compliance Officer are governed by directives
issued by the Secretary General.
4.
In order to fulfil its duties, powers and responsibilities, the FIFA Compliance
Unit has unrestricted right of access to and inspection of any organisational
unit of FIFA.
5.
Appropriate funding from FIFA shall be provided for payment of any outside
counsel, experts or advisers to be engaged and for covering any ordinary
administrative expenses of the Chief Compliance Officer that are necessary or
appropriate in carrying out his duties.
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STANDING COMMITTEES
A. GENERAL RULES

18

Scope

1.
The provisions of this section refer to committees only. Notwithstanding this,they apply to the FIFA standing committees as well as to their respective subcommittees (if applicable).
2.
The provisions contained in the subsequent section (specific rules for individualcommittees) supersede any provisions of this section addressing the same
matter(s).

19Powers and competences of the Council relating
to standing committees

1.
In addition to the duties set out in the FIFA Statutes and in arts 27 et seqq.
below, the Council may delegate further duties to the committees at any time.
2.
The Council may remove any member of a committee at any time, with the
exception of the members of the Governance Committee, who may only
be dismissed by the Congress. Proposals to remove a particular committee
member may, in particular, be submitted to the Council by the President.
Reoccurring failure to attend committee meetings is especially regarded as areason for relieving a member of his duties.

20

Terms of office1.
The members of the standing committees are appointed for a term of office offour years. Reappointments are possible.

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2.
If a member of a committee resigns or becomes permanently incapacitatedwith regard to performing his functions during his term of office, or if he isrelieved of his duties pursuant to art. 19 par. 2, the Council shall, at the earliest
opportunity, appoint a replacement for the remaining term of office.

21

Organisation

1.
The committees may work with other committees to deal with specific problems.
2.
If necessary, the committees may set up working groups to conduct specifictasks or examine specific issues. Such working groups may include experts
who are not members of the committees. The results of such working groups
should then be fed back to the respective committee.
3.
The committees may call upon specialists at any time to address any urgent
and/or special business in accordance with the applicable procurement
guidelines. If such engagements incur expenses exceeding USD 100,000, theymust be approved by the Council. The chairperson of the committee concerned
shall make an appropriate request to the Council.
4.
The committees may call upon staff from the general secretariat to assist andsupport them in their work.

22

Compliance training

1.
All chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and members of all committees shallcomplete initial compliance training within six months of assuming theirpositions.
2.
All chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and members of all committees shallcomplete additional compliance training at least once every two years.
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23

Meetings and decision-making

1.
The committees shall meet whenever pending matters so require. The
chairperson and the Secretary General shall draw up an annual plan to fix
dates for meetings. Meetings may be held in person, by teleconference, byvideoconference or by another means of communication. If a meeting cannot
be convened within an appropriate period of time, decisions may be passed byother methods (e.g. circular resolution).
2.
The chairperson shall draw up the agenda in conjunction with the Secretary
General. Committee members may send written requests to the chairperson
for items to be included in the agenda.
3.
The agenda shall, as a general rule, include the following items:a) Welcome from the President;b) Welcome of new members by the President and the chairperson(if applicable);c) Chairperson’s remarks;d) Roll call;e) Approval of the agenda;f) Approval of the minutes of the last meeting;g) Agenda containing the items to be discussed and enclosures;h) Any other business;i) Next meeting.
4.
The Secretary General shall sign the agenda. The agenda and any enclosures
shall be sent to the committee members in good time before the meeting. The
agenda may be altered if a majority of the committee members present agrees
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to such a proposal. Documents containing further information on the items to
be discussed may be distributed to the committee members at any time.
5.
The chairperson shall open and conduct the meetings. The chairperson shallopen and close the debates and give the floor to the committee members.
If the chairperson is unable to attend, the deputy chairperson shall conduct
the meeting. If the latter is also unavailable, the committee shall choose achairperson for that meeting from the members present.
6.
If a vote is needed on any matter, a majority of the valid votes cast is required
for the decision to be adopted. Each member of the committee has one vote.
Votes are conducted openly. Voting by secret ballot is prohibited.
7.
Decisions of the standing committees are signed by the Secretary General.
8.
The Secretary General, or a representative of the general secretariat duly
appointed by the Secretary General, shall attend committee meetings in an
administrative capacity without voting rights.
9.
Committee meetings are confidential.
10.
Minutes shall be recorded of every meeting.

24

Committee members’ duties

1.
The committee members shall take part in the meetings in person. Attendanceby teleconference, by videoconference or by another means of communication
shall also constitute presence.
2.
Committee members shall show mutual respect and protect the interests ofFIFA in their work on the committees. They shall review all documents sent
to them before the meeting. They shall take an active part in the discussions.
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Committee members shall act faithfully, loyally and independently and in
the best interests of FIFA and the promotion and development of football at
global level.
3.
Committee members shall adhere to all relevant FIFA rules and regulations intheir work on the committees, in particular to the FIFA Statutes and the FIFA
Code of Ethics but also to any decisions issued by FIFA.
4.
In particular, committee members shall always be aware of, and comply with,the provisions of art. 19 of the FIFA Code of Ethics (Conflicts of interest) andadjust their conduct as necessary (e.g. abstain from performing their duties,
notify the chairperson in cases of potential conflicts of interest).

25

ExpensesCommittee members’ expenses shall be reimbursed in accordance with theapplicable FIFA Expenses Regulations.

26

Relationship with the Council

1.
The respective chairpersons shall represent the committees in dealings with theCouncil and other FIFA bodies or institutions.
2.
The chairpersons of the committees shall regularly report to the Council on thecommittees’ work, either orally or in writing.

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B. SPECIFIC RULES FOR INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEES

27

Governance Committee and Review Committee

1.
Composition and structure
The Governance Committee shall consist of at least three members and not
more than 12 members elected by the Congress. No fewer than half of thecommittee’s members, including the chairperson and the deputy chairperson,
shall fulfil the independence criteria defined in art. 5 of these regulations.
2.
The chairperson, deputy chairperson and one independent member of theGovernance Committee, while remaining members of the plenary committee,
shall form the Review Committee.
3.
Funding
FIFA shall provide appropriate funding for payment of any outside counsel,
experts or advisers to be engaged and for covering any ordinary administrative
expenses of the committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out
its duties. The expenses of the committee members shall be reimbursed inaccordance with the applicable FIFA Expenses Regulations.
4.
Powers and responsibilities in general
The Governance Committee shall deal with, and advise and assist the Council
on, all FIFA governance matters. In particular, the committee’s main powers
and responsibilities are as follows:a) To monitor material changes to FIFA’s governance or governance-related
regulations as well as the introduction of material new regulations
and propose material amendments to FIFA regulations as well as theintroduction of new material regulations;b) To deal with any other issues relating to FIFA governance matters;c) To advise on social responsibility, human rights, environmental protection
and gender equality matters in connection with FIFA and its activities.

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5.
Powers and responsibilities in the context of election procedures
The Governance Committee’s – or, if established by the Council in accordancewith art. 8 par. 2g) of these regulations, the respective ad-hoc Electoral
Committee’s – duties with regard to election procedures shall include, inparticular:a) To supervise the administrative process relating to the elections forthe position of President and to monitor compliance with the present
regulations as well as with any other guidelines as required in theperformance of its duties;b) To ensure the correct application of the FIFA Statutes, regulations andprovisions, as well as the contents of the present regulations, in mattersrelating to such electoral process;c) To issue instructions for the application of the provisions of the present
regulations relating to such elections as necessary before and during theentire electoral process in question;d) To admit and announce candidatures. In this regard, the committee shallassess whether a candidate meets the profile specifications stipulated in
the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes and these regulations.
6.
Specific powers and responsibilities of the Review Committeea) To conduct, in accordance with Annexe 1, the eligibility checks as requiredby the present regulations, except for the candidates for, or holders of,
positions on the Governance Committee;b) To conduct the independence reviews with regard to the candidates for,or holders of, the positions requiring such independence, except for the
candidates for, or holders of, positions on the Review Committee itself;c) To review the Related-Party Declarations submitted by the members of theCouncil in accordance with art. 10 par. 5 of these regulations and to informthe President and the Council of any issues that it identifies during such
review.
In the context of performing its duties as specified above, the Review
Committee may retain, at its own discretion, outside counsel, experts, andother advisers as it determines appropriate to assist it in carrying out its duties.
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The eligibility checks with regard to the members of the GovernanceCommittee and the independence reviews with regard to the members of the
Review Committee shall be conducted by the investigatory chamber of the
Ethics Committee.

28

Finance Committee

1.
Compositiona) The Finance Committee shall consist of at least three members and not
more than 12 members, all of whom must be qualified to deal withfinancial matters.
b) No fewer than half of the committee’s members shall fulfil the
independence criteria defined in art. 5 of these regulations.
2.
Powers and responsibilities
The Finance Committee shall determine FIFA’s strategy regarding financial andasset management and advise the Council on these matters. In particular, thecommittee’s main powers and responsibilities are as follows:a) To prepare, in cooperation with the Secretary General, FIFA’s budget to besubmitted to the Council for approval;b) To analyse the accounts and financial statements drawn up by the Secretary
General and to issue a recommendation to the Council as to whether or
not to approve them;c) To draft policies, rules and guidelines regarding FIFA’s overall strategy
in financial and asset management matters and to submit them to theCouncil for approval;d) To ensure that budgets submitted for approval support the growth anddevelopment of women’s football;e) To deal with any other matters relating to FIFA’s finances as appropriate,except for operational matters.

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29

Development Committee and Development Bureau

1.
Composition of the Development Committee
The Development Committee shall consist of at least three members. No fewer
than half of the committee’s members shall fulfil the independence criteria
defined in art. 5 of these regulations.
2.
Powers and responsibilities
The Development Committee shall deal with FIFA’s development programmes.
It shall devise and propose appropriate strategies, check these strategies
periodically and analyse the support provided to member associations,confederations and zonal/regional associations in this regard. Moreparticularly, the committee’s main duties are as follows:a) To analyse the major development challenges at stake, taking into accountthe relevant geographical, social, economic and football potential as wellas the principle of solidarity, and to inform the relevant bodies within FIFA;b) To advise and assist the Council on the implementation of FIFAdevelopment programmes, including, but not limited to, the areas ofgovernance, technical development and management of the member
associations, confederations and zonal/regional associations;c) To propose new development programmes, strategies and orientations,and address the related budget matters;d) To draw up regulations for the FIFA development programmes andguidelines for the specific support provided to member associations,confederations and zonal/regional associations, and to submit theseguidelines and regulations, through the Governance Committee, to theCouncil for approval;e) To issue strategic orientations for the use of the financial support provided
to member associations, confederations and zonal/regional associations;f)

To review and approve the contracts of agreed objectives presented
by the member associations and confederations together with the FIFA
administration;

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programmes and the contracts of agreed objectives mentioned above;h) To monitor the development and implementation of capacity-building
support by the FIFA administration within the framework of the FIFAdevelopment programmes and the contracts of agreed objectives
mentioned above;i) To approve the thematic focus, types of activity, budget allocation percontinent and/or per country in respect of new development programmes
and special projects;j) To ensure that development activities, guidelines and regulations reinforce
the importance of developing and resourcing women’s football, and tosupport the full participation of women in governance, technical andadministrative roles;k) To take any other decision regarding the distribution of development
funds;l) To instruct the administration on the execution of the Development
Committee’s decisions;m) To deal with any other matters relating to development.
3.
Composition of the Development Bureau
The Development Bureau shall be composed of the chairperson and/or deputy
chairperson and at least one member of the Development Committee selectedby the chairperson or deputy chairperson.
No fewer than half of the bureau’s composition shall fulfil the independence
criteria defined in art. 5 of these regulations.
4.
Specific powers and responsibilities of the Development Bureau
The Development Bureau shall be called upon whenever necessary to allow for
the approval of projects all year round, and shall take on the responsibilities
and duties of the Development Committee as follows:

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30 of FIFA bodies and holders of key positionsa) Approval of contracts of agreed objectives presented by the member
associations and confederations within the framework of the FIFAdevelopment programmes;b) Project requests presented by the member associations and confederations
within the framework of the FIFA development programmes.

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Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions

1.
Composition
The Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions shall consist of an adequate
number of members.
2.
Powers and responsibilities
The Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions shall oversee theorganisation of the following FIFA competitions in compliance with theprovisions of the regulations applicable to the respective competitions, therelevant hosting documents and the hosting requirements contained orreferred to therein:a) the FIFA World Cup™;b) the FIFA Confederations Cup;c) the Olympic Football Tournaments, thereby also taking into account the
Olympic Charter;d) the FIFA U-20 World Cup;e) the FIFA U-17 World Cup;f) the FIFA Women’s World Cup™;g) the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup;h) the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup;i) the FIFA Futsal World Cup;TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Moreover, the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions shall advise andassist the Council on all matters regarding the organisation of the abovementioned competitions, propose to the Council amendments to regulations
applicable to these competitions, the hosting documents and hosting
requirements contained or referred to therein, produce and publish an official
report on these competitions, and deal with any other matters related to theorganisation of these competitions. Furthermore, the Organising Committee
for FIFA Competitions may propose new competitions to the Council.
3.
The Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions shall also advise and assist
the Council on all matters relating to futsal, and shall in particular:a) Draw up the Futsal Laws of the Game;b) Approve the official translations of the Futsal Laws of the Game;c) Make decisions regarding the application of the Futsal Laws of the Game;d) Propose to the Council any measures deemed necessary to ensure thecontrol of futsal;e) Deal with other matters relating to futsal in general.
4.
The Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions shall also advise and assist
the Council on all matters relating to beach soccer, and shall in particular:a) Draw up the Beach Soccer Laws of the Game;b) Approve the official translations of the Beach Soccer Laws of the Game;c) Make decisions regarding the application of the Beach Soccer Laws of the Game;d) Propose to the Council any measures deemed necessary to ensure thecontrol of beach soccer;e) Deal with other matters relating to beach soccer in general.
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5.
In addition, the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions shall deal with
global strategies against match manipulation to protect the integrity offootball. The committee shall issue and monitor compliance with the FIFA
Stadium Safety and Security Regulations and monitor relevant developmentsin the area of stadium security.

31

Football Stakeholders Committee

1.
Composition and structure
The Football Stakeholders Committee shall consist of an adequate numberof members. Each confederation shall be represented in the Football
Stakeholders Committee. The Football Stakeholders Committee’s composition
shall also reflect the different stakeholders involved in association football.
2.
Powers and responsibilities
The Football Stakeholders Committee shall advise and assist the Council on all
matters relating to football, particularly the structure of the game, as well as
on all technical matters. The committee shall also deal with the relationshipbetween clubs, players, leagues, member associations, confederations and FIFA
as well as with issues relating to the interests of club football worldwide. Moreparticularly, the committee’s main duties are as follows:a) To make recommendations and proposals to be submitted to the Council
concerning the technical/structural development of football;b) To analyse relations between clubs, leagues, associations, confederations
and FIFA and to propose to the Council any measures that may improvecooperation;c) To promote football;d) To analyse the basic aspects of football;e) To combat elements posing a threat to football, in particular related to its
integrity;f) To support and develop any projects benefiting supporters;
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gender equality in football and fight discrimination in football worldwide;i) To safeguard the origins of football;j) To develop training methods for football;k) To deal with matters relating to football pitches;l) To deal with any other technical matters relating to football and with anyother matters relating to football in general.
3.
The main duties of the committee in connection with club football are as follows:a) To make recommendations and proposals to be submitted to the Council
with a view to the structural development of club football;b) To observe the development of the regulatory framework in relation toclub football worldwide and formulate comments and/or proposals;c) To develop best-practice principles for club football governance;d) To make recommendations and proposals to promote the growth of club
football for women;e) To deal with any other matters relating to club football.

32

Member Associations Committee

1.
The Member Associations Committee shall consist of an adequate number ofmembers.
2.
The Member Associations Committee shall advise and assist the Council on
all matters relating to the member associations. It shall deal with relations
between FIFA and its member associations as well as the member associations’
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compliance with the FIFA Statutes and draw up proposals for optimum
cooperation. The Member Associations Committee shall also monitor theevolution of the Statutes and regulations of FIFA, the confederations and themember associations. More particularly, the committee’s main duties are as
follows:a) To coordinate relations between FIFA and its member associations;b) To devise projects for collaboration between FIFA and any member
associations with special requirements or problems;c) To examine any requests from member associations affected by exceptional
circumstances, for presentation to the Council;d) To advise the member associations, on request, on how to improve theirinternal organisation, especially at administrative level;e) To draw up documents or organise courses/seminars designed to improvethe member associations’ standards of administration, in cooperation withother organisations. FIFA has the final say on any proposals submitted bythese organisations;f) To submit to the Council procedures for the affiliation of any association
applying for membership of FIFA and to process all the applications
received in accordance with the applicable provisions of the FIFA Statutes
and regulations;g) To assist any new FIFA member association to set up and organise its
administration;h) To investigate any problems arising in a member association and to
propose suitable measures to the Council to resolve the situation;i) To deal with other matters relating to the member associations.

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Players’ Status Committee

1.
Composition
In addition to the chairperson and the deputy chairperson, the Players’ Status
Committee shall, as a general rule, be composed as follows:a) Member association representatives: maximum of six members in total;b) Player representatives: maximum of six members in total;c) Club representatives: maximum of six members in total.
2.
Powers and responsibilitiesa) The Players’ Status Committee shall set up and monitor compliance with
the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players and determine thestatus of players for various FIFA competitions. Its jurisdiction is governedby the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
b) The Players’ Status Committee shall also be responsible for the work of the
Dispute Resolution Chamber in accordance with the Regulations on the
Status and Transfer of Players.
c) The specific duties of the Players’ Status Committee are set out in the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players and the Rules Governing the Procedures of the Players’ Status Committee and the Dispute Resolution Chamber.

34

Referees Committee

1.
Composition and structure
The Referees Committee shall be made up of two sub-committees: aCompetitions Sub-Committee and a Refereeing Development Sub-Committee.
The chairperson and the deputy chairperson of the Referees Committee
shall be members of, and perform their respective functions in, both subcommittees. In addition to the chairperson and the deputy chairperson,
the Competitions Sub-Committee and the Refereeing Development SubCommittee shall each consist of an adequate number of members.
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2.
Powers and responsibilities
The Referees Committee shall implement and interpret the Laws of the Gameand may propose amendments to the Laws of the Game to the Council. It
shall appoint the referees and assistant referees for matches in competitionsorganised by FIFA and shall advise and assist the Council on all mattersrelating to refereeing, referees and assistant referees. More particularly, thecommittee’s main duties are as follows:a) To implement the Laws of the Game and interpret their application;b) To approve the official translations of the Laws of the Game;c) To propose to the Council any amendments to the Laws of the Game to besubmitted to The International Football Association Board (IFAB);d) To approve the wording of the Laws of the Game in official FIFA
publications;e) To compile a list of referees and assistant referees eligible to officiate
at international matches from among the nominations submitted byassociations;f) To appoint referees and assistant referees for matches in competitionsorganised by FIFA or for any other tournaments, whenever requested to doso;g) To establish standard refereeing methods and ensure uniform
implementation of the Laws of the Game around the world;h) To establish uniform criteria for the inspection of referees and assistantreferees for use by every member association;i) To organise courses for referees, assistant referees and referee instructors;j) To draw up a list of instructors and speakers capable of conducting courses
for referees;k) To prepare and produce teaching materials on refereeing and assistantrefereeing;

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and assistant referees committee and that this committee functions properly;m) To monitor and supervise the compliance of member associations with
the Regulations on the Organisation of Refereeing in FIFA Member
Associations;n) To deal with other matters relating to referees and assistant referees.

35

Medical Committee

1.
Composition
The Medical Committee shall consist of an adequate number of members, allof whom shall be qualified in sports medicine, be specialised in football and,
together, represent as many areas of sports medicine as possible.
2.
Powers and responsibilities
The Medical Committee shall deal with all medical aspects of football. It shalladvise and assist the Council on all matters relating to sports medicine. Moreparticularly, the committee’s main duties are as follows:a) To advise on theoretical, practical and clinical aspects of medicine,
physiology and hygiene;b) To draw up medical guidelines for coaches, players, referees and assistantreferees;c) To draw up guidelines that enable players to improve their athleticism,
fitness and stamina;d) To draw up recommendations for coaches and other team supervisors
regarding physical training for players;e) To draw up guidelines on nutrition for players;f) To draw up guidelines on general hygiene in sport that explain the effectsof certain substances on the body, such as alcohol, nicotine, medication anddrugs;TABLE OF CONTENTS
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38 of FIFA bodies and holders of key positionsg) To draw up instructions regarding medical services at international matches
and tournaments;h) To investigate injuries sustained during matches and to draw up guidelines
for preventing injury and improving treatment;i) To advise the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit in relation to drawing up the FIFA
Anti-Doping Regulations, recording and monitoring the medical aspects ofany positive tests and reporting to the Disciplinary Committee;j) To encourage the creation and development of anti-doping laboratories inthe territories of member associations;k) To deal with any other sports-medical matters connected with football.

INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES

36

Institutional independence

In accordance with art. 50 of the FIFA Statutes, the independent committees
as well as their individual members shall conduct their activities and performtheir duties entirely independently but always in the interests of FIFA and inaccordance with the Statutes and regulations of FIFA.

37

Audit and Compliance Committee

1.
Compositiona) The Audit and Compliance Committee shall consist of at least threemembers and not more than seven members, all of whom must not belong
to any other FIFA body.
b) The committee members shall be knowledgeable and experienced infinancial and/or regulatory and legal matters and may not be involved inany decision affecting the operations of FIFA.
c) In accordance with the present regulations, candidates for positions
on the Audit and Compliance Committee shall be subject to eligibility
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checks carried out by the Review Committee. The committee’s incumbent
members shall be subject to periodical eligibility reviews carried out by the
Review Committee. Such reviews shall be carried out at least prior to any
re-election or extension of mandate.
d) Candidates for any position on the Audit and Compliance Committee
as well as the incumbent members of the committee shall fulfil the
independence criteria defined in art. 5 of these regulations.
e) The committee’s incumbent members shall be subject to periodical
independence reviews. Such reviews shall be carried out at least prior to
any re-election or extension of mandate.
2.
Organisationa) The committee may work with other committees to deal with specificproblems.
b) The committee shall establish a Compensation Sub-Committee, consistingof the chairperson of the Finance Committee, the chairperson of the Audit
and Compliance Committee and a third member to be jointly appointed
by the two chairpersons. This third member shall fulfil the independence
criteria defined in art. 5 of these regulations.
c) The committee may call upon specialists or set up additional subcommittees at any time to settle any special and/or urgent business.
d) The committee may call upon staff from the FIFA general secretariat tocarry out its work. Furthermore, the committee may retain such outside
counsel, experts, and other advisers as it determines appropriate to assist it
in carrying out its duties.
e) Unless the committee by resolution determines otherwise, any action
required or permitted to be taken by the committee may be taken withouta meeting of all members if all members consent thereto in writing, andthe written consent is filed together with the committee meeting minutes.
3.
Relationship with other FIFA bodies and officialsa) The chairperson shall represent the Audit and Compliance Committee indealings with other FIFA bodies and officials. If the chairperson is unable torepresent the committee, the deputy chairperson shall deputise. If the latter is
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also unable to represent the Audit and Compliance Committee, this task shallbe assumed by a member designated by the members of the committee.
b) The chairperson of the Audit and Compliance Committee shall periodicallymeet separately with the appropriate directors of FIFA, FIFA’s Chief
Compliance Officer and the external auditors.
c) The chairperson of the committee shall annually report to the Congress
and, on request by the Council, inform the President and the Council on
the committee’s work, either orally or in writing.
d) The committee may request the Council, through the GovernanceCommittee, to make amendments to the provisions of the present article.
4.
Funding
Appropriate funding from FIFA shall be provided for payment of any outside
counsel, experts or advisers to be engaged and for covering any ordinary
administrative expenses of the committee that are necessary or appropriate
in carrying out its duties. The expenses of the committee members shall bereimbursed in accordance with the applicable FIFA Expenses Regulations.
5.
Meetings and decision-makinga) The committee shall meet whenever pending matters so require. Meetings
may be held in person, by teleconference, by videoconference or byanother means of communication. If a meeting cannot be convened within
an appropriate period of time, decisions may be passed by other methods(e.g. circular resolution).
b) The chairperson shall draw up the agenda. Members may send written
requests to the chairperson for items to be included in the agenda.
c) The agenda shall, as a general rule, include the following items:- Chairperson’s remarks- Roll call
- Approval of the agenda- Approval of the minutes of the last meeting- Agenda containing the items to be discussed and enclosures- Any other business- Next meeting

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II. Duties, powers, responsibilities and organisationof FIFA bodies and holders of key positions 41d) The agenda and any enclosures shall be sent to the members in goodtime before the meeting. The agenda may be altered if a majority ofthe members present agrees to such a proposal. Documents containing
further information on the items to be discussed may be distributed to themembers at any time.
e) The chairperson of the committee shall conduct the meetings. He shallopen and close the debates and give the floor to the committee members.
If he is unable to attend, the deputy chairperson shall deputise. If thelatter is also unavailable, the committee shall choose a chairperson for thatmeeting from the members present.
f) If a vote is needed on any matter, a majority of the valid votes cast isrequired for the decision to be adopted. Each member of the committee
has one vote. Votes are conducted openly. Voting by secret ballot is
prohibited.
g) Decisions of the Audit and Compliance Committee are signed by thecommittee’s chairperson.
h) Committee meetings are confidential.
i) Minutes shall be recorded of every meeting.
j) The committee shall review and approve the minutes, which shall be filedwith the Secretary General for retention. Copies of such minutes shall bemade available to the Council.
6.
Committee members’ individual dutiesa) The committee members shall take part in the meetings in person.
Attendance by teleconference, by videoconference or by another means ofcommunication shall also constitute presence.
b) The Congress may remove any member of the Audit and Compliance
Committee at any time. Reoccurring failure to attend committee meetings
is especially regarded as a reason for relieving a member of his duties.
c) Committee members shall show mutual respect and protect the interestsof FIFA in their work on the Audit and Compliance Committee. They shallreview the agenda and any documents sent to them before the meetings.
They shall take an active part in the discussions.
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42 of FIFA bodies and holders of key positionsd) Committee members shall adhere to all relevant FIFA rules and regulationsin their work on the Audit and Compliance Committee, in particular to theFIFA Statutes and the FIFA Code of Ethics but also to any decisions issued byFIFA applicable to them.
e) In particular, committee members shall always be aware of, and comply
with, the provisions of art. 19 of the FIFA Code of Ethics (Conflictsof interest) and adjust their conduct as necessary (e.g. abstain fromperforming their duties, notify the chairperson in cases of potential
conflicts of interest).
f) The incumbent deputy chairperson and members of the Audit andCompliance Committee shall consult with the chairperson before accepting
membership on the audit committee of any other organisation orcompany.
7.
Powers and responsibilities of the Audit and Compliance Committee
in generala) The Audit and Compliance Committee shall ensure the completeness andreliability of the financial accounting and review the financial statements,
including the consolidated financial statements and the external auditors’
report.
b) The committee shall furthermore advise, assist and oversee FIFA’s financial
and compliance matters including, in particular, the distribution and flowof development-related funds, and suggest to the appropriate FIFA bodies
any action that it deems necessary as a result of such monitoring.
c) As part of performing its duties as set out above, the Audit and Compliance
Committee may request any kind of relevant information from all bodies,units, officials and other individuals within FIFA and shall be entitled to
conduct or authorise reviews into any matters within the scope of its
duties. Representatives of the committee may also take part, as observers,in all meetings and other activities of FIFA bodies and units at any time.
These powers are subject to applicable confidentiality obligations.
d) The Congress may delegate further duties to the Audit and Compliance
Committee at any time.

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8.
Powers and responsibilities of the Audit and Compliance Committeewith regard to operational matters
With regard to operational matters, the committee’s main duties are as
follows:a) To monitor the internal control environment;b) To annually review the effectiveness of risk assessment, risk management
and the internal control system;c) To review reports and the effectiveness of the internal audit function;d) To deal with other matters relating to the monitoring of FIFA’s finances;e) To review the external auditors’ reports in order to ensure that appropriate
action is taken if shortcomings have been detected in internal controls orprocedures;f) To review, at least annually, tax matters, including the status of income tax
reserves and governmental tax audits and developments in this area.
9.
Powers and responsibilities of the Audit and Compliance Committeewith regard to financial reporting matters
With regard to financial reporting matters, the committee’s main duties are as
follows:a) To ensure the accuracy of the financial statements and other publishedfinancial information;b) To ensure compliance with the applicable accounting standards;c) To work with the external auditors in order to ensure that the auditsof the annual financial statements, including the consolidated financial
statements, are being carried out properly;d) To review major issues regarding accounting policies and financial
statement presentations, including any significant changes or applicationsof accounting principles;

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44 of FIFA bodies and holders of key positionse) To provide the Finance Committee and the Council with an opinion on theapproval of the financial statements;f) To monitor and review related-party transactions at least annually;g) To review the reports of the yearly independent audits that the FIFAmember associations are subject to pursuant to art. 15 (k) of the FIFA
Statutes.
10.
Powers and responsibilities of the Audit and Compliance Committeewith regard to compliance matters
With regard to compliance matters, the committee’s main duties are as
follows:a) To review the status of FIFA’s compliance with the law and FIFA’s rules andregulations relating to compliance;b) To monitor compliance with FIFA policies regarding social responsibility,
human rights, environmental protection and gender equality matters;c) To review reports directly submitted to the Audit and Compliance
Committee by the Chief Compliance Officer;d) To review FIFA employees’ compliance with the law and all relevant FIFA
rules and regulations;e) To review the processes and procedures relating to the Secretary General’smonitoring of FIFA employees’ compliance with all relevant FIFA rules andregulations;f) To review FIFA’s rules and regulations relating to compliance with regard totheir effectiveness;g) To review and assess the external auditors’ qualifications andindependence;h) To take note of all non-audit-related services to be provided by the external
auditors and any fees for such services. The chairperson of the committee
may take note of any such services in advance of the committee’s regularmeetings;

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II. Duties, powers, responsibilities and organisationof FIFA bodies and holders of key positions 45i) To issue guidelines regarding compliance matters;j) To make recommendations regarding any changes, amendments, andmodifications to FIFA’s rules and regulations relating to compliance;k) To review any major legislative and regulatory developments that may
have a significant impact on FIFA;l) To handle cases of alleged non-compliance.
In order to fulfil its duties relating to compliance matters, the committee willobtain and review information and reports submitted by the Secretary Generalon a regular basis or on special request.
11.
Compensation Sub-Committee
The provisions of pars 2 to 6 above also apply, as far as necessary mutatis
mutandis, to the Compensation Sub-Committee. With regard to thecommittee’s main duties, they shall be as follows:a) To define Compensation Rules, which shall define the competent bodyand proper proceedings for determining the compensation as well as theprinciples and components of the compensation;b) To determine the compensation of the President, the vice-presidents andmembers of the Council, and the Secretary General;c) To approve the contract of the President. This contract shall be signed
on behalf of FIFA by the chairperson of the Finance Committee and theSecretary General;d) To approve the contract of the Secretary General;e) To monitor compliance with the Compensation Rules.

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46 of FIFA bodies and holders of key positions

38

Judicial bodies

1.
The composition, powers and responsibilities as well as the proceedings of theFIFA judicial bodies (the Disciplinary Committee, the Ethics Committee andthe Appeal Committee) are set forth in the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Disciplinary
Code, and the FIFA Code of Ethics.
2.
Appropriate funding from FIFA shall be provided for payment of any outside
counsel, experts or advisers to be engaged and for covering any ordinary
administrative expenses of the judicial bodies that are necessary or appropriate
in carrying out their duties. The expenses of the individual members of the
judicial bodies shall be reimbursed in accordance with the applicable FIFA
Expenses Regulations.
3.
According to the FIFA Statutes, candidates for any positions as members of the
judicial bodies shall be subject to eligibility checks in accordance with Annexe
1 of these regulations. The incumbent members of the judicial bodies shall, atleast annually and prior to re-election or extension of the mandate, be subject
to eligibility reviews.
4.
Candidates for the offices of chairperson, deputy chairperson or memberof the Disciplinary Committee, of each of the two chambers of the Ethics
Committee and of the Appeal Committee shall fulfil the independence criteria
defined in art. 5 of these regulations.
The incumbent chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and members of theDisciplinary Committee, of each of the two chambers of the Ethics Committee
and of the Appeal Committee shall, at least annually and prior to re-election or
extension of the mandate, be subject to independence reviews.

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II. Duties, powers, responsibilities and organisationof FIFA bodies and holders of key positions 47

Auditors

1.
The auditors of FIFA shall be appointed by the Congress for a period of three
years. This mandate may be renewed. Notwithstanding this, the person who
manages the audit may exercise his mandate for a total duration of sevenyears at the most. Such person may only accept the same mandate again after
an interruption of three years.
2.
The auditors shall fulfil the independence criteria set forth in art. 728 of the
Swiss Code of Obligations.

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48 III. Election of the President
III. ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT
GENERAL PROVISIONS

40

Definitions

Unless indicated otherwise, terms used in this section that correspond to terms
included in the Definitions section of the FIFA Statutes shall be understood as
described there.

41

Subject matter of this section

This section governs:-

The election for the position of President;-

The special duties and competences of the Governance Committee in thisregard.

42

Scope of application

The provisions of this section shall apply to all bodies of FIFA, theconfederations, member associations, officials and candidates involved or
participating in the election for the position of President.

43

General principles

Any election for the position of President shall be conducted in accordancewith the fundamental principles of FIFA as laid down in the FIFA Statutes,
the FIFA Code of Ethics and the FIFA Code of Conduct, such as democracy,
separation of powers, transparency and openness.

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44Ad-hoc Electoral Committees

In accordance with art. 8 par. 2(g) of the present regulations, the Council
may decide to establish ad-hoc Electoral Committees to assume certain
duties related to elections that are, in principle, assigned to the GovernanceCommittee. If such ad-hoc Electoral Committees are established, the provisionsof this section regarding the Governance Committee shall apply mutatis
mutandis to them.

45

Calling elections

1.
Implementation of the call
A FIFA presidential election shall be called by the Council in accordance withthe relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes and the pertinent FIFA regulations
before a Congress and shall be included in the agenda of the Congress.
2.
Content of the call
The call for election shall contain, at a minimum, the following points:a) The electoral period, which shall last from the opening of the Congress
taking place before the Congress during which the election will take place,
until the end of that Congress.
b) Electoral calendar, which shall respect the deadlines established in theFIFA Statutes, the Standing Orders of the Congress and the GovernanceRegulations.
3.
Announcing the call
The call shall be sent to the FIFA member associations and to theconfederations. It shall also be published on the FIFA website: www.fifa.com.

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46

Candidates

1.
Candidates within the meaning of these regulations are all individuals whoare proposed by FIFA member associations as a candidate for the office ofPresident, as from the moment that those persons are proposed in accordancewith art. 27 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes and art. 49 of these regulations.
2.
In addition, candidates for the FIFA presidency are all individuals who,
irrespective of whether they have already been proposed as a candidate,declare themselves to be candidates or potential candidates for the positionof President. If an individual engages in campaign or similar activities thatgive the appearance that he is a candidate, the Governance Committee, or – ifapplicable – the relevant ad-hoc Electoral Committee, shall give him a deadlineof ten days to formally state, in writing, his intention of becoming a candidate.
If the individual responds in the affirmative, he will be subject to the present
regulations from the time of the relevant declaration onwards. This shallalso apply for the incumbent President. Notwithstanding this, in order to beeligible for admission as a candidate, the individual concerned must still be
proposed as a candidate in accordance with art. 27 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes.

47

Candidatures

1.
Candidatures and electoral campaigns shall be carried out by the candidates
in a fair and reputable manner and, more generally, in a spirit of respect for
fundamental ethical principles and FIFA regulations.
2.
Candidates shall conduct all campaigns with dignity and moderation andwith respect for any other candidate(s), for FIFA itself and for its member
associations.
3.
Candidates shall refrain from carrying out any electoral campaigning prior to
the start of the electoral period. Electoral campaigning shall be understood,
for the purposes of these regulations, as all activities undertaken by candidates
or those working for them with the aim of canvassing votes.
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III. Election of the President 51
4.
Candidates within the meaning of art. 46 of these regulations acknowledge
and submit themselves to the relevant electoral calendar.
5.
Candidates who hold official positions within FIFA, the confederations, theFIFA member associations and/or any other body in association football are
permitted to remain in office during the election campaign.

48

Eligibility

1.
Candidates for the office of President must meet the following requirements:a) The candidate shall have played an active role in association football(e.g. as a player or an official within FIFA, a confederation or an association,etc.) for two of the last five years before being proposed as a candidate
and must pass an eligibility check carried out by the Review Committee(cf. art. 27 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes);b) The candidate shall have been proposed by a member association inaccordance with art. 27 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes and art. 49 of theseregulations;c) The candidate shall present declarations of support from at least fivemember associations (cf. art. 27 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes). Being
proposed as a candidate by a member association shall be understood asa declaration of support. Each member association may only present a
declaration of support for one person. If a member association presents
declarations of support for more than one person, all of its declarations
shall become invalid;d) The candidate shall pass the eligibility check conducted by the Review
Committee.
2.
Member associations must notify the FIFA general secretariat, in writing, of acandidature for the office of President within the deadline stipulated in theFIFA Statutes.

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49

Submission of candidatures

1.
Candidatures for the office of President shall be proposed by member
associations by the deadline specified in art. 27 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes, by awritten proposal submission signed by the interested party and addressed to
the FIFA general secretariat, including the candidate’s identification details anddeclarations of support from at least five member associations.
2.
The FIFA general secretariat shall forward all candidatures without any undue
delay to the FIFA Governance Committee, or – if applicable – the relevant
ad-hoc Electoral Committee, for examination and for passing a decision on
admission of the candidate.

50

Calculation of deadlines

The deadlines and timeframes contained in the present regulations shall be
understood to refer to calendar days.

51

Matters not provided forAny matters not provided for in this section of the present regulations shallbe dealt with by the FIFA Governance Committee, or – if applicable – by therelevant ad-hoc Electoral Committee.

PROPOSAL AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF CANDIDATURES

52

Announcement of candidatures

1.
Upon receipt of the proposed candidatures, the Review Committee shall carryout the eligibility check in accordance with Annexe 1 and within the deadline
specified in art. 62 of these regulations and review the candidatures.

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III. Election of the President 53
2.
Upon receipt of the results of the eligibility checks carried out by the Review
Committee, the Governance Committee, or – if applicable – the relevant
ad-hoc Electoral Committee shall announce all candidatures it has admitted.

ELECTION FORMAT

53Time and place of election

The President shall be elected by the Congress for a term of office of four
years in the year following a FIFA World Cup™ (cf. art. 33 par. 2 of the FIFA
Statutes). No person may serve as President for more than three terms ofoffice (whether consecutive or not). Previous terms served as a vice-president
or as a member of the Council shall not be considered in determining the term
limits of a President.

54

Secret vote1.
Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot (cf. art. 30 par. 1 of the FIFA
Statutes), regardless of how many candidates there are.
2.
The ballot(s) for the election of the President shall be conducted by means ofballot papers (cf. art. 10 par. 1 of the Standing Orders of the Congress).

55

Ballot papers

1.
The ballot papers shall conform to the official model established by theGovernance Committee, or – if applicable – by the relevant ad-hoc Electoral
Committee, and any vote cast using a different ballot paper shall be deemedinvalid.

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2.
The number of ballot papers that have been distributed shall be announced
by the chair of the Congress before the count (cf. art. 10 par. 2 of the Standing
Orders of the Congress).
3.
If the number of ballot papers returned is equal to or fewer than the numberof ballot papers distributed, the election shall be declared valid. If the number
returned exceeds that of the ballot papers distributed, the vote shall bedeclared null and void and another vote shall be taken immediately (cf. art. 10
par. 3 of the Standing Orders of the Congress).
4.
The ballot papers shall contain the name(s) of the admitted candidate(s), andthe voters must mark one candidate only. Ballot papers on which more than
one candidate is marked or on which no candidate is marked shall be deemedinvalid.

56

Scrutineers

At the beginning of the first session, the Congress shall appoint an adequate
number of scrutineers (cf. art. 28 par. 2 (e) of the FIFA Statutes and art. 3 of
the Standing Orders of the Congress). The Secretary General, assisted by the
scrutineers, shall conduct the distribution and counting of the ballot papers (cf.
art. 10 par. 1 of the Standing Orders of the Congress) and be responsible for
ensuring that the process is properly documented.

57

Election

1.
Each member association has one vote in the election of the President.
2.
Before the voting is opened, the candidates shall each have the opportunity
to present their programme to the Congress. The Governance Committee shalldetermine the length of time that each candidate is allowed to speak.

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III. Election of the President 55
3.
For the election of the President, where there are two or fewer candidates, a
simple majority (more than 50%) of the valid votes cast is necessary. If there
are more than two candidates for the election of the President, two-thirds ofthe votes of the member associations present and eligible to vote are necessary
in the first ballot. As from the second ballot, whoever obtains the lowest
number of votes is eliminated until only two candidates are left.

58

Counting and declaring the results

1.
The counting and declaring of the results shall take place in accordance withthe relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes and the Standing Orders of theCongress.
2.
Any person elected as President shall state whether or not he accepts hiselection immediately after such election. In the affirmative, his mandate shallbegin after the end of the Congress that has elected him (cf. art. 33 par. 2 of
the FIFA Statutes).

59

Safe-keeping of ballot papers

The Secretary General shall put the ballot papers that have been collected andcounted into envelopes intended for this purpose and seal them immediately.
The general secretariat shall keep these envelopes and destroy them 100 days
after the end of the Congress (cf. art. 10 par. 5 of the Standing Orders of theCongress).

60

Tied votes

In the event of a tied vote, there shall be a decisive vote with regard to thecandidates having obtained an equal number of votes. The candidate with thehighest number of votes in the decisive vote shall be elected.

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JURISDICTION OF THE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND DISCIPLINARYCOMMITTEE

61

Principle1.
As from the moment that these regulations apply to a particular candidate (cf.
art. 46 of these regulations), that candidate shall be subject to the FIFA Code of
Ethics if he is not otherwise already bound and covered prior to that time.
2.
As from the moment that these regulations apply to a particular candidate, heshall also be subject to the FIFA Statutes as well as to all other FIFA regulations
if he is not otherwise already bound and covered prior to that time.
3.
Any violation of these regulations shall be dealt with by the Ethics Committeeor the Disciplinary Committee, in accordance with the FIFA Code of Ethics orthe FIFA Disciplinary Code, as the case may be.
4.
The Governance Committee, or – if applicable – the relevant ad-hoc Electoral
Committee, shall be obliged to notify the competent bodies of FIFA, inwriting and in a substantiated manner, of any possible infringements of theprovisions of these regulations that may be committed during the course of
the electoral process as soon as it has direct knowledge of such infringements
or is made aware of them by any of the candidates, member associations orconfederations.

ROLE OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE IN THE CONTEXT OF ELECTIONPROCEDURES

62

Special duties and competences of the GovernanceCommittee in the context of election procedures

The duties of the Governance Committee, or – if applicable – of the relevant
ad-hoc Electoral Committee, with regard to election procedures shall include,in particular:

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position of President and monitoring compliance with the present
regulations as well as with any other guidelines as required in theperformance of its duties.
b) Ensuring the correct application of the FIFA Statutes, regulations andprovisions, as well as the contents of the present regulations, in mattersrelating to the electoral process.
c) Issuing instructions for the application of the Governance Regulations asnecessary before and during the entire electoral process.
d) Admitting and announcing candidatures. In this regard, the GovernanceCommittee, or – if applicable – the relevant ad-hoc Electoral Committee,
shall assess whether a candidate meets the profile specifications provided
for by art. 27 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes as well as art. 48 of theseregulations.
The duties of the Review Committee with regard to election procedures
shall include, in particular, carrying out the eligibility check with regard to
all candidates for the position of President within 21 days of receipt of therespective proposal by the FIFA general secretariat.

63

Appeals

The decisions of the Governance Committee, or – if applicable – of the relevant
ad-hoc Electoral Committee, in the context of elections may be appealed
against directly with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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IV. ELECTION OF THE COUNCIL

64

Definitions

Unless indicated otherwise, terms used in this section that correspond to terms
included in the Definitions section of the FIFA Statutes shall be understood as
described there.

65

Subject matter of this section

This section governs:- The elections for the vice-presidents and members of the Council.
- The special duties and competences of the Review Committee in this regard.

66

Scope of application

The provisions of this section shall apply to all bodies of FIFA, theconfederations, member associations, officials and candidates involved or
participating in the elections for the position of vice-president or member of
the Council.

67

General principles

1.
Each confederation president shall be a vice-president ex-officio of the Council.
2.
The additional vice-presidents and the members of the Council shall be electedby the member associations in accordance with the fundamental principles
of FIFA as laid down in the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Code of Ethics and the FIFA
Code of Conduct, such as democracy, separation of powers, transparency andopenness, on the occasion of their respective confederation congresses.

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3.
No more than one representative from the same member association may
serve on the Council simultaneously, unless one of the two representatives
is a designated female representative, in which case the maximum of two
representatives of the same member association applies.
4.
A member of the Council may serve for no more than three terms of office(whether consecutive or not).

68

Candidates

Candidates within the meaning of this section are all individuals who areproposed by a member association as a vice-president or member of theCouncil.

69

Candidatures

1.
Candidatures and electoral campaigns shall be carried out by the candidates
in a fair and reputable manner and, more generally, in a spirit of respect for
fundamental ethical principles and FIFA regulations.
2.
Candidates shall conduct all campaigns with dignity and moderation and withrespect for any other candidate(s), for FIFA itself and its member associations.

70

Proposals

1.
Only member associations may propose candidates for the position of memberof the Council. Such proposals shall be submitted to the confederation
concerned.

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2.
Each member association is entitled to submit one proposal for a member of
the Council. If a member association presents proposals for more than one
individual, all of its proposals shall become invalid.
3.
The members of each confederation must ensure that they elect at least
one female member to the Council. In the event that no female candidate iselected by the members of a confederation for the Council, the seat reserved
for a female member of such confederation will be deemed forfeited by all
members of such confederation and shall remain vacant until the next electionof members of the Council.
4.
Upon request, the responsible body within the confederation shall informa member association whether a person has already been proposed for the
position of member of the Council.

71

Submission of candidatures

1.
Candidatures for the positions of vice-president or member of the Council,
including the candidate’s identification details and the position he is
proposed for, shall be submitted to the FIFA general secretariat by therelevant confederation at least four months before the start of the respective
confederation congress.
2.
The FIFA general secretariat shall forward all candidatures without any undue
delay to the Review Committee to carry out the eligibility check.

72

Eligibility criteria

1.
Candidates shall be required to fulfil the eligibility check in accordance with
Annexe 1 conducted by the Review Committee.

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2.
The Review Committee shall carry out the eligibility check within 21 days ofreceipt of the respective candidature from the FIFA general secretariat.
3.
Based on the eligibility check carried out by the Review Committee, the Review
Committee shall pass a decision on the eligibility of the candidate concerned.

73

Election procedure

1.
Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot (cf. art. 30 par. 1 of the FIFA
Statutes), regardless of how many candidates there are.
2.
The ballot(s) may be conducted by using televoters (cf. art. 10 par. 1 of theStanding Orders of the Congress).
3.
Each member association shall have an equal number of votes in the election.

74

Jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee
and Disciplinary Committee

1.
As from the moment that this section applies to a particular candidate(cf. art. 68), that candidate shall be subject to the FIFA Code of Ethics,
the FIFA Statutes and all other FIFA regulations if he is not otherwise
already bound and covered prior to that time.
2.
Any violation of this section shall be dealt with by the competent bodyin accordance with the FIFA Code of Ethics or the FIFA Disciplinary Code,as the case may be.
3.
Any official who may become aware of any possible infringements of theprovisions of this section that may be committed during the course of theelectoral process shall be obliged to notify the competent bodies, in writing
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and in a substantiated manner, thereof as soon as he has direct knowledgeof such infringements or is made aware of them by any of the candidates,
member associations or confederations.

75

Supervision of the election

The elections of the vice-presidents and members of the Council at theconfederation congresses shall be monitored by persons appointed by theGovernance Committee. The persons appointed by FIFA shall in particularmonitor compliance with the FIFA Statutes and regulations.

76

AppealDecisions of the Review Committee in the context of elections may be
appealed against directly with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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V. AUDITING

77

Auditing of FIFA

Pursuant to art. 63 of the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA auditors (cf. art. 39 of theseregulations) shall audit the accounts and financial statements approved by theCouncil and present a report to the Congress. The audit shall be a full audit
conducted by external auditors within the meaning of art. 69b pars 1 and 3of the Swiss Civil Code. The provisions of arts 727 et seqq. of the Swiss Code ofObligations apply mutatis mutandis.

78

Auditing of FIFA’s member associations

1.
All FIFA member associations shall subject themselves to yearly independent
audits of their financial statements. These audits shall be carried out by local,
external auditors with adequate qualifications in accordance with local law orby any qualified external auditors that the Audit and Compliance Committee
deems appropriate.
2.
The auditors shall further undertake audit-related services on the development
funds provided by FIFA on the basis of annual instructions provided by FIFA.
These reports shall be submitted to the FIFA administration by each member
association by 31 March following the financial year under review.
3.
The FIFA member associations shall supply all means of proof that FIFA and/or
the auditors consider(s) necessary.
4.
The Audit and Compliance Committee and/or the Chief Compliance Officer
may appoint a consultant for each member association concerned, who shallbe given unrestricted access to all accounts, documents, etc. that the Audit andCompliance Committee and/or the auditors deem(s) necessary.

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VI. FINAL PROVISIONS

79

Official languages

The present regulations are issued in the four official languages of FIFA: English,
French, German and Spanish. If there are any discrepancies in the interpretationof the different versions of these regulations, the English text is authoritative.

80

Adoption and enforcement

These regulations, together with their annexes, which form an integral part ofthese regulations, were approved by the FIFA Council at its meeting on 25 June
2020 and come into force immediately.

Zurich, 25 June 2020

For FIFA
President:
Gianni Infantino

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Annexe 1 – Eligibility checks 65
ANNEXE 1 – ELIGIBILITY CHECKS

1

General provisions

1.
The eligibility checks with regard to candidates for, and holders of, official
positions within FIFA that are subject to such checks shall be conducted by theappropriate body in accordance with the provisions of the present annexe. The
appropriate body may, at its sole discretion, in the context of conducting such
eligibility checks, call on external specialised professional resources.
2.
Candidates for, and holders of, official positions subject to eligibility checks
are obliged to comply with a screening and self-disclosure process as outlined
below. Prior to the screening process, every candidate for, or holder of, theofficial position concerned shall give his written consent to said process. If such
written consent is not provided, the eligibility check shall be deemed as notpassed.
3.
Candidates for, and holders of, official positions subject to eligibility checks are
obliged to collaborate to establish the relevant facts. In particular, they shallcomply, upon reasonable notice, with requests for any documents, informationor any other material of any nature held by them. In addition, they shallcomply with the procurement and provision of documents, information or any
other material of any nature not held by them but which they are entitled toobtain. Non-compliance with such requests may lead to sanctions imposed by
the appropriate FIFA body.
4.
In the context of carrying out eligibility checks, the relevant body in charge hasa wide margin of appreciation in evaluating and weighing the information
gathered with regard to specific individuals. Notwithstanding this, an eligibility
check shall, in principle, be deemed as not passed if the individual concerned isfound to have committed misconduct that has a direct material connection to
the position he holds or is a candidate for.
5.
Subject to the relevant provisions regarding disclosure and forwarding of theinformation and related data obtained in the context of eligibility checks inaccordance with the present annexe, all such information and all related data
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must be treated as strictly confidential by the body conducting the eligibility
checks concerned.
6.
Incomplete or false information submitted in the context of eligibility checks issubject to sanctions by the appropriate body.

2

Screening process

1.
Identification check
At the beginning of the screening process, every individual subject to eligibility
checks shall undergo an identification check (“ID check”). In this context,
he must submit a copy of his current valid passport to the body in chargeof performing the eligibility check. The ID check shall include verification/
identification of the following:a) name;b) address (place of residence);c) country of residence;d) date and place of birth;e) nationality/nationalities.
2.
Self-disclosure
Every individual subject to an eligibility check shall be subject to a selfdisclosure process, including completing the attached eligibility questionnaire(cf. art. 3 below).
3.
Additional information
The body in charge of performing the eligibility check may conduct
independent research and/or investigations in order to obtain further relevant
information on a particular individual, which may include information onintermediaries and related parties, mandates, potential conflicts of interest

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and significant participations as well as civil and criminal proceedings/
investigations.

3

Eligibility questionnaireFirst name(s):Surname(s):Date of birth:
Member association:
Nationality/nationalities:
Profession:
1.
Have you been previously convicted by a final decision of any intentional
indictable offence or of any offence corresponding to a violation of the rulesof conduct set out in part II section 5 of the FIFA Code of Ethics?
No

Yes

If yes, please specify:

2.
Has a sports governing body ever imposed any disciplinary or similar sanction
or measure on you in the past for actions which amount to a violation of therules of conduct set out in part II section 5 of the FIFA Code of Ethics?
No

Yes

If yes, please specify:

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3.
Are you the subject of any pending civil, criminal or disciplinary proceedings orinvestigations?
No

Yes

If yes, please specify:

4.
I am fully aware that I am subject to the provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics
and to the provisions of the Statutes and other regulations of FIFA that address
integrity issues, and I fully comply with such provisions. In this respect, I have inparticular taken due note of the fact that the FIFA Code of Ethics also applies
to conduct which occurred before it entered into force (cf. art. 3 of the FIFA
Code of Ethics).
5.
I currently hold the following positions in football:

6.
The following facts and circumstances may give rise to potential conflicts ofinterest regarding me (cf. in particular art. 19 of the FIFA Code of Ethics andthe FIFA Governance Regulations in this respect):7.
Remarks and observations which may be of potential relevance in the present
context:

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8.
I am fully aware and agree that this questionnaire is made available to themembers of the appropriate FIFA bodies.
9.
I am fully aware and confirm that I must notify the body conducting theeligibility check of any relevant facts and circumstances arising after theeligibility check has been completed, and that failure to do so may be subject
to sanctions by the appropriate body.
10.
I am fully aware and confirm that I am obliged to collaborate to establish
the relevant facts with regard to the eligibility check I am subject to. In
particular, I will comply with requests for any documents, information or any
other material of any nature held by me. In addition, I will comply with theprocurement and provision of documents, information or any other materialof any nature not held by me but which I am entitled to obtain. I am fully
aware and confirm that non-compliance with such requests may lead tosanctions imposed by the appropriate body.
11.
I am fully aware and confirm that the body conducting the eligibility checkmay also request information on possible sanctions (questions 1 and 2 above)
directly from the relevant confederation or FIFA member association as well
as from other institutions such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport or theInternational Olympic Committee. In this regard, I hereby release the relevant
institutions from any obligation of confidentiality relating to the information
concerned.
12.
I am fully aware and confirm that the body conducting the eligibility checkmay collect further information on me in accordance with art. 2 par. 3 ofAnnexe 1 to the FIFA Governance Regulations.

____________________(Place and date)

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ANNEXE 2 – RELATED-PARTY DECLARATION

1

Objectives

The objectives of the provisions of this Annexe are:a) to ensure that FIFA’s financial statements contain, with regard to themembers of the Council, the disclosures necessary to draw attention to
the possibility that its financial position and profit or loss may have been
affected by transactions and outstanding balances, including commitments,
with Council members;
b. to ensure appropriate transparency with regard to the business and otherrelevant relations of Council members that may affect the members’
conduct and activities in the context of the Council.

2

Obligation

1.
Pursuant to art. 10 par. 5 of the present regulations, the members of theCouncil shall complete and submit the Related-Party Declaration, using theform provided in art. 4 of this Annexe, on an annual basis.
2.
The Council members shall submit such a declaration for each calendar year.
They shall do so by 15 January of the following year at the latest.
3.
The Related-Party Declarations are to be submitted in two copies: one to the
President and one to the Review Committee. The President shall also submit
two copies, one to the Secretary General and one to the Review Committee, of
the Related-Party Declaration.

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3

Definitions and explanations

1.
Related-party transactions
Under the heading of “Related-party transactions”, Council members shalldisclose all transactions carried out or agreed upon between themselves,a close member of their family or a company or other entity significantly
influenced by them on the one hand, and FIFA or a FIFA subsidiary on theother.
The term “transactions” covers any transfer of resources, services or
obligations. It includes purchases and sales of goods, services, property orother assets, lease agreements, transfers of research and development,
transfers under licence agreements, and financing activities such as loans, andsettlement of liabilities. This enumeration is merely exemplary and thus notconclusive.
2.
Business and other relevant relations
Under the heading of “Business and other relevant relations”, Council
members shall disclose any and all involvements in, and relations to, individuals
and entities (e.g. companies) that might be relevant with regard to theobjectivity of their activities as Council members. Relations that might berelevant under art. 19 of the FIFA Code of Ethics (Conflicts of interest) are ofparticular interest.
Such relations include board positions in, or business relations with, companies
active in the field of production and/or selling of sports equipment, sports
marketing, purchasing and selling of media rights, or sports betting;involvement (e.g. in the form of holding official positions) in confederations,FIFA member associations and/or affiliated entities; involvement in, or business
relations with, FIFA subsidiaries. This enumeration is merely exemplary andthus not conclusive.

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4

Related-Party Declaration form

Related-Party Declaration

for members of the Council

for the year:

Surname(s):First name(s):Member of the Council since:

Part 1 – Related-party transactions
As a member of the Council, I hereby declare, for myself, the following
related-party transactions within the meaning of art. 3 par. 1 ofAnnexe 2 of the FIFA Governance Regulations:
Note: Please specify for each transaction carried out or agreed upon between
yourself, a close member of your family or a company or other entity
significantly influenced by yourself or a close member of your family on the
one hand, and FIFA or a FIFA subsidiary on the other:a. The relevant date or period of time;b. The exact counterpart on behalf of FIFA or the FIFA subsidiary concerned;c. The nature and contents of the transaction.

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Annexe 2 – Related-Party Declaration 73
Part 2 – Business and other relevant relations
As a member of the Council, I hereby declare, for myself, the following
business and other relevant relations within the meaning of art. 3
par. 2 of Annexe 2 of the FIFA Governance Regulations:
Note: Please specify for each relation:
I. The relevant commencement date or period of time;
II. The nature and contents of the relation.

____________________(Place and date)

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2019 edition

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2 CONTENTS

TITLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1 Object2 Scope of application: substantive law
3 Scope of personal application
4 Scope of temporal application
5 Applicable law
6 Disciplinary measures
7 Directives
8 Responsibility
9 Decisions of the referee
10 Limitation period for prosecution

5
5
5
5
6
6
6
8
8
9
9

TITLE II. OFFENCES
Chapter 1. Infringements of the Laws of the Game
11 Offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play

11
11
11

Chapter 2. Disorderliness at matches and competitions
12 Misconduct of players and officials
13 Discrimination
14 Unplayed matches and abandonment
15 Failure to respect decisions
16 Order and security at matches
17 Doping
18 Manipulation of football matches and competitions

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11
13
14
14
16
17
17

Chapter 3. Other provisions
19 Duty to report
20 Duty to collaborate
21 Forgery and falsification
22 Forfeit

18
18
19
19
20

Chapter 4. Implementation of disciplinary measures
23 Enforcement of sanctions
24 Determining the disciplinary measure
25 Recidivism
26 Suspension of implementation of disciplinary measures

20
20
21
21
22

TITLE III. ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCE
Chapter 1. General provisions
27 General rule
28 Composition of the FIFA judicial bodies
29 Independence

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24
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CONTENTS

30 Meetings
31 Confidentiality
32 Secretariat
33 Exemption from liability
34 Time limits
35 Evidence, evaluation of evidence and standard of proof
36 Burden of proof
37 Witnesses
38 Anonymous participants in proceedings
39 Identification of anonymous participants in proceedings
40 Match officials’ reports
41 Representation and assistance
42 Legal aid
43 Language used in proceedings
44 Communication with the parties
45 Costs and expenses
46 Protests
47 Effects of decisions
48 Provisional measures
49 Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

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25
26
27
27
28
28
28
29
30
30
30
31
32
32
33
33
34
34
35

Chapter 2. Decision-making process
50 Convocation, rights of the parties, hearings, decisions,communications and confidentiality
51 Decisions

35

Chapter 3. Disciplinary Committee
52 Commencement of proceedings
53 Jurisdiction
54 Jurisdiction of the single judges of the Disciplinary Committee
55 Closure of proceedings

38
38
39
39
40

Chapter 4. Appeal Committee
56 Jurisdiction
57 Admissibility of appeals
58 Standing to appeal
59 Deliberations and decisions
60 Jurisdiction of the chairperson ruling alone
61 Effects of appeal

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40
41
42
42
43
43

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TITLE IV. SPECIAL PROCEDURES
62 Expulsion and match suspension
63 Carrying over cautions
64 Cancellation of cautions
65 Carrying over match suspensions
66 Extending sanctions to have worldwide effect
67 Review

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44
45
45
46
47
49

TITLE V. FINAL PROVISIONS
68 Official languages
69 Gender and number
70 Specific disciplinary rules
71 Associations’ disciplinary codes
72 Adoption and enforcement

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TITLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONSTITLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1

ObjectThis Code describes infringements of the rules in FIFA regulations,determines the sanctions incurred, regulates the organisation andfunction of the FIFA judicial bodies responsible for taking decisions andthe procedures to be followed before said bodies.

2

Scope of application: substantive law

1.
This Code applies to every match and competition organised by FIFA andto matches and competitions in association football that do not fall under
the jurisdiction of the confederations and/or the associations, unlessotherwise stipulated in this Code.
2.
This Code also applies to any breach of FIFA’s statutory objectives as well
as of any FIFA rule that does not fall under the jurisdiction of any otherFIFA body.

3

Scope of personal application

The following are subject to this Code:a) associations;b) members of associations, in particular the clubs;c) officials;d) players;e) match officials;f) intermediaries;g) licensed match agents;h) anyone elected or assigned by FIFA to exercise a function, in particularwith regard to a match, competition or other event organised by FIFA.

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4

Scope of temporal application

1.
This Code applies to all disciplinary offences committed following the dateon which it comes into force.
2.
This Code also applies to all disciplinary offences committed prior to thedate on which it comes into force, subject to any milder sanction thatwould apply under previous rules.
3.
Disciplinary proceedings instigated against someone who was under FIFA’s
jurisdiction as per article 3 on the day the alleged disciplinary offence
was committed shall not be abandoned by the FIFA judicial bodies solely
because the person involved is no longer under FIFA’s jurisdiction.

5

Applicable law

The FIFA judicial bodies base their decisions:a) primarily, on the FIFA Statutes as well as FIFA’s regulations, circulars,
directives and decisions, and the Laws of the Game; andb) subsidiarily, on Swiss law and any other law that the competent judicial
body deems applicable.

6

Disciplinary measures

1.
The following disciplinary measures may be imposed on natural and legal
persons:a) warning;b) reprimand;c) fine;d) return of awards;e) withdrawal of a title.

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TITLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

2.
The following disciplinary measures may be imposed on natural persons
only:a) suspension for a specific number of matches or for a specific period;b) ban from dressing rooms and/or the substitutes’ bench;c) ban on taking part in any football-related activity;d) community football service.
3.
The following disciplinary measures may be imposed on legal persons only:a) transfer ban;b) playing a match without spectators;c) playing a match with a limited number of spectators;d) playing a match on neutral territory;e) ban on playing in a particular stadium;f) annulment of the result of a match;g) deduction of points;h) relegation to a lower division;i) expulsion from a competition in progress or from future competitions;j) forfeit;k) replaying a match;l) implementation of a prevention plan.
4.
Fines shall not be less than CHF 100 or more than CHF 1,000,000.
5.
Associations are jointly liable for fines imposed on representative teamplayers and officials. The same applies to clubs in respect of their players
and officials.
6.
The disciplinary measures provided for in this Code may be combined.

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7

Directives

1.
Directives require those affected by them to behave in a certain manner.
2.
In addition to disciplinary measures, the FIFA judicial bodies may issue
directives stipulating the manner in which a disciplinary measure must be
carried out, including the date and conditions on which the disciplinary
measure is enforced.
3.
The FIFA judicial bodies may also award compensation for damage wherean association or club is liable for that damage on the basis of article 8
or 16.

8

Responsibility

1.
Unless otherwise specified in this Code, infringements are punishable
regardless of whether they have been committed deliberately or
negligently. In particular, associations and clubs may be responsible for the
behaviour of their members, players, officials or supporters or any otherperson carrying out a function on their behalf even if the association or
club concerned can prove the absence of any fault or negligence.
2.
Acts amounting to attempt are also punishable.
3.
Anyone who takes part in committing an infringement or induces
someone to do so, whether as instigator or accomplice, may also be
sanctioned.

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9

Decisions of the referee1.
Decisions taken by the referee on the field of play are final and may not
be reviewed by the FIFA judicial bodies.
2.
In cases where a decision by the referee involves an obvious error (such as
mistaking the identity of the person penalised), the FIFA judicial bodies
may only review the disciplinary consequences of that decision. In cases of
mistaken identity, disciplinary proceedings may, in accordance with thisCode, be opened only against the person who was actually at fault.
3.
A protest against a caution or a sending-off from the field of play after
two cautions is admissible only if the referee’s error was to mistake theidentity of the player.
4.
In cases of serious misconduct, disciplinary action may be taken even if
the referee and his assistants did not see the event in question and were
therefore unable to take any action.
5.
The provisions of this Code relating to protests against match results
affected by a referee’s decision that was an obvious violation of a rule
remain applicable.

10

Limitation period for prosecution

1.
Infringements may no longer be prosecuted in accordance with thefollowing periods:a) two years for infringements committed during a match;b) ten years for anti-doping rule violations (as defined in the FIFA
Anti-Doping Regulations), infringements relating to internationaltransfers involving minors, and match manipulation;c) five years for all other offences.

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2.
The limitation period runs as follows:a) from the day on which the perpetrator committed the infringement;b) if the infringement is recurrent, from the day on which the most recent
infringement was committed;c) if the infringement lasted for a certain period, from the day on which it
ended;
d) from the day on which the decision of the Dispute Resolution Chamber,
the FIFA Players’ Status Committee or the Court of Arbitration for Sport(CAS) becomes final and binding.
3.
The limitation periods set out above are interrupted by all procedural acts,
starting afresh with each interruption.

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TITLE II. OFFENCES

TITLE II. OFFENCES
Chapter 1. Infringements of the Laws of the Game

11

Offensive behaviour and violations of the principles offair play

1.
Associations and clubs, as well as their players, officials and any othermember and/or person carrying out a function on their behalf, must
respect the Laws of the Game, as well as the FIFA Statutes and FIFA’s
regulations, directives, guidelines, circulars and decisions, and comply withthe principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity.
2.
For example, anyone who acts in any of the following ways may be subject
to disciplinary measures:a) violating the basic rules of decent conduct;b) insulting a natural or legal person in any way, especially by using
offensive gestures, signs or language;c) using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature;d) behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into
disrepute;e) actively altering the age of players shown on the identity cards they
produce at competitions that are subject to age limits.

Chapter 2. Disorderliness at matches and competitions

12

Misconduct of players and officials

1.
Players and officials shall be suspended for misconduct as specified below
and may be fined accordingly:a) one match for players who are sent off for denying the opposing teama goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity;b) at least one match or an appropriate period of time for unsporting
behaviour towards an opponent or a person other than a match official;c) at least one match for officials who are sent off for dissent by word or
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to cause a match official to make an incorrect decision or supporting
his error of judgement and thereby causing him to make an incorrect
decision;h) at least three matches or an appropriate period of time for assault, e.g.
elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting, hitting , etc., an opponent
or a person other than a match official;i) at least four matches or an appropriate period of time for unsporting
behaviour towards a match official;j) at least ten matches or an appropriate period of time for intimidatingor threatening a match official;k) at least 15 matches or an appropriate period of time for assaulting amatch official, e.g. elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting, hitting,etc.
2.
The misconduct described in paragraph 1 b), f), i) and j) is also subject tothe respective sanctions of this Code, despite the fact that the offence has
been committed off the field of play (e.g. via social networks etc.).
3.
If the suspension is to be served in terms of matches, only those actually
played by the respective team count towards execution of the suspension.
It is not necessary for a player to be included on the team sheet for therespective match or competition in order for a match suspension to beconsidered served.
4.
A player or official who, in the context of a match (including pre- andpost-match) or competition, publicly incites others to hatred or violence
will be sanctioned with a ban on taking part in any football-related
activity for no less than six months and with a minimum fine of CHF 5,000.
In serious cases, in addition to the above sanctions and in particular if theinfringement is committed using social networks and/or the mass media(such as the press, radio or television) or takes place on a matchday in or
around a stadium, the minimum fine will be CHF 20,000.

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5.
If a national or club team conducts itself improperly (for example, if
individual disciplinary sanctions are imposed by the referee on five or
more players – three or more in the case of futsal – during a match),disciplinary measures may also be taken against the association or clubconcerned.
6.
Additional disciplinary measures may also be imposed in all cases.

13

Discrimination

1.
Any person who offends the dignity or integrity of a country, a person
or group of people through contemptuous, discriminatory or derogatory
words or actions (by any means whatsoever) on account of race, skincolour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, disability, sexual
orientation, language, religion, political opinion, wealth, birth or any
other status or any other reason, shall be sanctioned with a suspension
lasting at least ten matches or a specific period, or any other appropriate
disciplinary measure.
2.
If one or more of an association’s or club’s supporters engage in the
behaviour described in paragraph 1, the association or club responsible
will be subject to the following disciplinary measures:a) For a first offence, playing a match with a limited number of spectators
and a fine of at least CHF 20,000 shall be imposed on the association or
club concerned;b) For reoffenders or if the circumstances of the case require it, disciplinary
measures such as the implementation of a prevention plan, a fine, apoints deduction, playing one or more matches without spectators,
a ban on playing in a particular stadium, the forfeiting of a match,
expulsion from a competition or relegation to a lower division may be
imposed on the association or club concerned.

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3.
Individuals who have been the direct addressee of potential discriminatory
behaviour may be invited by the respective judicial body to make an oral
or written victim impact statement.
4.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, if a match is abandoned by thereferee because of racist and/or discriminatory conduct, the match shall bedeclared forfeited.

14

Unplayed matches and abandonment

1.
If a match cannot take place or cannot be played in full for reasons otherthan force majeure, but due to the behaviour of a team or behaviour forwhich an association or a club is liable, the association or the club will besanctioned with a minimum fine of CHF 10,000. The match will either be
forfeited or replayed.
2.
Additional disciplinary measures may be imposed on the association or
club concerned.
3.
If a match was abandoned and is to be replayed in full, any caution
issued during that match shall be annulled. If a match was abandoned, inparticular for reasons of force majeure, and it recommences at the minuteat which play was interrupted, any caution imposed before the match wasabandoned remains valid for the remainder of the match. If the match is
not to be replayed, the cautions received by the teams shall be upheld.

15

Failure to respect decisions

1.
Anyone who fails to pay another person (such as a player, a coach or aclub) or FIFA a sum of money in full or part, even though instructed to
do so by a body, a committee or an instance of FIFA or a CAS decision(financial decision), or anyone who fails to comply with another final
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decision (non-financial decision) passed by a body, a committee or an
instance of FIFA, or by CAS:a) will be fined for failing to comply with a decision; in addition:b) will be granted a final deadline of 30 days in which to pay the amountdue or to comply with the non-financial decision;c) in the case of clubs, upon expiry of the aforementioned final deadline
and in the event of persistent default or failure to comply in fullwith the decision within the period stipulated, a transfer ban will be
pronounced until the complete amount due is paid or the non-financial
decision is complied with. A deduction of points or relegation to alower division may also be ordered in addition to a transfer ban in theevent of persistent failure, repeated offences or serious infringements
or if no full transfer could be imposed or served for any reason.
d) in the case of associations, upon expiry of the aforementioned final
deadline and in the event of persistent default or failure to comply
in full with the decision within the period stipulated, additional
disciplinary measures may be imposed;e) in the case of natural persons, upon expiry of the aforementioned final
deadline and in the event of persistent default or failure to comply
in full with the decision within the period stipulated, a ban on any
football-related activity for a specific period may be imposed. Other
disciplinary measures may also be imposed.
2.
With regard to financial decisions passed by a body, a committee or an
instance of FIFA, or CAS, disciplinary proceedings may only commenceat the request of the creditor or any other affected party, who will havethe right to be notified of the final outcome of the said disciplinary
proceedings.
3.
If the sanctioned person disregards the final time limit, FIFA and/or the
relevant association (in cases involving clubs or natural persons) shall
implement the sanctions imposed. A transfer ban or a ban on taking
part in any football-related activity may only be lifted before it has been
fully served upon payment of the due amounts, with other disciplinary
measures being reserved.
4.
The sporting successor of a non-compliant party shall also be considered
a non-compliant party and thus subject to the obligations under thisprovision. Criteria to assess whether an entity is to be considered as the
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sporting successor of another entity are, among others, its headquarters,
name, legal form, team colours, players, shareholders or stakeholders orownership and the category of competition concerned.
5.
Any financial or non-financial decision that has been pronounced against
a club by a court of arbitration within the relevant association or national
dispute resolution chamber (NDRC), both duly recognised by FIFA, shall be
enforced by the association of the deciding body that has pronounced thedecision in accordance with the principles established in this article and incompliance with the applicable disciplinary regulations.
6.
Any financial or non-financial decision that has been pronounced
against a natural person by a court of arbitration within the relevant
association or NDRC, both duly recognised by FIFA, shall be enforced by
the association of the deciding body that has pronounced the decision
or by the natural person’s new association if the natural person has in
the meantime registered (or otherwise signed a contract in the case of acoach) with a club affiliated to another association, in accordance with theprinciples established in this article and in compliance with the applicabledisciplinary regulations.

16

Order and security at matches

1.
Host clubs and associations are responsible for order and security both inand around the stadium before, during and after matches. They are liable
for incidents of any kind and may be subject to disciplinary measures anddirectives unless they can prove that they have not been negligent in any
way in the organisation of the match. In particular, associations, clubs andlicensed match agents who organise matches shall:a) assess the degree of risk posed by the match and notify the FIFA bodiesof those that are especially high-risk;b) comply with and implement existing safety rules (FIFA regulations,
national laws, international agreements) and take every safety
precaution demanded by the circumstances in and around the stadium
before, during and after the match and if incidents occur;c) ensure the safety of the match officials and the players and officials of
the visiting team during their stay;
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TITLE II. OFFENCESd) keep local authorities informed and collaborate with them actively andeffectively;e) ensure that law and order are maintained in and around the stadiums
and that matches are organised properly.
2.
All associations and clubs are liable for inappropriate behaviour on thepart of one or more of their supporters as stated below and may besubject to disciplinary measures and directives even if they can prove theabsence of any negligence in relation to the organisation of the match:a) the invasion or attempted invasion of the field of play;b) the throwing of objects;c) the lighting of fireworks or any other objects;d) the use of laser pointers or similar electronic devices;e) the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit a
message that is not appropriate for a sports event, particularly messages
that are of a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature;f) acts of damage;g) causing a disturbance during national anthems;h) any other lack of order or discipline observed in or around the stadium.

17

DopingDoping is sanctioned in accordance with the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations
and this Code.

18

Manipulation of football matches and competitions

1.
Anyone who directly or indirectly, by an act or an omission, unlawfully
influences or manipulates the course, result or any other aspect of amatch and/or competition or conspires or attempts to do so by any means
shall be sanctioned with a minimum five-year ban on taking part in any
football-related activity as well as a fine of at least CHF 100,000. In serious
cases, a longer ban period, including a potential lifetime ban on taking
part in any football-related activity, shall be imposed.

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2.
If a player or official engages in behaviour described in paragraph 1,
the club or association to which the player or official belongs may besanctioned with the forfeiting of the match in question or may bedeclared ineligible to participate in a different competition, provided theintegrity of the competition is protected. Additional disciplinary measures
may be imposed.
3.
Persons bound by this Code must cooperate fully with FIFA at all times
in its efforts to combat such behaviour and shall therefore immediately
and voluntarily report to the secretariat of the Disciplinary Committee
any approach in connection with activities and/or information directly
or indirectly related to the possible manipulation of a football match orcompetition as described above. Any breach of this provision shall besanctioned with a ban of at least two years on taking part in any football
related activity and a fine of at least CHF 15,000.
4.
The Disciplinary Committee shall be competent to investigate andadjudicate all conduct on and off the field of play in connection with themanipulation of football matches and competitions.

Chapter 3. Other provisions

19

Duty to report1.
Anyone subject to this Code shall immediately report to the secretariatof the Disciplinary Committee any violation of, or attempt to violate, thisCode by any third party.
2.
Anyone subject to this Code making an unfounded or irresponsible
accusation may be sanctioned.

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Duty to collaborate

1.
The parties shall act in good faith during the whole proceedings.
2.
The parties shall collaborate to establish the facts and, in particular,
comply with requests for information from the FIFA judicial bodies.
3.
At the request of the judicial body, persons subject to this Code shall help
to establish and/or clarify the facts of a case or any possible breaches ofthis Code and, in particular, shall provide any evidence requested.
4.
If the parties are dilatory in responding, the chairperson of the judicial
body may, after warning them, impose disciplinary measures on them. The
same principle applies to persons subject to this Code and witnesses.
5.
If the parties fail to collaborate, especially if they ignore the stipulated
time limits, the judicial body may nonetheless reach a decision on the caseusing the file in its possession.

21

Forgery and falsification

1.
Anyone who, in football-related activities, forges a document, falsifies
an authentic document or uses a forged or falsified document will besanctioned with a fine and a ban of at least six matches or for a specificperiod of no less than 12 months.
2.
An association or a club may be held liable for an act of forgery or
falsification by one of its officials and/or players.

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22

Forfeit1.
If a player is fielded in a match despite being ineligible, the team to which
the player belongs will be sanctioned by forfeiting the match and paying aminimum fine of CHF 6,000. The player may also be sanctioned.
2.
A team sanctioned with a forfeit is considered to have lost the match
3-0 in 11-a-side football, 5-0 in futsal or 10-0 in beach soccer. If the goaldifference at the end of the match is less favourable to the team at fault,
the result on the pitch is upheld.
3.
If ineligible players are fielded in a competition, the FIFA judicial bodies,taking into consideration the integrity of the competition concerned, may
impose any disciplinary measures, including a forfeit, or declare the club or
association ineligible to participate in a different competition.
4.
The Disciplinary Committee has also the capacity to act ex officio.
5.
Cautions issued in a match that is subsequently forfeited shall not beannulled.

Chapter 4. Implementation of disciplinary measures

23

Enforcement of sanctions

1.
The limitation period to enforce disciplinary measures is five years.
2.
The limitation period begins on the day on which the final decision comes
into force.

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24

Determining the disciplinary measure

1.
The judicial body determines the type and extent of the disciplinary
measures to be imposed in accordance with the objective and subjective
elements of the offence, taking into account both aggravating andmitigating circumstances.
2.
Disciplinary measures may be limited to a geographical area or to one ormore specific categories of match or competition.
3.
When determining the disciplinary measure, the judicial body shall take
into account all relevant factors of the case, including any assistance ofand substantial cooperation by the offender in uncovering or establishinga breach of any FIFA rule, the circumstances and the degree of theoffender’s guilt and any other relevant circumstances.
4.
In exercising its discretionary powers, the relevant FIFA judicial body may
scale down the disciplinary measure to be imposed or even dispense withit entirely.

25

Recidivism

1.
Recidivism occurs if another offence of a similar nature and gravity iscommitted after notification of the previous decision within:a) one year of the previous offence if that offence was sanctioned with asuspension of up to two matches;b) two years of the previous offence if that offence related to order andsecurity;c) ten years of the previous offence if that offence related to match
manipulation or corruption;d) three years of the previous offence in all other cases.

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2.
Recidivism counts as an aggravating circumstance.
3.
Recidivism in doping matters is subject to the rules of the FIFA Anti Doping
Regulations.

26

Suspension of implementation of disciplinary measures

1.
The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend theimplementation of a disciplinary measure.
2.
By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial bodysubjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four
years.
3.
If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits anotherinfringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary
period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and thesanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed
for the new infringement.
4.
Anti-doping rule violations or disciplinary measures relating to match
manipulation cannot be suspended.

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TITLE III. ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCETITLE III. ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCE
Chapter 1. General provisions

27

General rule1.
The FIFA judicial bodies shall be competent to investigate, prosecute andsanction conduct within the scope of application of this Code.
2.
Confederations, associations and other sports organisations are
responsible for investigating, prosecuting and sanctioning conduct in theirrespective jurisdictions. In particular, confederations shall have jurisdiction
on disciplinary matters related to friendly matches and competitions
between representative teams or clubs belonging to the same
confederation, provided that the competition is not organised by FIFA.
3.
FIFA shall have jurisdiction on disciplinary matters related to matches
and competitions organised by it, to friendly matches and competitions
between representative teams or clubs belonging to different
confederations or to matches involving invitational teams composedof players registered with clubs belonging to associations of different
confederations.
4.
Each association has a duty to cooperate with other associations toforward and notify them of documents or to provide information related
to and/or required for domestic disciplinary proceedings. If an association
fails to cooperate in this way, it may lead to sanctions as provided under
this Code.
5.
Confederations shall inform FIFA of the sanctions pronounced.
6.
The FIFA judicial bodies reserve the right to investigate, prosecute andsanction serious infringements within the scope of application of this Codethat fall under the jurisdiction of confederations, associations or othersports organisations if deemed appropriate in a specific case and if the
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confederation, association or other sports organisation fails to prosecute
serious infringements within three months from the infringement
becoming known to the Disciplinary Committee.

28

Composition of the FIFA judicial bodies

1.
In the context of this Code, the FIFA judicial bodies are:a) the Disciplinary Committee;b) the Appeal Committee.
2.
The FIFA judicial bodies shall consist of a chairperson, a deputy chairperson
and an unspecified number of members.
3.
The Congress elects, upon the proposal of the Council, the chairpersons,deputy chairpersons and other members of the FIFA judicial bodies for aperiod of four years.

29

Independence

1.
The chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and other members of the FIFA
judicial bodies shall fulfil the independence criteria as defined in the FIFA
Governance Regulations.
2.
Members of the FIFA judicial bodies must decline to participate in any
meeting concerning a matter where there are serious grounds forquestioning their impartiality and/or if there is a conflict of interest.
3.
Members who decline to participate in a meeting on any of the above
grounds shall notify the chairperson immediately.

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4.
The chairperson shall decide on any claim of bias. If an objection is raised
concerning the chairperson, the deputy chairperson or, in his absence, thelongest-serving member present shall decide on such claim.

30

Meetings

1.
At the request of the chairperson, the deputy chairperson or, in his
absence, the longest-serving member available, and depending on theseriousness of the potential infringement, the secretariat shall call thenumber of members deemed necessary to each meeting.
2.
A meeting may take place with a single judge.
3.
The chairperson, the deputy chairperson or, in their absence, the single
judge, shall conduct the meetings and pass the decisions that this Codeempowers him to take.

31

Confidentiality

1.
The members of the FIFA judicial bodies shall ensure that everything
disclosed to them during the course of their duty remains confidential(including the facts of the case, the contents of the deliberations anddecisions taken).
2.
The opening of proceedings as well as decisions already notified to theaddressees may be made public by FIFA.
3.
Any person who is required to participate in or is subject to a disciplinary
investigation or disciplinary proceedings must keep such information
confidential at all times, unless the chairperson of the judicial body explicitly
stipulates otherwise in writing. Any breach of such duty may be sanctioned.
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4.
In the event of a breach of this article by a member of a judicial body, therelevant member shall be suspended from the Disciplinary Committee
until the next FIFA Congress.

32

Secretariat

1.
The FIFA general secretariat provides the FIFA judicial bodies with asecretariat and the necessary support, infrastructure and staff at FIFA
headquarters. The FIFA judicial bodies may be assisted by legal counsel orexperts.
2.
The secretariat takes charge of the administrative work and writes thedecisions of the meetings.
3.
The secretariat manages the case files. The decisions passed and therelevant files shall be kept for at least ten years.
4.
The secretariat keeps records of cautions, sendings-off and match
suspensions, which are stored in FIFA’s central data storage system. The
secretariat of the Disciplinary Committee confirms them in writing to
the association or club concerned or, in the case of final competitions,to the head of the delegation concerned (or the person(s) indicated by
the latter for each competition). To ensure that the relevant records arecomplete, the confederations shall inform FIFA of all sanctions that havebeen pronounced during their own competitions that are likely to be
carried over to a FIFA competition or future competitions organised by theconfederations.
5.
The secretariat takes charge of the necessary investigation ex officio.

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Exemption from liability

Except in the case of gross culpability, neither the members of the FIFA
judicial bodies nor the secretariat may be held liable for any deeds oromissions relating to any disciplinary procedure.

34

Time limits

1.
Time limits to which the associations shall adhere commence the day after
they have received the relevant document.
2.
Official holidays and non-working days are included in the calculation oftime limits. Time limits are interrupted from 20 December to 5 January
inclusive.
3.
Time limits to which persons other than the associations shall adherecommence on the day after receipt of the document by the association
responsible for forwarding it, except when the document is also or solely
sent to the person concerned or his legal representative. If the document
was also or solely sent to the parties or their legal representatives, thetime limit starts on the day after receipt of the document by such person.
4.
When a deadline expires on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in the
Swiss canton of Zurich, where FIFA´s headquarters are located, it is carriedforward to the next working day.
5.
If a time limit is not observed, the defaulter loses the procedural right inquestion.
6.
Time limits laid down by this Code may not be extended.

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Evidence, evaluation of evidence and standard of proof

1.
Any type of proof may be produced.
2.
The competent judicial body has absolute discretion regarding theevaluation of evidence.
3.
The standard of proof to be applied in FIFA disciplinary proceedings is the
comfortable satisfaction of the competent judicial body.

36

Burden of proof

1.
The burden of proof regarding disciplinary infringements rests on the FIFA
judicial bodies.
2.
Any party claiming a right on the basis of an alleged fact shall carry theburden of proof of this fact. During the proceedings, the party shallsubmit all relevant facts and evidence of which the party is aware at thattime, or of which the party should have been aware by exercising due
care.
3.
For anti-doping rule violations, the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations apply.

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Witnesses

1.
Witnesses shall tell the absolute and whole truth and shall answer thequestions put to them to the best of their knowledge and judgement.

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2.
It is the responsibility of the parties to ensure the appearance of thewitnesses requested by them and to pay all costs and expenses inconnection with their appearance.

38

Anonymous participants in proceedings

1.
When a person’s testimony in proceedings conducted in accordancewith this Code could lead to threats on his person or put him or any
person particularly close to him in physical danger, the chairperson of thecompetent judicial body or the deputy chairperson may order, inter alia,
that:a) the person not be identified in the presence of the parties;b) the person not appear at the hearing;c) the person’s voice be distorted;d) the person be questioned outside the hearing room;e) the person be questioned in writing;f) all or some of the information that could be used to identify the person
be included only in a separate, confidential case file.
2.
If no other evidence is available to corroborate the testimony provided by
the person concerned, such testimony may only be used in the context of
imposing sanctions under this Code if:a) the parties and their legal representatives have had the opportunity topose questions to the person concerned in writing; andb) the members of the judicial body have had the opportunity to interview
the person concerned directly and in full awareness of his identity andto assess his identity and record in full.
3.
Disciplinary measures shall be imposed on anyone who reveals the identityof any person granted anonymity under this provision or any informationthat could be used to identify such person.

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39

Identification of anonymous participants in proceedings

1.
To ensure their safety, persons granted anonymity shall be identified
behind closed doors in the absence of the parties. This identification shallbe conducted by the chairperson of the competent judicial body alone, thedeputy chairperson and/or the members of the competent judicial bodypresent and shall be recorded in minutes containing the relevant person’s
personal details.
2.
These minutes shall not be communicated to the parties.
3.
The parties shall receive a brief notice which:a) confirms that the person concerned has been formally identified; andb) contains no details that could be used to identify such person.

40

Match officials’ reports

Facts contained in match officials’ reports and in any additional reports
or correspondence submitted by the match officials are presumed to beaccurate. Proof of their inaccuracy may be provided.

41

Representation and assistance1.
Subject to article 42 of this Code, the parties are free to have legal
representation at their own cost, in which case a duly signed power ofattorney must be submitted.
2.
If they are not required to appear personally, they may be represented.

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42

Legal aid1.
In order to guarantee their rights, individuals bound by this Code whohave insufficient financial means may request legal aid from FIFA for the
purpose of proceedings before the FIFA judicial bodies.
2.
Applicants for legal aid must submit reasoned requests and supporting
documents.
3.
The secretariat establishes a list of pro bono counsel.
4.
According to each applicant’s needs, and subject to prior written
confirmation by FIFA, legal aid may be provided as follows:a) The applicant may be released from having to pay the costs ofproceedings.
b) Pro bono counsel may be selected by the applicant from the list
provided by the secretariat.
c) The applicant’s own reasonable travel and accommodation costs andthose of witnesses and experts he calls to testify may be covered byFIFA, including the travel and accommodation costs of any pro bonocounsel selected from the list provided by the secretariat.
5.
The chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee decides on requests forlegal aid. Such decisions are final.
6.
Further conditions and requirements associated with legal aid and pro
bono counsel may be communicated by circular letter.

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43

Language used in proceedings

1.
The languages used in proceedings are the four official languages of FIFA
(English, French, German and Spanish). The FIFA judicial bodies and theparties may choose to communicate in any of these languages.
2.
Decisions are passed in any of the four official languages.
3.
If the language used in a decision is not the mother tongue of the person
concerned, the association to which the person belongs will be responsible
for translating it.

44

Communication with the parties

1.
All of the parties shall be notified of the decision.
2.
Communications from the secretariat shall be sent to the email address
specifically provided to the secretariat by the party concerned and/or via
registered letter. Emails and registered letters are valid and binding meansof communication and will be deemed sufficient to establish time limits
and their observance.
3.
The parties and associations must ensure that their contact details (e.g.
address, telephone number and email address) are valid and kept up todate at all times.
4.
Decisions and other documents intended for players, clubs and officials
are addressed to the association concerned on condition that it forwards
the documents to the parties concerned. In the event that the documents
were not also or solely sent to the party concerned, these documents
are considered to have been communicated properly to the ultimate
addressee the day after receipt of the document by the respective
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association. Failure by the association to comply with the aforementioned
instruction may result in disciplinary proceedings in accordance with this
Code.

45

Costs and expenses

1.
Costs and expenses shall be borne by the party that has been sanctioned,
unless otherwise stipulated in this Code.
2.
The costs of proceedings before the Disciplinary Committee shall be borneby FIFA, except in protest cases, when they shall be borne by the defeatedparty.
3.
If no party is sanctioned, the costs and expenses shall be borne by FIFA.
Should a party generate unnecessary costs on account of its conduct, costs
may be imposed upon it, irrespective of the outcome of the proceedings.
4.
The judicial body that rules on the substance of the matter decides how
costs and expenses shall be allocated and the relevant amounts are
stipulated by the chairperson of the relevant judicial body. This decision is
not subject to appeal.
5.
Each party shall bear its own costs, including the costs of its own
witnesses, representatives, legal advisers, interpreters and counsel, subject
to article 42.

46

Protests

1.
Associations and their clubs are entitled to lodge protests. Protests mustreach the Disciplinary Committee in writing, indicating the relevant
grounds, within 24 hours of the end of the match in question.

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The 24-hour time limit cannot be extended. For the sake of the smoothrunning of the competition, the corresponding competition regulations
may shorten the protest deadline accordingly.
3.
The protest fee is CHF 1,000. It must be paid when the protest is lodged
and is reimbursed only if the protest is admitted in full.
4.
A protest is admissible only if it is based on:a) an ineligible player’s participation in a match as a consequence ofthat player not fulfilling the conditions defined in the relevant FIFA
regulations;b) an unfit field of play, as long as the referee was informed as soon as
the problem was reported or observed (whether in writing before thematch, or orally by a team captain, in the presence of the captain of the
opposing team, during the match);c) an obvious error by the referee as defined in article 9 of this Code,in which case the protest may be directed only at the disciplinaryconsequences of the referee’s obvious error.

47

Effects of decisions

1.
Decisions come into force as soon as they are notified.
2.
Cautions, sendings-off and automatic match suspensions have an
immediate effect on subsequent matches even if the notification reaches
the association, club or head of delegation concerned later.

48

Provisional measures

1.
The chairperson of the competent judicial body, or his nominee, is entitledto pronounce provisional measures where these are deemed necessary toensure the proper administration of justice, to maintain sporting discipline
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or to avoid irreparable harm, or for reasons of safety and security. He is
not obliged to hear the parties.
2.
Provisional measures pronounced by the chairperson of the Disciplinary
Committee or his nominee may be appealed against in accordance withthe relevant provisions of this Code. However, the appeal must reachFIFA in writing and with grounds within three days of notification of thecontested measure, without the condition of payment of any appeal fee.
The chairperson of the Appeals Committee, or his nominee, decides onsuch appeals as a single judge. Such decisions are final.
3.
A provisional measure may apply for up to 90 days. The duration of any
such measure may be deducted from the final disciplinary sanction.
The chairperson of the competent judicial body, or his nominee, may
exceptionally extend the validity of a provisional measure by up to 90
days.

49

Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

Decisions passed by the Disciplinary and Appeal Committees may be
appealed against before CAS, subject to the provisions of this Code andarticles 57 and 58 of the FIFA Statutes.

Chapter 2. Decision-making process

50

Convocation, rights of the parties, hearings, decisions,communications and confidentiality

1.
As a general rule, there are no oral statements and the FIFA judicial bodies
decide on the basis of the file.
2.
At the motivated request of one of the parties or at the discretion of
the chairperson, the deputy chairperson or the competent single judge,
a hearing may be arranged to be held, to which all the parties shall besummoned.
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3.
Unless this Code specifies otherwise, the parties are entitled to submit
written statements, examine the case file and order copies of the case file
before any decision is reached.
4.
Hearings are recorded and archived. Parties are not given access torecordings of hearings; however, if a party claims that procedural rules in
its favour have been breached during a hearing, the chairperson of thecompetent judicial body, or his nominee, may allow that party to haveaccess to the recording. Recordings are destroyed after five years.
5.
The FIFA judicial bodies may hold hearings and take decisions in theabsence of one or all of the parties.
6.
If different proceedings are opened against the same association, club or
individual, the competent judicial body may combine the cases and issue
one comprehensive decision.
7.
Hearings of the FIFA judicial bodies are not open to the public, except incases of anti-doping rule violations by individuals if duly requested by the
defendant and approved by the chairperson of the relevant judicial bodyor his nominee. In cases of match manipulation, the relevant chairperson
or his nominee will decide about a public hearing. The chairperson or his
nominee decides at his own discretion if and under what conditions apublic hearing may take place.
8.
At any time prior to the meeting set up to decide the case by the relevant
judicial body, a party may accept responsibility and request the FIFA
judicial bodies to impose a specific sanction. The FIFA judicial bodies may
decide on the basis of such request or render a decision which it considers
appropriate in the context of this Code.
9.
All communications concerning an association, club or individual (including
notifications of proceedings against them and the issuing of the decisions
taken by the FIFA judicial bodies) are addressed to the association or

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club concerned, which must then, if applicable, inform the club or theindividual in person. All such communications by FIFA or the FIFA judicial
bodies take the form of emails sent by the secretariat.
10.
Written communications to FIFA by an association, club or individual shalltake the form of email.

51

Decisions

1.
Decisions are passed by a single judge or by a simple majority of themembers present. If votes are equal, the chairperson has the casting vote.
2.
The FIFA judicial bodies may take decisions via personal meetings,
teleconference, videoconference or any other method.
3.
In principle, the FIFA judicial bodies issue the terms of decisions without
grounds, and only these terms of the decision are notified to the parties,
who are informed that they have ten days from that notification torequest, in writing, a motivated decision. Failure to make such a request
results in the decision becoming final and binding and the parties being
deemed to have waived their right to lodge an appeal.
4.
If the motivated decision is requested within the time limit stipulated
in paragraph 3 above, the time limit for lodging an appeal begins only
on notification of the motivation. Only the parties to which a decision isaddressed can request the motivation.
5.
Any appeal lodged before notification of the motivated decision isregarded exclusively as a request for motivation.
6.
Doping-related decisions are always issued with grounds.

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7.
The FIFA secretariat publishes decisions issued by the FIFA judicial bodies.
Where such a decision contains confidential information, FIFA may decide,
ex officio or at the request of a party, to publish an anonymised or aredacted version.
8.
The request for a motivated decision does not affect the enforcementof the decision, which shall take effect as soon as it is notified, with the
exception of orders to pay a sum of money.
9.
The competent judicial body may rectify any mistakes in calculation or any
other obvious errors in the decision at any time.

Chapter 3. Disciplinary Committee

52

Commencement of proceedings

1.
Proceedings are opened by the secretariat of the Disciplinary Committee:a) on the basis of match officials’ reports;b) where a protest has been lodged;c) at the request of the FIFA Council;d) at the request of the Ethics Committee;e) on the basis of a report filed by FIFA TMS;f) on the basis of article 15 of this Code;g) on the basis of documents received from a public authority;h) ex officio.
2.
Any person or body may report conduct that he or it considers
incompatible with the regulations of FIFA to the FIFA judicial bodies. Suchcomplaints shall be made in writing.

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53

Jurisdiction

1.
The Disciplinary Committee is competent to sanction any breach of FIFA
regulations which does not come under the jurisdiction of another body.
2.
The Disciplinary Committee is, in particular, responsible for:a) sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the matchofficials’ attention;b) rectifying obvious errors in the referee’s disciplinary decisions;c) extending the duration of a match suspension incurred automatically bya sending-off;d) pronouncing additional sanctions.

54

Jurisdiction of the single judges of the Disciplinary
Committee

1.
The chairman can rule alone as a single judge and may delegate hisfunctions to another member of the Disciplinary Committee. In particular,
the chairman or his nominee acting as a single judge may take thefollowing decisions with respect to any of the following matters:a) urgent or protest cases;b) deciding whether disciplinary proceedings shall be initiated, suspended
or terminated;c) suspending a person for up to four matches or for up to three months;d) pronouncing a fine of up to CHF 50,000;e) ruling on extending a sanction;f) settling disputes arising from objections to members of the Disciplinary
Committee;g) pronouncing, altering and annulling provisional measures;h) cases involving matters under article 15 of this Code;i) other infringements that are punishable with a fine only.
2.
The secretariat, under the guidance of the chairperson or the deputy
chairperson, is responsible for assigning the relevant cases to single
judges. The proceedings before a single judge shall be conducted inaccordance with this Code.
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3.
In matters reserved for the single judge, the chairperson of theDisciplinary Committee or his nominee may propose a sanction on
the basis of the existing file before the disciplinary proceedings evencommence. The party concerned may reject the proposed sanction andrequest the commencement of disciplinary proceedings within five daysof notification of the proposed sanction, in the absence of which the
sanction will become final and binding. Should disciplinary proceedings
be opened, the Disciplinary Committee, which shall not contain the single
judge proposing the sanction, will determine the appropriate disciplinary
measure in accordance with this Code. The proposed sanction shallbecome null and void and shall not be taken into consideration by the
Disciplinary Committee.

55

Closure of proceedings

Proceedings may be closed when:a) the parties reach an agreement;b) a party is under insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings according to therespective procedures provided for by the relevant national law;c) a club is disaffiliated from an association;d) the alleged violation has not been proven.

Chapter 4. Appeal Committee

56

Jurisdiction

1.
The Appeal Committee is competent to decide appeals against any of theDisciplinary Committee’s decisions that FIFA regulations do not declare as
final or referable to another body.
2.
The Appeal Committee is also competent to decide appeals against
decisions of the Ethics Committee, as set out in the FIFA Code of Ethics.

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3.
Any party intending to lodge an appeal must inform the Appeal
Committee of its intention to appeal in writing within three days of
notification of the grounds of the decision.
4.
Within five days of expiry of the time limit for the declaration of appeal,
the appellant must file, in writing, the appeal brief. This must containthe appellant’s requests, an account of the facts, evidence, a list of the
proposed witnesses (with a brief summary of their expected testimony)and the appellant’s conclusions. The appellant is not authorised to
produce further written submissions or evidence after the deadline forfiling the appeal brief.
5.
In urgent cases and during final competitions, the chairperson may shorten
the deadline for the submission of the above-mentioned documents.
6.
The appeal fee is CHF 1,000, payable on submission of the appeal brief atthe latest.
7.
The appeal is not admissible if any of the above-mentioned requirements
have not been complied with.

57

Admissibility of appeals

1.
An appeal may be lodged with the Appeal Committee against any
decision passed by the Disciplinary Committee, unless the disciplinary
measure pronounced is:a) a warning;b) a reprimand;c) a suspension of up to two matches or of up to two months (with the
exception of doping-related decisions);d) a fine of up to CHF 15,000 imposed on an association or a club or of up
to CHF 7,500 in other cases;e) decisions passed in compliance with article 15 of this Code.

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2.
Only the motivated decision can be appealed against.
3.
If the Disciplinary Committee combines disciplinary measures, an appeal isadmissible if at least one of the disciplinary measures imposed exceeds theabove limits. In this case, the subsequent instance(s) will only be entitled to
examine the sanctions that exceed the above limit.

58

Standing to appeal

1.
Anyone who has been a party to the proceedings before the Disciplinary
Committee may lodge an appeal with the Appeal Committee, provided
this party has a legally protected interest in filing the appeal.
2.
Associations and clubs may appeal against decisions sanctioning theirplayers, officials or members.

59

Deliberations and decisions

1.
The Appeal Committee deliberates behind closed doors.
2.
Within the framework of the appeal proceedings, the Appeal Committee
has full power to review the facts and the law.
3.
The decision by the Appeal Committee upholds, amends or overturns
the contested decision. In the case of a fundamental mistrial, the Appeal
Committee can overturn the contested decision and refer the case back to
the Disciplinary Committee for reassessment.
4.
If the accused is the only party to have lodged an appeal, the sanction
cannot be increased.
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5.
If new disciplinary offences come to light while appeal proceedings are
pending, they may be judged in the course of the same proceedings. In
such a situation, the sanction can be increased.

60

Jurisdiction of the chairperson ruling alone

The chairperson (or in his absence, the deputy chairperson) of the Appeal
Committee may take the following decisions alone:a) in urgent or protest cases;b) decide on an appeal against a decision to extend a sanction;c) resolve disputes arising from objections to members of the Appeal
Committee;d) rule on appeals against provisional decisions passed by the chairpersonof the Disciplinary Committee;e) pronounce, alter and annul provisional measures;f) in cases where the sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Committee is afine of up to CHF 500,000 or a suspension from playing or carrying out afunction for up to five matches or a period of time up to 12 months;g) in cases where the appeal is clearly inadmissible; orh) at the request of the parties.

61

Effects of appeal

1.
The appeal does not have a suspensive effect except with regard to orders
to pay a sum of money.
2.
The chairperson, the deputy chairperson or, in his absence, thelongest-serving member available, may, on receipt of a reasoned request,
award a stay of execution.

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TITLE IV. SPECIAL PROCEDURES

62

Expulsion and match suspension

1.
A player who has been sent off:a) shall stay in the team dressing room or the doping control room,accompanied by a chaperone, until the names of the players selected
for the doping test are communicated. The player may be allowed to
sit in the stands, provided his integrity and security are safeguarded, he
is not picked for doping control and is no longer wearing his footballequipment;b) is not entitled to attend the post-match press conference or any othermedia activity held in the stadium.
2.
An official who has been sent off or is serving a match suspension:a) may be allowed to sit in the stands, but not in the immediate vicinity of
the field of play, provided his security and integrity are safeguarded;b) shall not enter the dressing room, tunnel or technical area, orcommunicate with or contact any person involved in the match – inparticular, players or technical staff – by any means whatsoever;c) is not entitled to attend the post-match press conference or any othermedia activity held in the stadium.
3.
A sending-off automatically incurs suspension from the subsequent match.
The FIFA judicial bodies may impose additional match suspensions andother disciplinary measures.
4.
The automatic match suspension and any additional match suspension
must be served, even if the sending-off is imposed in a match that is later
abandoned, annulled, forfeited and/or replayed.
5.
If a match is abandoned, cancelled or forfeited (except for a violationof article 22), a suspension is only considered to have been served if theteam to which the suspended player belongs is not responsible for thecircumstances that led to the abandonment, cancellation or forfeit of thematch.
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6.
A match suspension is regarded as no longer pending if a match isretroactively forfeited because a player took part in a match despite being
ineligible. This also applies to the match suspension imposed on the player
who took part in the match despite being ineligible.

63

Carrying over cautions

1.
If a person receives a caution in two separate matches of the same FIFA
competition, he is automatically suspended from the next match inthat competition. Such suspensions must be served before any othersuspension. The Disciplinary Committee may exceptionally depart fromor amend this rule before the start of a particular competition. Any suchdecision reached by the Disciplinary Committee is final and binding.
2.
Cautions received during one competition are not carried over to anothercompetition.
3.
They are, however, carried over from one round to the next in the same
competition. The Disciplinary Committee may exceptionally depart fromthis rule before the start of a particular competition. This provision is
subject to article 64 of this Code and to any derogating rules that FIFA may
issue for a specific competition.
4.
If a person is guilty of a sending-off offence (direct red card), any othercaution he has previously received in the same match is upheld.

64

Cancellation of cautions

1.
The Disciplinary Committee may, at its own discretion and on its own
initiative or at the request of a confederation, cancel cautions that have
not resulted in a sending-off by means of a decision not subject to appeal.

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2.
In any case, the committee may do this only once in any competition.

65

Carrying over match suspensions

1.
As a general rule, every match suspension (of players and other persons) is
carried over from one round to the next in the same competition.
2.
Match suspensions imposed in terms of matches in relation to asending-off pronounced on a player outside of a competition (separate
match[es]) or not served during the competition for which they wereintended (elimination or the last match in the competition) are carriedover as follows:a) FIFA World Cup™ and FIFA Women’s World Cup™: carried over to therepresentative team’s next official match;b) competitions subject to an age limit: carried over to the representative
team’s next official match in the same age group. Where the suspension
cannot be served in the same age group, it shall be carried over to thenext highest age category;c) FIFA Confederations Cup: carried over to the representative team’s next
official match;d) FIFA Club World Cup: carried over to the club’s next official match;e) Women’s Olympic Football Tournament: carried over to therepresentative team’s next official match;f) Men’s Olympic Football Tournament: for players who meet the age
limit, carried over to the representative team’s next official match in thesame age group. Where the suspension cannot be served in the sameage group, it shall be carried over to the next-highest age category. For
players who do not meet the age limit, it shall be carried over to therepresentative team’s next official match;g) confederation competitions for representative teams: carried over tothe representative team’s next official match;h) competitions in which teams have been chosen in accordance withcertain criteria (cultural, geographical, historical, etc.): unless theregulations of these competitions specifically stipulate otherwise, thesuspension is carried over to the representative team’s next official match;i) friendly matches: carried over to the representative team’s next friendly
match.
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3.
If a representative team is hosting a final competition and is consequently
not required to participate in qualifying matches to reach the final
competition of this tournament and its next official match is in that
final competition, any match suspension shall be carried over to therepresentative team’s next friendly match.
4.
In no case may match suspensions resulting from several cautions issued toa player in different matches of the same competition be carried over toanother competition.
5.
Officials of a club or an association shall serve a match suspension with any
club or association of which the official is an official.
6.
Match suspensions that have to be carried over to another competition
must be served by the person concerned, regardless of whether the statusof that person has changed in the meantime – e.g. from player to official
or vice versa.

66

Extending sanctions to have worldwide effect1.
If the infringement is serious, in particular but not limited todiscrimination, the manipulation of football matches and competitions,misconduct against match officials or forgery and falsification, theassociations, confederations, and other organising sports bodies shallrequest the Disciplinary Committee to extend the sanctions they have
imposed so as to have worldwide effect.
2.
Any doping-related legally binding sanction imposed by another national
or international sports association, national anti-doping organisation or
any other state body that complies with fundamental legal principles shall
automatically be adopted by FIFA and, provided that the requirements
described hereunder and in article 71 of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations
are met, shall be automatically recognised by all confederations andassociations.
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3.
The request shall be submitted in writing and enclose a true copy of thedecision. It shall show the name and address of the person who has been
sanctioned and that of the club and the association concerned.
4.
If the Disciplinary Committee discovers that associations, confederations
and other sports organisations have not requested a decision to beextended to have worldwide effect, a decision may still be passed
ex officio.
5.
A worldwide extension will be approved if:a) the person sanctioned has been cited properly;b) he has had the opportunity to state his case (with the exception ofprovisional measures);c) the decision has been communicated properly;d) the decision is compatible with the regulations of FIFA;e) extending the sanction does not conflict with public order or withaccepted standards of behaviour.
6.
The chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee takes his decision, in
principle, without deliberations or orally hearing any of the parties, using
only the file.
7.
The chairperson may exceptionally decide to summon the parties
concerned.
8.
The chairperson is restricted to ascertaining that the conditions of thisarticle have been fulfilled. He may not review the substance of thedecision.
9.
The chairperson shall either grant or refuse to grant the request to havethe sanction extended.

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10.
A sanction imposed by an association or a confederation has the same
effect in each association of FIFA, in each confederation and in FIFA itself
as if the sanction had been imposed by any one of them.
11.
If a decision that is not yet final in a legal sense is extended to haveworldwide effect, any decision regarding extension shall follow theoutcome of the association’s or confederation’s current decision.

67

Review

1.
A review may be requested before the competent judicial body after alegally binding decision has been passed if a party discovers facts or proof
that would have resulted in a more favourable decision and that, evenwith due diligence, could not have been produced sooner.
2.
A request for review shall be made within ten days of discovering thereasons for review.
3.
The limitation period for submitting a request for review is one year after
the decision has become final and binding.

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68

Official languages

1.
This Code exists in the four official languages of FIFA (English, French,
German and Spanish).
2.
In the event of any discrepancy between the four texts, the English version
is authoritative.

69

Gender and number

Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders. Any
term in the singular applies to the plural and vice versa.

70

Specific disciplinary rules

Specific disciplinary rules may be introduced for the duration of a FIFA
final competition. Such rules shall be communicated to the participating
associations/clubs before the first match of the final competition at thelatest.

71

Associations’ disciplinary codes

1.
The associations are obliged to adapt their own disciplinary provisions
to the general principles of this Code for the purpose of harmonising
disciplinary measures. Article 62 paragraph 3 of this Code is considered
mandatory in domestic competitions.

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2.
Upon FIFA’s request, the associations must provide FIFA with a copy of
their updated regulations.
3.
All associations shall also ensure that no one is involved in the
management of clubs or the association itself who is under prosecution
for action unworthy of such a position or who has been convicted of acriminal offence in the past five years.

72

Adoption and enforcement

1.
This Code was adopted by the FIFA Council at its meeting in Paris on
3 June 2019 and comes into force on 15 July 2019.
2.
Disciplinary measures for failure to respect a final CAS decision renderedin the context of ordinary proceedings shall be imposed provided thatthe respective CAS procedure has started after the entry into force of this
Code.

Paris, 3 June 2019

For the FIFA Council:

President:
Gianni Infantino

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Fatma Samoura

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Contents
ArticlePage
PREAMBLE

6

DEFINITIONS

7
9
9
9
9

5

PART I. SCOPE OF APPLICATION
Scope of applicability
Persons covered
Applicability in time
Scope of the Code, omissions, custom, doctrine
and jurisprudence
Division of the Ethics Committee, division of proceedings

10
10

6

PART II. SUBSTANTIVE LAW
Section 1: Basis for sanctions
Basis for sanctions

11
11
11

7
8

Section 2: Disciplinary measures
Type of sanctions
Suspension of sanctions

11
11
12

9
10
11

Section 3: Determining the sanction
General rules
Repeated breaches
Concurrent breaches

12
12
13
13

12

Section 4: Limitation period
Limitation period for prosecution

13
13

Section 5: Rules of conduct
Subsection 1: Duties
General duties
Duty of neutrality
Duty of loyalty
Duty of confidentiality
Duty to report
Duty to cooperate
Subsection 2: Conflicts of interest, financial benefits andprotection of personal rights
Conflicts of interest

14
14
14
14
15
15
16
16

1
2
3
4

13
14
15
16
17
18

19

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Article
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21
22
23

Page

27
28
29

Offering and accepting gifts or other benefits
18
Commission
19
Discrimination and defamation
19
Protection of physical and mental integrity
20
Subsection 3: Forgery and falsification, abuse of position,
betting and gambling
21
Forgery and falsification
21
Abuse of position
21
Involvement with betting, gambling or similar activities
21
Subsection 4: Bribery and corruption, misappropriation and misuseof funds, and match manipulation
22
Bribery and corruption
22
Misappropriation and misuse of funds
23
Manipulation of football matches or competitions
23

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PART III. ORGANISATION AND PROCEDURE
Chapter I: Organisation
Section 1: Competence of the Ethics Committee
Competence of the Ethics Committee

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24
24
24

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34
35
36

Section 2: Common rules for the investigatory andadjudicatory chambers
Composition of the investigatory and adjudicatory chambers
Deputising
Secretariats
Independence
Withdrawal
Confidentiality

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25
25
26
27

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25
26

Chapter II: Procedure
Section 1: Procedural rules
Subsection 1: General rules
37
Parties38
Representation
38bis Legal aid
39
Failure to cooperate
40
Languages used in proceedings
41
Notification of decisions and other documents
42
Effect of decisions

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Contents
Article

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Page
Subsection 2: Proof
Various types of proof
Anonymous participants in proceedings
Identification of anonymous participants in proceedings
Inadmissible evidence
Evaluation of proof
Standard of proof
Burden of proof
Subsection 3: Time limits
Beginning and end of time limit
Compliance
Extension
Subsection 4: Suspension of proceedings
Suspension or continuation of proceedings
Subsection 5: Procedural costs
Procedural costs
Procedural costs in case of closure of proceedings or acquittal
Procedural costs if sanctions are imposed
Procedural compensation

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Section 2: Investigation proceedings
Subsection 1: Preliminary proceedings
Right to submit complaints
Preliminary investigations
Opening of investigation proceedings
Subsection 2: Initiation and conduct of investigation proceedings
Initiation of investigation
Duties and competences of the investigatory chamber
Conduct of proceedings
Competences of the chief of the investigation
Subsection 3: Conclusion of investigation proceedings
Conclusion of investigation proceedings
Final report
Plea bargain (application of a sanction by mutual consent)

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43

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Section 3: Adjudicatory proceedings
Subsection 1: Initiation and conduct of proceedings
Duties and competences of the adjudicatory chamber
Adjudicatory proceedings
Jurisdiction of the chairperson of the adjudicatorychamber ruling alone
Right to be heard
Rejection of motions for the admission of evidence
Subsection 2: Composition, hearings
Composition of the panel
Hearings, principles
Hearings, procedure
Subsection 3: Deliberations, decisions
Deliberations
Taking the decision
Grounds of decision
Form and content of the decision
Enforcement of decisions

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83

Section 4: Appeal and review
Appeal Committee
Court of Arbitration for Sport
Review

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48
49
49

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85

Section 5: Provisional sanctions
Conditions, jurisdiction, procedure
Duration

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50
50

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PART IV. FINAL PROVISIONSExemption from liability
Official languages
Adoption and enforcement

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51
51

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72
73
74
75

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This Code of Ethics was adopted at the meeting of the FIFA Councilof 25 June 2020, based on proposals from the Ethics Committee.
It comes into force on 13 July 2020.
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Preamble
FIFA bears a special responsibility to safeguard the integrity and reputation of
football worldwide. FIFA is constantly striving to protect the image offootball, and especially that of FIFA, from jeopardy or harm as a result ofillegal, immoral or unethical methods and practices. In this connection, thefollowing Code reflects the principles of the FIFA Code of Conduct, which
defines the most important core values for behaviour and conduct within FIFA
as well as with external parties. The conduct of persons bound by this Codeshall reflect the fact that they support the principles and objectives of FIFA, theconfederations, associations, leagues and clubs in every way and refrain fromanything that could be harmful to these aims and objectives. They shall respect
the significance of their allegiance to FIFA, the confederations, associations,leagues and clubs, and represent them and behave towards them honestly,
worthily, respectably and with integrity. They shall further respect the corevalue of fair play in every aspect of their functions. They shall assume socialand environmental responsibility.

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Definitions
For the purpose of this Code, the terms set out below are defined as follows:1.

FIFA: Fédération Internationale de Football Association.

2.

Official: any board member (including the members of the Council),committee member, referee, assistant referee, coach, trainer or any otherperson responsible for technical, medical or administrative matters in
FIFA, a confederation, a member association, a league or a club as well as
all other persons obliged to comply with the FIFA Statutes (except players
and intermediaries).

3.

Match agent: a natural or legal person licensed by FIFA to arrange
matches, in accordance with the pertinent FIFA regulations.

4.

Intermediary: a natural or legal person who, for a fee or free of charge,
represents players and/or clubs in negotiations with a view to concluding
an employment contract or represents clubs in negotiations with a viewto concluding a transfer agreement.

5.

Player: any football player licensed by an association.

6.

Related party: any party related to persons bound by the Code shallbe considered a related party if they fulfil one or more of the following
criteria:a) representative and employee;b) spouse and domestic partner;c) individual sharing the same household, regardless of the personal
relationship;d) other family member with whom they have a close relationshipwithin a third degree;

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Definitionse) legal entity, partnership and any other fiduciary institution, if
the person bound by this Code or the person receiving an undue
advantage alternatively:i) holds a management position within that entity, partnership or
fiduciary institution;ii) directly or indirectly controls the entity, partnership or fiduciary
institution;iii) is a beneficiary of the entity, partnership or fiduciary institution;iv) performs services on behalf of such entity, partnership or
fiduciary institution, regardless of the existence of a formal
contract.
7.

FIFA events: any event, including but not limited to FIFA Congress,
Council or committee meetings, FIFA competitions, as well as any otherevent that is within FIFA’s authority or organised by FIFA.

8.

Ethics Committee: references to the Ethics Committee in this Code shall
include the investigatory and/or adjudicatory chamber.

NB: Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders.
Any term in the singular applies to the plural and vice-versa.
The definitions section in the FIFA Statutes shall also apply.

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Part I. Scope of application

1

Scope of applicability

1.
This Code shall apply to any conduct, other than those specifically provided
by other regulations and connected to the field of play that damages theintegrity and reputation of football and in particular to illegal, immoral andunethical behaviour of the persons covered under art. 2 of this Code.
2.
The rules of conduct defined under part II, section 5 (arts 13 to 29) of thepresent Code shall be included within their respective applicable regulations by
the confederations and member associations unless such rules of conduct are
already included within their respective regulations currently in place.
The principles of the sanctioning system referred to under part II, section 5(arts 13 to 29) of the present Code shall be used as a minimum requirement
guidance by the confederations and member associations.

2

Persons covered

1.
This Code shall apply to all officials and players as well as match agents andintermediaries, under the conditions of art. 1 of the present Code.
2.
The Ethics Committee is entitled to investigate and judge the conduct of
persons who were bound by this or another applicable Code at the time therelevant conduct occurred, regardless of whether the person remains boundby the Code at the time proceedings commence or any time thereafter.

3

Applicability in time

This Code applies to conduct whenever it occurred, including before theenactment of this Code. An individual may be sanctioned for a breach of thisCode only if the relevant conduct contravened the Code applicable at the time
it occurred. The sanction may not exceed the maximum sanction available
under the then-applicable Code.

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Scope of the Code, omissions, custom, doctrine andjurisprudence

1.
This Code governs every subject to which the text or the meaning of its
provisions refers.
2.
If there are any omissions in this Code with respect to procedural rules, and incase of doubts regarding the interpretation of the Code, the Ethics Committee
shall decide in accordance with FIFA custom.
3.
During all its operations, the Ethics Committee may draw on precedents andprinciples already established by sports doctrine and jurisprudence.

5

Division of the Ethics Committee, division of proceedings

1.
The Ethics Committee shall be composed of an investigatory chamber and an
adjudicatory chamber.
2.
Ethics Committee proceedings shall be made up of an investigation and an
adjudicatory process.

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Part II. Substantive law
Section 1: Basis for sanctions

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Basis for sanctions

1.
The Ethics Committee may pronounce the sanctions described in this Code,the FIFA Disciplinary Code and the FIFA Statutes.
2.
Unless otherwise specified, breaches of this Code shall be subject to the
sanctions set forth in this Code, whether acts of commission or omissions,
whether they have been committed deliberately or negligently, whether or
not the breach constitutes an act or attempted act, and whether the parties
acted as principal, accomplice or instigator.

Section 2: Disciplinary measures

7

Type of sanctions

1.
Breaches of this Code or any other FIFA rules and regulations by persons boundby this Code are punishable by one or more of the following sanctions:a) warning;b) reprimand;c) compliance training;d) return of awards;e) fine;f) social work;g) match suspension;h) ban from dressing rooms and/or substitutes’ bench;i) ban on entering a stadium;j) ban on taking part in any football-related activity.
2.
The specifications in relation to each sanction in the FIFA Disciplinary Codeshall also apply.

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8Suspension of sanctions

1.
Upon request from the relevant party, the adjudicatory chamber can decideto suspend the sanction provided for by art. 7(j) of the present Code. The
probationary period shall consist of anything from one to five years.
2.
If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits any other breachof this Code during the probationary period, the suspension shall automaticallybe revoked and the original sanction fully applied and added to the sanction
imposed for the new breach.

Section 3: Determining the sanction

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General rules

1.
When imposing a sanction, the Ethics Committee shall take into accountall relevant factors in the case, including the nature of the offence; thesubstantial interest in deterring similar misconduct; the offender’s assistanceto and cooperation with the Ethics Committee; the motive; the circumstances;the degree of the offender’s guilt; the extent to which the offender accepts
responsibility, and whether the person mitigated his guilt by returning theadvantage received, where applicable.
2.
In case of mitigating circumstances, and if deemed appropriate taking into
account all circumstances of the case, the Ethics Committee may go below
the minimum sanction and/or decide to hand down alternative sanctions asprovided under article 7, paragraph one.
3.
Unless this Code mentions otherwise, the Ethics Committee shall decide thescope and duration of any sanction.
4.
Sanctions may be limited to a geographical area or to one or more specificcategories of match or competition.

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5.
The Ethics Committee may recommend to the responsible FIFA body that it
share information on a case with the appropriate public authorities.

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Repeated breaches

Repeated breaches shall be considered aggravating circumstances, allowing
the Ethics Committee to go beyond the maximum limit provided for aviolation of the relevant rule, as specified in this Code.

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Concurrent breaches

Where more than one breach has been committed, the sanction other thanmonetary sanctions shall be based on the most serious breach, and increased as
appropriate, depending on the specific circumstances.

Section 4: Limitation period

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Limitation period for prosecution

1.
As a general rule, breaches of the provisions of this Code may no longer be
prosecuted after a lapse of five years.
2.
Offences relating to bribery and corruption (article 27), misappropriation andmisuse of funds (article 28), and protection of physical and mental integrity(article 23) may no longer be prosecuted after a lapse of ten years.
3.
The limitation period, when applicable, shall be extended by half its length if aformal investigation is opened before its expiration.
4.
The limitation period, when applicable, shall be interrupted where criminal
proceedings are formally opened against a person bound by this Code during
such proceedings.
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5.
In case of repeated breaches, the limitation period as described above shallstart only after the last of the repeated breaches has ended.

Section 5: Rules of conduct
Subsection 1: Duties

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General duties

1.
Persons bound by this Code shall be aware of the importance of their duties
and concomitant obligations and responsibilities. In particular, persons boundby this Code shall fulfil and exercise their duties and responsibilities diligently,
especially with regard to finance-related matters.
2.
Persons bound by this Code shall respect FIFA’s regulatory framework to theextent applicable to them.
3.
Persons bound by this Code shall appreciate the impact their conduct may
have on FIFA’s reputation, and shall therefore behave in a dignified and ethicalmanner and act with complete credibility and integrity at all times.
4.
Persons bound by this Code must refrain from any activity or behaviour or
any attempted activity or behaviour that might give rise to the appearance orsuspicion of improper conduct as described in the sections that follow.
5.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity for a
maximum of two years.

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Duty of neutrality

1.
In dealings with government institutions, national and internationalorganisations, associations and groupings, persons bound by this Code shall,
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in addition to observing the basic rules of art. 13, remain politically neutral, in
accordance with the principles and objectives of FIFA, the confederations,associations, leagues and clubs, and generally act in a manner compatible with
their function and integrity.
2.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity for a
maximum of two years.

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Duty of loyalty

1.
Persons bound by this Code shall have a fiduciary duty to FIFA, theconfederations, associations, leagues and clubs.
2.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity for a
maximum of two years.

16

Duty of confidentiality

1.
Depending on their function, information of a confidential nature divulged
to persons bound by this Code while performing their duties shall be treatedas confidential or secret by them, if the information is given with theunderstanding or communication of confidentiality and is consistent with FIFA
principles.
2.
The obligation to respect confidentiality survives the termination of any
relationship which makes a person subject to this Code.
3.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity for a
maximum of two years.
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Duty to report

1.
Persons bound by this Code who become aware of any infringements ofthis Code shall inform, in writing, the secretariat and/or chairperson of theinvestigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee directly.
2.
Failure to report such infringements shall be sanctioned with an appropriate
fine of at least CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any footballrelated activity for a maximum of two years.

18

Duty to cooperate

1.
Persons bound by this Code shall assist and cooperate truthfully, fully and ingood faith with the Ethics Committee at all times, regardless of whether they
are involved in a particular matter as a party, as a witness, or in any otherrole. This requires, inter alia, full compliance with Ethics Committee requests,
including without limitation requests to clarify facts; provide oral or written
testimony; submit information, documents or other material; and disclosedetails regarding income and finances, if the Ethics Committee deems it to benecessary.
2.
Persons bound by this Code who are required to cooperate with the Ethics
Committee in a specific case, regardless of whether they are involved as aparty, as a witness, or in any other role, shall treat the information provided
and their involvement strictly confidentially, unless otherwise instructed by the
Ethics Committee.
3.
Persons bound by this Code shall not take any action actually or apparently
intended to obstruct, evade, prevent, or otherwise interfere with any actual or
potential Ethics Committee proceedings.

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4.
In connection with any actual or potential Ethics Committee proceedings,
persons bound by this Code shall not conceal any material fact; make any
materially false or misleading statement or representation; or submit any
incomplete, materially false or misleading information or other material.
5.
Persons bound by this Code shall not harass, intimidate, threaten or retaliate
against someone for any reason related to that person’s actual, potential or
perceived assistance to or cooperation with the Ethics Committee.
6.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity for a
maximum of two years.

Subsection 2: Conflicts of interest, financial benefits and protectionof personal rights

19

Conflicts of interest

1.
Persons bound by this Code shall not perform their duties (in particular,
preparing or participating in the taking of a decision) in situations in which
an existing or potential conflict of interest might affect such performance.
A conflict of interest arises if a person bound by this Code has, or appears tohave, secondary interests that could influence his ability to perform his duties
with integrity in an independent and purposeful manner. Secondary interests
include, but are not limited to, gaining any possible advantage for the persons
bound by this Code themselves or related parties as defined in this Code.
2.
Before being elected, appointed or employed, persons bound by this Codeshall disclose any relations and interests that could lead to situations ofconflicts of interest in the context of their prospective activities.
3.
Persons bound by this Code shall not perform their duties (in particularpreparing, or participating in, the taking of a decision) in situations in which
there is a danger that a conflict of interest might affect such performance. Anysuch conflict shall be immediately disclosed and notified to the organisation
for which the person bound by this Code performs his duties.
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4.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity fora maximum of two years. In serious cases and/or in the case of repetition, aban on taking part in any football-related activity may be pronounced for a
maximum of five years.

20

Offering and accepting gifts or other benefits

1.
Persons bound by this Code may only offer or accept gifts or other benefits toand from persons within or outside FIFA, or in conjunction with intermediaries
or related parties as defined in this Code, where such gifts or benefits:a) have symbolic or trivial value;b) are not offered or accepted as a way of influencing persons bound by thisCode to execute or omit an act that is related to their official activities orfalls within their discretion;c) are not offered or accepted in contravention of the duties of persons
bound by this Code;d) do not create any undue pecuniary or other advantage; ande) do not create a conflict of interest.
Any gifts or other benefits not meeting all of these criteria are prohibited.
2.
If in doubt, gifts or other benefits shall not be accepted, given, offered,promised, received, requested or solicited. In all cases, persons bound by thisCode shall not accept, give, offer, promise, receive, request or solicit fromanyone within or outside FIFA, or in conjunction with intermediaries or relatedparties as defined in this Code, cash in any amount or form. If declining thegift or benefit would offend the giver on the grounds of cultural norms,
persons bound by this Code may accept the gift or benefit on behalf of theirrespective organisation and shall report it and hand it over, where applicable,
immediately thereafter to the competent body.

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3.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity fora maximum of two years. Any amount unduly received shall be included in
the calculation of the fine. In addition to the fine, the gift or benefit unduly
received should be returned, if applicable. In serious cases and/or in the caseof repetition, a ban on taking part in any football-related activity may bepronounced for a maximum of five years.

21

Commission

1.
Unless covered by a genuine commercial agreement, persons bound by thisCode shall not accept, give, offer, promise, receive, request or solicit commission
for themselves or third parties for negotiating deals or conducting otherbusiness in connection with their duties.
2.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity for a
maximum of two years. Any amount unduly received shall be included in thecalculation of the fine. In serious cases and/or in the case of repetition, a ban on
taking part in any football-related activity may be pronounced for a maximumof five years.

22

Discrimination and defamation

1.
Persons bound by this Code shall not offend the dignity or integrity ofa country, private person or group of people through contemptuous,
discriminatory or denigratory words or actions on account of race, skin colour,
ethnicity, nationality, social origin, gender, disability, language, religion,
political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual
orientation or any other reason.
2.
Persons bound by this Code are forbidden from making any public statementsof a defamatory nature towards FIFA and/or towards any other person boundby this Code in the context of FIFA events.
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3.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity fora maximum of two years. In serious cases and/or in the case of repetition, aban on taking part in any football-related activity may be pronounced for a
maximum of five years.

23

Protection of physical and mental integrity

1.
Persons bound by this Code shall protect, respect and safeguard the integrityand personal dignity of others.
2.
Persons bound by this Code shall not use offensive gestures and language inorder to insult someone in any way or to incite others to hatred or violence.
3.
Persons bound by this Code must refrain from all forms of physical or mental
abuse, all forms of harassment, and all other hostile acts intended to isolate,ostracise or harm the dignity of a person.
4.
Threats, the promise of advantages, coercion and all forms of sexual abuse,harassment and exploitation are particularly prohibited.
5.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity fora minimum of two years. In cases of sexual exploitation or abuse, or in serious
cases and/or in the case of repetition, a ban on taking part in any footballrelated activity may be pronounced for a minimum of ten years.

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Subsection 3: Forgery and falsification, abuse of position, betting and gambling

24

Forgery and falsification

1.
Persons bound by this Code are forbidden from forging a document, falsifying
an authentic document or using a forged or falsified document.
2.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity for aminimum of two years.

25

Abuse of position

1.
Persons bound by this Code shall not abuse their position in any way, especiallyto take advantage of their position for private aims or gains.
2.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity for aminimum of two years. The sanction shall be increased accordingly where theperson holds a high position in football, as well as in relation to the relevanceand amount of the advantage received.

26

Involvement with betting, gambling or similar activities

1.
Persons bound by this Code shall be forbidden from participating in,either directly or indirectly, betting, gambling, lotteries or similar events ortransactions related to football matches or competitions and/or any related
football activities.
2.
Persons bound by this Code shall not have any interests, either directly or
indirectly (through or in conjunction with third parties), in entities, companies,
organisations, etc. that promote, broker, arrange or conduct betting,
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gambling, lotteries or similar events or transactions connected with footballmatches and competitions. Interests include gaining any possible advantage
for the persons bound by this Code themselves and/or related parties.
3.
Provided that the relevant conduct does not constitute another violation ofthis Code, violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fineof at least CHF 100,000 and a ban on taking part in any football-related activity
for a maximum of three years. Any amount unduly received shall be includedin the calculation of the fine.

Subsection 4: Bribery and corruption, misappropriation and misuse of funds,
and match manipulation

27

Bribery and corruption

1.
Persons bound by this Code shall not accept, give, offer, promise, receive,
request or solicit any personal or undue pecuniary or other advantage inorder to obtain or retain business or any other improper advantage to or fromanyone within or outside FIFA. Such acts are prohibited regardless of whether
carried out directly or indirectly through, or in conjunction with, third parties.
In particular, persons bound by this Code shall not accept, give, offer, promise,receive, request or solicit any personal or undue pecuniary or other advantage
for the execution or omission of an act that is related to their official activities
and is contrary to their duties or falls within their discretion.
2.
Persons bound by this Code shall refrain from any activity or behaviour thatmight give rise to the appearance or suspicion of a breach of this article.
3.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of at least
CHF 100,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related activity fora minimum of five years. Any amount unduly received shall be included in thecalculation of the fine. The sanction shall be increased accordingly where theperson holds a high position in football, as well as in relation to the relevanceand amount of the advantage received.

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Part II. Substantive law

28

Misappropriation and misuse of funds

1.
Persons bound by this Code shall not misappropriate or misuse funds of FIFA,
the confederations, associations, leagues or clubs, whether directly or indirectly
through, or in conjunction with, third parties.
2.
Persons bound by this Code shall refrain from any activity or behaviour thatmight give rise to the appearance or suspicion of a breach of this article.
3.
Violation of this article shall be sanctioned with an appropriate fine of atleast CHF 100,000 as well as a ban on taking part in any football-related
activity for a minimum of five years. The amount of misappropriated funds
shall be included in the calculation of the fine. The sanction shall be increased
accordingly where the person holds a high position in football, as well as
in relation to the relevance and amount of the funds concerned or of theadvantage received.

29

Manipulation of football matches or competitions

1.
Persons bound by this Code are forbidden from being involved in the
manipulation of football matches and competitions, and shall immediately
report to the Ethics Committee any approach in connection with activities and/or information directly or indirectly related to the possible manipulation of afootball match or competition.
2.
The competence to adjudicate on all conduct related to the manipulation of
football matches or competitions, both on and off the field of play, remains
reserved for the FIFA Disciplinary Committee
3.
The investigatory chamber shall transfer to the Disciplinary Committee any
information obtained during its investigatory activity that might be related to
conduct committed by any persons bound by this Code in violation of this article.

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Part III. Organisation and procedure Chapter I: Organisation
Section 1: Competence of the Ethics Committee

30

Competence of the Ethics Committee

1.
The Ethics Committee has the exclusive competence to investigate and judge
the conduct of all persons bound by this Code where such conduct:a) has been committed by an individual who was elected, appointed orassigned by FIFA to exercise a function;b) directly concerns their FIFA-related duties or responsibilities; orc) is related to the use of FIFA funds.
2.
Where such conduct affects a confederation, a single association or several
associations from the same confederation and where said conduct is notdirectly related to FIFA matters, the Ethics Committee shall only be entitled toinvestigate and judge the case when said conduct has not been investigatedand judged, and/or cannot be expected to be investigated and judged, by therelevant judicial bodies of the association or confederation concerned.
In particular, should no proper proceedings be taken at national and/or
confederation level within three months as from when the matter became
known to the Ethics Committee, the Ethics Committee shall be entitled toinvestigate and judge the respective matter.

Section 2: Common rules for the investigatory and adjudicatorychambers

31

Composition of the investigatory and adjudicatorychambers

The composition of the investigatory and the adjudicatory chambers shall be inaccordance with the FIFA Statutes.

32

Deputising

If the chairperson of either chamber is prevented from acting (whether due
to personal or factual circumstances), one of the deputy chairpersons shall
replace him. In the event that the deputy chairpersons are also prevented fromacting, a member of the relevant chamber, on the basis of seniority, shall act aschairperson.
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33

Secretariats

1.
The general secretariat of FIFA shall provide both the investigatory andadjudicatory chambers with a secretariat with the necessary staff under the
responsibility of the Director of the Secretariat to the Independent Committees.
The secretariat of each chamber shall take care of the respective filing of thecase files, which must be kept for at least ten years.
2.
The secretariat of the investigatory chamber, under the authority of thechairperson of the investigatory chamber or under the authority of the chiefof investigation, shall take charge of the administrative and legal work related
to proceedings and provide support to the investigatory chamber for thecompletion of its tasks; in particular, it shall draft the minutes, final reports andany other document required by the members of the investigatory chamber.
3.
The secretariat of the adjudicatory chamber, under the authority of the chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber, shall take charge of the administrative andlegal work related to proceedings and provide support to the adjudicatory chamber for the completion of its tasks; in particular, it shall draft the minutes and anyother document required by the chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber.

34

Independence

1.
The members of the Ethics Committee shall manage their investigations andproceedings and render their decisions entirely independently and shall avoid
any third-party influence.
2.
The members of the Ethics Committee and their immediate family members
shall not belong to any other judicial body within FIFA, to the FIFA Council or to
any standing committee of FIFA.
3.
The members of the Ethics Committee shall not belong to any body or carry out
any position with regard to FIFA, a confederation or a member association, otherthan being member of a judicial body at FIFA, confederation or national level.
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Part III. Organisation and procedure Chapter I: Organisation

35

Withdrawal

1.
A member of the Ethics Committee shall decline to participate in any
investigation or adjudicatory proceedings concerning a matter where there areserious grounds for questioning his impartiality.
2.
The foregoing shall apply, in particular, in the following cases:a) if the member in question has a direct interest in the outcome of thematter;b) if the member has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party; or
personal, first-hand knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts material tothe proceedings; or has expressed an opinion, other than as part of theproceedings in question, concerning the outcome of the proceedings; orwhen the immediate family of the member is a party to the subject matterin controversy, is a party to the proceedings or has any other interest that
could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceedings and his
impartiality;c) if the member has the same nationality as the party implicated;d) if the member has already dealt with the case in a different function otherthan his function as a member of the Ethics Committee.
3.
Members who decline to participate shall notify the chairperson immediately.
4.
An objection against a member of the Ethics Committee believed to be biased
must be submitted within five days following the identification of the grounds
for non-participation, failing which, such objection shall be deemed waived.
The claim must cite the grounds and, if possible, be substantiated.
5.
The chairperson of the relevant chamber shall decide whether any such claim
is valid if the member in question has not declined to participate of his own
accord. If the objection is against the chairperson, the chairperson or the
deputy chairperson of the FIFA Appeal Committee shall decide.
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Part III. Organisation and procedure Chapter I: Organisation

36

Confidentiality

1.
The members of the Ethics Committee and the members of the secretariats
shall ensure that everything disclosed to them during the course of their duty
remains confidential, in particular, deliberations and private personal data incompliance with the FIFA Data Protection Regulations.
2.
Notwithstanding par. 1 above, the investigatory chamber or the adjudicatorychamber may, if deemed necessary and in an appropriate form, informthe public about or confirm ongoing or closed proceedings, and rectify
information that is wrong or rumours. Any release of such information shallrespect the presumption of innocence and the personality rights of thoseconcerned.
3.
The investigatory chamber or the adjudicatory chamber may, in an appropriate
form and/or via the website FIFA.com, inform the public about the reasonsfor any decision and/or the closure of any investigation. In particular, thechairperson of the adjudicatory chamber may decide to publish the decision
taken, partly or in full, provided that the names mentioned in the decision(other than the ones related to the party) and any other information deemedsensitive by the chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber, are duly anonymised.
4.
In the event of a breach of this article by a member of the Ethics Committee,
the relevant member shall be suspended by a decision taken by the majority ofthe other members of the respective chamber until the next FIFA Congress.

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Part III. Organisation and procedure Chapter II: Procedure
Section 1: Procedural rules
Subsection 1: General rules

37

Parties

Only the accused are deemed to be parties.

38

Representation

1.
During any dealings with the Ethics Committee, parties and other persons boundby this Code may have legal representation at their own cost and expense.
2.
The parties and other persons bound by this Code are free to choose their own
legal counsel or representation.
3.
The Ethics Committee may request that the representatives of parties andother persons bound by this Code submit a duly signed power of attorney.
4.
The Ethics Committee can limit the number of legal representatives of a party
if deemed excessive.

38bis

Legal aid1.
In order to guarantee their rights, individuals bound by this Code and withinsufficient financial means may request legal aid from FIFA for the purpose ofproceedings before the Ethics Committee.
2.
Applicants for legal aid must submit reasoned requests and supporting
documents.
3.
The secretariat establishes a list of pro bono counsel.
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Part III. Organisation and procedure Chapter II: Procedure4.
According to each applicant’s needs, and subject to prior written confirmation
by FIFA, legal aid may be provided as follows:a) The applicant may be released from having to pay the costs ofproceedings.
b) Pro bono counsel may be selected by the applicant from the list
established by the secretariat.
c) The applicant’s own reasonable travel and accommodation costs andthose of witnesses and experts he calls to testify may be covered byFIFA, including the travel and accommodation costs of any pro bonocounsel selected from the list established by the secretariat.
5.
The chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee decides
on requests for legal aid. Such decisions are final.
6.
Further conditions and requirements associated with legal aid and pro bonocounsel may be communicated by circular letter.

39

Failure to cooperate

1.
If the parties or other persons bound by this Code fail to cooperate inany manner or are dilatory in responding to any request from the Ethics
Committee, the chairperson of the appropriate chamber issuing the request
may, after warning them, charge them with a violation of art. 18 of thepresent Code.
2.
To the extent the parties fail to cooperate, the investigatory chamber, in
preparing a final report based on the file in its possession, and the adjudicatorychamber, in reaching a decision based on the file in its possession, may take
into account that behaviour and add the failure to cooperate as an additionalcharge for violation of art. 18 of the present Code.

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Part III. Organisation and procedure Chapter II: Procedure40

Languages used in proceedings

1.
The languages used in proceedings shall be the four official languages of FIFA
(English, French, German and Spanish). The Ethics Committee and parties may
choose any of these languages.
2.
FIFA may, if necessary, use the services of an interpreter.
3.
Decisions shall be taken in the language used during the relevant proceedings.
Efforts will be made to use the parties’ language, wherever possible.

41

Notification of decisions and other documents

1.
Decisions and other documents shall be communicated and notified by email,and may be followed by registered letter.
2.
All of the parties shall be notified of the decisions.
3.
Decisions and other documents intended for persons bound by this Code may
be addressed to the person directly and/or to the association concerned on
condition that it forwards the documents to the intended recipient. In theevent that the documents were not also or solely sent to the party concerned,
these documents shall be considered to have been communicated properly tothe ultimate addressee four days after communication of the documents tothe association.
4
Notification of a decision shall be effected by publication on the FIFA webpage
where:
a) the whereabouts of the party are unknown and cannot be ascertained
despite making reasonable enquiries;

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Part III. Organisation and procedure Chapter II: Procedureb) service is impossible or would lead to exceptional inconvenience; orc) a party has not provided a means of contact despite being instructed
to do so.
5.
Notification via the FIFA webpage is deemed accomplished on the day of
publication.

42

Effect of decisions

1.
Decisions passed by the Ethics Committee shall come into force as soon as they
are communicated.
2.
The Ethics Committee may rectify any obvious errors at any time.

Subsection 2: Proof

43

Various types of proof

1.
Any type of proof may be produced.
2.
Types of proof include, in particular:a) documents;b) reports from officials;c) declarations from the parties;d) declarations from witnesses;e) audio and video recordings;f) expert opinions;g) all other proof that is relevant to the case.
3.
During the investigation, where oral testimony is given, such testimony may be
given in person, by telephone or via video.
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Part III. Organisation and procedure Chapter II: Procedure

44

Anonymous participants in proceedings

1.
When a person’s testimony in ethics proceedings conducted in accordancewith this Code could lead to threats to his person or put him or any person
particularly close to him in physical danger, the chairperson of the competentchamber or his deputy may order, inter alia, that:a) the person not be identified in the presence of the parties;b) the person not appear at the hearing;c) the person’s voice be distorted;d) the person be questioned outside the hearing room;e) the person be questioned in writing through the chairperson of thecompetent chamber or his deputy;f) all or some of the information that could be used to identify the person be
included only in a separate, confidential case file.
2.
If no other evidence is available to corroborate the testimony provided by the
person concerned, such testimony may only be used in the context of imposing
sanctions under this Code if:a) the parties as well as their legal representatives had the opportunity topose questions to the person concerned at least in writing; andb) the members of the judicial body had the opportunity to interview theperson concerned directly and in full awareness of his identity and to assess
his identity and record in full.
3.
Disciplinary measures shall be imposed on anyone who reveals the identity ofany person granted anonymity under this provision or any information that
could be used to identify such person.

45

Identification of anonymous participants in proceedings

1.
To ensure their safety, persons granted anonymity under art. 44 shall beidentified behind closed doors in the absence of the parties. This identification

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shall be conducted by the chairperson of the competent chamber alone, his
deputy or all the members of the competent chamber together, and shall berecorded in minutes containing the relevant person’s personal details.
2.
These minutes shall not be communicated to the parties.
3.
The parties shall receive a brief notice which:a) confirms that the person concerned has been formally identified; andb) contains no details that could be used to identify such person.

46

Inadmissible evidence

Proof that has been obtained by means or ways involving violations ofhuman dignity or that obviously does not serve to establish relevant facts shallbe rejected.

47

Evaluation of proof

The Ethics Committee shall have absolute discretion regarding proof.

48

Standard of proof

The members of the Ethics Committee shall judge and decide on the basis of
their comfortable satisfaction.

49

Burden of proof

The burden of proof regarding breaches of provisions of the Code rests on the
Ethics Committee.

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Part III. Organisation and procedure Chapter II: Procedure
Subsection 3: Time limits

50

Beginning and end of time limit

1.
Time limits notified directly to the party or to a representative appointed by
the party shall commence the day after receipt of the notification.
2.
Where a document is sent to a person through the respective member
association and is not also sent to the person concerned or his legal
representative, the time limit shall commence four days after receipt ofthe document by the association responsible for forwarding it. Where thedocument was also sent to the person concerned or his legal representative,
the time limit shall commence on the day after receipt of the document inquestion.
3.
If the last day of the time limit coincides with a public holiday in the place of
domicile of the person required to comply with the document by a certain
deadline, the time limit shall expire on the next working day.

51

Compliance1.
The time limit has been met only if the action required has been carried out
before expiry of the time limit.
2.
The document must be submitted by email, to the email address indicated in
the correspondence sent from the respective secretariat, to the relevant bodyno later than midnight on the last day of the time limit.
3.
Costs and fees payable are considered to have been paid in time if thepayment has irreversibly been made to FIFA’s account by midnight on the last
day of the time limit.

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52

Extension

1.
Time limits set forth in this Code may not be extended.
2.
Time limits set by the Ethics Committee may be extended upon reasoned
request. A time limit may only be extended for a second time in exceptional
circumstances.
3.
If an extension of the time limit is refused, two extra days may be granted. In
emergencies, the refusal to grant the extension may be announced orally.

Subsection 4: Suspension of proceedings

53

Suspension or continuation of proceedings

1.
In the event that a person bound by this Code ceases to serve in his function
during proceedings, the Ethics Committee shall remain competent to continue
investigatory proceedings and/or render a decision.
2.
In the event that a person bound by this Code ceases to serve in his function,
the investigatory chamber may initiate and conduct the investigation, createa final report and hand it over to the adjudicatory chamber. The adjudicatorychamber may suspend the proceedings or take a decision as to the substanceand impose appropriate sanctions.

Subsection 5: Procedural costs

54

Procedural costs

The procedural costs are made up of the Ethics Committee’s costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the investigation and adjudicatory proceedings.

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55

Procedural costs in case of closure of proceedings or
acquittal

1.
Except as otherwise provided herein, in the event of closure of proceedings or
acquittal, the procedural costs shall be borne by FIFA.
2.
A party may be ordered to pay the procedural costs in part or in full inthe event of closure of proceedings or acquittal if he culpably caused theproceedings to be initiated or hindered the conduct of the proceedings.

56

Procedural costs if sanctions are imposed

1.
Procedural costs shall be borne by the party that has been sanctioned.
2.
If more than one party is sanctioned, the procedural costs shall be assessed
proportionally in accordance with the degree of guilt of the parties.
3.
Part of the procedural costs, in particular the costs of the investigation
proceedings, may be borne by FIFA, as appropriate in respect of the impositionof sanctions.
4.
The procedural costs may be reduced or waived in exceptional circumstances,in particular taking into account the party’s financial circumstances.

57

Procedural compensation

No procedural compensation shall be awarded in proceedings conducted by
the Ethics Committee.

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Part III. Organisation and procedure Chapter II: Procedure
Section 2: Investigation proceedings
Subsection 1: Preliminary proceedings

58

Right to submit complaints

1.
Any person may file a complaint regarding potential breaches of this Codewith the secretariat of the investigatory chamber. Complaints must be
submitted in writing, including available evidence. The secretariat shall informthe chairperson of the investigatory chamber of the complaints and act upon
his instructions.
2.
There is no entitlement for proceedings to be opened following submission of
a complaint.
3.
Any person bound by this Code who lodges a complaint against a person
whom he knows to be innocent or in any other way takes malicious steps
related to the initiation of proceedings under this Code shall be sanctioned
with an appropriate fine of at least CHF 10,000 as well as a ban on taking partin any football-related activity for a minimum of two years.

59

Preliminary investigations

1.
Upon the instruction of the chairperson of the investigatory chamber, thesecretariat of the investigatory chamber shall carry out an initial evaluation of
the documents submitted with the complaint.
2.
The secretariat of the investigatory chamber may initiate preliminary
investigations into a potential breach of this Code based on a filed complaintand shall act upon the instructions of the chairperson of the investigatorychamber. This shall include, in particular, collecting written information,
requesting documents and obtaining witness statements.
3.
The chairperson of the investigatory chamber may initiate preliminary
investigations at his own discretion and at any time.
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60

Opening of investigation proceedings

1.
If the preliminary investigation is found to establish a prima facie case, thechairperson of the investigatory chamber shall open investigation proceedings.
The chamber shall examine aggravating and mitigating circumstances equally.
2.
The parties shall be notified of the opening of investigation proceedings
and the possible rule violation. Limited exceptions to this rule may be madefor safety and security reasons or if such disclosure would interfere with theconduct of the investigation.
3.
The chairperson of the investigatory chamber shall report to the investigatorychamber regularly on non-opened cases.

Subsection 2: Initiation and conduct of investigation proceedings

61

Initiation of investigation

1.
The chairperson of the investigatory chamber shall decide on the initiation of
investigation proceedings.
2.
Grounds do not need to be given for the initiation of investigation
proceedings and the decision may not be contested.

62

Duties and competences of the investigatory chamber

1.
The investigatory chamber may investigate potential breaches of provisionsof this Code on its own initiative or based on complaints at its full andindependent discretion.

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Part III. Organisation and procedure Chapter II: Procedure2.
If the investigatory chamber deems that there is no prima facie case, it shallnot open any investigation proceedings and it shall close the case. In addition
to the internal closure of the proceedings, the investigatory chamber may (i)send a closing letter to the interested party reminding him of his duties, and/or(ii) send a closing letter to the interested party informing him that no breachesof the Code have been found. The investigatory chamber may communicate inthis respect where deemed relevant.
3.
Once the investigation has been completed, the investigatory chamber shallprepare a final report on the investigation proceedings stating the relevant
rules that have been breached for which they require a judgment by the
adjudicatory chamber. The report, together with the related investigation
files, shall be forwarded to the adjudicatory chamber. Should a hearing be
conducted, one or more members of the investigatory chamber may present
the case before the adjudicatory chamber.
4.
If proceedings have been closed, the investigatory chamber may reopen theinvestigation if new facts or evidence come to light that suggest a potential
breach.
5.
As part of the investigatory process, the investigatory chamber may also
investigate breaches of provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code which concern
immoral or unethical conduct.

63

Conduct of proceedings

The chairperson of the investigatory chamber may lead the investigation
proceedings himself as the chief of the investigation or may assign this roleformally to the deputy chairperson or a member of the investigatory chamber.
This person shall be designated the chief of the investigation.

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64Competences of the chief of the investigation

1.
With the assistance of the secretariat, the chief of the investigation shallinvestigate by means of written enquiries and written or oral questioning of
the parties and witnesses. He may also undertake any further investigative
measures relevant to the case; in particular, he may verify the authenticity of
documents relevant to the investigation by procuring affidavits.
2.
If the chairperson of the investigatory chamber is acting as the chief of theinvestigation, he may ask another member of the investigatory chamber toassist him. In cases where the chairperson is not acting as the chief of theinvestigation, the chief of the investigation may ask the chairperson of theinvestigatory chamber to assign additional members of the investigatorychamber to conduct the investigation alongside him. The chairperson may,where that is the case, also assign additional members at his own discretion.
3.
If the chairperson is acting as the chief of the investigation, he may, incomplex cases, engage third parties – under the leadership of the chief of theinvestigation – with investigative duties. The enquiries to be made by suchthird parties must be clearly defined. Where the chairperson is not acting
as the chief of the investigation, the chief of investigation may submit therespective request to the chairperson.
4.
If the parties and the other persons bound by this Code fail to cooperate inestablishing the facts of the case, the chief of the investigation may request
the chairperson of the investigatory chamber to impose a warning, and in caseof recurrence, to impose disciplinary measures, including a ban on taking partin any football-related activity of up to 90 days. If the chairperson is acting as
the chief of the investigation, the deputy chairperson shall decide.

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Subsection 3: Conclusion of investigation proceedings

65

Conclusion of investigation proceedings

If the chief of the investigation considers the investigation to be adequate,
he shall inform the parties that the investigation proceedings have beenconcluded, and shall forward the final report together with the investigation
files to the adjudicatory chamber.

66

Final report

1.
The final report shall contain all the relevant facts and relevant evidence
gathered and mention the possible rule violation.
2.
The final report shall be signed by the chairperson of the investigatorychamber. If the chairperson did not act as the chief of investigation, the chiefof investigation shall also sign the final report.

67

Plea bargain (application of a sanction bymutual consent)

1.
At any time during the investigation, but at the latest when the case is about
to be decided by the adjudicatory chamber or before the hearing as provided
for by art. 74 of the present Code, the parties may enter into an agreementwith the chairperson of the investigatory chamber for the application of asanction by mutual consent.
2.
Should the chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber consider that theagreement complies with this Code and the sanction settled is correctly applied,
the agreement becomes immediately effective and the settled sanction
becomes final and binding, and is not subject to any further appeal.
3.
Should any monetary sanction provided by the plea agreement not be fully
executed by the party concerned within 15 days of the date of the decision,
the agreement is automatically revoked.
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4.
Should any compliance training and/or social work provided by the plea
agreement not be fully executed by the party concerned within the terms
established within the agreement, the agreement is automatically revoked.
5.
Whenever the plea agreement is revoked, the adjudicatory chamber shalldecide the case within the 60 days that follow on the basis of the file, and nofurther plea agreement will be allowed between the parties concerned andthe chairperson of the investigatory chamber.
6.
No plea agreement shall be allowed concerning sanctions related toinfringements of bribery and corruption, misappropriation and misuse offunds, and manipulation of football matches or competitions.

Section 3: Adjudicatory proceedings
Subsection 1: Initiation and conduct of proceedings

68

Duties and competences of the adjudicatory chamber

1.
The chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber shall examine the final reportand investigation files with the assistance of the secretariat.
2.
If the chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber deems that there is insufficientevidence to proceed, he may close the case and shall inform the party
accordingly.
3.
If the chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber deems that the matter should
be adjudicated, he shall proceed with the adjudicatory proceedings andrequest that the secretariat send a copy of the final report and investigation
files to the parties concerned.

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69

Adjudicatory proceedings

1.
The chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber shall inform all the parties
concerned that the case shall be decided either on the basis of the report ofthe investigatory chamber together with the investigation files or – upon therequest of any party concerned – of a hearing to be scheduled.
2.
If there is no request for a hearing, the chairperson of the adjudicatorychamber shall inform the parties of the proceedings and the investigatorychamber that the case shall be decided on the basis of the existing documents
and submissions and shall establish a final deadline to file their respective final
requests.
3.
Should a hearing be held, the secretariat of the adjudicatory chamber shallinform all the parties concerned and shall forward to them a procedural
order, with the rules of the hearing, established by the chairperson of the
adjudicatory chamber.
4.
All the parties in the proceedings and their representatives, subject to art. 38
par. 4, as well as the representatives of the investigatory chamber are entitled
to attend the hearing to discuss and submit orally their respective requests.
5.
As part of the adjudicatory process, the adjudicatory chamber may also rule onbreaches of provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code which concern immoral orunethical conduct.

70

Jurisdiction of the chairperson of the adjudicatorychamber ruling alone

1.
The chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber may take decisions alone in cases
related to breaches sanctioned only with monetary sanctions or when the
sanction to be imposed is a warning, reprimand or compliance training.

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2.
The chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber is also responsible for ratifying
the plea agreement entered into between the parties and the investigatorychamber, where applicable.

71

Right to be heard

Before the adjudicatory chamber issues any final decision, the parties areentitled to submit their position, to present evidence and to inspect evidence
to be considered by the adjudicatory chamber in reaching its decision.
These rights may be restricted in exceptional circumstances, such as when
confidential matters need to be safeguarded, witnesses need to be protectedor if it is required to establish the elements of the proceedings.

72

Rejection of motions for the admission of evidence

1.
In accordance with arts 46 and 47 and other relevant provisions of the Code,the chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber may reject the substantiatedmotions for the admission of evidence submitted by the parties.
2.
The parties shall be informed if their motion has been rejected with a brief
outline of the grounds of the decision. The rejection may not be contested.

Subsection 2: Composition, hearings

73

Composition of the panel

1.
The chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber shall decide the composition andnumber of members in the panel and shall provide them with the relevant
files. The parties shall be informed of the composition of the panel.
2.
Without prejudice to art. 70, the panel’s decisions shall be deemed to be legallyvalid if at least three members are present.
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74

Hearings, principles

1.
Hearings shall be conducted behind closed doors and in the presence in situ ofthe requesting party.
2.
Hearings of the adjudicatory chamber are not open to the public, except incases when it has been duly requested by the defendant. The chairperson or his
nominee decides, at his own discretion, under what conditions a public hearing
may take place.
3.
Misconduct by the party that took place after the submission of the final
report may be addressed by the investigatory chamber during its closing
statement. In this sense, the investigatory chamber may present the relevantfacts and evidence, mention the possible rule violation and submit arecommendation to the adjudicatory chamber on the appropriate measures.
The party shall have the right to respond to these new charges during thehearing. In the absence of a hearing, the investigatory chamber may submit
its recommendation within two days after the party´s position, who will
have then the right to reply in written form in compliance with the deadline
granted by the adjudicatory chamber.
4.
If there is no hearing, the chairperson shall schedule the deliberations anddecide on the number of members and the composition of the panel. The
parties shall be informed to this effect.

75

Hearings, procedure

1.
The chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber shall conduct the hearing inwhatever manner he deems appropriate, provided it is consistent with the Code.
2.
It is the responsibility of the parties to ensure the appearance of the witnesses
requested by them and to pay all costs and expenses associated with theparties’ and the witnesses’ appearance.
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3.
Witnesses called by the parties and/or by the investigatory chamber need toappear in person.
4.
Wherever possible, the hearing shall proceed according to the following
sequence:a) testimony of any witnesses called by the accused and approved by the
adjudicatory chamber;b) testimony of any witnesses called by the investigatory chamber andapproved by the adjudicatory chamber;c) testimony of any witnesses called by the adjudicatory chamber;d) closing statement by the investigatory chamber;e) closing statement by a legal representative, if any, of the accused;f) rebuttal statement by the investigatory chamber and the parties, if
applicable;g) final opportunity for the accused to speak.
5.
Exceptionally, and whenever travel and/or gatherings are restricted and/or not recommended for public safety or health reasons, the chairperson of
the adjudicatory chamber (or the deputy/acting chairperson in the respective
proceedings) may decide to organise a hearing by means of video-conference.

Subsection 3: Deliberations, decisions

76

Deliberations

1.
After the hearing, the adjudicatory chamber shall withdraw to deliberate onits decision in private.
2.
If circumstances permit, the deliberations and decision-taking may be
conducted via telephone conference, video conference or any other similar
method.
3.
Deliberations shall be conducted without interruption, unless there are
exceptional circumstances.
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4.
The chairperson shall decide in which order the various questions will be
submitted for deliberation.
5.
The adjudicatory chamber is not bound by the legal assessment of the facts
submitted by the investigatory chamber. In particular, the adjudicatorychamber may extend or limit the rule violations pointed out by theinvestigatory chamber.
6.
The members present shall express their opinions in the order set out by thechairperson, who always speaks last.
7.
A member of the secretariat shall be present during the deliberations.

77

Taking the decision1.
Decisions shall be taken by the majority of the members present.
2.
Every member present shall vote.
3.
In the event of a tied vote, the chairperson shall have the casting vote.

78

Grounds of decision

1.
The adjudicatory chamber shall communicate its decision in full, written form.
2.
In case of urgency, or under any other special circumstances, the adjudicatorychamber may notify only the terms of the decision to the party, which become
immediately applicable. The full, written decision shall then be notified within
the next 60 days.
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Form and content of the decision

1.
The decision shall contain:a) the composition of the panel;b) the names of the parties;c) the date of the decision;d) a summary of the facts;e) the grounds of the decision;f) the provisions on which the decision was based;g) the terms of the decision;h) notice of the channels for appeal.
2.
The decision shall be signed by the chairperson and transmitted by thesecretariat.

80

Enforcement of decisions

It is the responsibility of the member associations, as well as of the relevant
football officials, to make sure that the decisions taken and notified by the
Ethics Committee are properly implemented, as required by the FIFA Statutes.

Section 4: Appeal and review

81

Appeal Committee

1.
An appeal may be lodged by the party concerned, having a legally protectedinterest justifying amendment or cancellation of the decision, to the Appeal
Committee against any decision taken by the Disciplinary Committee which
relates to infringements to art. 29 of the present Code.
2.
Further provisions relating to lodging an appeal and proceedings before the
Appeal Committee are set out in the FIFA Disciplinary Code (cf. art. 125 ff.).

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82

Court of Arbitration for Sport

1.
Decisions taken by the adjudicatory chamber are final, subject to appeals
lodged with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in accordance with therelevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes.
2.
The aforementioned decisions may also be appealed at CAS by the chief of theinvestigation.

83

Review

1.
The investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee may reopen a case thathas been closed following a legally binding decision if a party discovers
significant new facts or proof that, despite the investigation, could not havebeen produced sooner and would have resulted in a more favourable decision.
In case of such reopening, the provisions regarding investigation proceedings
shall apply.
2.
A request for review shall be made by the party concerned within ten days of
discovering the reasons for review, or it will not be admitted.
3.
The limitation period for submitting a request for review is one year after theenforcement of the decision.

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Section 5: Provisional sanctions

84

Conditions, jurisdiction, procedure

1.
At any time during an investigation, the chairperson of the investigatorychamber or the chief of the investigation may apply provisional sanctions inorder to ensure that investigation proceedings are not interfered with or whena breach of this Code appears to have been committed and a decision on the
merits of the case may not be taken early enough.
2.
The interested party may file an appeal against the provisional sanctions
with the chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber within five days of thenotification of the provisional sanctions.
3.
The chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber shall decide on the appeal
without delay based on the file or he may decide to hear the interested partiesor their representatives.

85

Duration

1.
Provisional sanctions may be valid for a maximum of 90 days. In exceptional
circumstances, the provisional sanctions may be extended by the chairpersonof the adjudicatory chamber upon the request of the chairperson of theinvestigatory chamber for an additional period not exceeding 90 days.
2.
The duration of provisional sanctions shall be taken into account in the final
decision.

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Part IV. Final provisions

86

Exemption from liability

Except in the case of gross negligence or malicious intent, neither the membersof the Ethics Committee nor the secretariat staff may be held personally liable
for any deeds relating to any procedure.

87

Official languages

1.
This Code exists in the four official languages of FIFA (English, French, German
and Spanish).
2.
In the event of any discrepancy between the four texts, the English version
shall be authoritative.

88

Adoption and enforcement

1.
The FIFA Council adopted this Code on 25 June 2020.
2.
This Code comes into force on 13 July 2020.
3.
The procedural rules enacted in this Code shall come into force immediately,
and apply to all proceedings for which adjudicatory proceedings have not beenformally opened, on the date stipulated under par. 2 of the present article.
4.
The provision of art. 34 par. 3 with respect to incumbent members of the Ethics
Committee shall enter into force at the end of their respective mandates.
Zurich, 25 June 2020
For the FIFA Council
President
Gianni Infantino

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Fatma Samoura
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FIFA ANTI-DOPINGREGULATIONS
2021 edition

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3

1. Fédération Internationale de Football Association
President:
Gianni INFANTINO
Secretary General: Fatma SAMOURA
FIFA-Strasse 20
CH-8044 Zurich, Switzerland
Telephone:+41 (0)43 222 7777
Internet:
FIFA.com

2. Medical Committee
Chairman:D’HOOGHE Michel (Belgium)
Members:
AHMED Hosny Abdelrahman (Egypt)
CHIAMPAS George (USA)DOHI Michiko (Japan)
FORSSBLAD Magnus (Sweden)
FULCHER Mark (New Zealand)
HERRERO Helena (Spain)MARTĺNEZ QUIJADA Gerinaldo (Panama)
SINGH Gurcharan Dato’ (Malaysia)
VILLANI Donato (Argentina)
ZERGUINI Yacine (Algeria)

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4 Contents

ArticlePage

PREFACE/OBJECTIVE

9PRELIMINARY TITLE
I. Definitions and interpretation
II. General provisions
1 Scope of application: substantive law
2 Obligations of Member Associations and Confederations
3 Special obligations of Players and teams, Player Support
Personnel and other Persons
4 Testing authority of FIFA
5 Definition of doping

10
25
25
25
26
28
29

FIRST TITLE: SUBSTANTIVE LAW
III. Anti-doping rule violations
30
6 Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites
or Markers in a Player’s Sample
30
7 Use or Attempted Use by a Player of a Prohibited Substanceor a Prohibited Method
31
8 Evading, refusing or failing to submit to Sample collection31
9 Whereabouts failures
31
10 Tampering or Attempted tampering with any part of Doping
Control by a Player or other Person
31
11 Possession of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Methodby a Player or Player Support Person
32
12 Trafficking or Attempted Trafficking in any Prohibited Substanceor Prohibited Method by Player or other Person
32
13 Administration or Attempted Administration by a Player or other
Person to any Player In-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or
Prohibited Method, or Administration or Attempted Administration
to any Player Out-of-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or
any Prohibited Method that is prohibited Out-of-Competition32
14 Complicity or Attempted Complicity by a Player or other Person
33
15 Prohibited association by a Player or other Person
33
16 Acts by a Player or other Person to discourage or retaliate
against reporting to authorities
34

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ArticlePage

IV. The Prohibited List and therapeutic use exemptions
17 Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods identified
on the Prohibited List
18 WADA’s determination of the Prohibited List
19 Therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs)
V. Sanctions on individuals
Section 1: Imposition of period of Ineligibility
20 Ineligibility for presence, Use or attempted Use, or Possessionof a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method
21 Ineligibility for other anti-doping rule violations
Section 2: Elimination, reduction or suspension of period
of Ineligibility
22 Elimination of the period of Ineligibility where there is
No Fault or Negligence
23 Reduction of the period of Ineligibility based on No Significant
Fault or Negligence
24 Elimination, reduction, or suspension of period of Ineligibility orother consequences for reasons other than Fault

35
35
36
36
38
38
38
39

41
41
41
43

Section 3: Increasing the period of Ineligibility and multiple
violations
25 Multiple violations

46
46

Section 4: Common provisions regarding sanctions
on individuals
26 Disqualification of results
27 Forfeited prize money
28 Financial consequences
29 Commencement of period of Ineligibility
30 Status during Ineligibility or Provisional Suspension
31 Automatic publication of sanction

49
49
50
51
51
53
54

VI. Consequences for teams
32 Target Testing of the team
33 Sanction on the club or Association

55
55
55

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ArticlePage

VII. Provisional Suspension
34 Jurisdiction
35 Mandatory Provisional Suspension
36 Optional Provisional Suspension based on an Adverse
Analytical Finding for Specified Substances, Specified Methods,
Contaminated Products, or other anti-doping rule violations
37 Voluntary acceptance of Provisional Suspension
38 Notification
39 “B” Sample proves negative

56
56
56

VIII. Statute of limitations
40 Statute of limitations

61
61

SECOND TITLE: TESTING AND PROCEDURAL RULES
IX. Testing
Section 1: Testing
41 General rules for Testing
42 Test distribution plan
43 Selection of Players for Testing
44 Sample collection personnel: FIFA Doping Control Officers,
assistants, Chaperones
45 Failure to comply with Doping Control
46 Whereabouts information

57
58
59
59

62
62
62
63
65
66
67
69

Section 2: Analysis of Samples
47 Use of accredited, approved and other laboratories
48 Standards for Sample analysis and reporting
49 Further analysis of Samples
50 Property
51 Guidance

69
69
70
70
71
71

Section 3: Results management
52 Management process
53 Initial review regarding Adverse Analytical/Atypical Findings
and notification
54 Analysis of the “B” Sample in Adverse Analytical Findings
55 Review of Atypical Passport Findings and Adverse
Passport Findings
56 Review of whereabouts failures
57 Review of other anti-doping rule violations

71
71

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76
77
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58 Letter of charge
59 Retirement from sport
60 Retired Players returning to Competition

78
80
80

X. Procedural rules
Section 1: General provisions
61 Jurisdiction
62 Addressees of decisions and other documents
63 Form of decisions

82
82
82
82
83

Section 2: Fair hearing
64 Right to a fair hearing
65 Hearing principles
66 Considerations of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee
67 Procedure at a Competition

83
83
84
85
86

Section 3: Proof of doping
68 Burdens and standards of proof
69 Methods of establishing facts and presumptions

86
86
87

Section 4: Confidentiality and reporting
70 Information concerning asserted anti-doping rule violations
71 Public Disclosure
72 Information concerning whereabouts and Testing
73 Data privacy

89
89
91
92
93

Section 5: Implementation of decisions
74 Implementation of decisions
75 Recognition by Associations and Confederations

94
94
95

Section 6: Appeals
76 Decisions subject to appeal
77 Appeals against decisions regarding anti-doping rule violations,
Consequences, Provisional Suspensions, implementation ofdecisions and authority
78 Failure to render a timely decision
79 Appeals relating to TUEs
80 Notification of appeal decisions
81 Appeal against decisions pursuant to article 85(Sanctions and costs assessed against sporting bodies)

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99
100
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ArticlePage

82 Time for filing appeals
83 FIFA not required to exhaust internal remedies
84 Appeals against decisions granting or denying a therapeuticuse exemption
85 Sanctions and costs assessed against sporting bodies

100
101
102
102

FINAL TITLE
86 Official languages
103
87 Additional regulations
103
88 Amendments to and interpretation of the Anti-Doping Regulations 103
ANNEXES
A. The Prohibited List
B. Therapeutic use exemption (TUE)
C. Whereabouts
D. Testing procedure
E. Forms
F. List of WADA-accredited laboratories

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111
127
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147

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Preface/Objective
International federations such as FIFA and the IOC have played a pioneeringrole in the fight against doping in sport. FIFA introduced regular Doping
Controls in 1966 to ensure that the results of the Matches in its International
Competitions are a fair reflection of the strength of the contenders.
The fundamental aims of Doping Control are threefold. They are to:a) safeguard the physical health and mental integrity of players;b) uphold and preserve the ethics of sport;c) ensure that all competitors have an equal chance.
FIFA and its Medical Committee acknowledge their responsibility in thefight against doping through stringent anti-doping provisions, ongoingdata collection and support for the research promoted by experts.
The FIFA Medical Committee has overall responsibility for implementing
Doping Control at all FIFA Competitions and Out-of-Competition as well
as for approving applications for therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs). It
delegates the management and administration of doping tests to the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit, which coordinates the FIFA Doping Control Officers. It
delegates the evaluation and the approval of TUEs to the FIFA TUE Advisory
Group. FIFA follows a strategy of basing any decisions and regulations
on the specifics of the game, scientific evidence and analysis of validated
doping statistics.
Any aspect of Doping Control or anti-doping Education may also bedelegated by FIFA to a Delegated Third Party. However, FIFA shall require
the Delegated Third Party to perform such aspects in compliance with theCode, WADA’s International Standards, and these Regulations. FIFA and its
Medical Committee shall always remain fully responsible for ensuring thatany delegated aspects are performed in compliance with the Code.
FIFA has accepted the World Anti-Doping Code 2021 and implemented
the applicable provisions of this Code and the International Standards
in these Regulations. Thus, in the event of questions, the comments
annotating various provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code 2021 and theInternational Standards shall be used to construe these Regulations whereapplicable. The Code and the International Standards shall be considered
integral parts of these Regulations and shall prevail in the event of any
conflict.
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10 I. Definitions and interpretation

PRELIMINARY TITLE
1. ADAMS: the Anti-Doping Administration and Management System is a
web-based database management tool for data entry, storage, sharing,and reporting designed to assist stakeholders and WADA in their antidoping operations in conjunction with data protection legislation.
2. Administration: providing, supplying, supervising, facilitating, orotherwise participating in the Use or Attempted Use by another
Person of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method. However,this definition shall not include the actions of bona fide medical
personnel involving a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method
used for genuine and legal therapeutic purposes or other acceptablejustification and shall not include actions involving Prohibited
Substances which are not prohibited in Out-of-Competition Testing
unless the circumstances as a whole demonstrate that such Prohibited
Substances are not intended for genuine and legal therapeutic
purposes or are intended to enhance sport performance.
3. Adverse Analytical Finding: a report from a WADA-accredited
laboratory or other WADA-approved laboratory that, consistent with
the International Standard for Laboratories establishes in a Sample thepresence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers orevidence of the Use of a Prohibited Method.
4. Adverse Passport Finding: a report identified as an Adverse Passport
Finding as described in the applicable International Standards.
5. Aggravating Circumstances: circumstances involving, or actions by,
a Player or other Person which may justify the imposition of a period
of Ineligibility greater than the standard sanction. Such circumstances
and actions shall include, but not be limited to: the Player or other
Person Using or Possessing multiple Prohibited Substances or Prohibited
Methods, Using or Possessing a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited
Method on multiple occasions or committing multiple other antidoping rule violations; a normal individual would be likely to enjoy
the performance-enhancing effects of the anti-doping rule violation(s)beyond the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility; the Player orother Person engaging in deceptive or obstructing conduct to avoid
the detection or adjudication of an anti-doping rule violation; or thePlayer or other Person engaging in Tampering during the Results
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I. Definitions and interpretation

examples of circumstances and conduct described herein are notexclusive and other similar circumstances or conduct may also justify
the imposition of a longer period of Ineligibility.
6. Anti-Doping Activities: anti-doping Education and information, test
distribution planning, maintaining a Registered Testing Pool, managing
Athlete Biological Passports, conducting Testing, organising the analysis
of Samples, gathering intelligence and conducting investigations,processing of TUE applications, Results Management, hearings,
monitoring and enforcing compliance with any Consequences imposed,
and all other activities related to anti-doping to be carried out by or on
behalf of an Anti-Doping Organisation, as set out in the Code and/or
the International Standards.
7. Anti-Doping Organisation: WADA or a Signatory that is responsible
for adopting rules for initiating, implementing or enforcing any
part of the Doping Control process. This includes, for example, theInternational Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic
Committee, other Major Event Organisations that conduct Testing attheir events, international federations and NADOs.
8. Association: a football Association recognised by FIFA. It is a memberof FIFA unless a different meaning is evident from the context.
9. Athlete Biological Passport: the programme and methods ofgathering and collating data as described in the International Standard
for Testing and Investigations and the International Standard forLaboratories
10. Attempt: purposely engaging in conduct that constitutes a substantial
step in a course of conduct planned to culminate in the commission ofan anti-doping rule violation. However, there shall be no anti-doping
rule violation based solely on an Attempt to commit a violation if the
Person renounces the Attempt prior to it being discovered by a third
party not involved in the Attempt.
11. Atypical Finding: a report from a WADA-accredited laboratory orother WADA-approved laboratory which requires further investigation
as provided by the International Standard for Laboratories or related
Technical Documents prior to the determination of an Adverse
Analytical Finding.

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12. Atypical Passport Finding: a report described as an Atypical Passport
Finding as described in the applicable International Standards.
13. CAS: the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Lausanne, Switzerland.
14. Chain of Custody: the sequence of individuals or organisations who
have responsibility for the custody of a Sample from the provision of
the Sample until the Sample has been delivered to the laboratory for
analysis.
15. Chaperone: an official who is suitably trained and authorised by FIFA
to carry out specific duties including one or more of the following(at FIFA’s discretion): notification of the Player selected for Sample
collection; accompanying and observing the Player until arrival at the
Doping Control room; accompanying and/or observing the Players
who are present in the Doping Control room and/or witnessing andverifying the provision of the Sample where the training specificallyqualifies them to do so.
16. Code: the World Anti-Doping Code.
17. Competition: a series of football Matches conducted together
under one ruling body (e.g. the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup™).
“Competition” in the official FIFA terminology corresponds to “event”
in the World Anti-Doping Code.
18. Competition Period: the time between the beginning and end of
a Competition, as established by the ruling body of the Competition.
“Competition Period” in the official FIFA terminology corresponds to“event period” in the World Anti-Doping Code.
19. Competition Venues: venues designated by the ruling body for theCompetition, including, but not limited to, stadiums, team hotels,
hospitals and training sites. “Competition Venues” in the official FIFAterminology corresponds to “event venues” in the World Anti-Doping
Code.
20. Confederation: a group of Associations recognised by FIFA thatbelong to the same continent (or assimilable geographic region).

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21. Consequences of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (“Consequences”):
a Player’s or other Person’s violation of an anti-doping rule may result in
one or more of the following: (a) Disqualification, meaning the Player’s
results in a particular Competition are invalidated, with all the resulting
Consequences including the forfeiture of any medals, points andprizes; (b) Ineligibility, meaning the Player or other Person is barred on
account of an anti-doping rule violation for a specified period of timefrom participating in any Competition or other activity or funding as
provided in art. 20 (Ineligibility for presence, Use or Attempted Use,or Possession of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method);(c) Provisional Suspension, meaning the Player or other Person is barred
temporarily from participating in any Competition or activity prior to
the final decision at a hearing conducted under art. 64 (Right to a fairhearing); (d) Financial Consequences, meaning a financial sanction
imposed for an anti-doping rule violation or to recover costs associatedwith an anti-doping rule violation; and (e) Public Disclosure, meaning
the dissemination or distribution of information to the general public
or Persons beyond those Persons entitled to earlier notification inaccordance with art. 71 (Public Disclosure). Teams may also be subject
to Consequences as provided in art. 33 (Sanction on the club or
Association).
22. Contaminated Product: a product that contains a Prohibited
Substance that is not disclosed on the product label or in information
available in a reasonable internet search.
23. Decision Limit: the value of the result for a threshold substance in a
Sample, above which an Adverse Analytical Finding shall be reported,as defined in the International Standard for Laboratories.
24. Delegated Third Party: any Person to which FIFA delegates any aspectof Doping Control or anti-doping Education programmes including,but not limited to, third parties or other Anti-Doping Organisations
that conduct Sample collection or other Doping Control services oranti-doping educational programmes for FIFA, or individuals serving
as independent contractors who perform Doping Control services forFIFA (e.g. non-employee Doping Control Officers or Chaperones). Thisdefinition does not include CAS.
25. Disqualification: see “Consequences of Anti-Doping Rule Violations”
above.

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26. Doping Control: all steps and processes from test distribution planning
through to ultimate disposition of any appeal and the enforcement ofConsequences, including all steps and processes in between, including
but not limited to, Testing, investigations whereabouts, TUEs, Sample
collection and handling, laboratory analysis, Results Management,
hearings and appeals, and investigations or proceedings relating
to violations of art. 30 (Status during Ineligibility or Provisional
Suspension).
27. Education: the process of instilling values and developing behaviour
that foster and protect the spirit of sport, and to prevent intentional
and unintentional doping.
28. Fault: Fault is any breach of duty or any lack of care appropriate to aparticular situation. Factors to be taken into consideration in assessing
a Player’s or other Person’s degree of Fault include, for example, thePlayer’s or other Person’s experience, whether the Player or other
Person is a Protected Person, special considerations such as impairment,
the degree of risk that should have been perceived by the Player andthe level of care and investigation exercised by the Player in relation
to what should have been the perceived level of risk. In assessing thePlayer’s or other Person’s degree of Fault, the circumstances consideredmust be specific and relevant to explain the Player’s or other Person’s
departure from the expected standard of behaviour. Thus, for example,
the fact that a Player would lose the opportunity to earn large sumsof money during a period of Ineligibility, or the fact that the Player
only has a short time left in his career, or the timing of the sporting
calendar, would not be relevant factors to be considered in reducing
the period of Ineligibility under art. 23 par. 1 or 2 (Reduction of theperiod of Ineligibility based on No Significant Fault or Negligence).
29. FIFA Anti-Doping Unit: the functional body to which the FIFA Medical
Committee delegates the management and administration of Doping
Control.
30. FIFA Disciplinary Committee: a FIFA judicial body, embodied in
the FIFA Statutes, that is authorised to sanction any breach of FIFA
Regulations which does not come under the jurisdiction of anotherbody.
31. FIFA Doping Control Officer: a natural Person who carries out
Sample collections for FIFA. The FIFA Doping Control Officer must be a
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doctor. If national legislation allows professionals other than doctors
to collect Samples of bodily fluids (with all consequences including
medical confidentiality according to medical ethics and the HippocraticOath), an exception may be made by the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit.
32. FIFA Regulations: the Statutes, regulations, guidelines, directives
and circulars of FIFA and the Beach Soccer and Futsal Laws of theGame issued by FIFA as well as the Laws of the Game issued by The
International Football Association Board.
33. Financial Consequences: see “Consequences of Anti-Doping Rule
Violations” above.
34. In-Competition: the period commencing at 23:59 on the day before
a Match in which the Player is scheduled to participate through to theend of said Match and including the Sample collection process relating
to said Match.
35. Independent Observer Programme: a team of observers and/or
auditors, under the supervision of WADA, who observe and provide
guidance on the Doping Control process prior to or during certain
Competitions and report on their observations as part of WADA’s
compliance monitoring programme.
36. Independent Witness: a person invited by FIFA, the laboratory
or WADA to witness parts of the analytical testing process. The
Independent Witness shall be independent of the Player and his
representative(s), the laboratory, FIFA, the Confederations, Member
Associations or WADA, as applicable. The Independent Witness may becompensated for his service.
37. Ineligibility: see “Consequences of Anti-Doping Rule Violations”
above.
38. Institutional Independence: hearing panels on appeal shall befully independent institutionally of the Anti-Doping Organisation
responsible for Results Management. They must not, therefore, in
any way be administered by, connected or subject to the Anti-Doping
Organisation which is responsible for Results Management.
39. International Competition: a Competition where the International
Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, an
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16 I. Definitions and interpretationinternational federation, a Major Event Organisation, or anotherinternational sports organisation is the ruling body for the Competition
or appoints the technical officials for the Competition (“International
Competition” in the official FIFA terminology corresponds to“international event” in the World Anti-Doping Code).
40. International-Level Player: a Player designated by FIFA or a
Confederation as being within FIFA’s or the Confederation’s Registered
Testing Pool and/or a Player who participates regularly in International
Competitions (as defined in these Regulations) and/or Competitions
under the jurisdiction of a Confederation.
41. International Standard: a standard adopted by WADA in support of
the Code. Compliance with an International Standard (as opposed toanother alternative standard, practice or procedure) shall be sufficient
to conclude that the procedures addressed by the International
Standard were performed properly. International Standards shall
include any Technical Documents issued pursuant to the International
Standard.
42. Major Event Organisations: the continental associations of National
Olympic Committees and other international multi-sport organisations
that function as the ruling body for any continental, regional or other
International Competition.
43. Marker: a compound, group of compounds or biological variable(s)that indicates the Use of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method.
44. Match: a single football Match. “Match” in the official FIFAterminology corresponds to “Competition” in the World Anti-Doping
Code.
45. Match Officials: the referee, assistant referees, fourth official, MatchCommissioner, referee inspector, the Person in charge of safety, andany other Persons appointed by FIFA to assume responsibility inconnection with a Match.
46. Medical Committee: the FIFA standing committee, embodied in theFIFA Statutes, that deals with all medical aspects of football, including
any doping-related matters.

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47. Member Association: an Association that has been admitted into
membership of FIFA by the FIFA Congress.
48. Metabolite: any substance produced by a biotransformation process.
49. Minimum Reporting Level: the estimated concentration of a
Prohibited Substance or its Metabolite(s) or Marker(s) in a Sample
below which WADA-accredited laboratories should not report that
Sample as an Adverse Analytical Finding.
50. Minor: a natural Person who has not reached the age of 18 years.
51. National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO): the entity(ies)designated by each country as possessing the primary authority andresponsibility to adopt and implement anti-doping rules, direct thecollection of Samples, the management of test results, and the conductof hearings at national level. If this designation has not been made by
the competent public authority(ies), the entity shall be the country’s
National Olympic Committee or its designee.
52. National Competition: a sports Competition that may involve
National- or International-Level Players and that is not an International
Competition.
53. National-Level Player: a Player who competes in sport at national
level, as defined by each NADO, consistent with the International
Standard for Testing and Investigations.
54. National Olympic Committee: the organisation recognised by
the International Olympic Committee. The term National Olympic
Committee shall also include the national sport confederation in thosecountries where the national sport confederation assumes typical
National Olympic Committee responsibilities in the anti-doping area.
55. No Fault or Negligence: the Player or other Person’s establishingthat he or she did not know or suspect, and could not reasonably have
known or suspected even with the exercise of utmost caution, thathe or she had Used or been administered the Prohibited Substance or
Prohibited Method or otherwise violated an anti-doping rule. Except in
the case of a Protected Person or Recreational Player, for any violationof art. 6 (Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or

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Markers in a Player’s Sample), the Player must also establish how theProhibited Substance entered the Player’s system.
56. No Significant Fault or Negligence: the Player or other Person’s
establishing that any Fault or negligence, when viewed in the totalityof the circumstances and taking into account the criteria for No Fault
or negligence, was not significant in relationship to the anti-doping
rule violation. Except in the case of a Protected Person or Recreational
Player, for any violation of art. 6 (Presence of a Prohibited Substanceor its Metabolites or Markers in a Player’s Sample), the Player must alsoestablish how the Prohibited Substance entered the Player’s system.
57. Official: every board member, committee member, referee andassistant referee, coach, trainer and any other Person responsible fortechnical, medical and administrative matters in FIFA, a Confederation,
Association, League or club as well as all other Persons obliged tocomply with the FIFA Statutes (except Players).
58. Operational Independence: this means that (1) board members, staff
members, commission members, consultants and Officials of FIFA or its
affiliates, as well as any Person involved in the investigation and preadjudication of a matter, cannot be appointed as members and/or clerks(to the extent that such clerk is involved in the deliberation process and/or drafting of any decision) of hearing panels of FIFA and (2) hearing
panels shall be in a position to conduct the hearing and decision-making
process without interference from FIFA or any third party. The objective
is to ensure that members of the hearing panel or individuals otherwise
involved in the decision of the hearing panel, are not involved in theinvestigation of, or decisions to proceed with, the case.
59. Out-of-Competition: any period which is not In-Competition.
60. Participant: any Player or Player Support Personnel.
61. Person: a natural Person or an organisation or other entity.
62. Player: any football Player licensed by an Association.
63. Player Support Personnel: any coach, trainer, manager, agent, teamstaff, official, medical or paramedical personnel, parent or any other
Person working with, treating or assisting a Player participating in or
preparing for sports competition.
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64. Possession: the actual, physical possession, or the constructive
possession (which shall be found only if the Person has exclusive
control or intends to exercise control over the Prohibited Substance or
Prohibited Method or the premises in which a Prohibited Substance or
Prohibited Method exists); provided, however, that if the Person does
not have exclusive control over the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited
Method or the premises in which a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited
Method exists, constructive Possession shall only be found if the Person
knew about the presence of the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited
Method and intended to exercise control over it. However, there shallbe no anti-doping rule violation based solely on Possession if, prior
to receiving notification of any kind that the Person has committed
an anti-doping rule violation, the Person has taken concrete action
demonstrating that the Person never intended to have Possession
and has renounced Possession by explicitly declaring it to an AntiDoping Organisation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in thisdefinition, the purchase (including by any electronic or other means) ofa Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method constitutes Possession by
the Person who makes the purchase.
65. Prohibited List: the list identifying the Prohibited Substances andProhibited Methods.
66. Prohibited Method: any method so described on the Prohibited List.
67. Prohibited Substance: any substance, or class of substances, so
described on the Prohibited List.
68. Protected Person: a Player or other natural Person who at the timeof the anti-doping rule violation: (i) has not reached the age of 16
years; (ii) has not reached the age of 18 years and is not included in any
Registered Testing Pool and has never competed in any International
Competition in an open category; or for whom (iii) for reasons otherthan age, it has been determined lacks legal capacity under theapplicable national legislation.
69. Provisional Hearing: for the purposes of art. 64 (Right to a fairhearing), an expedited abbreviated hearing occurring prior to ahearing under these Regulations that provides the Player with notice
and an opportunity to be heard in either written or oral form.

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70. Provisional Suspension: see “Consequences of Anti-Doping Rule
Violations” above.
71. Public Disclosure or Publicly Disclose: see “Consequences of AntiDoping Rule Violations” above.
72. Recreational Player: a natural Person who is so defined by therelevant NADO; provided, however, the term shall not include any
Person who, within the five years prior to committing any antidoping rule violation, has been an International-Level Player (asdefined by FIFA or a Confederation) or a National-Level Player (asdefined by the relevant NADO), has represented any country in an
International Competition in an open category or has been included
in any Registered Testing Pool or other whereabouts information pool
maintained by FIFA, a Confederation or a NADO.
73. Regional Anti-Doping Organisation: a regional entity designated bymember countries to coordinate and manage delegated areas of theirnational anti-doping programmes, which may include the adoption
and implementation of anti-doping rules, the planning and collectionof Samples, the management of results, the review of TUEs, theconduct of hearings and the conduct of Educational programmes at aregional level.
74. Registered Testing Pool: a pool of high-priority Players establishedseparately at international level by FIFA, and national level by NADOs,
who are subject to focused In-Competition and Out-of-Competition
Testing as part of FIFA’s or the NADO’s test distribution plan andtherefore are required to provide whereabouts information asprovided in Annexe C of these Regulations and the International
Standard for Testing and Investigations.
75. Results Management: the process encompassing the timeframe
between notification in accordance with art. 5 of the International
Standard for Results Management, or in certain cases (e.g. AtypicalFinding, Athlete Biological Passport, whereabouts failure), such prenotification steps expressly provided for in art. 5 of the International
Standard for Results Management, through the charge until the final
resolution of the matter, including the end of the hearing process at
first instance or on appeal (if an appeal was lodged).

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76. Sample or Specimen: any biological material collected for the
purposes of Doping Control.
77. Sample Collection Session: all of the sequential activities that
directly involve the Player from the point that initial contact is madeuntil the Player leaves the Doping Control room after having provided
his Sample(s).
78. Signatories: those entities accepting the Code and agreeing to
implement the Code, as provided in art. 23 of the WADA Code 2021.
79. Specified Method: see art. 17 par. 3 (Prohibited Substances andProhibited Methods identified on the Prohibited List).
80. Specified Substance: see art. 17 par. 3 (Prohibited Substances andProhibited Methods identified on the Prohibited List).
81. Strict Liability: the rule which provides that under art. 6 (Presenceof a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in a Player’s
Sample) and art. 7 (Use or Attempted Use by a Player of a Prohibited
Substance or a Prohibited Method), it is not necessary that intent, Fault,
negligence, or knowing Use on the Player’s part be demonstrated by
the Anti-Doping Organisation in order to establish an anti-doping ruleviolation.
82. Substance of Abuse: see art. 17 par. 4 (Substances of Abuse).
83. Substantial Assistance: for the purposes of art. 24 par. 1 (Substantial
Assistance in discovering or establishing Code violations), a Person
providing Substantial Assistance must: (1) fully disclose in a signed
written statement or recorded interview all information he or she
possesses in relation to anti-doping rule violations or other proceeding
described in art. 24 par. 1 (Substantial Assistance in discoveringor establishing Code violations), and (2) fully cooperate with theinvestigation and adjudication of any case or matter related to that
information, including, for example, presenting testimony at a hearing
if requested to do so by an Anti-Doping Organisation or hearing panel.
Further, the information provided must be credible and must comprise
an important part of any case or proceeding which is initiated or, if nocase or proceeding is initiated, must have provided a sufficient basis onwhich a case or proceeding could have been brought.

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84. Suitable Specific Gravity for Analysis: for Samples with a minimum
volume of 90ml and less than 150ml, this shall be specific gravity
measured at 1.005 with a refractometer, or 1.010 or higher with lab
sticks. For Samples with a volume of 150ml and above, it shall be
specific gravity measured at 1.003 or higher with a refractometer only.
85. Tampering: intentional conduct which subverts the Doping Control
process but which would not otherwise be included in the definitionof Prohibited Methods. Tampering shall include, without limitation,offering or accepting a bribe to perform or fail to perform an act,
preventing the collection of Sample, affecting or making impossible
the analysis of a Sample, falsifying documents submitted to an AntiDoping Organisation or TUE committee or hearing panel, procuringfalse testimony from witnesses, committing any other fraudulent act
upon the Anti-Doping Organisation or hearing body to affect Results
Management or the imposition of Consequences, and any other similarintentional interference or Attempted interference with any aspect of
Doping Control.
86. Target Testing: selection of specific Players for Testing based on
criteria set forth in the International Standard for Testing andInvestigations.
87. Team Activity: all sporting activities (e.g. training, travelling, tacticalsessions) on a collective basis with the Player’s team or other activities
under the supervision of the team (e.g. treatment by a team doctor).
88. Technical Document: a document adopted and published by WADA
from time to time that contains mandatory technical requirements on
specific anti-doping topics as set forth in an International Standard.
89. Testing: the parts of the Doping Control process involving test
distribution planning, Sample collection, Sample handling, and Sample
transport to the laboratory.
90. Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE): a therapeutic use exemption
allows a Player with a medical condition to use a Prohibited Substanceor Prohibited Method, but only if the conditions set out in art. 19(Therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs)) and the International Standard for
Therapeutic Use Exemptions are met.

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91. Trafficking: selling, giving, transporting, sending, delivering or
distributing (or Possessing for any such purpose) a Prohibited Substanceor Prohibited Method (either physically or by any electronic or othermeans) by a Player, Player Support Personnel or any other Person
subject to the authority of an Anti-Doping Organisation to any third
party; provided, however, this definition shall not include the actionsof “bona fide” medical personnel involving a Prohibited Substance
Used for genuine and legal therapeutic purposes or other acceptablejustification, and shall not include actions involving Prohibited
Substances which are not prohibited in Out-of-Competition Testing
unless the circumstances as a whole demonstrate such Prohibited
Substances are not intended for genuine and legal therapeutic
purposes or are intended to enhance sport performance.
92. UNESCO Convention: the International Convention against Doping inSport adopted by the 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference
on 19 October, 2005, including any and all amendments adopted by theStates Parties to the Convention and the Conference of Parties to theInternational Convention against Doping in Sport.
93. Unsuccessful Attempt Report: a detailed report of an unsuccessful
Attempt to collect a Sample from a Player in a Registered Testing
Pool or Testing pool setting out the date of the Attempt, the location
visited, the exact arrival and departure times at the location, the steps
taken at the location to try to find the Player (including details of any
contact made with third parties), and any other relevant details about
the Attempt.
94. Use: the utilisation, application, ingestion, injection or consumption
by any means whatsoever of any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited
Method.
95. WADA: the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Reference to the competent FIFA bodies in these Regulations applies to theequivalent body at Association or Confederation level.
Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa.
References to “include” or “in particular”, “e.g.” or similar are to beconstrued as being inclusive and without limitation to the listed examples.
References to “days” mean actual (calendar) days, not business days.
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References to “chapters”, “sections”, “articles” and/or “paragraphs” are,unless expressly stated otherwise, references to the chapters, sections,articles or paragraphs of these Regulations.
References to the male gender in these Regulations are for simplification
and apply to both men and women.
All Annexes attached to these Regulations form an integral part of theseRegulations.
The various headings and sub-headings used in these Regulations are forconvenience only and shall not be deemed part of the substance of theseRegulations or to affect in any way the language of the provisions to which
they refer.
All capitalised terms shall have the meanings as defined in this Chapter I.

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1

Scope of application: substantive law

1.
These Regulations shall apply to FIFA, its Member Associations and theConfederations, including their board members, directors, officers, and to
specified employees, and to Delegated Third Parties and their employees,
any of whom are involved in any aspect of Doping Control, and to Players,
clubs, Player Support Personnel, Match Officials, Officials and other Persons
who participate in activities, Matches or Competitions organised by FIFAor its Associations by virtue of their agreement, membership, affiliation,authorisation, accreditation or participation.
Each of the above-mentioned Persons is deemed, as a condition of his
participation or involvement in the sport, to have agreed to and be boundby these Regulations, and to have submitted to the authority of FIFA toenforce these Regulations, including any Consequences for the breach
thereof, and to the jurisdiction of the hearing panels specified in theseRegulations and the FIFA Disciplinary Code to hear and determine cases
and appeals brought under these Regulations.
2.
These Regulations shall apply to all Doping Controls over which FIFA and,
respectively, its Associations have jurisdiction.

2

Obligations of Member Associations and Confederations

1.
All Associations shall undertake to comply with the Code, the International
Standards and these Regulations. These Regulations shall be incorporated
either directly, or by reference, into the rules of each Association. Each
Association shall include in its rules the procedural regulations necessary to
implement these Regulations and any changes that may be made to them.
In the event of a discrepancy between these Regulations and the rules of a
Member Association or Confederation, these Regulations shall prevail andapply to the case at hand.
2.
In respect of the Confederations’ remit, reference in these Regulations to
the Associations shall, where appropriate, be understood as meaning theConfederations.
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3.
The rules of each Association shall specifically provide that all Players, clubs,
Player Support Personnel, Officials and other Persons under the jurisdictionof the Association shall be bound by these Regulations and the Results
Management authority of FIFA.
4.
Taking into account the Associations’ responsibilities introduced underthese Regulations and the Code, it is the particular responsibility of each
Association to collect Samples for Doping Control at National Competitions
and to initiate and direct Out-of-Competition Testing on its Players, conductanti-doping educational programmes in accordance with the International
Standard for Education, and to ensure that all national level Testing on its
Players and the Results Management from such tests comply with theseRegulations. In respect of this schedule of responsibilities, reference inthese Regulations to FIFA shall, where appropriate, be understood asmeaning the Association concerned.
5.
It is recognised that in some countries the Association will conduct theTesting, Results Management process and educational anti-doping
programmes itself whilst, in others, some or all of the Association’s
responsibilities may be delegated or assigned to a NADO. In respect ofthese countries, reference in these Regulations to the Association shall,where appropriate, be understood as meaning the NADO. Irrespective ofthe different situation in every country, the Association remains ultimately
responsible for every aspect of the process. The Confederation and/or
National Association shall provide FIFA with any information relating to ananti-doping rule violation and decisions taken by the NADO duly translated
into an official FIFA language.

3

Special obligations of Players and teams, Player Support
Personnel and other Persons

1.
Players, Player Support Personnel and other Persons subject to theseRegulations shall be responsible for knowing what constitutes an antidoping rule violation, the substances and methods that have been includedin the Prohibited List and for familiarising themselves and complying withthese Regulations.

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2.
In the context of anti-doping, Players shall be responsible for what they
ingest and Use and to make sure that any medical treatment received does
not violate these Regulations. Players are obliged to undergo Testing as set
forth in these Regulations. In particular, every Player designated to undergo
a doping test by a responsible Official, whether as a result of Target Testingor drawing by lots, is obliged to provide a urine Sample and, if requested,a blood Sample, to undergo any medical examination that the responsible
Official deems necessary and to cooperate with the latter in this respect.
3.
The Player’s rights include the right to:a) have the team doctor or other representative present;b) be informed and ask for additional information about the Sample
collection process.
4.
The Player’s obligations include the requirement to:a) remain within direct observation of the FIFA Doping Control Officer, his
assistant or the Chaperone at all times from the point of notification
until completion of the Sample collection;b) comply with Sample collection procedures (the Player shall be advised ofthe possible consequences of failure to comply);c) report immediately for a test, unless there are valid reasons for a delay,
as determined in accordance with Annexe D;d) disclose the identity of their Player Support Personnel upon request by
any Anti-Doping Organisation with authority over the Player.
5.
The obligations of the Player, the Player Support Personnel and other
Persons include the requirement to:a) disclose to their NADO, Confederation, Association and FIFA any decisionby any organisation that is not a Signatory to the Code that finds that they
committed an anti-doping rule violation within the previous ten years;

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28 II. General provisionsb) cooperate with any Anti-Doping Organisation investigating anti-doping
rule violations.
Failure by any Player, Player Support Personnel or other Person to cooperatein full with FIFA when it investigates potential anti-doping rule violation(s)may result in a disciplinary measure under the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Offensive conduct towards a Doping Control Officer or other Person
involved in Doping Control by any Player, Player Support Personnel or other
Person, which does not otherwise constitute Tampering, may result in a
disciplinary measure under the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Player Support Personnel and other Persons subject to these Regulations
shall not Use any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method without valid
justification. Any such Use may result in a disciplinary measure under theFIFA Disciplinary Code.
6.
Every Player/team that has been identified for inclusion in a national orinternational Registered Testing Pool is obliged to provide whereabouts
information as set forth in Annexe C. Players may delegate thewhereabouts provision to a designated team representative. Regardlessof such delegation, Players remain personally responsible for duly filingcomplete and accurate whereabouts information. Failure to do so may leadto the consequences mentioned in art. 9 of these Regulations as well as
their Annexe C.

4

Testing authority of FIFA

1.
FIFA has testing authority over all clubs and their Players who are affiliatedto a Member Association or who participate in any Match or Competition
organised by FIFA.
2.
FIFA shall focus its Testing under these Regulations on Players in the FIFAInternational Registered Testing Pool (IRTP) and on Players who compete,or who are preparing to compete, in Matches or Competitions organised byFIFA.

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II. General provisions

5

Definition of doping

1.
Doping is strictly forbidden under these Regulations.
2.
Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the anti-doping ruleviolations set forth in these Regulations.

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30 III. Anti-doping rule violations
FIRST TITLE: SUBSTANTIVE LAW
The purpose of arts 6 to 16 is to specify the circumstances and conduct
which constitute anti-doping rule violations. Hearings in doping cases willproceed based on the assertion that one or more of these specific rules
have been violated.

6

Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites
or Markers in a Player’s Sample

1.
It is the Player’s personal duty to ensure that no Prohibited Substanceenters his body. Players are responsible for any Prohibited Substance or its
Metabolites or Markers found to be present in their Samples. Accordingly,
it is not necessary that intent, Fault, negligence or knowing Use on thePlayer’s part be demonstrated in order to establish an anti-doping ruleviolation under art. 6.
2.
Sufficient proof of an anti-doping rule violation under art. 6 is establishedby any of the following: presence of a Prohibited Substance or its
Metabolites or Markers in the Player’s “A” Sample where the Player waives
analysis of the “B” Sample and the “B” Sample is not analysed; or where thePlayer’s “B” Sample is analysed and the analysis of the Player’s “B” Sample
confirms the presence of the Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites orMarkers found in the Player’s “A” Sample; or where the Player’s “A” or “B”
Sample is split into two parts and the analysis of the confirmation part ofthe split Sample confirms the presence of the Prohibited Substance or its
Metabolites or Markers found in the first part of the split Sample or thePlayer waives analysis of the confirmation part of the split Sample.
3.
Excepting those substances for which a Decision Limit is specifically
identified in the Prohibited List or a Technical Document, the presenceof any reported quantity of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites orMarkers in a Player’s Sample shall constitute an anti-doping rule violation.
4.
As an exception to the general rule of art. 6, the Prohibited List,
International Standards or Technical Documents may establish special
criteria for the reporting or the evaluation of certain Prohibited Substances.

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7

Use or Attempted Use by a Player of a Prohibited Substanceor a Prohibited Method1.
It is the Player’s personal duty to ensure that no Prohibited Substanceenters his body and that no Prohibited Method is Used. Accordingly, it is
not necessary that intent, Fault, negligence or knowing Use on the Player’s
part be demonstrated in order to establish an anti-doping rule violation for
Use of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method.
2.
The success or failure of the Use or Attempted Use of a Prohibited
Substance or Prohibited Method is not material. It is sufficient that theProhibited Substance or Prohibited Method was Used or Attempted to be
Used for an anti-doping rule violation to be committed.

8

Evading, refusing of failing to submit to Sample collection

Evading Sample collection; or refusing or failing to submit to Sample
collection without compelling justification after notification by a duly
authorised Person.

9

Whereabouts failures

Any combination of three missed tests and/or filing failures, as defined in
the International Standard for Results Management, within a 12-month
period by a Player in a Registered Testing Pool.

10

Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of
Doping Control by a Player or other Person

Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of Doping Control by aPlayer or other Person.

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32 III. Anti-doping rule violations

11

Possession of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited
Method by a Player or Player Support Person

1.
Possession by a Player In-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or any
Prohibited Method, or Possession by a Player Out-of-Competition of any
Prohibited Substance or any Prohibited Method which is prohibited Out-ofCompetition unless the Player establishes that the Possession is consistent
with a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) granted in accordance with art. 18(Therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs)) or other acceptable justification.
2.
Possession by a Player Support Person In-Competition of any Prohibited
Substance or any Prohibited Method, or Possession by a Player Support
Person Out-of-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or any Prohibited
Method which is prohibited Out-of-Competition in connection with aPlayer, Match or training, unless the Player Support Person establishes that
the Possession is consistent with a TUE granted to a Player in accordancewith art. 18 (Therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs)) or other acceptablejustification.

12

Trafficking or Attempted Trafficking in any Prohibited
Substance or Prohibited Method by a Player or other
PersonTrafficking or Attempted Trafficking in any Prohibited Substance or
Prohibited Method by a Player or other Person.

13

Administration or Attempted Administration by aPlayer or other Person to any Player In-Competitionof any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method, or
Administration or Attempted Administration to any Player
Out-of-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or any
Prohibited Method that is prohibited Out-of-Competition

Administration or Attempted Administration by a Player or other Person
to any Player In-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited
Method, or Administration or Attempted Administration to any Player
Out-of-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or any Prohibited Methodthat is prohibited Out-of-Competition.
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III. Anti-doping rule violations

14

Complicity or Attempted Complicity by a Player orother Person

Assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, conspiring, covering up or any
other type of intentional complicity or Attempted Complicity involving
an anti-doping rule violation, Attempted anti-doping rule violation or
violation of art. 30 par. 1 (Prohibition of participation during Ineligibility
or Provisional Suspension) by another Person.

15

Prohibited association by a Player or other Person

Association by a Player or other Person subject to the authority of FIFA orother Anti-Doping Organisation in a professional or sport-related capacitywith any Player Support Personnel who:
1.
If subject to the authority of an Anti-Doping Organisation, is serving aperiod of Ineligibility; or2.
If not subject to the authority of an Anti-Doping Organisation andwhere Ineligibility has not been addressed in a Results Management
process pursuant to the Code, has been convicted or found in a criminal,
disciplinary or professional proceeding to have engaged in conduct which
would have constituted a violation of anti-doping rules if Code-compliant
rules had been applicable to such Person. The disqualifying status ofsuch Person shall be in force for the longer of six years from the criminal,
professional or disciplinary decision or the duration of the criminal,
disciplinary or professional sanction imposed; or3.
Is serving as a front or intermediary for an individual described in art. 15
par. 1 or par. 2 (Prohibited association by a Player or other Person).
To establish a violation of art. 15, an Anti-Doping Organisation must
establish that the Player or other Person knew of the Player Support
Person’s disqualifying status.
The burden shall be on the Player or other Person to establish that any
association with a Player Support Person described in art. 15 par. 1 or par. 2
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34 III. Anti-doping rule violations

is not in a professional or sport-related capacity and/or that such association
could not have been reasonably avoided.
If FIFA is aware of any Player Support Personnel who meet the criteria
described in art. 15 pars 1, 2 or 3, FIFA shall submit that information to
WADA.

16

Acts by a Player or other Person to discourage or
retaliate against reporting to authorities

Where such conduct does not otherwise constitute a violation of art. 10:a) Any act which threatens or seeks to intimidate another Person with
the intent of discouraging the Person from the good-faith reportingof information that relates to an alleged anti-doping rule violationor alleged non-compliance with these Regulations and/or the Codeto WADA, FIFA, a NADO or other Anti-Doping Organisation, a law
enforcement, regulatory or professional disciplinary body, a hearing
body or a Person conducting an investigation for WADA, FIFA, a NADOor other Anti-Doping Organisation.
b) Retaliation against a Person who, in good faith, has provided evidence
or information that relates to an alleged anti-doping rule violationor alleged non-compliance with these Regulations and/or the Codeto WADA, FIFA, NADO or other Anti-Doping Organisation, a law
enforcement, regulatory or professional disciplinary body, a hearing
body or a Person conducting an investigation for WADA, FIFA, NADO orother Anti-Doping Organisation.
For the purposes of this article, retaliation, threatening and intimidation
include an act taken against such Person either because the act lacks agood faith basis or is a disproportionate response.

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IV. The prohibited list and therapeutic use exemptions

17

Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods identified
on the Prohibited List

1.
Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods
The Prohibited list shall identify those Prohibited Substances and Prohibited
Methods which are prohibited as doping at all times (both In-Competition
and Out-of-Competition) because of their potential to enhance performancein future Matches or their masking potential, and those substances andmethods which are prohibited In-Competition only.
2.
Publication and revision of the Prohibited List
Unless otherwise communicated by FIFA, the Prohibited List and its revisions
shall come into effect under these Regulations three months after publicationof the Prohibited List by WADA without requiring any further action by FIFAor its Member Associations. All Players and other Persons shall be bound by
the Prohibited List, and any revisions thereto, from the date they go into
effect, without further formality. It is the responsibility of all Players andother Persons to familiarise themselves with the most up-to- date version of
the Prohibited List and all revisions thereto.
3.
Specified Substances or Specified Methods
For the purpose of the application of chapter V (Sanctions on individuals), all
Prohibited Substances shall be Specified Substances except those identified in
the Prohibited List. No Prohibited Method shall be a Specified Method unless
it is specifically identified as a Specified Method on the Prohibited List.
4.
Substances of Abuse
For the purposes of the application of chapter V (Sanctions on individuals),
Substances of Abuse shall include those Prohibited Substances which are
specifically identified as Substances of Abuse on the Prohibited List because
they are frequently abused in society outside the context of sport.

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36 IV. The prohibited list and therapeutic use exemptions

18

WADA’s determination of the Prohibited List

WADA’s determination of the Prohibited Substances and Prohibited
Methods that will be included on the Prohibited List, the classificationof substances into categories on the Prohibited List, the classification of
a substance as prohibited at all times or In-Competition only, and theclassification of a substance or method as a Specified Substance, Specified
Method or Substance of Abuse is final and shall not be subject to any
challenge by a Player or other Person, including, but not limited to, any
challenge based on an argument that the substance or method was nota masking agent or did not have the potential to enhance performance,
represent a health risk or violate the spirit of sport.

19

Therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs)

1.
The presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers, and/or the Use or Attempted Use, Possession or Administration or Attempted
Administration of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method, shallnot be considered an anti-doping rule violation if it is consistent with theprovisions of a TUE granted in accordance with the International Standard
for Therapeutic Use Exemptions.
2.
Any Player who consults a doctor and is prescribed treatment or medication
for therapeutic reasons shall enquire whether the prescription contains
Prohibited Substances and/or Prohibited Methods. If so, the Player shallrequest alternative treatment.
3.
If there is no alternative treatment, the Player with a documented medical
condition requiring the use of a Prohibited Substance and/or a Prohibited
Method must first obtain a TUE. However, TUEs will only be granted incases of clear and compelling clinical need where no competitive advantage
can be gained by the Player.
4.
The application for and approval of a TUE strictly follow the procedure laidout in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemption and in theFIFA TUE policy in force.
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IV. The prohibited list and therapeutic use exemptions
5.
Players who are International-Level Players must obtain TUEs in accordancewith the rules stipulated by FIFA in its TUE policy document. FIFA publishes
a list of those International Competitions for which a TUE from FIFA isrequired. Details of the application procedure shall be found in Annexe
B. TUEs granted by FIFA under these rules shall be reported to the Player’s
Association and to WADA.
6.
Players who are not International-Level Players must obtain a TUE fromtheir NADO. NADOs shall in all cases be responsible for promptly reporting
the granting of any TUEs under these Regulations to FIFA and WADA.
7.
If FIFA chooses to collect a Sample from a Player who is not anInternational-Level Player or a National-Level Player, and that Player isUsing a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method for therapeutic reasons,FIFA shall permit that Player to apply for a retroactive TUE.
8.
Expiration, cancellation, withdrawal or reversal of a TUE
a) A TUE granted pursuant to these Regulations: (a) shall expire
automatically at the end of any term for which it was granted,
without the need for any further notice or other formality; (b) may
be withdrawn if the Player does not promptly comply with any
requirements or conditions imposed by the FIFA TUE Advisory Group
upon grant of the TUE; (c) may be withdrawn by the FIFA TUE Advisory
Group if it is subsequently determined that the criteria for grant of a
TUE are not in fact met; or (d) may be reversed on review by WADA oron appeal.
b) In such event, the Player shall not be subject to any Consequences basedon his Use or Possession or Administration of the Prohibited Substanceor Prohibited Method in question in accordance with the TUE prior
to the effective date of expiry, withdrawal or reversal of the TUE. The
review pursuant to these Regulations and to the International Standard
for Results Management of any subsequent Adverse Analytical Finding,reported shortly after the TUE’s expiration, withdrawal or reversal, shall
include consideration of whether such finding is consistent with Use of
the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method prior to that date, inwhich event no anti-doping rule violation shall be asserted.
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38 V. Sanctions on individuals

Section 1: Imposition of a period of Ineligibility

20

Ineligibility for presence, Use or Attempted Use, orPossession of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method

The period of Ineligibility for a violation of arts 6 (Presence of a Prohibited
Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in a Player’s Sample), 7 (Use or
Attempted Use by a Player of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited
Method) or 11 (Possession of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Methodby a Player or Player Support Person) shall be as follows, subject to potential
elimination, reduction or suspension pursuant to arts 22 (Elimination of the
Period of Ineligibility where there is No Fault or Negligence), 23 (Reductionof the period of Ineligibility based on No Significant Fault or Negligence) or
24 (Elimination, reduction, or suspension of period of Ineligibility or otherconsequences for reasons other than Fault):
1.
Subject to art. 20 par. 4 of these Regulations, the period of Ineligibility shallbe four years where:a) the anti-doping rule violation does not involve a Specified Substance,
unless the Player or other Person can establish that the anti-doping ruleviolation was not intentional;b) the anti-doping rule violation involves a Specified Substance and FIFAcan establish that the anti-doping rule violation was intentional.
2.
If art. 20 par. 1 does not apply, the period of Ineligibility shall be two years,
subject to art. 20 par. 4 of these Regulations.
3.
As used in art 20 (Ineligibility for presence, Use or Attempted Use, orPossession of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method), the term
“intentional” is meant to identify those Players or other Persons who
engage in conduct which they knew constituted an anti-doping ruleviolation or knew that there was a significant risk that the conduct
might constitute or result in an anti-doping rule violation and manifestly
disregarded that risk. An anti-doping rule violation resulting from an
Adverse Analytical Finding for a substance which is only prohibited

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V. Sanctions on individuals
In-Competition shall be rebuttably presumed to be not intentional
if the substance is a Specified Substance and the Player can establishthat the Prohibited Substance was Used Out-of-Competition. An antidoping rule violation resulting from an Adverse Analytical Finding for a
substance which is only prohibited In-Competition shall not be considered“intentional” if the substance is not a Specified Substance and the Player
can establish that the Prohibited Substance was Used Out-of-Competition
in a context unrelated to sport performance.
4.
Notwithstanding any other provision in art. 20, where the anti-doping ruleviolation involves a Substance of Abuse:a) If the Player can establish that any ingestion or Use occurred Out-ofCompetition and was unrelated to sport performance, then the period
of Ineligibility shall be three months’ Ineligibility. In addition, the period
of Ineligibility calculated under this paragraph may be reduced to one
month’s Ineligibility if the Player or other Person satisfactorily completes a
Substance of Abuse treatment programme approved by FIFA. The period
of Ineligibility established in this paragraph is not subject to any reduction
based on any provision in art. 23.
b) If the ingestion, Use or Possession occurred In-Competition, and the Player
can establish that the context of the ingestion, Use or Possession was
unrelated to sport performance, then the ingestion, Use or Possession
shall not be considered intentional for the purposes of art. 20 par. 1 andshall not provide a basis for a finding of Aggravating Circumstances.

21

Ineligibility for other anti-doping rule violations

The period of Ineligibility for anti-doping rule violations other than asprovided in art. 20 (Ineligibility for presence, Use or Attempted Use, orPossession of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method) shall be as
follows, unless arts 23 (Reduction of the period of Ineligibility based on No
Significant Fault or Negligence) or 24 (Elimination, reduction, or suspensionof period of Ineligibility or other consequences for reasons other thanFault) are applicable:

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40 V. Sanctions on individuals

1.
For violations of art. 8 (Evading, refusing or failing to submit to Sample
collection) or art. 10 (Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any partof Doping Control by a Player or other Person), the period of Ineligibility
shall be four years except: (i) in the case of failing to submit to Sample
collection, if the Player can establish that the commission of the antidoping rule violation was not intentional, the period of Ineligibility shallbe two years; (ii) in all other cases, if the Player or Person can establish
exceptional circumstances that justify a reduction of the period of
Ineligibility, the period of Ineligibility shall be in a range from two years
to four years, depending on the Players or Person’s degree of Fault; or (iii)
in a case involving a Protected Person or Recreational Player, the period of
Ineligibility shall be in a range between a maximum of two years and, at
a minimum, a reprimand and no period of Ineligibility, depending on theProtected Person’s or Recreational Player’s degree of Fault.
2.
For violations of art. 9 (Whereabouts failures), the period of Ineligibility
shall be two years, subject to reduction down to a minimum of one year,
depending on the Player’s degree of Fault. The flexibility between two years
and one year of Ineligibility in this article is not available to Players where apattern of last-minute whereabouts changes or other conduct raises a serious
suspicion that the Player was trying to avoid being available for Testing.
3.
For violations of art. 12 (Trafficking or Attempted Trafficking in any
Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method by a Player or other Person)or art. 13 (Administration or Attempted Administration by a Player orother Person to any Player In-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or
Prohibited Method, or Administration or Attempted Administration to any
Player Out-of-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or any Prohibited
Method that is prohibited Out-of-Competition), the period of Ineligibility
shall be a minimum of four years up to lifetime Ineligibility, depending on
the seriousness of the violation. An art. 12 or art. 13 violation involving a
Protected Person shall be considered a particularly serious violation and,if committed by Player Support Personnel for violations other than forSpecified Substances, shall result in lifetime Ineligibility for Player Support
Personnel. In addition, significant violations of art. 12 or art. 13 which may
also violate non-sporting laws and regulations shall be reported to thecompetent administrative, professional or judicial authorities.

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4.
For violations of art. 14 (Complicity or Attempted Complicity by a Playeror other Person), the period of Ineligibility imposed shall be a minimum of
two years, up to lifetime Ineligibility, depending on the seriousness of theviolation.
5.
For violations of art. 15 (Prohibited association by a Player or other Person),the period of Ineligibility shall be two years, subject to reduction down toa minimum of one year, depending on the Player’s or other Person’s degreeof Fault and other circumstances of the case.
6.
For violations of art. 16 (Acts by a Player or other Person to discourage or
retaliate against reporting to authorities), the period of Ineligibility shallbe a minimum of two years, up to lifetime Ineligibility, depending on theseriousness of the violation by the Player or other Person.

Section 2: Elimination, reduction or suspension of period of
Ineligibility

22

Elimination of the period of Ineligibility where there is
No Fault or Negligence

If a Player or other Person establishes in an individual case that he bears No
Fault or Negligence, the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility shall beeliminated.

23

Reduction of the period of Ineligibility based on No
Significant Fault or Negligence

1.
Reduction of sanctions in particular circumstances for violationsof art. 6 (Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites
or Markers in a Player’s Sample), 7 (Use or Attempted Use by aPlayer of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method) or 11(Possession of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method by
a Player or Player Support Person)

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42 V. Sanctions on individuals

All reductions under this paragraph 1 are mutually exclusive and not
cumulative.
a) Specified Substances or Specified Methods
Where the anti-doping rule violation involves a Specified Substance(other than a Substance of Abuse) or Specified Method, and the Playeror other Person can establish No Significant Fault or Negligence, thenthe period of Ineligibility shall be, at a minimum, a reprimand and noperiod of Ineligibility, and at a maximum, two years of Ineligibility,
depending on the Player’s or other Person’s degree of Fault.
b) Contaminated Products
In cases where the Player or other Person can establish both No
Significant Fault or Negligence and that the detected Prohibited
Substance (other than Substance of Abuse) came from a Contaminated
Product, then the period of Ineligibility shall be, at a minimum, areprimand and no period of Ineligibility, and at a maximum, two years’
Ineligibility, depending on the Player’s or other Person’s degree of Fault.
c) Protected Persons or Recreational Players
Where the anti-doping rule violation not involving a Substance ofAbuse is committed by a Protected Person or Recreational Player
and the Protected Person or Recreational Player can establish No
Significant Fault or Negligence, then the period of Ineligibility shallbe, at a minimum, a reprimand and no period of ineligibility, and at a
maximum, two years Ineligibility, depending on the Protected Person’sor Recreational Player’s degree of Fault.
2.
Application of No Significant Fault or Negligence beyond theapplication of art. 23 par. 1
If a Player or other Person establishes in an individual case where art. 23
par. 1 is not applicable that he bears No Significant Fault or Negligence,
then, subject to further reduction or elimination as provided in art. 24,
the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility may be reduced basedon the Player or other Person’s degree of Fault, but the reduced period
of Ineligibility may not be less than one half of the period of Ineligibility
otherwise applicable. If the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility isa lifetime, the reduced period under this article may be no less than eight
years.

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V. Sanctions on individuals

24

Elimination, reduction, or suspension of period of
Ineligibility or other consequences for reasons otherthan Fault

1.
Substantial Assistance in discovering or establishing Codeviolationsa) FIFA may, prior to an appellate decision under art. 76 (Decisions
subject to appeal) or the expiration of the time to appeal, suspend apart of the Consequences (other than Disqualification and mandatory
Public Disclosure) imposed in an individual case in which it has Results
Management authority where the Player or other Person has provided
Substantial Assistance to an Anti-Doping Organisation, criminal
authority or professional disciplinary body which results in: (i) the AntiDoping Organisation discovering or bringing forward an anti-doping
rule violation by another Person, or (ii) which results in a criminal ordisciplinary body discovering or bringing forward a criminal offence or
the breach of professional rules committed by another Person and theinformation provided by the Person providing Substantial Assistance ismade available to FIFA or other Anti-Doping Organisation with Results
Management responsibility; or (iii) which results in WADA initiatinga proceeding against a Signatory, WADA-accredited laboratory or
Player passport management unit (as defined in the International
Standard for Testing and Investigations) for non-compliance with theCode, International Standard or Technical Document; or (iv) with theapproval by WADA, which results in a criminal or disciplinary bodybringing forward a criminal offence or the breach of professional or
sport rules arising out of a sport integrity violation other than doping.
After an appellate decision under art. 76 (Decisions subject to appeal)or the expiration of time to appeal, FIFA may only suspend a part ofthe otherwise applicable Consequences with the approval of WADA.
The extent to which the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility may
be suspended shall be based on the seriousness of the anti-doping ruleviolation committed by the Player or other Person and the significanceof the Substantial Assistance provided by the Player or other Person
to the effort to eliminate doping in sport, non-compliance with theCode and/or sport integrity violations. No more than three quarters of
the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility may be suspended. If
the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility is a lifetime, the nonsuspended period under this article must be no less than eight years.

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For the purposes of this paragraph, the otherwise applicable period of
Ineligibility shall not include any period of Ineligibility that could be
added under art. 25 par. 4 b) of these Regulations. If so requested by
a Player or other Person who seeks to provide Substantial Assistance,
FIFA shall allow the Player or other Person to provide the information
to the Anti-Doping Organisation subject to a without-prejudiceagreement. If the Player or other Person fails to continue to cooperate
and to provide the complete and credible Substantial Assistance uponwhich a suspension of the Consequences was based, FIFA shall reinstate
the original Consequences. If FIFA decides to reinstate suspended
Consequences or decides not to reinstate suspended Consequences, thatdecision may be appealed by any Person entitled to appeal under art.
77 par. 3 of these Regulations.
b) To further encourage Players and other Persons to provide Substantial
Assistance to Anti-Doping Organisations, at the request of FIFA or the
Anti-Doping Organisation conducting Results Management or at therequest of the Player or other Person who has, or has been asserted
to have, committed an anti-doping rule violation or other violation of
the Code, WADA may agree at any stage of the Results Management
process, including after an appellate decision under art. 76 (Decisions
subject to appeal), to what it considers to be an appropriate
suspension of the otherwise-applicable period of Ineligibility and otherConsequences. In exceptional circumstances, WADA may agree tosuspensions of the period of Ineligibility and other Consequences for
Substantial Assistance greater than those otherwise provided in thisarticle, or even no period of Ineligibility, no mandatory Public Disclosure
and/or no return of prize money or payment of fines or costs. WADA’s
approval shall be subject to reinstatement of the Consequences, asotherwise provided in this article. Notwithstanding section 6 of chapter
X (Appeals), WADA’s decisions in the context of this paragraph may not
be appealed.
c) If FIFA suspends any part of an otherwise applicable sanction becauseof Substantial Assistance, then notice providing justification for thedecision shall be provided to the other Anti-Doping Organisations
with a right to appeal under art. 77 par. 3 of these Regulations. In
unique circumstances where WADA determines that it would be in
the best interests of anti-doping, WADA may authorise FIFA to enter
into appropriate confidentiality agreements limiting or delaying thedisclosure of the Substantial Assistance agreement or the nature of
Substantial Assistance being provided.
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2.
Admission of an anti-doping rule violation in the absence of otherevidence
Where a Player or other Person voluntarily admits to the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee that he has committed an anti-doping rule violation before
having received notice of a Sample collection which could establish an
anti-doping rule violation (or, in the case of an anti-doping rule violation
other than art. 6 (Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites orMarkers in a Player’s Sample), before receiving first notice of the admitted
violation pursuant to section 3 of chapter IX (Results Management)) andthat admission is the only reliable evidence of the violation at the time ofadmission, the period of Ineligibility may be reduced, but not below one
half of the period of Ineligibility otherwise applicable.
3.
Application of multiple grounds for reduction of a sanction
Where a Player or other Person establishes entitlement to a reduction
in sanction under more than one provision of art. 22 (Elimination of
the period of Ineligibility where there is No Fault or Negligence), art. 23(Reduction of the period of Ineligibility based on No Significant Fault or
Negligence) or art. 24 (Elimination, reduction, or suspension of period
of Ineligibility or other consequences for reasons other than Fault),
before applying any reduction or suspension under art. 24, the otherwise
applicable period of Ineligibility shall be determined in accordance witharts 20 (Ineligibility for presence, Use or Attempted Use, or Possession of a
Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method), 21 (Ineligibility for other antidoping rule violations), 22, and 23. If the Player or other Person establishes
entitlement to a reduction or suspension of the period of Ineligibility underart. 24, the period of Ineligibility may be reduced or suspended, but not
below one fourth of the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility.
4.
Results Management agreement
Where a Player or other Person, after being notified by FIFA of a potential
anti-doping rule violation that carries an asserted period of Ineligibilityof four or more years (including any period of Ineligibility asserted under
Aggravating Circumstances), admits the violation and accepts the asserted
period of Ineligibility no later than 20 days after receiving notice of an antidoping rule violation charge, the Player or Person may receive a one-year
reduction in the period of Ineligibility asserted by FIFA. Where the Playeror other Person receives the one-year reduction in the asserted period of
Ineligibility under this article, no further reduction in the asserted period of
Ineligibility shall be allowed under any other article.
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5.
Case resolution agreement
Where the Player or other Person admits an anti-doping rule violation after
being confronted with the anti-doping rule violation by FIFA and agrees to theConsequences acceptable to FIFA and WADA, at their sole discretion, then:a) the Player or other Person may receive a reduction in the period
of Ineligibility based on an assessment by FIFA and WADA of theapplication of chapter V section 2 of these Regulations to the asserted
anti-doping rule violation, the seriousness of the violation, the Playeror other Person’s degree of Fault and how promptly the Player or other
Person admitted the violation; andb) the period of Ineligibility may start as early as the date of Sample
collection or the date on which another anti-doping rule violation last
occurred. In each case, however, where this article is applied, the Playeror other Person shall serve at least one half of the agreed-upon period
of Ineligibility going forward from the earlier of the date the Playeror other Person accepted the imposition of a sanction or Provisional
Suspension which was subsequently respected by the Player or other
Person. The decision by FIFA and WADA to enter or not to enter intoa case resolution agreement, and the amount of the reduction to,and the starting date of, the period of Ineligibility are not mattersfor determination or review by a hearing body and are not subject toappeal under chapter X section 6 of these Regulations. If so requested
by a Player or other Person who seeks to enter into a case resolutionagreement under this article, FIFA shall allow the Player or other Person
to discuss an admission of the anti-doping rule violation with the AntiDoping Organisation subject to a without-prejudice agreement.

Section 3: Increasing the period of Ineligibility and multiple
violations

25

Multiple violations

1.
Second or third anti-doping rule violation
For a Player or other Person’s second anti-doping rule violation, the period
of Ineligibility shall be the greater of:

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V. Sanctions on individualsa) A six-month period of Ineligibility; orb) A period of Ineligibility in the range between:•

the sum of the period of Ineligibility imposed for the first antidoping rule violation plus the period of Ineligibility otherwise
applicable to the second anti-doping rule violation treated as if itwere a first violation, and•twice the period of Ineligibility otherwise applicable to the second
anti-doping rule violation treated as if it was a first violation.

The period of Ineligibility within this range shall be determined basedon the entirety of the circumstances and the Player or other Person’s
degree of Fault with respect to the second violation.
The period of Ineligibility established above may then be further reducedby the application of art. 24.
2.
A third anti-doping rule violation will always result in a lifetime period of
Ineligibility, except if the third violation fulfils the condition for elimination
or reduction of the period of Ineligibility under art. 22 (Elimination of
the period of Ineligibility where there is No Fault or Negligence) or 23(Reduction of the period of Ineligibility based on No Significant Fault or
Negligence), or involves a violation of art. 9 (Whereabouts failures). In
these particular cases, the period of Ineligibility shall be from eight years tolifetime Ineligibility.
The period of Ineligibility established above may then be further reducedby the application of art. 24.
3.
An anti-doping rule violation for which a Player or other Person has
established No Fault or Negligence shall not be considered a violation
for the purposes of this art. 25. In addition, an anti-doping rule violation
sanctioned under art. 20 par. 4 of these Regulations shall not be considereda violation for purposes of this art. 25.

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4.
Additional rules for certain potential multiple violationsa) For the purpose of imposing sanctions under art. 25 (Multiple
violations), except as provided in art. 25 par. 4 of these Regulations, ananti-doping rule violation will only be considered a second violation
if FIFA can establish that the Player or other Person committed
the additional anti-doping rule violation after the Player or other
Person received notice pursuant to Section 3 of chapter IX (Results
Management) or after FIFA made reasonable efforts to give notice ofthe first anti-doping rule violation. If FIFA cannot establish this, theviolations shall be considered together as one single first violation,and the sanction imposed shall be based on the violation that carries
the more severe sanction, including the application of Aggravating
Circumstances. Results in all Matches dating back to the earlier
anti-doping rule violation will be Disqualified as provided in art. 26(Disqualification of results).
b) If FIFA establishes that a Player or other Person committed an additionalanti-doping rule violation prior to notification, and that the additional
violation occurred 12 months or more before or after the first-noticed
violation, then the period of Ineligibility for the additional violation
shall be calculated as if the additional violation were a stand-alone first
violation and this period of Ineligibility is served consecutively, rather
than concurrently, with the period of Ineligibility imposed for theearlier-noticed violation. Where this paragraph applies, the violations
taken together shall constitute a single violation for the purposes of art.
25 (Multiple violations).
c) If FIFA establishes that a Player or other Person committed a violationof art. 10 (Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of
Doping Control by a Player or other Person) in connection with the
Doping Control process for an underlying asserted anti-doping ruleviolation, the violation of art. 10 shall be treated as a standalone
first violation and the period of Ineligibility for such violation shallbe served consecutively, rather than concurrently, with the period
of Ineligibility, if any, imposed for the underlying anti-doping ruleviolation. Where this paragraph is applied, the violations taken
together shall constitute a single violation for the purposes of art. 25(Multiple violations).

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V. Sanctions on individualsd) If FIFA establishes that a Person has committed a second or third antidoping rule violation during a period of Ineligibility, the periods ofIneligibility for the multiple violations shall run consecutively, rather
than concurrently.
5.
Multiple anti-doping rule violations during ten-year period
For the purpose of art. 25 (Multiple violations), each anti-doping ruleviolation must take place within the same ten-year period in order to beconsidered multiple violations.
6.
Aggravating circumstances which may increase the period of
ineligibility
If FIFA establishes in an individual case involving an anti-doping ruleviolation other than violations under art. 12 (Trafficking or Attempted
Trafficking in any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method by a Playeror other Person), art. 13 (Administration or Attempted Administration by
a Player or other Person to any Player In-Competition of any Prohibited
Substance or Prohibited Method, or Administration or Attempted
Administration to any Player Out-of-Competition of any Prohibited
Substance or any Prohibited Method that is prohibited Out-of-Competition),art. 14 (Complicity or Attempted Complicity by a Player or other Person)
and art. 16 (Acts by a Player or other Person to discourage or retaliate
against reporting to authorities) that Aggravating Circumstances arepresent which justify the imposition of a period of Ineligibility greater than
the standard sanction, then the period of Ineligibility otherwise applicableshall be increased by an additional period of Ineligibility of up to two
years depending on the seriousness of the violation and the nature of the
Aggravating Circumstances, unless the Player or other Person can establishthat he not knowingly commit the anti-doping rule violation.

Section 4: Common provisions regarding sanctions on individuals

26

Disqualification of results

1.
Automatic disqualification of individual awards
An anti-doping rule violation in connection with an In-Competition test
automatically leads to Disqualification of any awards received by individual
Players in that Match.
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50 V. Sanctions on individuals

2.
Disqualification of results in the Competition during which an antidoping rule violation occurs
An anti-doping rule violation occurring during or in connection with aCompetition may, upon the decision of the ruling body of the Competition,lead to Disqualification of all of the Player’s individual results obtained inthat Competition with all Consequences, including forfeiture of all awards,
except as provided in paragraph 3 of this article.
Factors to be included in considering whether to Disqualify other results in
a Competition might include, for example, the seriousness of the Player’s
anti-doping rule violation and whether the Player tested negative in theother Matches.
3.
If the Player establishes that he bears No Fault or Negligence for theviolation, the Player’s individual results in the other Matches shall not be
Disqualified, unless the Player’s results in Matches other than the Matchin which the anti-doping rule violation occurred were likely to have been
affected by the Player’s anti-doping rule violation.
4.
Disqualification of results in Matches subsequent to Sample
collection or commission of an anti-doping rule violation
In addition to the automatic Disqualification of the results in the Match
which produced the positive Sample under paragraph 1 of this article, allother competitive results of the Player obtained from the date a positive
Sample was collected (whether In-Competition or Out-of-Competition),or other anti-doping rule violation occurred, through the commencementof any Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility period, shall, unless fairness
requires otherwise, be Disqualified with all of the resulting Consequences.

27

Forfeited prize money

If FIFA has recovered prize money forfeited as a result of an anti-doping
rule violation, it shall take reasonable measures to allocate and distribute
this prize money to the Players who would have been entitled to it had theforfeiting Player not competed.

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28

Financial consequences

1.
On account of anti-doping rule violations, financial sanctions may be imposedin accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
2.
However, no financial sanction may be considered as grounds for reducing
the period of Ineligibility or other sanction that would otherwise beapplicable under these Regulations.
3.
Repayment of prize money or other financial support
As a condition of regaining eligibility after being found to have committed
an anti-doping rule violation, the Player may first be obliged to repay all
prize money or other financial support obtained from sports organisations,and from the date a positive Sample was collected or other anti-doping
rule violation occurred, until the commencement of any Provisional
Suspension or period of Ineligibility.
4.
After being found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation, thePlayer or other person may be requested to reimburse the proportionate
expenses of the Sample collection and the Results Management of his case.

29

Commencement of period of Ineligibility

Where a Player is already serving a period of Ineligibility for an anti-doping
rule violation any new period of Ineligibility shall commence on the first day
after the current period of Ineligibility has been served. Otherwise, except asprovided below, the period of Ineligibility shall start on the date of the finalhearing decision providing for Ineligibility or, if the hearing is waived or there
is no hearing, on the date the Ineligibility is accepted or otherwise imposed.
1.
Delays not attributable to the Player or other Person
Where there have been substantial delays in the hearing process or otheraspects of Doping Control and the Player or other Person can establish thatsuch delays are not attributable to the Player or other Person, the FIFATABLE OF CONTENTS
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52 V. Sanctions on individuals

Disciplinary Committee may decide that the period of Ineligibility shall startat an earlier date, commencing as early as the date of Sample collectionor the date on which another anti-doping rule violation last occurred. All
competitive results achieved during the period of Ineligibility, including
retroactive Ineligibility, shall be Disqualified.
2.
Credit for Provisional Suspension or period of Ineligibility serveda) If a Provisional Suspension is respected by the Player or other Person,then the Player or other Person shall receive a credit for such periodof Provisional Suspension against any period of Ineligibility which may
ultimately be imposed. If the Player or other Person does not respect a
Provisional Suspension, then the Player or other Person shall receive no
credit for any period of the Provisional Suspension served. If a period
of Ineligibility is served pursuant to a decision that is subsequently
appealed, the Player or other Person shall receive a credit for such
period of Ineligibility served against any period of Ineligibility which
may ultimately be imposed on appeal.
b) If a Player or other Person voluntarily accepts a Provisional Suspension
in writing from FIFA and thereafter respects the Provisional Suspension,
the Player or other Person shall receive a credit for such period ofvoluntary Provisional Suspension against any period of Ineligibility
which may ultimately be imposed. A copy of the Player or other Person’s
voluntary acceptance of a Provisional Suspension shall be provided
promptly to each party entitled to receive notice of an asserted
anti-doping rule violation as provided in these Regulations (art. 70:
Information concerning asserted anti-doping rule violations).
c) No credit against a period of Ineligibility shall be given for any time
period before the effective date of the Provisional Suspension or
voluntary Provisional Suspension regardless of whether the Playerelected not to compete or was suspended by a team.
d) Where a period of Ineligibility is imposed upon a team, unless fairness
requires otherwise, the period of Ineligibility shall start on the date of
the final hearing decision providing for Ineligibility or, if the hearing iswaived, on the date Ineligibility is accepted or otherwise imposed. Any
period of team Provisional Suspension (whether imposed or voluntarily
accepted) shall be credited against the total period of Ineligibility to beserved.

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V. Sanctions on individuals

30

Status during Ineligibility or Provisional Suspension

1.
Prohibition of participation during Ineligibility or Provisional
Suspension
No Player or other Person who has been declared Ineligible or is subject toa Provisional Suspension may, during a period of Ineligibility or Provisional
Suspension, participate in any capacity in a Match or activity (otherthan authorised anti-doping Education or rehabilitation programmes)
authorised or organised by FIFA, any Association, any other Signatory of
the Code, a club or other member organisation of an Association or of
any Signatory to the Code, or In-Competitions authorised or organised byany professional league or any international or national-level Competition
organisation or any elite or national-level sporting activity funded by agovernmental agency.
A Player or other Person subject to a period of Ineligibility longer thanfour years may, after completing four years of the period of Ineligibility,
participate as a Player in local sports competitions not approved orotherwise under the authority of FIFA, the Associations or Confederations,or any other Signatory to the Code or its member, but only so long as the
local sports competition is not at a level that could otherwise qualify such
Player or other Person directly or indirectly to compete in (or accumulate
points towards) a national championship or International Competition, anddoes not involve the Player or other Person working in any capacity withProtected Persons.
A Player or other Person subject to a period of Ineligibility shall remainsubject to Testing and any possible requirement by FIFA or other AntiDoping Organisation to provide whereabouts information.
2.
Return to training
As an exception to art. 30 par. 1, a Player may return to train with a teamor to use the facilities of a club or other member organisation of a FIFA
Member Association or any other Signatory to the Code during the shorterof: (1) the last two months of the Player’s period of Ineligibility, or (2) thelast one quarter of the period of Ineligibility imposed.

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3.
Violation of the prohibition of participation during Ineligibility orProvisional Suspension
Where a Player or other Person who has been declared ineligible violates
the prohibition against participation during Ineligibility as described inart. 30 par. 1, the results of such participation shall be Disqualified anda new period of Ineligibility equal in length up to the original period of
Ineligibility shall be added to the end of the original period of Ineligibility.
The new period of Ineligibility, including a reprimand and no period
of Ineligibility, may be adjusted based on the Player or other Person’s
degree of Fault and other circumstances of the case. The determinationof whether a Player or other Person has violated the prohibition against
participation, and whether an adjustment is appropriate, shall be madeby FIFA or the Anti-Doping Organisation whose Results Management led
to the imposition of the initial period of Ineligibility. This decision may be
appealed as provided in these Regulations.
A Player or other Person who violates the prohibition against participation
during a Provisional Suspension described in this article shall receive no
credit for any period of Provisional Suspension served and the results ofsuch participation shall be Disqualified. Where a Player Support Person
or other Person assists a Person in violating the prohibition against
participation during Ineligibility or a Provisional Suspension, FIFA shall
impose sanctions for a violation of art. 14 (Complicity or Attempted
Complicity by a Player or other Person) for such assistance.
4.
Withholding of financial support during Ineligibility
In addition, for any anti-doping rule violation not involving a reduced
sanction as described in art. 22 (Elimination of the period of Ineligibility
where there is No Fault or Negligence) or art. 23 (Reduction of the period
of Ineligibility based on No Significant Fault or Negligence), some or all
sport-related financial support or other sport-related benefits received
by such Person will be withheld by FIFA, its Member Associations or the
Confederations.

31

Automatic publication of sanction

A mandatory part of each sanction shall include automatic publication(Public Disclosure), as provided in art. 71 (Public Disclosure).
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VI. Consequences for teams

32

Target Testing of the team

Where more than one member of a team has been notified of an antidoping rule violation under Section 3 of chapter IX (Results Management)in connection with a Competition, the ruling body for the Competition
shall conduct appropriate Target Testing of the team during theCompetition Period.

33

Sanction on the club or Association

1.
If a Member Association’s NADO is declared to be non-compliant according
to the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories, the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee shall recognise the effects of the asserted noncompliance and apply them to the relevant Member Association, including
but not limited to the possibility of excluding all or some members of that
Member Association from specified future Competitions or all Competitions
conducted within a specified period of time in line with the International
Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories.
2.
If more than two members of a team are found to have committed an antidoping rule violation during a Competition Period, the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee, if FIFA is the ruling body, or otherwise the Association
concerned, shall impose an appropriate sanction on the team and on the
Association or club to which the members of the team belong in addition
to any consequences imposed upon the individual Player(s) committing theanti-doping rule violation.
3.
The sanctions provided for under the FIFA Disciplinary Code in force areapplicable.

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34

Jurisdiction

1.
Where it is asserted that an anti-doping rule has been violated inconnection with any test conducted by FIFA, the chairman of the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee shall be responsible for imposing the relevant
Provisional Suspension.
2.
For the purposes of this chapter, references hereafter to the chairman of
the FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall, where appropriate, be understood asmeaning the relevant Person or body of the Association, and references to
the Player shall, where appropriate, be understood as meaning any Player
Support Personnel or other Person.

35

Mandatory Provisional Suspension

1.
When an Adverse Analytical Finding or Adverse Passport Finding (uponthe completion of the Adverse Passport Finding review process) is received
for a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method, other than a Specified
Substance or Specified Method, a Provisional Suspension shall be imposed
promptly upon or after the review and notification required under art.
53 (Initial review regarding Adverse Analytical/Atypical Findings andnotification).
2.
The mandatory Provisional Suspension may be eliminated if (i) the Player
demonstrates to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee that the violation is likely
to have involved a Contaminated Product, or (ii) the violation involves a
Substance of Abuse and the Player establishes entitlement to a reduced
period of Ineligibility under art. 20 par. 4 of these Regulations. The FIFA
Disciplinary Committee’s decision not to eliminate a mandatory Provisional
Suspension on account of the Player’s assertion regarding a Contaminated
Product shall not be appealable.
3.
A mandatory Provisional Suspension may not be imposed unless the Playeror other Person is given: (a) an opportunity for a Provisional Hearing, either
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VII. Provisional Suspension

before imposition of the mandatory Provisional Suspension or on a timely
basis after imposition of the mandatory Provisional Suspension; or (b) an
opportunity for an expedited hearing in accordance with art. 64 (Right to afair hearing) on a timely basis after imposition of a mandatory Provisional
Suspension. The imposition of a mandatory Provisional Suspension, or
the decision not to impose a mandatory Provisional Suspension, may be
appealed in an expedited process in accordance with art. 77 (Appeals
against decisions regarding anti-doping rule violations, Consequences,
Provisional Suspensions, implementation of decisions and authority).
4.
A mandatory Provisional Suspension shall start on the date on which it is
notified (or deemed to be notified) by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee
to the Player or other Person and shall end with the final decision of theFIFA Disciplinary Committee, unless earlier lifted in accordance with therules under this section. However, the period of the mandatory Provisional
Suspension shall not exceed the maximum length of the period of
Ineligibility that may be imposed on the Player or other Person based on
the relevant anti-doping rule violation(s).

36Optional Provisional Suspension based on an Adverse
Analytical Finding for Specified Substances, Specified
Methods, Contaminated Products, or other anti-doping
rule violations

1.
In the case of an Adverse Analytical Finding for a Specified Substance,
Specified Method, Contaminated Products or other anti-doping ruleviolations not covered by art. 35, a Provisional Suspension may be imposed
prior to analysis of the Player’s “B” Sample or final hearing as described inart. 64 (Right to a fair hearing).
2.
A Provisional Suspension may not be imposed unless the Player or other
Person is given: (a) an opportunity for a Provisional Hearing, either
before imposition of the Provisional Suspension or on a timely basis after
imposition of the Provisional Suspension; or (b) an opportunity for an
expedited hearing in accordance with art. 64 (Right to a fair hearing) on
a timely basis after imposition of a Provisional Suspension. The impositionof a Provisional Suspension, or the decision not to impose a Provisional
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art. 77 (Appeals against decisions regarding anti-doping rule violations,
Consequences, Provisional Suspensions, implementation of decisions andauthority).
3.
A Provisional Suspension shall start on the date on which it is notified (ordeemed to be notified) by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to the Player orother Person and shall end with the final decision of the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee, unless earlier lifted in accordance with the rules under thissection. However, the period of the Provisional Suspension shall not exceed
the maximum length of the period of Ineligibility that may be imposed on thePlayer or other Person based on the relevant anti-doping rule violation(s).

37Voluntary acceptance of Provisional Suspension

1.
Players may, on their own initiative, voluntarily accept a Provisional
Suspension if done so prior to the later of: (i) the expiration of ten days
from the report of the “B” Sample (or waiver of the “B” Sample) or tendays from the notice of any other anti-doping rule violation, or (ii) the dateon which the Player first competes after such report or notice.
Other Persons on their own initiative may voluntarily accept a Provisional
Suspension if done so within ten days from the notice of the anti-doping
rule violation.
Upon such voluntary acceptance, the Provisional Suspension shall havethe full effect and be treated in the same manner as if the Provisional
Suspension had been imposed under art. 35 or art. 36 of these Regulations
provided, however, at any time after voluntarily accepting a Provisional
Suspension, the Player or other Person may withdraw such acceptance, inwhich event the Player or other Person shall not receive any credit for timepreviously served during the Provisional Suspension.
2.
The Player or other Person may accept a voluntary Provisional Suspension
provided that this is confirmed in writing to the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee.

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3.
A voluntary Provisional Suspension shall be effective only from the dateof receipt of the Player’s or other Person’s written confirmation of suchby FIFA. Therefore, the Association concerned has to promptly submit a
copy of the Player’s or other Person’s voluntary acceptance of a Provisional
Suspension if it was addressed to the relevant Person or body of the
Association.

38

Notification

1.
A Player or other Person who has been Provisionally Suspended, or whose
Provisional Suspension has been lifted, shall be notified immediately, as
set forth in the International Standard for Results Management, the FIFA
Disciplinary Code and in these Regulations.
2.
In any case where an Association imposes or declines to impose a
Provisional Suspension or a Player or other Person accepts a voluntarysuspension, the Association shall inform the FIFA Disciplinary Committee of
this fact immediately.

39“B” Sample proves negative1.
If a Provisional Suspension is imposed based on an “A” Sample Adverse
Analytical Finding and a subsequent “B” Sample analysis (if requestedby the Player or FIFA) does not confirm the “A” Sample analysis, thenthe Player shall not be subject to any further Provisional Suspension on
account of a violation of art. 6 (Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its
Metabolites or Markers in a Player’s Sample).
2.
In circumstances where the Player or team has been removed from a
Competition based on a violation of art. 6 (Presence of a Prohibited
Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in a Player’s Sample) and thesubsequent “B” Sample analysis does not confirm the “A” Sample finding,

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where, without otherwise affecting the Competition, it is still possible for
the Player or team to be reinstated, the Player or team may continue totake part in the Competition.
3.
With reference to par. 2, in any other case where a reinstatement affects
the Competition, the Player or team shall not continue to take part in theCompetition and shall not make any claim for damages or compensation.

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40

Statute of limitations

No anti-doping rule violation proceeding may be commenced against
a Player or other Person unless he has been notified of the anti-doping
rule violation as provided in these Regulations, or notification has beenreasonably Attempted, within ten years of the date the violation is asserted
to have occurred.

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62 IX. Testing

SECOND TITLE: TESTING AND PROCEDURAL RULES
Section 1: Testing

41

General rules for Testing1.
Under these Regulations, every Player may be subject to In-Competition
Testing at the Matches in which he competes and to Out-of-Competition
Testing at any time and place by FIFA or the relevant Association. Testing
shall include, but shall not be limited to, urine tests and blood tests.
2.
Within its jurisdiction, FIFA may delegate Testing under these Regulations
to any Association, Confederation, WADA, governmental agency, NADOor Delegated Third Party that it deems to be suitably qualified for the
purpose. In this case, reference to the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit or theFIFA Doping Control Officer shall, where appropriate, be understood asmeaning the mandated party or Person. Irrespective of the foregoing, theoverall responsibility remains with FIFA.
3.
Only a single organisation shall have the authority to conduct In-Competition
Testing.
a) At International Competitions, FIFA or another internationalorganisation that is the ruling body for the Match/Competition shallhave authority to conduct Testing.
b) At National Competitions, the designated NADO of that country shallhave authority to conduct Testing.
c) If an Anti-Doping Organisation is not responsible for initiating anddirecting Testing at a Competition, but would otherwise have Testing
authority and desires to conduct Testing of Players at the Competition
Venues during the Competition Period, it shall first contact FIFA or theother ruling body of the Match/Competition to obtain the appropriate
permission. If the Anti-Doping Organisation is not satisfied withthe response of FIFA or the other ruling body, it may ask WADA for
permission to conduct Testing and to determine how to coordinate
such Testing. WADA shall not grant any such approval before it has
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consulted with and informed FIFA or the other ruling body for the
Match/Competition. WADA’s decision shall be final and not subject
to appeal. Unless otherwise provided in the authorisation to conduct
Testing, such tests shall be considered Out-of-Competition tests. Results
Management for any such test shall be the responsibility of the AntiDoping Organisation initiating the test, unless provided otherwise in
the rules of the ruling body of the Match/Competition.
4.
In addition to FIFA and the relevant Association, the following organisations
shall be responsible for initiating and directing Out-of-Competition Testing:a) the IOC in connection with the Olympic Games;b) the NADO of the country or territory of which the Player is a national orresident and/or in which the Player is present;
5.
WADA shall have In-Competition and Out-of-Competition Testing authority
as set out in article 20.7.10 of the Code.
6.
Testing of individual Players shall be performed in line with theInternational Standard for Testing and Investigations. Testing shall be
performed with no advance notice. For In-Competition Testing, place
holder selection may be known in advance, but shall not be revealed to thePlayer until notification.

42

Test distribution plan

1.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall develop a test distribution plan for efficientand effective In-Competition and Out-of-Competition Testing for all Players
over whom FIFA has jurisdiction, including but not limited to Players in theFIFA IRTP.
2.
In developing the test distribution plan, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shallconsider the risk of doping in football based on:

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64 IX. Testinga) the FIFA Doping Control database on positive tests and the respective
substances detected;b) the WADA statistics;c) which Prohibited Substances and/or Prohibited Methods a Player would
consider most likely to enhance performance in football;d) the history of doping in football as well as the outcomes of previous
test distribution planning cycles including past Testing strategies;e) the Competition calendar, including seasonal breaks which enables
identification of the time(s) during the year the Player would be most
likely to benefit from Prohibited Substances and/or Prohibited Methods;f) the number of Players;g) the physical and other demands of football;h) available statistics and research on doping trends;i) information received/intelligence developed on possible doping
practices in football (e.g. laboratory recommendations; reports; Player
testimony; information from criminal investigations);j) at what points during a Player’s career he would be most likely tobenefit from Prohibited Substances and/or Prohibited Methods;k) the rewards and/or potential incentives for doping available at different
levels of football and the nations participating in football.
3.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall also take the anti-doping activities of theMember Associations and Confederations and the strength of the nationalanti-doping programme of the particular nation into account. The plan shallbe updated, if necessary, on the basis of this regular review, particularly withregard to the relative merits of Out-of-Competition and In-Competition
Testing in football.
4.
The timing of Testing and the number of Sample collections shall be
determined by the type of Sample collection, including Out-of-Competition,
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In-Competition, blood and urine Sample collection, in order to ensure
optimum deterrence and detection of doping in football.
5.
Player Support Personnel and/or any other Person with a conflict of interest
shall not be involved in test distribution planning for their Players or in theprocess of selecting Players for Testing.
6.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall maintain a record of test distribution
planning data in order to coordinate Testing activities with otherAnti-Doping Organisations.
7.
The Chain of Custody of the Samples shall ensure that Samples and therespective documentation forms arrive together at the laboratory.

43

Selection of Players for Testing1.
In implementing the test distribution plan, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shallselect Players for Sample collection using random selection methods andTarget Testing, as applicable, in line with the International Standard for
Testing and Investigations. Following the respective risk assessment, Target
Testing shall be prioritised, where possible and reasonable.
2.
Target Testing shall be based on an intelligent assessment of the risksof doping and the most effective use of resources to ensure optimum
detection and deterrence. Target Testing shall be a priority, i.e. a significant
amount of the Testing undertaken as part of FIFA’s test distribution plan
shall be Target Testing of Players within its overall pool. If more than one
Player in a team has been tested positive, Target Testing shall be performedon all Players in the team. For individual Players, Target Testing may be
performed as a consequence of behaviour indicating doping, abnormal
biological parameters (blood parameters, steroid profiles, etc.), injury,
repeated failure to meet whereabouts requirements, Player test history andwhen a Player is reinstated after a period of Ineligibility.

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66 IX. Testing3.
Testing that is not Target Testing shall be determined by random selectionin accordance with the International Standard for Testing and Investigation.
In-Competition, the FIFA Doping Control Officer shall be authorised to
select additional Players for Sample collection, e.g. for behaviour indicating
doping. Out-of-Competition, the FIFA Doping Control Officer shall follow
the instructions for the selection of the Player(s) as given on the respective
authorisation form by the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit.

44

Sample collection personnel: FIFA Doping Control
Officers, assistants, Chaperones

1.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall designate an accredited FIFA Doping
Control Officer to carry out In-Competition tests at the Matches in question
and for Out-of-Competition doping tests as defined in the test distribution
plan.
2.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer must have undergone specific training asa FIFA Doping Control Officer. He shall be responsible for the entire doping
test procedure, including blood sampling and the immediate dispatch ofurine Samples to the relevant laboratory and of copies of the forms to FIFA.
FIFA shall provide him with the material required to carry out the tests.
3.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit may also appoint one or several assistants to
the FIFA Doping Control Officer, if necessary, e.g. in the case of double
headers. Furthermore, the FIFA Doping Control Officer may be supported
by Chaperones.
4.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer may delegate the urine sampling
procedure or parts thereof to his assistant. The blood sampling procedure
may not be delegated unless the assistant is a doctor. Nevertheless, if
national legislation allows professionals other than doctors to collectSamples of bodily fluids (with all consequences including medical
confidentiality according to medical ethics and the Hippocratic Oath), an
exception may be made regarding the assistant by the FIFA Anti-Doping
Unit. In the case of delegation, reference to the FIFA Doping Control
Officer shall, where appropriate, be understood as meaning the assistant.
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All other Sample collection personnel, in addition to the FIFA Doping
Control Officer, shall have been trained for their assigned responsibilities,
shall not have a conflict of interest in the outcome of the Sample collection
for which they are appointed and shall not be Minors.
6.
All Sample collection personnel shall have official identification that isprovided either by FIFA or the FIFA-authorised Anti-Doping Organisation/
relevant competent body. The minimum identification requirement isofficial documentation naming FIFA or the FIFA-authorised Anti-Doping
Organisation by which the Person has been authorised. In the case of FIFA
Doping Control Officers, this documentation shall include their name andphotograph and an expiry date.

45

Failure to comply with Doping Control

1.
When any member of the Sample collection personnel becomes aware ofany matters occurring before, during or after a Sample Collection Sessionthat may lead to a determination of a failure to comply, he must informthe FIFA Doping Control Officer immediately.
2.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall then:a) inform the Player or other Person of the Consequences of a possible
failure to comply;b) complete the Player’s Sample Collection Session, if possible;c) provide a detailed written report of any possible failure to comply to
the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit.
3.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall then:a) inform the Player or other Person and WADA of the possible failure tocomply in writing and grant an opportunity to respond;

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68 IX. Testingb) instigate a review of the possible failure to comply based on all relevant
information and documentation and without unnecessary delay;c) document the evaluation process;d) make the final determination available to other Anti-Doping
Organisations in accordance with section 4 of chapter X (Confidentiality
and reporting).
4.
If the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit determines that there has been a potential
failure to comply, it shall:a) promptly notify the Player or other Person in writing of the possible
Consequences, i.e. that a potential failure to comply will be investigatedby the FIFA Disciplinary Committee or its equivalent at Association level
and that appropriate follow-up action will be taken in accordance withthese Regulations and the FIFA Disciplinary Code;b) notify the FIFA Disciplinary Committee of all relevant facts.
5.
Any additional necessary information about the potential failure to comply
shall be obtained from all relevant sources, including the Player or other
Person, as soon as possible and recorded.
6.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall investigate the potential failure tocomply and take appropriate follow-up action in accordance with theseRegulations and the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
7.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall establish a system for ensuring that theoutcomes of its reviews into the potential failure to comply are considered
for the purposes of Results Management and, if applicable, for further
planning and Target Testing.

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Whereabouts information

The provisions to be respected by the Players governing whereabouts
information are set forth under Annexe C of these Regulations.
Section 2: Analysis of Samples

47

Use of accredited, approved and other laboratories

1.
For the purpose of directly establishing an Adverse Analytical Finding underart. 6 (Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in
a Player’s Sample), analysis of the Samples shall be carried out in WADAaccredited laboratories or laboratories otherwise approved by WADA
(see Annexe F). The choice of the WADA accredited or WADA approved
laboratory used for the Sample analysis shall be determined exclusively by
the FIFA Anti- Doping Unit.
Facts related to anti-doping rule violations may be established by any
reliable means. This would include, for example, reliable laboratory orother forensic testing not conducted in WADA-accredited or approved
laboratories.
2.
Samples and related analytical data or Doping Control information shallbe analysed to detect Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods
identified on the Prohibited List and other substances as may be directed by
WADA pursuant to its monitoring programme; or to assist FIFA in profilingrelevant parameters in a Player’s urine, blood or other matrix, including
for DNA or genomic profiling; or for any other legitimate anti- doping
purpose.
3.
Samples, related analytical data and Doping Control information may be
used for anti-doping research purposes, although no Sample may be used
for research without the Player’s written consent. Moreover, Samples andrelated analytical data or Doping Control information used for research
purposes shall first be processed in such a manner as to prevent Samples
and related analytical data or Doping Control information being traced
back to a particular Player. Any research involving Samples and related
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analytical data or Doping Control information shall adhere to the principles
set out in article 19 of the Code.

48

Standards for Sample analysis and reporting

1.
Laboratories shall analyse Samples and report results in conformity with
the International Standard for Laboratories. The head of the laboratory
shall send the test results immediately by encrypted email to the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit.
2.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit may request that laboratories analyse its
Samples using more extensive menus than those described in the TechnicalDocument of WADA.
3.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit may request that laboratories analyse its
Samples using less extensive menus than those described in the TechnicalDocument of WADA only if the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit has satisfied WADA
that, because of the particular circumstances as set out in a test distribution
plan, less extensive analysis would be appropriate.
4.
Laboratories may, at their own initiative and expense, analyse Samples for
Prohibited Substances or Prohibited Methods not included on the standard
Sample analysis menu. If additional analyses not included on the standard
sample analysis menu are requested by FIFA, FIFA shall bear the respective
costs. Results from any such analysis shall be reported to FIFA and have thesame validity and Consequences as any other analytical result.

49

Further analysis of Samples

Any Sample may be stored and subjected to further analysis for the purposeof detection of Prohibited Substances and/or Prohibited Methods and othersubstances as described in this chapter prior to FIFA notifying a Player that
the Sample is the basis for an anti-doping rule violation charge. If after
such notification FIFA wishes to conduct an additional analysis of that
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Sample, it may do so only with the consent of the Player or the approval ofa hearing body. Other circumstances and conditions for further analysis of
Samples shall conform to the requirements of the International Standard forLaboratories and the International Standard for Testing and Investigations.

50

PropertyAll Samples provided by Players in Doping Controls conducted under the
responsibility of FIFA shall immediately become the property of FIFA.

51

GuidanceIf, at any stage, any question or issue arises concerning the analysis orinterpretation of the results of a Sample, the Person responsible for the
analysis at the laboratory may consult the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit for guidance.

Section 3: Results Management

52

Management process

1.
FIFA’s Results Management process is set forth below and in theInternational Standard for Results Management.
2.
In the case of a Player tested by FIFA or where a Player has to filewhereabouts information pursuant to Annexe C of these Regulations
to FIFA, the Results Management process shall be conducted by the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit as the Results Management authority. In all other cases, it
shall be conducted by the relevant Person or body of the Player’s Association.
Requests for assistance in conducting, or information about, the Results
Management process may be made to the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit at any time.
3.
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relevant Person or body of the Association and references to the Player
shall, where appropriate, be understood as meaning any Player Support
Personnel or other Person.

53

Initial review regarding Adverse Analytical/AtypicalFindings and notification

1.
Upon receipt of an Adverse Analytical or an Atypical Finding in an “A”
Sample, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall conduct a review to determine
whether:a) an applicable TUE has been granted or will be granted to the Player for
the Prohibited Substance;b) there is any apparent departure from the International Standard forLaboratories, the International Standard for Testing and Investigations
or other applicable provision in these Regulations that caused theAdverse Analytical Finding/Atypical Finding such as to undermine thevalidity of the finding.
c) it is apparent that the Adverse Analytical Finding or Atypical Finding
was caused by ingestion of the relevant Prohibited Substance through apermitted route.
2.
If the initial review of an Adverse Analytical Finding does not reveal anapplicable TUE or entitlement to a TUE or departure from the International
Standards that caused the Adverse Analytical Finding or ingestion througha permitted route, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall at once confidentiallynotify the Player, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, the Player’s Association,
the Player’s Confederation, the NADO with testing authority over thePlayer and/or club and WADA, in the manner set forth under this article.
3.
If the initial review of an Atypical Finding does not reveal an applicable
TUE or an apparent departure from the International Standards thatcaused the Atypical Finding or ingestion through a permitted route, theFIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall conduct the required investigation. If, after theinvestigation has been completed, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit decides to

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bring forward the Atypical Finding as an Adverse Analytical Finding, thePlayer (in the manner provided below), his club, the Confederation, theAssociation concerned, the NADO with testing authority over the Player
and WADA shall be notified in the manner set forth under this article.
4.
If, at any point during the Results Management process up until the charge,
the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit decides not to move forward with a matter, it
must notify the Player or other Person (provided the Player or other Person
has already been informed of the ongoing Results Management) and givenotice (with reasons) to the Anti-Doping Organisation(s) with a right ofappeal under art. 77 par. 3 (Persons entitled to appeal).
5.
In the case of an Adverse Analytical Finding, the Player shall be promptly
notified of the following (see art. 62 (Addressees of decisions and otherdocuments) and chapter X section 4 (Confidentiality and reporting)):a) the Adverse Analytical Finding;b) the fact that the Adverse Analytical Finding may result in an antidoping rule violation of art. 6 (Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its
Metabolites or Markers in a Player’s Sample) and/or 7 (Use or Attempted
Use by a Player of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method) andthe applicable Consequences;c) his right to promptly request the analysis of the “B” Sample and, failingsuch request within the time limit set by these Regulations, of the factthat the “B” Sample analysis may be deemed irrevocably waived. The
Player shall be advised at the same time that, if the “B” Sample analysis
is requested, all related laboratory costs shall be borne by the Player,
unless the “B” Sample fails to confirm the “A” Sample, in which casethe costs shall be borne by FIFA;d) the fact that analysis of the “B” Sample may be conducted at therequest of FIFA regardless of the Player’s decision in this respect;e) the scheduled date, time and place for the “B” Sample analysis if thePlayer or FIFA chooses to request an analysis of the “B” Sample. These
items may also be promptly communicated in a subsequent letter after
the Player (or FIFA) has requested the “B” Sample analysis;

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74 IX. Testingf) the opportunity for the Player and/or the Player’s representative toattend the “B” Sample opening and analysis in accordance with theInternational Standard for Laboratories;g) the Player’s right to request copies of the “A” Sample laboratory
documentation package, which includes information as required by theInternational Standard for Laboratories.
h) the fact that the case will be handed over to the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee for further evaluation of the case;i) that the Player will be informed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee
about his opportunity to provide an explanation within a shortdeadline;j) that the Player has an opportunity to provide Substantial Assistance,
admit the anti-doping rule violation and potentially benefit from a
one-year reduction in the period of Ineligibility as set out in art. 24(Elimination, reduction, or suspension of period of Ineligibility or otherconsequences for reasons other than Fault) or to seek to enter into acase resolution agreement;k) any matters relating to a Provisional Suspension (including thepossibility for the Player to accept a voluntary suspension as set out inart. 37 (Voluntary acceptance of Provisional Suspension).
6.
Notice of an Atypical Finding will not be provided before completion of theinvestigation under this article and before the decision as to whether tobring forward the Atypical Finding as an Adverse Analytical Finding unless
one of the following circumstances exists:a) If the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit determines that the “B” Sample should beanalysed prior to the conclusion of its investigation under art. 53 par. 4,
the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit may conduct the “B” Sample analysis after
notifying the Player accordingly, such notice to include a description of
the Atypical Finding and the information described in art. 53 par. 4 c) to j).
b) If FIFA receives a request, either from a Major Event Organisation
shortly before one of its international events or from a sports
organisation responsible for meeting an imminent deadline forselecting team members for an international event, to disclose whether
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any Player identified on a list provided by the Major Event Organisationor sports organisation has a pending Atypical Finding, FIFA shall so
identify any such Player after first providing notice of the AtypicalFinding to the Player; or if the Atypical Finding is, in the opinion ofqualified medical or expert personnel, likely to be connected to aserious pathology that requires urgent medical attention.

54

Analysis of the “B” Sample in Adverse Analytical
Findings

1.
The Player has the right to request the analysis of the “B” Sample, within
12 (In-Competition)/48 (Out-of-Competition) hours of being notified. The
request of the analysis of the “B” Sample has no impact on a Provisional
Suspension of the Player.
If the Player requests the “B” Sample analysis but claims that he and/or
his representative will not be available on the scheduled date, the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit shall liaise with the laboratory and propose at least twoalternative dates.
2.
A Player may accept an ”A” Sample analytical result by waiving his right tothe ”B” Sample analysis. The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit may, however, request
the analysis of the “B” Sample at any time if it believes that such analysis
will be relevant for consideration of the Player‘s case.
3.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall communicate the request for analysis of
the “B” Sample immediately to the head of the laboratory where the “B”
Sample is being kept. The analysis of the “B” Sample should be carried out
within 48 hours of FIFA’s request or as soon as possible.
a) The laboratory is required to be ready to perform the “B” Sample
analysis within this time frame, as laid down in the agreement between
FIFA and the respective laboratory prior to the Match/Competition
where controls are being conducted;b) If the laboratory is unable to perform the “B” Sample analysis within
this time frame for technical or logistical reasons, the analysis shalltake place at the next available date for the laboratory. This shall
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not be considered as a deviation from the International Standard forLaboratories susceptible to invalidate the analytical procedure andanalytical results. No other reason shall be accepted for changing thedate of the “B” Sample analysis.
4
The Player and/or his representative shall be allowed to be present at the
opening of the “B” Sample analysis and to attend the analysis throughout.
A representative of the Player’s Association or club may also be present andattend throughout, as may a representative of FIFA.
If the Player and his representative claim not to be available on thealternative dates proposed, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall instruct thelaboratory to proceed regardless and appoint an Independent Witness toverify that the “B” Sample container shows no signs of Tampering and thatthe identifying numbers match those on the collection documentation.
5.
The results of the “B” Sample analysis shall be sent immediately byencrypted email to the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit. If the results of the “B”
Sample confirm the results of the “A” Sample analysis, the Player shall bepromptly notified of such results and be provided with an opportunity
to give an explanation or supplement his explanations within a shortdeadline. The Player shall also be afforded the possibility to admit
the anti-doping rule violation in order to potentially benefit from a
one-year reduction in the period of Ineligibility under art. 24 par. 4(Results Management agreement), if applicable, and/or to voluntarily
accept a Provisional Suspension as per art. 37 (Voluntary acceptance ofProvisional Suspension). Any communication provided to the Player shallsimultaneously be provided to the Player’s NADO, Association and WADA.

55

Review of Atypical Passport Findings and Adverse
Passport Findings

A review of Atypical Passport Findings and Adverse Passport Findings shalltake place as provided in Annexe C to the International Standard for Results
Management. At such time as FIFA is satisfied that an anti-doping ruleviolation has occurred, it shall promptly give the Player (and simultaneously
the Player’s NADO, Association and WADA) notice of the anti-doping ruleviolation asserted and the basis of that assertion.

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56

Review of whereabouts failures

FIFA shall review potential filing failures and missed tests, as defined in
the International Standard for Results Management, in respect of Players
who are in the FIFA IRTP and file their whereabouts information with FIFA,in accordance with Annexe B to the International Standard for Results
Management. At such time as FIFA is satisfied that an anti-doping ruleviolation has occurred under art. 9 (Whereabouts failures), it shall promptly
give the Player (and simultaneously the Player’s NADO, Association andWADA) notice that it is asserting a violation of art. 9 and the basis of that
assertion.

57

Review of other anti-doping rule violations

1.
In the case of any possible anti-doping rule violation where there is no
Adverse Analytical Finding and no Atypical Finding, the FIFA Anti-Doping
Unit shall conduct any investigation based on the facts of the case that it
deems to be necessary.
2.
At such time as the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit has reason to believe that an
anti-doping rule violation might have occurred, it shall promptly notify
the Player or other Person, the Player’s or other Person’s NADO, club andAssociation, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and WADA of:a) the anti-doping rule that appears to have been violated and theapplicable Consequences;b) the relevant factual circumstances upon which the allegations are based;c) the relevant evidence in support of those facts that the FIFA Anti-Doping
Unit considers to demonstrate that the Player or other Person may havecommitted (an) anti-doping rule violation(s);d) the fact that the case will be handed over to the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee for further evaluation of the case;

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78 IX. Testinge) the fact that the Player or other Person will be informed by the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee about his opportunity to provide an explanation
within a short deadline;f) the opportunity for the Player or other Person to provide Substantial
Assistance, admit the anti-doping rule violation and potentially benefit
from a one-year reduction in the period of Ineligibility as set out in art.
24 (Elimination, reduction, or suspension of period of Ineligibility orother consequences for reasons other than Fault) or to seek to enter intoa case resolution agreement;g) any matters relating to Provisional Suspension (including the possibility
for the Player or other Person to accept a voluntary Provisional
Suspension as per art. 37 (Voluntary acceptance of Provisional
Suspension).

58

Letter of charge

1.
If, after receipt of the Player’s or other Person’s explanation or expiry ofthe deadline to provide such explanation, the FIFA Disciplinary Committeeis (still) satisfied that the Player or other Person has committed (an) antidoping rule violation(s), the FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall promptly
charge the Player or other Person with the anti-doping rule violation(s) they
are asserted to have breached. In this letter of charge, the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee shall:a) set out the provision(s) of its anti-doping rules asserted to have been
violated by the Player or other Person;b) provide a detailed summary of the relevant facts upon which theassertion is based, enclosing any additional underlying evidence
not already provided in the notification under art. 53 (Initial review
regarding Adverse Analytical/Atypical Findings and notification);c) indicate the specific Consequence(s) being sought in the event thatthe asserted anti-doping rule violation(s) is/are upheld and that such
Consequence(s) shall have a binding effect on all Confederations andMember Associations, as well as all Signatories to the Code in all sports
and countries;
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IX. Testingd) grant a deadline of 20 days from receipt of the letter of charge (which
may be extended in exceptional cases) to the Player or other Person toadmit the anti-doping rule violation asserted and to accept the proposed
Consequences by signing, dating and returning an acceptance ofConsequences form, which shall be enclosed with the letter;e) in the event that the Player or other Person does not accept the proposed
Consequence(s), it shall grant a deadline of 20 days from receipt of theletter of charge (which may be extended in exceptional cases) to challenge
in writing the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s assertion of an anti-doping
rule violation and/or proposed Consequence(s) and/or make a written
request for a hearing before the relevant hearing panel;f) indicate that if the Player or other Person does not challenge the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee’s assertion of an anti-doping rule violation or
proposed Consequence(s) nor request a hearing within the prescribeddeadline, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall be entitled to deemthat the Player or other Person has waived his right to a hearing and beentitled to issue a decision based on the evidence on file;g) indicate that the Player or other Person may be able to obtain asuspension of the Consequence(s) if he provides Substantial Assistanceunder art. 24 par. 1 (Substantial Assistance in discovering or establishing
Code violations), may admit the anti-doping rule violation(s) within 20
days from receipt of the letter of charge and potentially benefit from a
one-year reduction in the period of Ineligibility under art. 24 par. 4 (Results
Management agreement) (if applicable) and/or seek to enter into a caseresolution agreement by admitting the anti-doping rule violation(s) underart. 24 par. 5 (Case resolution agreement);h) set out any matters relating to Provisional Suspension.
2.
The letter of charge notified to the Player or other Person shall simultaneously
be notified to the Player’s or other Person’s Confederation, Association, NADO
and WADA.
3.
In the event that the Player or other Person either (i) admits the anti doping
rule violation and accepts the proposed Consequence(s) or (ii) is deemed
to have admitted the violation and accepted the Consequence(s), the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee shall promptly issue the decision and notify it to the
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80 IX. Testing

Player or other Person and to other Persons with a right to appeal as set out
in art. 77 (Appeals against decisions regarding anti-doping rule violations,
Consequences, Provisional Suspensions, implementation of decisions andauthority).

59

Retirement from sport

1.
If a Player or other Person retires while FIFA is conducting the Results
Management process, FIFA retains the authority to complete its Results
Management process.
2.
If a Player or other Person retires before any Results Management process
has begun, and FIFA would have had Results Management authority overthe Player or other Person at the time the Player or other Person committed
an anti-doping rule violation, FIFA has the authority to conduct Results
Management in respect of that anti-doping rule violation.

60

Retired Players returning to Competition

1.
If an International- or National-Level Player in a Registered Testing Pool
retires and then wishes to return to active participation in sport, the Player
shall not compete in International Competitions or National Competitions
until the Player has made himself available for Testing, by giving six months’
prior written notice to FIFA and his NADO. WADA, in consultation with FIFAand the relevant NADO, may grant an exemption to the six-month written
notice rule where the strict application of that rule would be unfair to a
Player. This decision may be appealed under art. 77 (Appeals against decisions
regarding anti-doping rule violations, Consequences, Provisional Suspensions,
implementation of decisions and authority).
2.
If a Player retires from sport while subject to a period of Ineligibility, thePlayer must notify FIFA or other Anti-Doping Organisation that imposed
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wishes to return to active competition in sport, the Player shall not compete
in International Competitions or National Competitions until the Player has
made himself available for Testing by giving six months’ prior written notice(or notice equivalent to the period of Ineligibility remaining as of the datethe Player retired, if that period was longer than six months) to FIFA and thePlayer’s NADO. FIFA may grant an exemption to the six-month written noticerule where the strict application of that rule would be unfair to a Player. Thisdecision may not be appealed.

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Section 1: General provisions

61

Jurisdiction

1.
Where it is asserted that an anti-doping rule has been violated in connection
with any test conducted by FIFA, the case shall be submitted to the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee. In all other cases, it shall be submitted to therelevant hearing panel of a Confederation or Association.
2.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall decide appropriate sanctions incompliance with these Regulations and the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
3.
In the case of a Player tested by FIFA, FIFA has the exclusive right to publish
the test results and the relevant measures thereof.
4.
For the purpose of chapter X, references hereafter to the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee shall, where appropriate, be understood as meaning therelevant hearing panel of the Association and references to the Player
shall, where appropriate, be understood as meaning any Player Support
Personnel or other person.

62

Addressees of decisions and other documents

Decisions and other documents intended for Players, clubs, Match Officials,
Officials and other Persons are addressed to the Association concernedon the condition that it forwards the documents to the parties concerned
without delay and that it confirms to FIFA that it has performed this step.
In the event that the documents were not also or solely sent to the party
concerned, these documents are considered to have been communicatedproperly to the ultimate addressee the day after receipt of the documentby the respective Association.

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63

Form of decisions

1.
Decisions rendered pursuant to these Regulations shall include the full
reasons for the decision, including the basis of jurisdiction and applicable
rules, detailed factual background, the anti-doping rule violation(s)committed or Provisional Suspension imposed, the applicable Consequences
and, if applicable, justification for why the maximum potential Consequenceswere not imposed as well as the appeal routes and deadlines to appeal for
the Player or other Person. Where the decision is not in one of the four
official FIFA languages (English, French, Spanish or German), the relevant
hearing panel of the Association or Confederation shall provide a shortsummary of the decision and the supporting reasons in English, French,
Spanish or German.
2.
Decisions communicated by registered letter or electronic mail shall be
legally binding.
3.
In exceptional circumstances, the parties may be informed solely of theterms of the decision. The motivated decision will be communicated in full,
written form. The time limit to lodge an appeal, where applicable, begins
upon receipt of this motivated decision.

Section 2: Fair hearing

64

Right to a fair hearing

1.
For every Player or other Person who is asserted to have committed ananti-doping rule violation, FIFA shall ensure, at a minimum, that the Playeror other Person receives a fair hearing in front of the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee within a reasonable period of time in accordance with theseRegulations, the FIFA Disciplinary Code and the International Standard forResults Management.

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84 X. Procedural rules2.
Anti-doping rule violations asserted against International-Level Players,
National-Level Players or other Persons may, with the consent of the Playeror other Person, FIFA and WADA, be heard in a single hearing directly at
CAS under CAS procedures. Nothing set out in this paragraph precludes
the Player or other Person and FIFA (where it has Results Management
responsibility) to waive their right to appeal by agreement. Such waiver,
however, only binds the parties to such agreement and not any other entitywith a right of appeal under the Code.
3.
A Player or other Person against whom an anti-doping rule violation isasserted may waive a hearing expressly and accept the Consequences
proposed by FIFA.
However, if the Player or other Person against whom an anti-doping ruleviolation is asserted fails to dispute that assertion within the deadline
specified in the letter of charge sent by FIFA, then they shall be deemed tohave waived a hearing.
In the above cases, a hearing before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee
shall not be required. Instead, FIFA shall promptly issue a written decisionthat conforms with article 9 of the International Standard for Results
Management and that includes the full reasons for the decision, theperiod of Ineligibility imposed, the Disqualification of results under art. 26(Disqualification of results), and if applicable, a justification for why thegreatest potential Consequences were not imposed.
FIFA shall notify that decision to the Player or other Person and to otherAnti-Doping Organisations with a right to appeal under art. 77 par. 3 ofthese Regulations and shall promptly enter it in ADAMS. FIFA shall Publicly
Disclose that decision in accordance with art. 71 (Public Disclosure).

65

Hearing principles

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall be fair, impartial and Operationally
Independent and the hearing process shall respect the following rights of
the Player or other Person:

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X. Procedural rulesa) the right to be assisted by counsel and an interpreter at the Player’s orother Person’s own expense;b) the right to be informed in a fair and timely manner of the asserted
anti-doping rule violation;c) the right to respond to the asserted anti-doping rule violation andresulting consequences;d) the right of access to and to present evidence, including the right to calland question witnesses;e) the right to a timely, written and reasoned decision, specifically
including an explanation of the reason(s) for any period of Ineligibility;f) the right of the Player or other Person to request a public hearing.

66

Considerations of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee

1.
At the hearing, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall consider first whether
or not an anti-doping rule violation has been committed.
2.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee may draw an adverse inference against thePlayer or other Person who is asserted to have committed an anti-doping
rule violation based on the Player’s or other Person’s refusal, after a request
made in a reasonable time in advance of the hearing, to appear at thehearing (either in person or by telephone or video conference as directedby the FIFA Disciplinary Committee) and to answer questions from the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee.
3.
If the FIFA Disciplinary Committee considers that an anti-doping ruleviolation has been committed, it shall consider the appropriate measuresapplicable under arts 20 (Ineligibility for presence, Use or Attempted Use,or Possession of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method) and 21(Ineligibility for other anti-doping rule violations) prior to the impositionof any period of Ineligibility. The Player and other Person shall have theopportunity to establish that there are specific or exceptional circumstances
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in his case that justify a reduction or elimination of the sanction otherwise
applicable.
4.
Where no hearing occurs, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall consider
whether an anti-doping rule violation was committed and, if so, theappropriate measures to take based on the content of the file, and rendera reasoned decision explaining the actions taken.

67

Procedure at a Competition

The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may expedite theprocedure at a Competition. He may conduct the hearing on his own ortake other measures at his discretion, especially where the resolution of ananti-doping rule violation may affect the participation of a Player in theCompetition.

Section 3: Proof of doping

68

Burdens and standards of proof

1.
FIFA shall have the burden of establishing that an anti-doping rule violation
has occurred. The standard of proof shall be whether FIFA has establishedan anti-doping rule violation to the comfortable satisfaction of the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee, bearing in mind the seriousness of the allegation
which is made. In all cases, this standard of proof is greater than a merebalance of probability but less than proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
2.
Where the Code or these Regulations place the burden of proof upon
the Player or other Person alleged to have committed an anti-doping
rule violation to rebut a presumption or establish specified facts orcircumstances, except as provided in art. 69 par. 2 b) and c), the standard of
proof shall be by a balance of probability.

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69

Methods of establishing facts and presumptions

1.
Facts related to anti-doping rule violations may be established by any
reliable means, including admissions.
2.
The following rules of proof shall be applicable in doping cases:a) Analytical methods or Decision Limits approved by WADA after
consultation within the relevant scientific community or which havebeen the subject of peer review are presumed to be scientifically valid.
Any Player or other Person seeking to challenge whether the conditions
for such presumption have been met or to rebut this presumption ofscientific validity shall, as a condition precedent to any such challenge,
first notify WADA of the challenge and the basis of the challenge. The
initial hearing body, appellate body or CAS, on its own initiative, mayalso inform WADA of any such challenge. Within ten days of WADA’s
receipt of such notice, and the case file related to such challenge,
WADA shall also have the right to intervene as a party, appear as
amicus curiae, or otherwise provide evidence in such proceeding. In
cases before CAS, at WADA’s request, the CAS panel shall appoint anappropriate scientific expert to assist the panel in its evaluation of thechallenge.
b) WADA-accredited laboratories, and other laboratories approved
by WADA, are presumed to have conducted Sample analysis andcustodial procedures in accordance with the International Standard forLaboratories. The Player or other Person may rebut this presumption
by establishing that a departure from the International Standard forLaboratories occurred which could reasonably have caused the Adverse
Analytical Finding. If the Player or other Person rebuts the preceding
presumption by showing that a departure from the International
Standard for Laboratories occurred which could reasonably havecaused the Adverse Analytical Finding, then FIFA shall have the burden
to establish that such departure did not cause the Adverse Analytical
Finding.
c) Departures from any other International Standard or other anti-doping
rule or policy set forth in the Code or in these Regulations shall not

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invalidate analytical results or other evidence of an anti-doping ruleviolation, and shall not constitute a defence to an anti-doping ruleviolation; provided, however, that if the Player or other Person establishes
that a departure from one of the specific International Standard
provisions listed below could reasonably have caused an anti-doping ruleviolation based on an Adverse Analytical Finding or whereabouts failure,then FIFA shall have the burden to establish that such departure did notcause the Adverse Analytical Finding or whereabouts failure:i.

a departure from the International Standard for Testing andInvestigations related to Sample collection or Sample handlingwhich could reasonably have caused an anti-doping rule violation
based on an Adverse Analytical Finding, in which case FIFA shallhave the burden to establish that such departure did not cause theAdverse Analytical Finding;ii. a departure from the International Standard for Results
Management or International Standard for Testing andInvestigations related to Adverse Passport Findings which could
reasonably have caused an anti-doping rule violation, in which case
FIFA shall have the burden to establish that such departure did notcause the anti-doping rule violation;iii. a departure from the International Standard for Results
Management related to the requirement to provide notice to thePlayer of the “B” Sample opening which could reasonably havecaused an anti-doping rule violation based on an Adverse Analytical
Finding, in which case FIFA shall have the burden to establish thatsuch departure did not cause the Adverse Analytical Finding;iv. a departure from the International Standard for Results
Management related to Player notification which could reasonably
have caused an anti-doping rule violation based on a whereabouts
failure, in which case FIFA shall have the burden to establish thatsuch departure did not cause the whereabouts failured) The facts established by a decision of a court or professional disciplinary
tribunal of competent jurisdiction which is not the subject of a pending
appeal shall be irrebuttable evidence against the Player or other Person
to whom the decision pertained of those facts unless the Player orother Person establishes that the decision violated principles of natural
justice.
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X. Procedural rulese) The hearing panel in a hearing on an anti-doping rule violation may
draw an inference adverse to the Player or other Person who is asserted
to have committed an anti-doping rule violation based on the Player’s
or other Person’s refusal, after a request made in a reasonable time inadvance of the hearing, to appear at the hearing (either in person or
via video conference as directed by the hearing panel) and to answer
questions from the hearing panel or FIFA.

Section 4: Confidentiality and reporting

70

Information concerning asserted anti-doping ruleviolations

1.
The Player or other Person shall be notified of an anti-doping ruleviolation asserted against him as provided in section 3 of chapter IX(Results Management).
2.
FIFA or the Anti-Doping Organisation that is responsible for managing theresults shall notify the Player’s Association, NADO, FIFA and WADA by nolater than completion of the process described under arts 53 (Initial review
regarding Adverse Analytical/Atypical Findings and notification), 55 (Reviewof Atypical Passport Findings and Adverse Passport Findings), 56 (Review ofwhereabouts failures) and 57 (Review of other anti-doping rule violations),
simultaneously with the notification of the Player or other Person.
3.
Notification of an anti-doping rule violation shall include: the Player’s orother Person’s name, country, sport, club, the Player’s competitive level,
whether the test was In-Competition or Out-of-Competition, the date ofSample collection, the analytical result reported by the laboratory, andother information as required by the International Standard for Testing andInvestigations and the International Standard for Results Management or,for anti-doping rule violations other than art. 6 (Presence of a Prohibited
Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in a Player’s Sample), the ruleviolated and the basis of the asserted violation.
4.
Except with respect to investigations which have not resulted in a noticeof an anti-doping rule violation as described above, the same Persons and
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Anti-Doping Organisations shall be regularly updated on the status andfindings of any review or proceedings conducted pursuant to section 3of chapter IX (Results Management), chapter VII (Provisional Suspension),sections 2 and 6 of chapter X (Fair hearing and Appeals respectively) andshall be provided with a prompt written reasoned explanation or decision
explaining the resolution of the matter.
5.
FIFA shall be notified in accordance with art. 38 (Notification) of thedecision of the hearing panel pursuant to sections 2 and 6 of chapter X(Fair hearing and Appeals respectively).
6.
The recipient organisations shall not disclose this information beyond
those Persons with a need to know (which would include the appropriate
personnel at the applicable National Olympic Committee, Association, cluband team) until FIFA or the Association concerned, according to the Results
Management responsibility, has made Public Disclosure as permitted underart. 71 (Public Disclosure).
7.
An Anti-Doping Organisation that declares, or that receives notice of, awhereabouts-related failure in respect of a Player shall not disclose that
information beyond those Persons with a need to know unless and untilthat Player is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation underart. 9 (Whereabouts failures) based on such whereabouts-related failure.
Such Persons who need to know shall also maintain the confidentiality ofsuch information until the same point.
8.
FIFA shall ensure that information concerning Adverse Analytical Findings,
Atypical Findings, and other asserted anti-doping rule violations remains
confidential until such information is Publicly Disclosed in accordancewith art. 71 (Public Disclosure). FIFA shall ensure that its employees(whether permanent or otherwise), contractors, agents, consultants, andDelegated Third Parties are subject to a fully enforceable contractual dutyof confidentiality and to fully enforceable procedures for the investigationand disciplining of improper and/or unauthorised disclosure of suchconfidential information.

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71

Public Disclosure

1.
Except as provided in pars 2 and 4 below, no Anti-Doping Organisation,
Member Association or WADA-accredited laboratory, or any official ofany such body, shall publicly comment on the specific facts of any pendingcase (as opposed to a general description of process and science) except
in response to public comments attributed to, or based on information
provided by, the Player, other Person or their entourage or otherrepresentatives.
2.
After notice has been provided to the Player or other Person in accordancewith the International Standard for Results Management, and to theapplicable Anti-Doping Organisations in accordance with art. 53 (Initial
review regarding Adverse Analytical/Atypical Findings and notification), theidentity of any Player or other Person who is notified of a potential antidoping rule violation, the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method andnature of the violation involved, and whether the Player or other Person
who is subject to a Provisional Suspension may be Publicly Disclosed by FIFA.
3.
No later than 20 days after it has been determined in an appellate decision
under art. 77 pars 1 and 2 of these Regulations or such appeal has been
waived, or a hearing in accordance with art. 64 (Right to a fair hearing)has been waived, or the assertion of an anti-doping rule violation has
not been timely challenged or the matter has been resolved under art. 24
par. 6 of these Regulations, or a new period of Ineligibility, or reprimand,has been imposed under art. 30 par. 1 of these Regulations, FIFA or the
Association concerned, depending on who has responsibility for managing
the results, must Publicly Disclose the disposition of the anti-doping matterincluding the anti-doping rule violated, the name of the Player or other
Person committing the violation, the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited
Method involved (if any) and the Consequences imposed, according to theircommunication policy. FIFA or the Association concerned must also Publicly
Disclose within 20 days the results of appelate decisions concerning antidoping rule violations, including the information described above.
4.
After an anti-doping rule violation has been determined to have beencommitted in an appellate decision under art. 77 (Appeals against
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decisions regarding anti-doping rule violations, Consequences, Provisional
Suspensions, implementation of decisions and authority) or such appeal
has been waived, or in a hearing in accordance with art. 64 (Right to a fairhearing) or where such hearing has been waived, or the assertion of ananti-doping rule violation has not otherwise been timely challenged, or thematter has been resolved under art. 24 par. 6 of these Regulations, FIFA or
the Association concerned may make public such determination or decisionand may comment publicly on the matter.
5.
In any case where it is determined, after a hearing or appeal, that thePlayer or other Person did not commit an anti-doping rule violation,
the fact that the decision has been appealed may be Publicly Disclosed.
However, the decision itself and the underlying facts may not be Publicly
Disclosed except with the consent of the Player or other Person who isthe subject of the decision. FIFA or the Association shall make reasonable
efforts to obtain such consent, and if consent is obtained, shall Publicly
Disclose the decision in its entirety or in such revised form as the Player orother Person may approve.
6.
For the purposes of this article, publication shall be accomplished at aminimum by placing the required information on the FIFA or the
Association’s website and leaving the information up for the longer of
one month or the duration of any period of Ineligibility.
7.
The mandatory Public Disclosure described in this article shall not be
required where the Player or other Person who has been found to havecommitted an anti-doping rule violation is a Minor, Protected Person or
Recreational Player. Any optional Public Disclosure in a case involving a
Minor, Protected Person or Recreational Player shall be proportionate to
the facts and circumstances of the case.

72

Information concerning whereabouts and Testing1.
The current whereabouts information of Players who have been identified
by FIFA for inclusion in its IRTP shall be provided to WADA and to other

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Anti-Doping Organisations having the authority to test the Player through
ADAMS, as provided in article 5 of the Code. Whereabouts information
shall be maintained in strict confidence at all times; shall be used exclusively
for the purposes of planning, coordinating or conducting Doping Controls;
shall provide information relevant to the Athlete Biological Passport orother analytical results to support an investigation into a potential antidoping rule violation or to support proceedings alleging an anti-doping
rule violation; and shall be destroyed after it is no longer relevant forthese purposes in accordance with the International Standards for theProtection of Privacy and Personal Information. FIFA may, in accordancewith the International Standard for Testing and Investigations, collectwhereabouts information from Players who are not included within the
IRTP. If FIFA chooses to collect whereabouts information from such Players,
a Player’s failure to provide requested whereabouts information on or
before the date required by FIFA or the Player’s failure to provide accurate
whereabouts information shall result in FIFA including the Player in FIFA’s
IRTP.
2.
FIFA shall report all In-Competition and Out-of-Competition tests to WADA
by entering the Doping Control forms in ADAMS in accordance with therequirements and timelines contained in the International Standard for
Testing and Investigations. This information will be made accessible, whereappropriate and in accordance with the applicable rules, to the Player,
the Player’s Association, the National Olympic Committee, the NADO,
and the International Olympic Committee, and any other Anti-Doping
Organisations with Testing authority over the Player.
3.
FIFA shall, at least annually, publish a general statistical report of its Doping
Control activities, with a copy provided to WADA.

73

Data privacy

Handling of the personal information relating to Players, other Persons
or third parties that is collected, stored, processed or disclosed when
performing the obligations under these Regulations has to comply withthe applicable data protection and privacy laws and FIFA Data Protection
Regulations, as well as the International Standard for the Protection ofPrivacy and Personal Information issued by WADA.
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Section 5: Implementation of decisions

74

Implementation of decisions

1.
A decision regarding an anti-doping rule violation made by a Signatory
Anti-Doping Organisation, an appellate body or CAS shall, after the parties
to the proceeding are notified, automatically be binding beyond theparties to the proceeding and upon FIFA and its Associations, as well as
every Signatory in every sport with the effects described below:
1.1 A decision by any of the above-mentioned bodies imposing a Provisional
Suspension (after a Provisional Hearing has occurred or the Player orother Person has either accepted the Provisional Suspension or has
waived the right to a Provisional Hearing, expedited hearing or
expedited appeal offered in accordance with art. 35 (Mandatory
Provisional Suspension) and art. 36 (Optional Provisional Suspension
based on an Adverse Analytical Finding for Specified Substances,
Specified Methods, Contaminated Products, or other anti-doping ruleviolations) automatically prohibits the Player or other Person fromparticipation in all sports within the authority of any Signatory during
the Provisional Suspension.
1.2 A decision by any of the above-mentioned bodies imposing aperiod of Ineligibility (after a hearing has occurred or been waived)
automatically prohibits the Player or other Person from participationin all sports within the authority of any Signatory for the period of
Ineligibility.
1.3 A decision by any of the above-mentioned bodies accepting an antidoping rule violation automatically binds all Signatories.
1.4 A decision by any of the above-mentioned bodies to Disqualify
results under art. 26 (Disqualification of results) for a specified period
automatically Disqualifies all results obtained within the authority of
any Signatory during the specified period.
2.
FIFA and its Associations shall recognise and implement a decision and its
effects as required by this article, without any further action required, on
the earlier of the date FIFA receives actual notice of the decision or thedate the decision is entered in ADAMS.
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X. Procedural rules3.
A decision by an Anti-Doping Organisation, a national appellate body or
CAS to suspend, or lift, Consequences shall be binding upon FIFA and its
Associations without any further action required, on the earlier of thedate FIFA receives actual notice of the decision or the date the decision isentered in ADAMS.
4.
Notwithstanding any provision in this article, however, a decision of ananti-doping rule violation by a Major Event Organisation made in an
expedited process during a Competition shall not be binding on FIFA or
its Associations unless the rules of the Major Event Organisation provide
the Player or other Person with an opportunity to an appeal under nonexpedited procedures.
5.
FIFA and its Associations may decide to implement other anti-doping
decisions rendered by Anti-Doping Organisations not described inparagraphs 1-4 above, such as a Provisional Suspension prior to a
Provisional Hearing or acceptance by the Player or other Person.
6.
An anti-doping decision by a body that is not a Signatory to the Code shallbe implemented by FIFA and its Associations if they find that the decisionpurports to be within the authority of that body and the anti-doping rulesof that body are otherwise consistent with the Code.

75

Recognition by Associations and Confederations

1.
Where Doping Controls have been carried out by FIFA, an Association or a
Confederation in accordance with these Regulations, every Association and
Confederation shall recognise the results of such Doping Controls.
2.
Where decisions have been taken by FIFA or an Association regarding abreach of these Regulations, every Association and Confederation shallrecognise such decisions and shall take all necessary action to render suchdecisions effective.
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Section 6: Appeals

76

Decisions subject to appeal

Decisions made under these Regulations may be appealed as set forth
below in arts 77 to 82 or as otherwise provided in these Regulations, theCode or International Standards. Such decisions shall remain in effect while
under appeal unless the appellate body orders otherwise.
1.
Scope of review not limited
The scope of review on appeal includes all issues relevant to the matterand is expressly not limited to the issues or scope of review before theinitial decision-maker. Any party to the appeal may submit evidence, legal
arguments and claims that were not raised in the first-instance hearing solong as they arise from the same cause of action or same general facts orcircumstances raised or addressed in the first-instance hearing.
2.
CAS shall not defer to the findings being appealed
In making its decision, CAS does not need to give deference to thediscretion exercised by the body whose decision is being appealed.
3.
WADA not required to exhaust internal remedies
Where WADA has a right to appeal under arts 76 to 82 and no other party
has appealed a final decision within FIFA’s process, WADA may appeal suchdecision directly to CAS without having to exhaust other remedies in FIFA’s
process.

77

Appeals against decisions regarding anti-doping ruleviolations, Consequences, Provisional Suspensions,
implementation of decisions and authority

A decision that an anti-doping rule violation was committed, a decision
imposing Consequences or not imposing Consequences for an antidoping rule violation, or a decision that no anti-doping rule violation
was committed; a decision that an anti-doping rule violation proceedingcannot go forward for procedural reasons (including, for example,

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prescription); a decision by WADA not to grant an exception to the six
months’ notice requirement for a retired Player to return to Competition
under art. 60 (Retired Players returning to Competition); a decision by
WADA assigning Results Management under art. 7.1 of the Code; adecision by FIFA not to bring forward an Adverse Analytical Finding or an
Atypical Finding as an anti-doping rule violation, or a decision not to go
forward with an anti-doping rule violation after an investigation underthese Regulations and in accordance with the International Standard forResults Management; a decision to impose, or lift, a Provisional Suspension
as a result of a Provisional Hearing; FIFA’s failure to comply with chapter
VII; a decision that FIFA lacks authority to rule on an alleged anti-doping
rule violation or its Consequences; a decision to suspend, or not suspend,
Consequences or to reinstate, or not reinstate, Consequences under art. 24
par. 1 (Substantial assistance in discovering or establishing Code violations);
failure to comply with art. 24 par. 4 of these Regulations, failure to comply
with art. 24 par. 5 of these Regulations; a decision under art. 30 par. 3(Violation of the prohibition of participation during Ineligibility); and adecision by FIFA not to implement another Anti-Doping Organisation’s
decision under art. 74 (Implementation of decisions), and a decision underart. 88 par. 5 d) of these Regulations may be appealed exclusively as
provided in arts 77 to 82.
1.
Appeals involving International-Level Players or International
Competitions
In cases arising from participation in an International Competition or incases involving International-Level Players, the decision may be appealed
exclusively to CAS.
2.
Appeals involving other Players or other Persons
In cases where art. 77 par. 1 (Appeals involving International-Level Players
or International Competitions) is not applicable, the decision may be
appealed to an appellate body in accordance with rules adopted by the
NADO having jurisdiction over the Player or other Person. The rules forsuch appeal shall respect the following principles: a timely hearing; a fair,
impartial and operationally and institutionally independent hearing panel;
the right to be represented by counsel at the Player’s or other Person’s
own expense; and a timely, written, reasoned decision. If no such body as
described above is in place and available at the time of appeal, the Playeror other Person shall have a right to appeal to CAS.

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3.
Persons entitled to appeal
In cases under art. 77 par. 1 (Appeals involving International-Level Players
or International Competitions), the following parties shall have the rightto appeal to CAS: (a) the Player or other Person who is the subject ofthe decision being appealed; (b) the other party to the case in which thedecision was rendered; (c) FIFA; (d) the NADO of the Person’s country ofresidence or countries where the Person is a national or licence holder;(e) the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic
Committee, as applicable, where the decision may have an effect in relation
to the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games, including decisions affecting
eligibility for the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games; and (f) WADA.
In cases under art. 77 par. 2 (Appeals involving other Players or other
Persons), the parties having the right to appeal to the national-level appeal
body shall be as provided in the NADO’s rules but, at a minimum, shall
include the following parties: (a) the Player or other Person who is the
subject of the decision being appealed; (b) the other party to the case inwhich the decision was rendered; (c) FIFA; (d) the NADO of the Person’scountry of residence or countries where the Person is a national or licenceholder; (e) the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic
Committee, as applicable, where the decision may have an effect in relation
to the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games, including decisions affecting
eligibility for the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games; and (f) WADA. For
cases under art. 77 par. 2 (Appeals involving other Players or other Persons),
WADA, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic
Committee, and FIFA shall also have the right to appeal to CAS with respect
to the decision of the national-level appeal body. Any party filing an appeal
shall be entitled to assistance from CAS to obtain all relevant informationfrom the Anti-Doping Organisation whose decision is being appealed andthe information shall be provided if CAS so directs.
Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the only Person who may
appeal against the imposition of a Provisional Suspension is the Player orother Person upon whom the Provisional Suspension is imposed.
4.
Duty to notify
All parties to any CAS appeal must ensure that FIFA, WADA and all otherparties with a right to appeal have been given timely notice of the appeal.

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5.
Cross-appeals and other subsequent appeals allowed
Cross-appeals and other subsequent appeals by any respondent named incases brought to CAS under the Code are specifically permitted. Any party
with a right to appeal under the Appeals section of these Regulations mustfile a cross-appeal or subsequent appeal with the party’s answer at thelatest.

78

Failure to render a timely decision

1.
Where, in a particular case, FIFA fails to render a decision with respect towhether an anti-doping rule violation was committed within a reasonable
deadline set by WADA, WADA may elect to appeal directly to CAS as if
FIFA had rendered a decision finding no anti-doping rule violation. If the
CAS hearing panel determines that an anti-doping rule violation wascommitted and that WADA acted reasonably in electing to appeal directly
to CAS, WADA’s costs and attorney fees in prosecuting the appeal shall bereimbursed to WADA by FIFA.
2.
Where, in a particular case, a Member Association or Confederation fails
to render a decision with respect to whether an anti-doping rule violation
was committed within a reasonable deadline set by FIFA, FIFA may electto appeal directly to CAS as if the Member Association or Confederation
had rendered a decision finding no anti-doping rule violation. If the CAS
hearing panel determines that an anti-doping rule violation was committed
and that FIFA acted reasonably in electing to appeal directly to CAS, FIFA’s
costs and attorney fees in prosecuting the appeal shall be reimbursed toFIFA by a Member Association or Confederation.

79

Appeals relating to TUEs

TUE decisions may be appealed exclusively as provided in art. 19 (Therapeuticuse exemptions (TUEs)) and art. 84 (Appeals against decisions granting or
denying a therapeutic use exemption).

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80

Notification of appeal decisions

Any Anti-Doping Organisation that is a party to an appeal shall promptly
provide the appeal decision to the Player or other Person and to theother Anti-Doping Organisations that would have been entitled to appeal
under art. 77 par. 3 (Persons entitled to appeal) as provided under art. 70(Information concerning asserted anti-doping rule violations).

81

Appeal against decisions pursuant to article 85(Sanctions and costs assessed against sporting bodies)

Decisions by FIFA pursuant to art. 85 (Sanctions and costs assessed against
sporting bodies) may be appealed exclusively to CAS by a Member
Association.

82

Time for filing appeals

1.
Appeals to CASa) The time to file an appeal to CAS shall be 21 days from the date ofreceipt of the motivated decision in an official FIFA language by theappealing party. The above notwithstanding, the following shall apply inconnection with appeals filed by a party entitled to appeal but which was
not a party to the proceedings that led to the decision being appealed:i) Within 15 days from notice of the decision, such party/ies shall havethe right to request a copy of the case file translated in an official
FIFA language from the body that issued the decision;ii) If such a request is made within the 15-day period, the party making
such request shall have 21 days from receipt of the file to file anappeal to CAS.
b) Notwithstanding the above, the filing deadline for an appeal
filed by WADA shall be the later of:i) Twenty-one days after the last day on which any other party having
a right to appeal could have appealed; or
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X. Procedural rulesii) Twenty-one days after WADA’s receipt of the complete file relating
to the decision.
2.
Appeals under art. 77 par. 2(Appeals involving other Players or other Persons)
The time to file an appeal to an independent and impartial body in accordancewith rules established by the National Anti-Doping Organisation shall be
indicated by the same rules of the National Anti Doping Organisation.
Notwithstanding the above, the filing deadline for an appeal filed by WADA
shall be the later of:a) Twenty-one days after the last day on which any other party having aright to appeal could have appealed, orb) Twenty-one days after WADA’s receipt of the complete file relating to
the decision.
3.
a) Where FIFA appeals against a decision of an Association, Anti-Doping
Organisation or Confederation to CAS under this chapter, the applicablelaw for the proceeding shall be the FIFA regulations, in particular the FIFA
Statutes, the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations and the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
b) Where FIFA appeals against a decision of an Association, Anti-Doping
Organisation or Confederation to CAS under this chapter, FIFA’s time limits
stipulated in art. 82 par. 1 a) shall start with the receipt of the relevant
document(s) by the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit (antidoping@fifa.org).
4.
The time limits set out above shall start from the day following receipt of
the relevant document.

83

FIFA not required to exhaust internal remedies

Where FIFA has a right to appeal under this chapter and no other party has
appealed a final decision within the Anti-Doping Organisation’s process, FIFA
may appeal such a decision directly to CAS without having to exhaust otherremedies in the Anti-Doping Organisation process.
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84

Appeals against decisions granting or denying atherapeutic use exemption

1.
WADA, at the request of a Player or on its own initiative, may review the
granting or denial of any TUE by FIFA. Decisions by WADA reversing the
granting or denial of a TUE may be appealed exclusively to CAS by thePlayer or FIFA.
2.
Decisions by FIFA, Associations or NADOs denying TUEs, which are notreversed by WADA, may be appealed by Players to CAS or to the national
level reviewing body as described under these Regulations. If the national
level reviewing body reverses the decision to deny a TUE, that decision may
be appealed to CAS by WADA.
3.
When FIFA, an Association or NADO fails to take action on a properly
submitted application for a TUE within a reasonable time, this failure todecide may be considered a denial for the purpose of the appeal rights
provided in this article.

85

Sanctions and costs assessed against sporting bodies

1.
FIFA has the authority to withhold some or all funding or othernon-financial support to Member Associations that are not in compliancewith these Regulations.
2.
Member Associations shall be obligated to reimburse FIFA for all costs(including but not limited to laboratory fees, hearing expenses and travel)
related to a violation of these Regulations committed by a Player or other
Person affiliated with that Member Association.

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Final title

86

Official languages

1.
These Regulations exist in the four official FIFA languages (English, French,
Spanish and German).
2.
In case of any discrepancy in the interpretation of the English, French,
Spanish or German texts of these Regulations, the English text will beauthoritative.

87

Additional regulations

In addition, the provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and all other FIFA
Regulations shall apply.

88

Amendments to and interpretations of the Anti-Doping
Regulations

1.
Matters not provided for in these Regulations and cases of force majeure
shall be settled by the final decision of the relevant FIFA committee.
2.
These Regulations shall be implemented and construed according to Swisslaw and the FIFA Statutes, FIFA Disciplinary Code and FIFA Regulations.
3.
These Regulations may be amended from time to time by FIFA.
4.
These Regulations shall be interpreted as an independent and autonomous
text and not by reference to existing law or statutes.
5.
These Regulations were adopted by the FIFA Council on 25 June 2020 andcome into force on 1 January 2021 (the “Effective Date”). They repeal theFIFA Anti-Doping Regulations that came into effect on 14 January 2019.
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104 Final title

They shall not apply retroactively to matters pending before the Effective
Date; provided, however, that:a) Anti-doping rule violations taking place prior to the Effective Datecount as “first violations” or “second violations” for the purpose ofdetermining sanctions under arts 6 to 16 for violations taking place
after the Effective Date.
b) Any anti-doping rule violation case which is pending on the Effective
Date and any anti-doping rule violation case brought after the Effective
Date based on an anti-doping rule violation which occurred prior to
the Effective Date shall be governed by the substantive anti-doping
rules in effect at the time that the alleged anti-doping rule violation
occurred, and not by the substantive anti-doping rules set out in theseRegulations, unless the panel hearing the case determines that the
principle of lex mitior appropriately applies under the circumstancesof the case. The retrospective periods in which prior violations can beconsidered multiple violations under art. 25 par. 5 (Multiple anti-doping
rule violations during ten-year period) and the statute of limitations
set forth in art. 40 (Statute of limitations) are procedural rules, notsubstantive rules, and should be applied retroactively along with all of
the other procedural rules in these Regulations (provided, however, that
art. 40 shall only be applied retroactively if the statute of limitations
period has not already expired by the Effective Date).
c) Any whereabouts failure under art. 9 (whether a filing failure or amissed test, as those terms are defined in the International Standard
for Results Management) prior to the Effective Date shall be carriedforward and may be relied upon, prior to expiry, in accordance with theInternational Standard for Results Management, but it shall be deemed
to have expired 12 months after it occurred.
d) With respect to cases where a final decision finding an anti-doping
rule violation has been rendered prior to the Effective Date, but thePlayer or other Person is still serving the period of Ineligibility as of theEffective Date, the Player or other Person may apply to FIFA or the
Anti-Doping Organisation which had Results Management responsibility
for the anti-doping rule violation to consider a reduction in the period
of Ineligibility in light of these Regulations. Such application must
be made before the period of Ineligibility has expired. The decision

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Final title

rendered may be appealed pursuant to art. 77 (Appeals against
decisions regarding anti-doping rule violations, Consequences,
Provisional Suspensions, implementation of decisions and authority).
These Regulations shall have no application to any case where a final
decision finding an anti-doping rule violation has been rendered andthe period of Ineligibility has expired.
e) For the purpose of assessing the period of Ineligibility for a second
violation under art. 25 par. 1 (Multiple violations), where the sanction
for the first violation was determined based on rules in force prior to
the Effective Date, the period of Ineligibility which would have beenassessed for that first violation had these Regulations been applicable,
shall be applied.
f) Changes to the Prohibited List and Technical Documents relating tosubstances on the Prohibited List shall not, unless they specificallyprovide otherwise, be applied retroactively. As an exception, however,when a Prohibited Substance has been removed from the Prohibited
List, a Player or other Person currently serving a period of Ineligibility
on account of the formerly Prohibited Substance may apply to FIFAor other Anti-Doping Organisation which had Results Management
responsibility for the anti-doping rule violation to consider a reductionin the period of Ineligibility in light of the removal of the substancefrom the Prohibited List.

Zurich, 25 June 2020

For the FIFA Council

President:
Gianni Infantino

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Secretary General:
Fatma Samoura

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106 Annexe A: The Prohibited List

Reference is made to the Prohibited List published by WADA, which isavailable at www.wada-ama.org.

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Annexe B: Therapeutic use exemption (TUE)

1.
An application for a TUE will be reviewed by the FIFA Medical Committee
represented by the FIFA TUE Advisory Group.
2.
A Player may be granted a TUE (if and only if) he can show, on the balanceof probabilities, that he has met each of the following conditions, which
may be revised by the FIFA TUE Advisory Group in compliance with theInternational Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions and will be
published in the FIFA TUE policy:a) The Player shall submit an application for a TUE within the time limit
stipulated in the published FIFA TUE policy in force.
b) The Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method in question is needed
to treat a diagnosed medical condition supported by relevant clinicalevidence;c) The therapeutic Use of the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method
will not, on the balance of probabilities, produce any additional
enhancement of performance beyond what might be anticipated by areturn to the Player’s normal state of health following the treatment of
the medical condition;d) The Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method is an indicatedtreatment for the medical condition, and there is no reasonable permitted
therapeutic alternative;e) The necessity for the Use of the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited
Method is not a consequence, wholly or in part, of the prior Use(without a TUE) of a substance or method which was prohibited at thetime of such Use.
3.
The TUE will be cancelled by the FIFA TUE Advisory Group if:a) the Player does not promptly comply with any requirements orconditions imposed by the FIFA TUE Advisory Group;b) the term for which the TUE was granted has expired;

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108 Annexe B: Therapeutic use exemption (TUE)c) the Player is advised that the TUE has been withdrawn by the FIFA TUE
Advisory Group; ord) a decision granting a TUE has been reversed by WADA or CAS.
4.
A Player who needs a TUE should apply as soon as possible. For substances
prohibited In-Competition only, the Player should apply for a TUE at least
30 days before his next Competition, unless it is an emergency or there are
exceptional circumstances as described in this Annexe. The Player shouldmake the TUE application, using the TUE application form provided byFIFA. He should submit the TUE application form in the manner describedin the FIFA TUE policy. The form must be signed by the treating doctor andaccompanied by a comprehensive medical history, including documentationfrom the original diagnosing doctor(s) and the results of all examinations,laboratory investigations and imaging studies relevant to the application.
5.
An application for a TUE will not be considered for retroactive approval,
except in cases where:a) emergency or urgent treatment of a medical condition was necessary;orb) there was insufficient time or opportunity or there were other exceptional
circumstances that prevented the Player from submitting or the FIFA TUE
Advisory Group from considering, an application prior to Doping Control;c) the Player Used Out-of-Competition, for therapeutic reasons, aProhibited Substance that is only prohibited In-Competition;
6.
In exceptional circumstances and notwithstanding any other provision inthis Annexe B, a Player may apply for and be granted retroactive approvalfor his therapeutic Use of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method if
it would be manifestly unfair not to grant a retroactive TUE, considering
the purpose of these Regulations and the Code and notwithstanding any
provisions herein or in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use
Exemptions.

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Annexe B: Therapeutic use exemption (TUE)
7.
Confidentiality of informationa) The collection, storage, processing, disclosure and retention of personal
information by FIFA in the TUE process complies with the International
Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information.
b) A Player applying for a TUE shall provide written consent for thetransmission of all information pertaining to the application tomembers of all therapeutic use exemption committees with authority
under the World Anti-Doping Code to review the file and, as required,
other independent medical or scientific experts, and to all necessary
staff involved in the management, review or appeal of TUEs, andWADA. In accordance with the provisions of the World Anti-Doping
Code, the applicant shall also provide written consent for the decisionof the FIFA TUE Advisory Group to be distributed to other relevant
Anti-Doping Organisations and Member Associations.
c) Should the assistance of external, independent experts be required,
all details of the application shall be circulated without identifying thePlayer concerned.
d) The members of the FIFA TUE Advisory Group, all independent experts
and the staff of the FIFA Medical Office and Anti-Doping Unit involved
will conduct all of their activities in strict confidence and will signconfidentiality agreements. In particular, they shall keep the following
information confidential:i.

All medical information and data provided by the Player anddoctor(s) involved in the Player’s care.

ii. All details of the application, including the name of the doctor(s)involved in the process.
e) Should the Player wish to revoke the right of the FIFA TUE Advisory
Group or any therapeutic use exemption committee to obtain any
health information on his behalf, the Player must notify his medical
practitioner in writing of the fact. As a consequence of such a decision,
the Player will not receive approval for a TUE or renewal of an existing
TUE.

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110 Annexe B: Therapeutic use exemption (TUE)

8.
Where the Player already has a TUE granted by his NADO for thesubstance or method in question, if that TUE meets the criteria set out
in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions, FIFA shallrecognise it. If FIFA considers that the TUE does not meet those criteria
and so refuses to recognise it, it must notify the Player and his NADO
promptly, with reasons. The Player or the NADO shall have 21 days fromsuch notification to refer the matter to WADA for review. If the matteris referred to WADA for review, the TUE granted by the NADO remains
valid for National Competition and Out-of-Competition Testing (but is
not valid for International Competition) pending WADA’s decision. If thematter is not referred to WADA for review within the 21-day deadline, thePlayer’s NADO must determine whether the original TUE granted by that
NADO should nevertheless remain valid for national-level Competition
and Out-of-Competition Testing (provided that the Player ceases to be
an International-Level Player and does not participate in International
Competition). Pending the NADO’s decision, the TUE remains valid for
National Competition and Out-of-Competition Testing (but is not valid forInternational Competition).
9.
If FIFA grants the Player’s application, it shall notify not only the Player
but also his NADO, and if the NADO considers that the TUE does not meetthe criteria set out in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use
Exemptions, it has 21 days from such notification to refer the matter to
WADA for review. If the NADO refers the matter to WADA for review,
the TUE granted by FIFA remains valid for International Competition andOut-of-Competition Testing (but is not valid for National Competition)
pending WADA’s decision. If the NADO does not refer the matter to
WADA for review, the TUE granted by FIFA becomes valid for National
Competition as well when the 21-day review deadline expires.

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1

Registered Testing Pool and Testing Pools

1.
FIFA shall establish a Registered Testing Pool and Testing Pools atinternational level. The responsibility for setting up a Registered Testing
Pool at national level rests with the NADO/Association concerned.
2.
The FIFA International Registered Testing Pool (IRTP) includes individual
International-Level Players who are Ineligible following a decision by aFIFA body or who are categorised as being high-risk Players or who havebeen designated by the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit for any other reason. Those
Players will be designated individually by the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit andnotified via the Association concerned. An explanation for the designation
is not required.
In addition to the IRTP, FIFA has established two additional Testing Pools:a) The elite testing pool (ETP) includes the Players of the clubs/
representative teams participating at an elite Confederation level to be
defined by the Confederations. The Testing and results managementof this testing pool is delegated to the Confederation concerned.
Consequently, the Confederation’s anti-doping regulations areapplicable in respect of the ETP, with articles of this Annexe dealing
with the PCTP (see below) being applicable in a subsidiary way.
b) The FIFA pre-Competition testing pool (PCTP) includes the Players of
the representative teams participating in the Competition(s) selected byFIFA during the preparation phase prior to that (those) Competition(s).
The relevant representative teams will be informed of their selection.
3.
Each Association concerned must inform the Players who have been
included by FIFA in the IRTP and the Players/clubs and the Players/
representative teams that have been included in the ETP or PCTP
immediately in writing of:a) their inclusion in the IRTP, ETP or PCTP (as applicable) with effect from a
specified date in the future;

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information for each respective pool;c) the consequences of any failure to comply with that requirement;d) confirmation that they may also be tested by other Anti-Doping
Organisations with Testing authority over them.
Each Association concerned is required to ensure that its respective Players
or teams file complete and accurate whereabouts information as set forthin these Regulations.
4.
Players who have announced their retirement and are no longer in the IRTP
or ETP may not resume competing unless they:a) notify the Association concerned at least six months before they expect
to return to competition;b) fulfil the same whereabouts requirements as Players in the IRTP or ETP;
andc) are available for no-advance-notice Out-of-Competition Testing at any
time during the period before their actual return to competition.
5.
Players who are injured and unable to play will remain in the relevant
testing pool and might be subject to Target Testing, unless they aredesignated for inclusion in the IRTP.
6.
FIFA shall periodically review and update as necessary its criteria for including
Players, clubs and representative teams in the testing pools. The Players (inthe case of the IRTP), Players/clubs and Players/teams (in the case of the ETP
and PCTP) concerned must be informed in writing of any changes to thelist of Persons included in the pools that are made via their Association or
Confederation respectively.

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2

Filing obligations

1.
Each Player (IRTP) or Player/representative team (PCTP) that is includedin the respective testing pool is required to file accurate and complete
whereabouts information in the manner set forth under art. 3 of thisAnnexe.
2.
A Player (IRTP) or a Player/representative team (PCTP) may delegate thetask of making some or all of the whereabouts filings required herein
under art. 3 of this Annexe to his Association, to be carried out e.g. by acoach or manager. It is assumed that a valid delegation has been madefor all of the relevant whereabouts filings, unless otherwise determinedby the Player or as stipulated under par. 3 of this article. Irrespective ofsuch delegation, a Player (IRTP) or Player/representative team (PCTP), shall,
together with the Association, remain jointly liable for complying with thewhereabouts requirements set out in this Annexe.

3

Whereabouts requirements

1.
a) IRTP:
Using the form provided by FIFA, each Player has to file his whereabouts
information with the Association concerned for the remaining daysof the current quarter within ten days of receiving notification of his
designation, and afterwards for all days on a quarterly basis by 25
December, 25 March, 25 June and 25 September. The Association has tosubmit the quarterly reports and their updates to the FIFA Anti-Doping
Unit by 30 December, 30 March, 30 June and 30 September at the latest.
b) PCTP:
Using the form provided by FIFA, each Player of the representative teamconcerned has to file whereabouts information with the Association
concerned for all of the Team Activity days of its representative teamprior to the designated Competition. The Association shall submit that
information to the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit.

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2.
At a minimum, the following information shall be provided:IRTP:a) name of the Player and the relevant team;b) full mailing address and electronic mail address for formal notice
purposes;c) specific confirmation of the Player’s understanding that his whereabouts
filing will be shared with other Anti-Doping Organisations having
authority to test him;d) for each day during the respective period, the full address of the place
where the Player will be residing (e.g. home, temporary lodgings, hotel,etc.);e) for each day during the respective period, the time(s) each day of any
regular activity, along with the venue and any other details required inorder for the Player to be located during the time(s) in question;f) the Player’s Match/Competition schedule for the respective period,
including the name and address of each location where the Player isscheduled to compete during the respective period and the date(s) andtime(s) at which he is scheduled to compete at such locations; andg) for each day during the respective period, one specific 60-minute timeslot between 05:00 and 23:00 (local time) where the Player will beavailable and accessible for Testing at a specific location.
PCTP:a) name of the Player and his relevant representative team;b) full mailing address and electronic mail address for formal notice
purposes;c) specific confirmation of the Player’s understanding that his whereabouts
filing will be shared with other Anti-Doping Organisations having
authority to test them;

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Annexe C: Whereaboutsd) for each day of any Team Activity during the respective period inquestion, the full address of the place where the team will be residing(e.g. temporary lodgings, hotel, etc.);e) the team’s Competition schedule for the respective period in question,
including the name and address of each location where the team isscheduled to compete during this time and the date(s) on which it isscheduled to compete at such locations; andf) for each day of any Team Activity during the respective period inquestion, the time(s) of any collective activity (e.g. training) or individual
activity under the supervision of the team (e.g. medical treatment), andother regular activities, if applicable, along with the venue and anyother details required in order for the team to be located during thetime(s) in question.
g) If a Player is to be absent from a team activity as stated in the team’s
whereabouts filings, the association shall:-provide FIFA with accurate details of the Player’s full name, date ofbirth and the complete whereabouts location during the entire timeof his absence;-

provide a specific 60-minute time slot, during which the Player must
be available and accessible for testing at a specific location. The timeslots shall be between 05:00 and 23.00 (local time), with the startingtime clearly indicated and shall not start until at least two hours
after notification have elapsed;-

submit the whereabouts information for the absent Player 24 hours
at the latest before the start of the team activity to which theabsence relates and provide immediate updates if the time slot or
the location of the absent Player changes.

3.
IRTP:
It is the Player’s responsibility to ensure that all of the information provided
in his whereabouts filing is accurate and sufficiently detailed to enable theFIFA Anti-Doping Unit to locate him for Testing on any given day during
the respective period, including but not limited to the 60-minute time slot
specified for that day in his whereabouts filing.

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PCTP:
It is the Player’s and the Association’s joint responsibility to ensure that all
whereabouts information provided in its whereabouts filing is accurate
and sufficiently detailed to enable the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit to locate therepresentative team for Testing on each day of any Team Activity during
the respective period.
4.
Where any change in circumstances means that the information previously
provided by the Player/team is no longer accurate or complete, thewhereabouts filing must be updated so that the information on file isagain accurate and complete.
Such update must be made as soon as possible, and, in the case of the IRTP,
in any event prior to the 60-minute time slot specified in the filing for thatday. Failure to do so shall have the consequences set forth below.

4

Availability for Testing1.
A Player in the IRTP must specifically be present and available for Testing on
any given day in the relevant period for the 60-minute time slot specified
for that day in his whereabouts filing, at the location he has specified forthat time slot in such filing.
2.
The Players of a representative team in the PCTP must be present andavailable for Testing on any given Team Activity day in the relevant
period at the time and location it has specified for the Team Activity in its
whereabouts filing. If located for Testing, the whole team must remain
until the Sample collection has been completed.

5

Liability for non-compliance with whereabouts requirements

1.
Each Player in the IRTP remains ultimately responsible at all times forproviding accurate and complete whereabouts filings as required in theseRegulations.
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Annexe C: Whereabouts
2.
Each Player in the IRTP is responsible for ensuring his availability for Testingat the given location during the 60-minute time slot specified for that day
in his whereabouts filing. If an Attempt to test the Player during the 60
minute time slot is unsuccessful, the Player will be liable for a missed test
under art. 9 (Whereabouts failures) of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations,subject to the requirements set forth under art. 8 par. 2 of this Annexe.
3.
If any of the required information changes after a whereabouts filing ismade, then, in accordance with the provisions set forth under art. 3 par.
4 of this Annexe, an update must be filed so that the whereabouts filingremains accurate at all times. If an update is not filed, and as a result an
Attempt to test the Player during the 60-minute time slot is unsuccessful,the Player will be liable for a missed test under art. 9 (Whereabouts
failures) of the FIFA Anti- Doping Regulations, subject to the requirements
set forth under art. 8 par. 2 of this Annexe.
4.
Each Player of a representative team in the PCTP and its Association are
responsible for providing accurate and complete whereabouts filings as
required in these Regulations and for ensuring that its representative teamis available for Testing at the time and location specified for Team Activity
in its whereabouts filing.

6

Anti-doping rule violation

1.
A Player in the IRTP shall be deemed to have committed an anti-doping
rule violation under art. 9 (Whereabouts failures) of the FIFA Anti-Doping
Regulations if he commits a total of three whereabouts failures (which may
be any combination of filing failures and/or missed tests adding up to three
in total) within any 12-month period, irrespective of which Anti-Doping
Organisation(s) has/have declared the whereabouts failures in question.
2.
The 12-month period referred to in art. 9 (Whereabouts failures) begins on
the date that a Player commits his first whereabouts failure that is being
relied upon in support of the allegation of violation of art. 9 (Whereabouts
failure). It is not affected by any successful Sample collection conductedwith respect to the Player during the 12-month period.
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Annexe C: Whereabouts
However, if a Player who has committed one whereabouts failure does
not commit a further two whereabouts failures within 12 months of thefirst one, at the end of that 12-month period the first whereabouts failure“expires” for the purposes set forth under art. 8 of this Annexe.
3.
To ensure fairness to the Player in the IRTP, where an unsuccessful Attempt
has been made to test a Player during one of the 60-minute time slots
specified in their whereabouts filing, any subsequent unsuccessful Attempt
to test that Player (by FIFA or any other Anti-Doping Organisation) during
one of the 60-minute time slots specified in their whereabouts filing
may only be counted as a missed test (or, if the unsuccessful Attempt was
because the information filed was insufficient to find the Player during thetime slot, as a filing failure) against that Player if that subsequent Attempt
takes place after the Player has received notice, in accordance with arts 7
and 8 of this Annexe, of the original unsuccessful Attempt.
4.
Where a Player retires from but then returns to competition, his period of
non-availability for Out-of-Competition Testing shall be disregarded for the
purposes of calculating the 12-month period.
5.
Any Player who provides fraudulent information in his whereabouts filing,whether in relation to his location during the specified daily 60-minutetime slot, or in relation to his whereabouts outside that time slot, orotherwise, thereby commits an anti-doping rule violation under art. 8(Evading, refusing or failing to submit to Sample collection) and art. 10(Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of Doping Control by aPlayer or other Person) of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations. Sanctions may
be imposed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

7

Failure to provide timely and accurate whereabouts
information by Players or Associations/clubs in the PCTP

If the Player, or the Association/club on behalf of the Player, does not filewhereabouts information as required in these Regulations, or such filingis late and/or inaccurate, the Player and/or the Association or club will be
subject to disciplinary measures under the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

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8

Results Management in respect of a filing failure by thePlayer in the IRTP

The Results Management process in respect of an apparent filing failure
shall be as follows:
1.
A Player may only be declared to have committed a filing failure where theFIFA Anti-Doping Unit, following the Results Management procedure set
forth below, can establish each of the following:a) that the Player was duly notified:i.

that he had been designated for inclusion in the IRTP;

ii. of the consequent requirement to make accurate and complete
whereabouts filings; andiii. of the consequences of any failure to comply with that requirement.
b) that he failed to comply with that requirement by the applicabledeadline;c) that, in case of a second or third filing failure, he was given notice ofthe previous filing failure in accordance with the provision set forth
under art. 8 par. 2 of this Annexe and failed to rectify that filing failure
by the deadline specified in that notice; andd) that his failure to file was at least negligent. For these purposes, thePlayer will be presumed to have committed the failure negligently upon
proof that he was notified of the requirement yet failed to comply with
it. That presumption may only be rebutted by the Player establishing thatno negligent behaviour on his part caused or contributed to the failure.
2.
If it appears that all of the requirements set forth under art. 8 par. 1 of thisAnnexe have been met, then, no later than 14 days after the date of discoveryof the apparent filing failure, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit must send notice tothe Player concerned in the manner set forth in chapter X section 1 (Generalprovisions), inviting a response within 14 days of receipt of the notice. In thenotice, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit should inform the Player:

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Annexe C: Whereaboutsa) that, in order to avoid a further filing failure, he must makethe required whereabouts filing within a deadline set by the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit; the deadline shall be set at least 24 hours after
receipt of the notice and no later than 48 hours after the notice isreceived;b) that, unless the Player persuades the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit that there
has not been any filing failure, an alleged whereabouts failure will berecorded against the Player;c) whether any other whereabouts failures have been alleged against thePlayer in the 12-month period prior to this alleged whereabouts failure;andd) of the consequences to the Player if a hearing panel upholds thealleged whereabouts failure.
3.
Where the Player disputes the apparent filing failure, the FIFA Anti-Doping
Unit must reassess whether all of the requirements set forth under par. 1of this article have been met. The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit must advise thePlayer, by letter sent no later than 14 days after receipt of the Player’s
response, whether or not it maintains that there has been a filing failure.
4.
If no response is received from the Player by the relevant deadline, or if theFIFA Anti-Doping Unit maintains that there has been a filing failure, theFIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall send notice to the Player that an alleged filing
failure is to be recorded against him. The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall at
the same time advise the Player that he has the right to an administrative
review of that decision.
5.
Where requested by the Player, such administrative review shall be
conducted by a designee of the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit who was not
involved in the previous assessment of the alleged filing failure. The review
shall be based on written submissions only, and shall consider whether allof the requirements set forth herein under par. 1 of this article have been
met. The review shall be completed within 14 days of receipt of the Player’s
request and the decision shall be communicated to the Player by letter sent
no more than seven days after the decision is made.

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6.
If it appears, upon such review, that the requirements set forth under par.
1 of this article have not been met, the alleged filing failure shall not betreated as a whereabouts failure for any purpose. The Player, WADA and allother relevant Anti-Doping Organisations shall be notified accordingly.
7.
If the Player does not request an administrative review of the alleged filing
failure by the relevant deadline, or if the administrative review leads to theconclusion that all of the requirements set forth under par. 1 of this article
have been met, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall record an alleged filing
failure against the Player and shall notify the Player, WADA and all otherrelevant Anti-Doping Organisations of that alleged filing failure and thedate of its occurrence in the manner set forth under art. 70 par. 7 of theFIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.
8.
Any notice sent to a Player pursuant to this article, informing him of thedecision that there has been no filing failure, shall also be sent to WADA
and any other party/ies with a right of appeal under chapter X of the FIFA
Anti-Doping Regulations. This decision may be appealed by WADA and/or
such party/ies in accordance with that chapter.

9

Results management in respect of a missed test by the Player
in the IRTP

The Results Management process in the case of an apparent missed test
shall be as follows:1.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall file an Unsuccessful Attempt Reporton any unsuccessful Attempt with the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit, setting out
the details of the Attempted Sample collection, including the date of the
Attempt, the location visited, the exact arrival and departure times at thelocation, the step(s) taken at the location to try to find the Player, including
details of any contact made with third parties, and any other relevant
details about the Attempted Sample collection.
2.
A Player may only be declared to have missed a test where the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit can establish each of the following:
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Annexe C: Whereaboutsa) that when the Player was given notice that he had been includedin the IRTP, he was advised of his liability for a missed test if he wasunavailable for Testing during the 60-minute time slot specified in his
whereabouts filing at the location specified for that time slot;b) that a FIFA Doping Control Officer Attempted to test the Player on agiven day in the quarter, during the 60-minute time slot specified in
the Player’s whereabouts filing for that day, by visiting the location
specified for that time slot;c) that during that specified 60-minute time slot, the FIFA Doping Control
Officer did all that was reasonable (i.e. given the nature of the specified
location) in the circumstances to try to locate the Player, short of giving
the Player any advance notice of the test;d) that the provisions set forth herein under par. 3 of this article have beenmet, if applicable; ande) that the Player’s failure to be available for Testing at the specified
location during the specified 60-minute time slot was at least negligent.
For these purposes, the Player will be presumed to have been negligent
upon proof of the matters set forth under this paragraph. That
presumption may only be rebutted by the Player establishing that no
negligent behaviour on his part caused or contributed to him:––

being unavailable for Testing at such location during such time slot;
andfailing to update his most recent whereabouts filing to give noticeof a different location where he would instead be available for
Testing during a specified 60-minute time slot on the relevant day.

3.
To ensure fairness to the Player, where an unsuccessful Attempt has been
made to test a Player during one of the 60-minute time slots specified in his
whereabouts filing, any subsequent Attempt to test that Player may only
be counted as a missed test against that Player if that subsequent Attempt
takes place after the Player has received notice, in accordance with par. 4 ofthis article, of the original unsuccessful Attempt.
4.
If it appears that all of the requirements set forth under par. 2 of thisarticle have been met, then, no later than 14 days after the date of the
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unsuccessful Attempt, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit must send notice to thePlayer of the unsuccessful Attempt in the manner set forth in chapter X
section 1 (General provisions) of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, invitinga response within 14 days of receipt of the notice. In the notice, the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit should inform the Player:a) that, unless the Player persuades the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit that there
has not been any missed test, an alleged missed test will be recorded
against the Player;b) whether any other whereabouts failures have been declared against
him in the 12-month period prior to this alleged missed test; andc) of the consequences to the Player if a hearing panel upholds thealleged missed test.
5.
Where the Player disputes the apparent missed test, the FIFA Anti-Doping
Unit must reassess whether all of the requirements set forth under par. 2of this article have been met. The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit must advise thePlayer, by letter sent no later than 14 days after receipt of the Player’s
response, whether or not it maintains that there has been a missed test.
6.
If no response is received from the Player by the relevant deadline, or if theFIFA Anti-Doping Unit maintains that there has been a missed test, the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit shall send notice to the Player that an alleged missed test
is to be recorded against him. The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall at the sametime advise the Player that he has the right to request an administrative
review of the alleged missed test. The Unsuccessful Attempt Report on theunsuccessful Attempt must be provided to the Player at this point if it has
not been provided earlier in the process.
7.
Where requested, such administrative review shall be conducted bya designee of the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit who was not involved in theprevious assessment of the alleged missed test. The review shall bebased on written submissions only, and shall consider whether all of therequirements set forth under par. 2 of this article have been met.
If necessary, the relevant FIFA Doping Control Officer may be asked toprovide further information to the designee. The review shall be completed
within 14 days of receipt of the Player’s request and the decision shall be
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communicated to the Player by letter sent no more than seven days after
the decision is made.
8.
If it appears, upon such review, that the requirements set forth under par.
2 of this article have not been met, the unsuccessful Attempt to test thePlayer shall not be treated as a missed test for any purpose. The Player,
WADA and all other relevant Anti-Doping Organisations shall be notified
accordingly.
9.
If the Player does not request an administrative review of the alleged
missed test by the relevant deadline, or if the administrative review leads
to the conclusion that all of the requirements set forth under par. 2 of thisarticle have been met, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall record an alleged
missed test against the Player and shall notify the Player and WADA and allother relevant Anti-Doping Organisations of that alleged missed test andthe date of its occurrence in the manner set forth under art. art. 70 par. 7(Information concerning asserted anti-doping rule violations) of the FIFA
Anti-Doping Regulations.
10.
Any notice sent to a Player pursuant to this article, agreeing that there
has been no missed test, shall also be sent to WADA and any otherparty/ies with a right of appeal under chapter X (Procedural rules) of
the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, and may be appealed by WADA
and/or such party/ies in accordance with that chapter.

10

Results Management in respect of failure to provide
timely and accurate whereabouts information by Players
or Associations/clubs in the PCTP

The Results Management process in the cases described in art. 7 of thisAnnexe shall be as follows:
1.
A Player and an Association/club may only be declared to have committed
a failure to provide timely and accurate whereabouts information where
the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit, following the results management procedure set
forth below, can establish each of the following:

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Annexe C: Whereaboutsa) that the Player and Association’s/clubs team were included in the PCTP
(as applicable) with effect from a specified date;b) the consequent requirement to file timely and accurate whereabouts
information and details of such information for the PCTP;c) that the consequences of any failure to comply with that requirement
are established under the FIFA Disciplinary Code;d) that each Association/club concerned was required to ensure that its
respective Players and teams were jointly responsible for filing timely
and accurate whereabouts information as per these Regulations.
2.
If it appears that all of the requirements set forth under art. 10 par. 1 ofthis Annexe have been met, then, no later than 14 days after the dateof discovery of the apparent failure to provide timely and/or accurate
whereabouts information, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall send notice tothe Player and Association concerned in the manner set forth in chapter X
section 1 (General provisions), inviting a response within 14 days of receiptof the notice. In the notice, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall inform thePlayer and the Association:a) that, in order to avoid a further failure to provide timely and accurate
whereabouts information, they must make the required whereabouts
information filing within a deadline set by the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit;
the deadline shall be set at least 24 hours after receipt of the notice andno later than 48 hours after the end of the month in which the notice isreceived;b) that, unless the Player and/or Association/club can prove to the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit that there has not been any failure to provide
timely and/or accurate whereabouts information, the Player and the
Association will be charged with an alleged failure to provide timely
and/or accurate whereabouts information;c) of the consequences to the Player and/or the Association/club if ahearing panel upholds the alleged failure to provide whereabouts
information under the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

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3.
If the Player and/or the Association/club disputes the alleged failure
to provide timely and/or accurate whereabouts information, the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit shall reassess whether all of the requirements set forth
under par. 1 of this article have been met. If it appears, upon such review,that the requirements set forth under par. 1 of this article have not beenmet, the intended charge of failure to provide timely and/or accurate
whereabouts information shall be dropped. The Player and the Association
shall be notified accordingly.
4.
If no response is received from the Player and/or the Association/clubby the relevant deadline, or if the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit maintains that
there has been a failure to provide timely and/or accurate whereabouts
information, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall send notice to the Player
and the Association/club that the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit intends tocharge them with failure to provide timely and/or accurate whereabouts
information and shall submit the case to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee
for adjudication.
5.
If the reassessment by the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit leads to the conclusionthat all of the requirements set forth under par. 1 of this article havebeen met, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall inform the Player and/or the
Association/club of the intention to charge them with a failure to provide
whereabouts information and shall submit the case to the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee for adjudication.

11

Responsibility for conducting proceedings

1.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall keep a record of all whereabouts failures
alleged in respect of each Player in its IRTP. Where it is alleged that sucha Player has committed three whereabouts failures within any 12-month
period, the responsibility for bringing proceedings against the Player underart. 9 (Whereabouts failures) of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations shall be as
follows:a) FIFA shall be responsible if two or more of those whereabouts failures
were alleged by FIFA or, if the whereabouts failures were alleged by
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three different Anti-Doping Organisations, the Player concerned wasincluded in the IRTP as of the date of the third whereabouts failure;b) the Association or NADO concerned shall be responsible if two or moreof those whereabouts failures were alleged by it or, if the whereabouts
failures were alleged by three different Anti-Doping Organisations, thePlayer concerned was included in the national Registered Testing Pool
as of the date of the third whereabouts failure. In this case, references
to FIFA or the FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall, where appropriate, be
understood as meaning the Association/NADO or the relevant hearing
panel.
2.
FIFA shall have the right to receive such further information about that
alleged whereabouts failure from any other Anti-Doping Organisation inorder to assess the strength of the evidence of such alleged whereabouts
failure and to bring proceedings under art. 9 (Whereabouts failures) of
the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations in reliance thereon. If FIFA decides ingood faith that the evidence in relation to such alleged whereabouts
failure(s) is insufficient to support such proceedings under art. 9 of theFIFA Anti Doping Regulations, it may decline to bring proceedings basedon such alleged whereabouts failure(s). Any decision by the Anti-Doping
Organisation responsible that a declared whereabouts failure should
be disregarded for lack of sufficient evidence shall be communicated tothe other Anti-Doping Organisations and to WADA, shall be without
prejudice to WADA’s right of appeal under chapter X (Procedural rules)of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, and in any event shall not affect thevalidity of the other whereabouts failures alleged against the Player inquestion.
3.
FIFA should also consider in good faith whether or not a Provisional
Suspension should be imposed on the Player pending determination of theproceedings, in accordance with chapter VII (Provisional Suspension) of theFIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.
4.
A Player alleged to have committed an anti-doping rule violation underart. 9 (Whereabouts failures) of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations shallhave the right to have such allegation determined at a full evidentiary
hearing in accordance with chapter X, section 2 (Fair hearing) of the FIFA
Anti-Doping Regulations.
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5.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall not be bound by any determination
made during the Results Management process, whether as to the adequacyof any explanation offered for a whereabouts failure or otherwise. Instead,the burden shall be on the Anti-Doping Organisation responsible forbringing the proceedings to establish all of the requisite elements of eachalleged whereabouts failure.
6.
If the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decides that one or two alleged
whereabouts failures have been established to the required standard,
but that the third alleged whereabouts failure has not, no violation ofart. 9 (Whereabouts failures) of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations shall befound to have occurred. However, if the Player then commits one or two
further whereabouts failures within the relevant 12-month period, newproceedings may be brought based on a combination of the whereabouts
failure(s) established to the satisfaction of the hearing panel in the previous
proceedings (in accordance with art. 70 par. 7 (Information concerning
asserted anti-doping rule violations) and the whereabouts failure(s)subsequently committed by the Player.
7.
Where FIFA fails to bring proceedings against a Player under art. 9(Whereabouts failures) of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations within 30
days of WADA receiving notice of that Player’s third alleged whereabouts
failure in any 12-month period, it shall be deemed that FIFA has decided
that no anti-doping rule violation was committed, for the purpose oftriggering the appeal rights set forth in chapter X (Procedural rules) of
the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.

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Annexe D: Testing procedure

1

Requirements for notification of Players

1.
When initial contact is made with the selected Player, FIFA, the FIFA Doping
Control Officer and/or the Chaperone, as applicable, shall ensure that thePlayer and/or a third party (if required in accordance with art. 4 par. 3 ofthis Annexe) is informed:a) that the Player is required to undergo a Sample collection;b) that FIFA is the Sample collection authority;c) of the type of Sample collection and any conditions that need to beadhered to prior to the Sample collection;d) of the Player’s rights, including the right to:i.

have a representative present and, if available, an interpreter toaccompany him;ii. ask for additional information about the Sample collection process;iii. request a delay in reporting to the Doping Control room for valid
reasons;iv. request modifications because of disabilities.
e) of the Player’s responsibilities, including the requirement to:i.

remain within direct observation of the FIFA Doping Control Officer
and/or the Chaperone at all times from the time the initial contact
is made with the Player until completion of the Sample Collection
Session;ii. provide adequate identification;iii. comply with Sample collection procedures (and the Player should
be advised of the possible consequences of failure to comply inaccordance with art. 45 of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations); andTABLE OF CONTENTS
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130 Annexe D: Testing procedure
iv. report immediately for Sample collection, unless there are valid
reasons for a delay.
f) of the location of the Doping Control room;g) that should the Player choose to consume food or fluids prior toproviding a Sample, he does so at his own risk;h) not to hydrate excessively, since this may delay the production of asuitable Sample; andi) that any urine Sample provided by the Player to the Sample collection
personnel should be the first urine passed by the Player subsequent to
notification, i.e. he should not pass urine in the shower or otherwise
prior to providing a Sample to the Sample collection personnel.
2.
When contact is made with the selected Player, the FIFA Doping Control
Officer and/or the Chaperone, as applicable, shall:a) keep the Player under constant observation, from the time that
initial contact is made with the Player until completion of the Sample
Collection Session;b) identify himself to the Player using official documentation provided
by FIFA (e.g. FIFA Doping Control Officer card, assignment letter or thelike) evidencing his authority to collect a Sample from the Player; andc) ask the Player to produce identification and confirm the Player’s identity
to ensure that the Player who is to be notified is the same Player who
has been selected for Doping Control. The method of identificationof the Player or the failure by the Player to confirm his identity shallbe documented and reported to the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit. In suchcases, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall decide whether it is appropriate
to report the situation as a failure to comply as set forth under art.
45 (Failure to comply with Doping Control) of the FIFA Anti-Doping
Regulations.
3.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer and/or Chaperone shall have the Player
sign the relevant section of the Doping Control Form to acknowledge and

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accept the notification. If the Player refuses to sign the Doping Control
Form to confirm that he has been notified, or evades notification, the FIFA
Doping Control Officer and/or Chaperone shall, if possible, inform thePlayer of the consequences of refusing or failing to comply. If it is theChaperone who has dealt with the matter and not the FIFA Doping Control
Officer, he shall immediately report all relevant facts to the FIFA Doping
Control Officer, who in turn shall report the facts to the FIFA Anti-Doping
Unit. Where possible, the FIFA Doping Control Officer shall proceed tocollect a Sample. The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall document the facts
and report the circumstances to the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit. FIFA shall follow
the steps prescribed in art. 45 (Failure to comply with Doping Control) of
the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.
4.
The process set out in this Annexe may be adapted by FIFA to fit theparticular requirements of each specific Competition and football discipline,
particularly for beach soccer, futsal and the FIFA eWorld Cup™.

2

Procedure for In-Competition no-advance-notice tests

1.
In principle, two Players from each team are selected for Testing either
via random or target methods by the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit. Additional
Players may be summoned for Sample collection (in accordance with art. 2pars 3 and 4 of this Annexe). In the case of Competitions with lower Player
numbers, e.g. beach soccer or futsal, in principle one Player per team may
be tested.
2.
Players shall be notified with no advance notice except where art. 4 par. 3of this Annexe is applicable.
Procedure regarding injured Players
3.
If either of these two Players is injured before the Match is over, the FIFA
Doping Control Officer shall decide whether or not the injury is severe
enough to prevent the Player from undergoing a doping test. If he decides
the injury is severe enough, the FIFA Doping Control Officer shall perform adraw in order to replace the injured player for the doping test.

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132 Annexe D: Testing procedure
4.
In addition, the FIFA Doping Control Officer is entitled to appoint
additional Players to be tested at any time prior to, during or after the
Match. An explanation for the appointment is not required.
Procedure for notifying Players who have received a red card5.
If a Player is shown the red card at any time of the Match, the FIFA Doping
Control Officer shall decide whether the Player is to be escorted by the
Chaperones to the Doping Control room, his team’s changing room or thearea of the stand allocated to his team to watch the Match from there until
the names of the Players selected for the doping test are known, so that heis available to undergo the test immediately after the Match, if necessary.
The Player may propose to voluntarily provide a Sample in order to bereleased after the procedure. However, the FIFA Doping Control Officer
may accept or decline the Player’s proposal without giving any justification.

3

Procedure for Out-of-Competition no-advance-notice tests
during team activities

Preparing for the Sample Collection Session
1.
FIFA or the respective Confederation conducts no-advance-notice doping
tests based on the whereabouts of Players of the teams in the elite testing
pool (ETP) and pre-Competition testing pool (PCTP). In accordance with thetest distribution plan, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit selects teams for Testing.
2.
If the Players of the team cannot be contacted by the FIFA Doping Control
Officer after reasonable Attempts have been made using the whereabouts
information provided, the matter shall be reported to the FIFA Anti-Doping
Unit as soon as possible, as set forth in Annexe C. The FIFA Anti-Doping
Unit shall then proceed to evaluate whether there has been a whereabouts
filing failure (for Players in the IRTP) or a failure to provide timely and/or
accurate whereabouts information (for Players/Associations in the PCTP) in
accordance with Annexe C.
3.
If the FIFA Doping Control Officer has located the Players of the team,
he shall identify himself to the head of the delegation or the relevant
representative of the team or club concerned by presenting his
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authorisation as a FIFA Doping Control Officer and the assignment for therespective control, and discuss the procedure for the doping test with that
person and the team doctor if applicable.
4.
The head of the delegation or the relevant representative of the team orclub concerned shall give the FIFA Doping Control Officer an up-to-date
list of the Players of the team, including any absent Players at the time thedoping test is undertaken. The reasons for any such absences shall be given
to the FIFA Doping Control Officer, as well as the scheduled time of arrivalat or return to the location of the Team Activities for these Players. If there
is to be a random selection, the FIFA Doping Control Officer shall decide
whether these Players are to be included in the random selection procedurefor Players having to undergo a doping test. He shall further notify the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit, who shall proceed to evaluate whether there has beena whereabouts filing failure (for Players in the IRTP) or a failure to provide
timely and/or accurate whereabouts information (for Players/Associations in
the PCTP) in accordance with Annexe C.
5.
Players to undergo Sample collection are either randomly selected by theFIFA Doping Control Officer or targeted by the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit.
Notification of Players
6.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer and the team official/team doctor present
shall sign the Doping Control Form. The FIFA Doping Control Officer shallnotify the Player. The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall:a) identify himself to the Player using the official documentation provided
by FIFA (e.g. FIFA Doping Control Officer card, assignment letter or thelike) evidencing his authority to collect a Sample from the Player;b) ask the Player to produce identification and confirm the Player’s identity
to ensure that the Player who is to be notified is the same Player who
has been selected for Doping Control. The method of identificationof the Player or the failure by the Player to confirm his identity shallbe documented and reported to the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit. In suchcases, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall decide whether it is appropriate
to report the situation as a failure to comply as set forth under art.
45 (Failure to comply with Doping Control) of the FIFA Anti-Doping
Regulations.
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4

Procedure for Out-of-Competition no-advance-notice tests
on individual Players

1.
FIFA conducts no-advance-notice doping tests based on the individual
whereabouts of Players in the IRTP. In accordance with the test distribution
plan, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit selects individual Players for Testing via
random or target methods.
2.
For no-advance-notice Out-of-Competition Sample collection, reasonable
Attempts should be made to notify Players of their selection for Sample
collection. The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall record all notification
Attempts that were made during such period.
3.
When the Player is a Minor or Protected Person, or in situations where aninterpreter is required and available, the FIFA Doping Control Officer shallconsider whether a third party must be notified prior to notification of thePlayer. Should the circumstances so require, the FIFA Doping Control Officer
may request the assistance of a third party in notifying the Player.
4.
The identification procedure set forth under art. 3 par. 6 of this Annexe
shall be followed. The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall also inform thePlayer of his rights, including his right:a) to have a representative and, if available, an interpreter to accompany
him;b) to ask for additional information about the Sample collection process;c) to request a delay in reporting to the Doping Control room for valid
reasons (as set forth herein under art. 5 of this Annexe); andd) to request modifications because of disabilities.
In addition, the FIFA Doping Control Officer shall also inform the Player of
his responsibilities, including the requirement:a) to report immediately for Sample collection unless there are valid
reasons for a delay as specified in art. 5 par. 3 of this Annexe;
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Annexe D: Testing procedureb) to produce adequate identification;c) to remain within direct observation, as set forth under art. 5 of thisAnnexe; andd) to comply with the Sample collection procedure set forth in thisAnnexe.
5.
If the Player cannot be contacted by the FIFA Doping Control Officer after
reasonable attempts have been made using the whereabouts information
provided by the Player, the matter shall be reported to the FIFA Anti-Doping
Unit as soon as possible, as set forth in Annexe C (art. 9 par. 1 (Results
management in respect of a missed test by the Player in the IRTP)). The FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit shall then proceed to evaluate whether there has been awhereabouts failure in accordance with Annexe C.

5

Reporting time1.
From the time of notification until the Player leaves the Doping Control
room at the end of his Sample Collection Session, he shall be kept underobservation at all times.
2.
For In-Competition controls, each Association and/or team concerned shallensure that Players selected to undergo a doping test follow the Chaperone
to the Doping Control room straight from the pitch as soon as the Matchis over. For no-advance-notice tests on Players in the IRTP or PCTP, once thePlayer has been notified, he must report to the room assigned for Doping
Control immediately for Sample collection unless there are valid reasons fordelay as stated below.
3.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer may at his discretion consider any
reasonable third party request or any request by the Player for permission
to delay reporting to the Doping Control room following acknowledgment
and acceptance of notification, and/or to temporarily leave the Doping
Control room after arrival, and may grant such permission if the Player canbe continuously chaperoned and kept under direct observation during theTABLE OF CONTENTS
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136 Annexe D: Testing proceduredelay. For example, delayed reporting to and/or temporary departure fromthe Doping Control room may be permitted for the activities listed below.
For In-Competition Testing:a) participation in a presentation ceremony;b) fulfilment of media commitments (e.g. flash interviews, but not press
conferences);c) obtaining necessary medical treatment;d) locating a representative and/or interpreter;e) obtaining photo identification; orf) any other reasonable circumstances, as determined by the FIFA Doping
Control Officer, taking into account any instructions given by FIFA.
For Out-of-Competition Testing:a) locating a representative and/or interpreter;b) completing a training session;c) receiving necessary medical treatment;d) obtaining photo identification; ore) any other reasonable circumstances, as determined by the FIFA Doping
Control Officer, taking into account any instructions given by FIFA.
4.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall document any reasons for delay inreporting to the Doping Control room and/or reasons for leaving the
Doping Control room that may require further investigation by FIFA. Any
failure of the Player to remain under constant observation should also
be recorded and may be further investigated as a failure to comply inaccordance with art. 45 of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.
5.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall reject a request for delay from a
Player if it is not possible for the Player to be continuously chaperoned.
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6.
If, while keeping the Player under observation, the FIFA Doping Control
Officer observes any matter with potential to compromise the test, he shallreport and document the circumstances. If deemed appropriate by the FIFA
Doping Control Officer, he shall follow the requirements of art. 45 (Failure
to comply with Doping Control) of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, and/or
consider if it is appropriate to collect an additional Sample from the Player.

6

Doping Control room

1.
The Doping Control room shall ensure the Player’s privacy. For Testing, it
shall be used solely as a Doping Control room for the duration of Sample
collection. The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall record any significant
deviations from these criteria.
2.
In the case of In-Competition Doping Controls, only the following people
are allowed into the Doping Control room:a) the Players who have been selected for Testing;b) the Player’s representative;c) if the Player is a Minor, a Minor Player’s representative observing thewitnessing FIFA Doping Control Officer or Chaperone when the Minor
Player is passing a urine Sample, but without the representative directly
observing the passing of the Sample unless requested to do so by the
Minor Player;d) the FIFA Doping Control Officer;e) the accredited assistant(s) of the FIFA Doping Control Officer;f) an authorised Person who is involved in the training of a Doping
Control Officer or the auditing of the FIFA Doping Control Officers;g) a local official, if requested;h) the FIFA Match Commissioner, if requested;
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138 Annexe D: Testing procedurei) the FIFA General Coordinator, if requested;j) an interpreter approved by FIFA, if requested;k) a WADA-appointed observer under the WADA Independent Observer
Programme or a WADA auditor as defined in the International Standard
for Testing and Investigations;l) an independent observer who must be a doctor according to FIFA’s
requirements.
3.
In the case of Out-of-Competition tests during Team Activities, only thefollowing people are allowed into the Doping Control room:a) the Player(s) who has/have been selected for Testing;b) the Player’s representative;c) if the Player is a Minor, a Minor Player’s representative observing thewitnessing FIFA Doping Control Officer or Chaperone when the Minor
Player is passing a urine Sample, but without the representative directly
observing the passing of the Sample unless requested to do so by the
Minor Player;d) the FIFA Doping Control Officer;e) the accredited assistant(s) of the FIFA Doping Control Officer;f) an authorised Person who is involved in the training of a FIFA Doping
Control Officer or the auditing of the FIFA Doping Control Officers;g) an interpreter approved by FIFA, if requested;h) a WADA-appointed observer under the WADA Independent Observer
Programme or a WADA auditor as defined in the International Standard
for Testing and Investigations;4.
In the case of Out-of-Competition tests on individual Players, only thefollowing people are allowed into the Doping Control room:

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Annexe D: Testing procedurea) the Player who has been selected for Testing;b) the Player’s representative;c) if the Player is a Minor, a Minor Player’s representative observing thewitnessing FIFA Doping Control Officer or Chaperone when the Minor
Player is passing a urine Sample, but without the representative directly
observing the passing of the Sample unless requested to do so by the
Minor Player;d) the FIFA Doping Control Officer;e) the accredited assistant(s) of the FIFA Doping Control Officer;f) an authorised Person who is involved in the training of a FIFA Doping
Control Officer or the auditing of the FIFA Doping Control Officers;g) an interpreter approved by FIFA, if requested;h) a WADA-appointed observer under the WADA Independent Observer
Programme or WADA auditor as defined in the International Standard
for Testing and Investigations.
5.
The Players selected for Testing shall remain in the waiting area of the
Doping Control room until they are ready to give Samples. In-Competition,
non-alcoholic drinks shall be made available to the Players in the formof unopened and sealed plastic bottles, some of which are placed in arefrigerator in the Doping Control room.
6.
For In-Competition Testing, the local security bodies shall take the necessary
measures to ensure that no Persons other than those authorised under par.
2 of this article enter the Doping Control room. The entrance to the Doping
Control room shall be constantly guarded. Responsibility for security during
Out-of-Competition tests shall be borne by the relevant team delegations.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer is entitled to refuse unauthorised Persons
access to the Doping Control room.
7.
In exceptional circumstances, the FIFA Doping Control Officer may give
approval for a Player to leave the Doping Control room, provided that hehas agreed the following conditions of leave with the Player:
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140 Annexe D: Testing procedurea) the purpose of the Player leaving the Doping Control room;b) the time of return (or return upon completion of an agreed activity);c) that the Player must remain under observation at all times.
d) that the Player shall not pass urine until he gets back to the Doping
Control room.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall document the actual time of thePlayer’s departure and return to the Doping Control room.

7

Conducting the Sample Collection Sessions

The collection of urine and blood Samples shall be conducted in accordancewith WADA’s regulations, in particular with WADA’s International Standard
for Testing and Investigations.

8

Requirements for Sample collection

1.
Any behaviour by the Player and/or Persons associated with the Player oranomalies with potential to compromise the Sample collection shall berecorded by the FIFA Doping Control Officer on the Doping Control Form.
If appropriate, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall investigate a possible failure
to comply as set forth under art. 45 (Failure to comply with Doping Control)of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.
2.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall provide the Player with the opportunity
to document any concerns he may have about how the Sample Collection
Session was conducted.
3.
In conducting the Sample Collection Session, the following information
shall be recorded as a minimum:

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Annexe D: Testing procedurea) the date and time of notification, and the name and signature of thenotifying FIFA Doping Control Officer or Chaperone;b) the arrival time of the Player at the Doping Control room and the timesof any temporary departures and returns;c) the date and time of sealing of each Sample collected and the date andtime of completion of the entire Sample Collection process;d) the names of the Testing authority, Sample Collection authority,
Results Management authority and the Doping Control Coordinator (ifapplicable);e) the Competition/location, date and time of Sample provision;f) the Player’s name, date of birth, gender, home address, email address,
phone number and shirt number;g) the Player’s sport and discipline;h) the name of the Player’s team;i) the means by which the Player’s identity is validated (e.g. passport,
driver’s licence or Player’s accreditation);j) the name of the Player’s coach and doctor and/or Person accompanying
the Player (during Team Activities);k) the Sample code number and name of the equipment manufacturer;l) the type of Sample (urine, blood, etc.);m) the type of test (In-Competition or Out-of-Competition);n) the name and signature of the witnessing FIFA Doping Control
Officer/Chaperone;o) the name and signature of the blood collection officer (if applicable);p) partial Sample information;q) the required laboratory information on the Sample;
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142 Annexe D: Testing procedurer) the medications and supplements taken and recent blood transfusion
details (if applicable) as declared by the team doctor/Player;s) for an Athlete Biological Passport blood Sample, information as
out-lined in Annex I of the International Standard for Testing andInvestigations;t) any irregularities in procedures;u) the Player’s comments or concerns regarding the conduct of the Sample
Collection Session, if provided;v) the Player’s acknowledgement of the processing of Sample Collection
data and a description of such processing in accordance with
International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal
Information;w) the Player’s consent or otherwise for the use of the Sample(s) for
research purposes;x) the name and signature of the Player’s doctor and/or Person
accompanying the Player (if applicable);y) the name and signature of the Player;z) the name and signature of the FIFA Doping Control Officer.
4.
At the conclusion of the Sample Collection Session, the Player and FIFA
Doping Control Officer shall sign appropriate documentation to indicate
their satisfaction that the documentation accurately reflects the details of
the Player’s Sample Collection Session, including any concerns recordedby the Player. During Team Activities, the Player’s doctor and/or Person
accompanying the Player shall sign the documentation as a witness of theproceedings. In individual Testing, the Person accompanying the Player or
witness, if applicable, shall sign the documentation.
5.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall provide the Player with a copy of the
Doping Control Form of the Sample Collection Session that has been signedby the Player.

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9

Post-test administration

1.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall ensure that all Samples collected are stored
in a manner that protects their integrity, identity and security prior totransport from the Doping Control room. The FIFA Doping Control Officer
shall record the Chain of Custody of the Samples and Sample collection
documentation to ensure that the complete documentation for each
Sample is completed and securely handled. The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shallconfirm that both the Samples and the Sample collection documentation
have arrived at their intended destinations. The laboratory shall report any
irregularities the condition of the Samples upon their arrival at the FIFA
Anti-Doping Unit in line with the International Standard for Laboratories.
2.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall ensure that instructions for the type ofanalysis to be conducted are laid down in the agreement with the laboratory
chosen in accordance with chapter IX, section 2 (Analysis of Samples) of theFIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.

10

Transport of Samples and documentation

1.
The FIFA Anti-Doping Unit shall authorise a transport system that ensuresthat Samples and documentation will be transported in a manner that
protects their integrity, identity and security.
2.
Samples shall always be transported to the laboratory chosen in accordancewith chapter IX, section 2 (Analysis of Samples) of the FIFA Anti-Doping
Regulations, using FIFA’s authorised Sample transport method, as soon aspracticable after the completion of the Sample Collection Session. Samples
shall be transported in a manner that minimises the potential for Sample
degradation due to factors such as time delays and extreme temperature
variations.
3.
Documentation identifying the Player shall not be included with the
Samples or documentation sent to the laboratory chosen in accordance
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144 Annexe D: Testing procedure
with chapter IX, section 2 (Analysis of Samples) of the FIFA Anti-Doping
Regulations.
4.
The FIFA Doping Control Officer shall send all relevant Sample Collection
Session documentation to the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit using FIFA’s authorised
transport method as soon as practicable after the completion of the Sample
Collection Session.
5.
The Chain of Custody shall be checked by the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit
if receipt of either of the Samples with accompanying documentation
or Sample Collection Session documentation is not confirmed at its
intended destination or if a Sample’s integrity or identity may have been
compromised during transport. In this instance, the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit
shall consider whether the Sample should be voided.
6.
Documentation relating to a Sample Collection Session and/or an anti-doping
rule violation shall be stored by FIFA for a minimum of ten years as per therequirements of the International Standard for the Protection of Privacy andPersonal Information.

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Annexe E: Forms

Doping Control Form
DOPING CONTROL FORM
Test authorised by: FIFA · Sample collection agency: FIFA · Results management authority: FIFA

FIFA COMPETITION:
1. PLAYER NOTIFICATION
Player’s name:Shirt no.:Match/venue:

Match no.:Type of identification:
Urine

Blood

Accreditation

Date:

ID / Passport

Date of birth:

D D MM Y Y

Team:The above-named player has been selected to undergo a doping test andis requested to report immediately after the match to the doping control
room. He may be accompanied by one representative (doctor, coachor team official). I hereby acknowledge that I have received and readthis notice, including the player‘s rights and responsibilities listed on thereverse side of copy 1, and I consent to provide sample(s) as requested. I
understand that failure or refusal to provide a sample may constitute ananti-doping rule violation.

Driver‘s license

D D M M Y Y Time of notification::

DCO/Chaperone name:
DCO/Chaperone Signature:

Player‘s signature:

2. PLAYER INFORMATIONTime of temporary departures and returns::

Time of arrival in doping control room:
Adress:Number/Street(

Country:

arrival::return:Doctor‘s Name

City/Town

State

Coach‘s Name

Contact Tel (incl. Country Code)

E-MailAccompanying Person‘s Name)

3a. INFORMATION FOR ANALYSIS
In-competition

Out-of-competition

Blood serum A/B:
Whole blood A/B:
Urine

Sample collection date:
Time:

:

Time:

:

A/B:

Partial urine
sample:ml

D D MM Y Y

Gender:mf

Equipment manufacturer

Signature of FIFA BCO

Name of FIFA BCO

Signature of FIFA BCO

Name of FIFA BCO

S/G

1 0

No.:

ml

No.:

ml

Time:
Player‘s
initialsPlayer‘s
initials

:

Time:

:

Name of the witnessing FIFA DCO/Chaperone

Signature of the witnessing FIFA DCO/Chaperone

Additional sample
A/B:

ml

S/G

1 0

Name of the witnessing FIFA DCO/Chaperone

Signature of the witnessing FIFA DCO/Chaperone

3b. DECLARATION OF MEDICATION List all medications or supplements taken during the past 7 days and any blood transfusions received during the past three months
Diagnosis

Substance

DosageMethod of application

Start and duration of treatment

Consent for research: in order to help combat doping in sport, by signing below, I agree that my sample may be used for anti-doping research purposes.
When all analyses have been completed and my sample would otherwise be discarded, it may then be used by any WADA-accredited laboratory for
anti-doping research of any type, provided it can no longer be identified as my sample.

I accept

I refuse

4. CONFIRMATION OF PROCEDURE FOR URINE AND/OR BLOOD TESTING
Remarks:

08.20 ALP 200 mok

Supplementary form used

Doping Collection Officer‘s name:

Doping Collection Officer‘s signature:

Team representative‘s/player representative‘s name:Team representative‘s/player representative‘s signature:

I declare that the information given on this form is correct and confirm that the sample collection
was conducted in accordance with the relevant procedures. Furthermore, I accept that all information
related to the doping control, including but not limited to laboratory results and possible sanctions, shallbe shared with the relevant bodies (for instance WADA, international, continental or national sports
federations) in accordance with the relevant regulations, including the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.
I have read and understood the text overleaf and I consent to the processing of my doping control-related
data through ADAMS or any other reliable means or measures.

Player‘s signature:
Place:

:

Time:

Date:

D D MM Y Y

Original: FIFA Anti-Doping Unit (white) Copy 1: Player’s copy (pink) Copy 2: Player’s copy (pink) Copy 3: Laboratory (blue)

Fédération Internationale de Football Association

FIFA-Strasse 20

P.O. Box

CH-8044 Zurich

Switzerland

Tel.: +41 (0)43 222 7777

www.FIFA.com

Annexe E may be amended by the FIFA administration from time to time.

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146 Annexe E: Forms
Doping Control Form – Supplementary

PLAYER INFORMATION FORM
I have been asked by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA),
headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, to read the following form to ensure that I am awarethat my doping control-related data, including but not limited to personal information andthe athlete biological passport and all data related to the process, including test distribution
planning, sample collection and handling, laboratory analysis, results management andsanctions, will be processed and stored in accordance with this form and used in anti-doping
programmes for the detection, deterrence and prevention of doping according to the FIFA
Anti-Doping Regulations, the World Anti-Doping Code (“Code”) and the WADA (World AntiDoping Agency) International Standards.
CONFIRMATION
By signing this form, I confirm that I have been informed accordingly and that I acknowledge
that:• I am bound by and shall comply with the provisions of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, theCode and the International Standards issued by WADA, as amended from time to time;• My doping control-related data as further specified in this information form will be used in
the context of anti-doping programmes indicated in the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations andthe Code. FIFA may also use my data for research purposes, in which case any personal
information that could identify me will be removed or changed before data is shared withother researchers or results are made public;• FIFA shall be principally responsible for ensuring the protection of my data, and is committed
to complying with the International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal
Information issued by WADA;• Pursuant to the above-mentioned International Standard and under the applicable law, I
have certain rights in relation to my doping control-related data, including rights to accessand/or correct any inaccurate data and remedies with respect to any unlawful processing ofdata as further specified below;• FIFA will use, process and store my doping control-related data via the WADA Anti-Doping
Administration and Management System (“ADAMS”) and/or other internal FIFA means (“theFIFA System”). FIFA will disclose and transfer my doping control-related data via ADAMS torecipients authorised to receive the information in accordance with the FIFA Anti-Doping
Regulations and the Code (for instance, designated anti-doping organisations (“ADOs”),
national ADOs, international and national sports federations, major competition organisers
and WADA), which may include the creation of personal online profiles and the entry of
information regarding doping controls, whereabouts and therapeutic use exemptions(“TUEs”) in any other similar, WADA-authorised national system used by an ADO for sharing
information;• I am responsible for ensuring that all information that I enter (or that is entered on my behalf)
into ADAMS is accurate and up to date;• FIFA only uses WADA-accredited laboratories as well as laboratories that have been approved
by WADA and that will also use and process my laboratory test results, but shall only haveaccess to the anonymised, key-coded data;• Persons or parties receiving my information may be located outside my country of residence,
including Switzerland and Canada. In some countries, data protection and privacy laws may
not be equivalent to those in my own country;• Subject to applicable local laws, any dispute arising from this form or a decision madepursuant to the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations may be appealed exclusively before the bodies
stipulated in the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport(CAS).
I further acknowledge the following:
PURPOSE OF ADAMSADAMS enables ADOs, such as FIFA and WADA, to conduct harmonised, coordinated andeffective anti-doping programmes and to fulfil their respective responsibilities arising under
the Code. ADAMS and the FIFA System may be used for scheduling in and out-of-competition
doping tests and managing related information, including TUEs, whereabouts information,
information about the results of anti-doping tests, information relating to the athlete biological
passport, and sanctions-related information relevant to individual athletes. WADA and FIFA
rely upon ADAMS and the FIFA System to fulfil their responsibilities under the Code, including
the performance of out-of-competition testing, the review of TUEs and its implications foranti-doping rule violation procedures.
LAWFULNESS OF THE PROCESSING
The fight against doping in sport is supported by the international community, and more than180 countries have ratified the 2005 UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport(“Convention”), which endorses the work of WADA and aims at ensuring the effectiveness of
the implementation of the Code. The worldwide anti-doping system pursuant to the Code,as further reflected in the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, is necessary for the protection ofhealth, for moral, cultural and physical education and for the principle of fair play, as well as toeliminate cheating in sport and to protect its future. The anti-doping measures undertaken byFIFA and the processing of my data form part of the worldwide fight against doping in sport infurtherance of the aforementioned goals and are justified to carry out an important task in the
public interest and to pursue important and legitimate interests as set out in the Convention,
the Code and the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.
CATEGORIES OF DATA CONCERNEDADAMS and the FIFA System may contain the following categories of data: my unique ADAMS
profile, consisting of data relating to my identity (name, nationality, date of birth, gender,
the sport(s) and discipline(s) in which I compete, organisations and/or sports federations towhich I belong, an indication of whether I compete at international or national level, andwhether I am considered to be a national or international-level athlete in accordance withthe rules of FIFA, my confederation and/or national ADO); data relating to my whereabouts,
to test distribution planning (for the testing pools in which I am included); data relating to my
TUEs, if any; data relating to doping control (test distribution planning, sample collection andhandling, laboratory analysis, results management, hearings and appeals); and data relating
to the athlete biological passport. Some of the above data may constitute sensitive personal
data under national data protection or privacy laws where I reside and under the WADA
International Standards.
DISCLOSURESPart of my ADAMS profile may be shown to other ADOs using ADAMS to ensure that only asingle athlete profile is created for me. FIFA and WADA, where appropriate, may enable other

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FIFA LEGAL HANDBOOOKADOs and service providers to access some of my information appearing in ADAMS to enable
them to administer anti-doping programmes. In addition, WADA may access and processsome of my data in ADAMS (i.e. TUE data, laboratory results, the athlete biological passport,
sanctions and whereabouts data) to fulfil its responsibilities under the Code. FIFA, WADA andthe organisations listed above will not disclose any of my data other than to authorised persons
within their organisations on a “need-to-know” basis; each of the organisations accessing
and using ADAMS may only do so in order to fulfil their responsibilities and obligations
arising under the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations and the Code, which primarily involve theestablishment of anti-doping programmes and ensuring appropriate information-sharing as
provided for under the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations and the Code.
INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS
My data may be made available through ADAMS to persons or parties located outside thecountry where I reside since my information is to be shared with WADA, established in
Switzerland and Canada, and may be shared with the ADO in the country where my national
association is registered and with my relevant confederation in order to allow them to performtheir anti-doping programmes and to comply with their obligations under the Code. The dataprotection and privacy laws of these countries may not always be equivalent to those in myown country. In any case, ADOs must comply with WADA‘s International Standard for theProtection of Privacy and Personal Information.
MY RIGHTS
I have certain rights under applicable laws and under WADA‘s International Standard for theProtection of Privacy and Personal Information. Subject to the relevant legal conditions being
fulfilled, these rights include: (a) the right to be informed about the processing of my personal
data; (b) the right of access to and receipt of a copy of my personal data processed within
ADAMS; (c) the right to rectification if any of my personal data that is processed within ADAMS
is inaccurate or incomplete; (d) the right to erasure – i.e. the right to request deletion of anyof my personal data that is processed in ADAMS and is no longer required for the relevant
purposes; (e) the right to restrict or prevent the processing of my personal data if, for example,
I want to contest the accuracy of the personal data or my personal data is no longer needed;(f) the right to obtain a copy of my personal data processed in ADAMS; (g) the right to object
to FIFA processing the personal data for particular purposes if FIFA cannot provide compelling
legitimate grounds for its processing. I further take note that the personal data processed byFIFA is not subject to automated decision-making, including profiling.
I acknowledge that according to the Code, FIFA has limited competence to erase or amend mypersonal data. Should FIFA, despite using its reasonable efforts, fail to comply with my request,
I will have to exercise my rights before WADA and/or the ADO of my national association.
CONTACTIn the event of any cause for complaint about the use of my personal data or if I have any
questions relating to the processing of my personal data, I may contact FIFA (antidoping@fifa.
org). In the event of any such complaint or question, FIFA shall use its reasonable efforts tobest resolve the matter. If I am not satisfied with FIFA‘s response, I may contact WADA and/or the ADO of the country of my national association. For further details, I may also consult
the athlete information notice, which is subject to change without notice, as found on the
WADA website.
DISPUTES
If the matter cannot be resolved, I have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent dataprotection supervisory authority in accordance with data protection laws applicable to me.
SECURITY
I have taken note that ADAMS is securely maintained in Switzerland and Canada. Stringent
technological, organisational and other security measures have been applied to ADAMS tomaintain the security of the data entered in it. In addition, FIFA, WADA and ADOs have put
in place internal and contractual guarantees to ensure that my data remains confidential andsecure.
DATA RETENTION
I understand that it may be necessary to retain my data in ADAMS or the FIFA System for aminimum period of ten years. For instance, if ADAMS is used for TUEs and I am granted a TUE,
the TUE approval forms will be stored electronically in ADAMS for a minimum period of ten
years. The period of ten years represents the period during which an action may be commenced
for an anti-doping violation under the Code. Where the relevant anti-doping rules do not
require my data to be retained for ten years, the data will be deleted after an appropriately
shorter period. For more information on data retention, I may consult the Annexe to WADA‘s
International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information.
RELEASEI hereby release FIFA and the accredited laboratories from all claims, demands, liabilities,
damages, costs and expenses that may arise in connection with the processing of my doping
control-related data through ADAMS and other means such as the FIFA System.
REFUSAL
I understand that my participation in association football is contingent upon my voluntary
participation in anti-doping procedures as set forth in the relevant regulations, including theFIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, and thus the processing of my doping control-related data as
described in this form.
I understand that any refusal on my part to undergo anti-doping procedures and to have
my doping control-related data processed will be construed as a violation of the relevant
regulations, including the Code and FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, and may result in disciplinary
and other sanctions being imposed upon me, such as disqualification from competitions, theinvalidation of results arising from prior competitions and/or the imposition of a period of
ineligibility.
DECLARATION
By signing this form, I hereby declare that I am familiar with and agree to abide by the relevant
regulations, including the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations and the Code.

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Annexe F: List of WADA-accredited laboratories

Reference is made to the list of World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA)-accredited laboratories published by WADA, whichis available at www.wada-ama.org.

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Regulations on the Status
and Transfer of Players
August 2021 Edition

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CONTENTS

ArticlePage

DEFINITIONS

5

I. INTRODUCTORY PROVISION
1
Scope

9
9

II. STATUS OF PLAYERS
2
Status of players: amateur and professional players
3
Reacquisition of amateur status
4
Termination of activity

11
11
11
11

III. REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS
5
Registration
5bis Bridge transfer
6
Registration periods
7
Player passport
8
Application for registration
9
International Transfer Certificate
10 Loan of professionals
11 Unregistered players
12 Enforcement of disciplinary sanctions
12bis Overdue payables

12
12
13
13
15
15
15
16
16
17
17

IV. MAINTENANCE OF CONTRACTUAL STABILITY BETWEEN
PROFESSIONALS AND CLUBS
19
13 Respect of contract
19
14 Terminating a contract with just cause
19
14bis Terminating a contract with just cause for outstanding salaries
19
15 Terminating a contract with sporting just cause
20
16 Restriction on terminating a contract during the season20
17 Consequences of terminating a contract without just cause
20
18 Special provisions relating to contracts between professionals and clubs 22

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ArticlePage

V. THIRD-PARTY INFLUENCE AND OWNERSHIP OF PLAYERS’ECONOMIC RIGHTS
18bis Third-party influence on clubs
18ter Third-party ownership of players’ economic rights

24
24
24

VI. SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO FEMALE PLAYERS
18quater Special provisions relating to female players

26
26VII. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS INVOLVING MINORS
19 Protection of minors
19bis Registration and reporting of minors at academies

29
29
31

VIII. TRAINING COMPENSATION AND SOLIDARITY MECHANISM
20 Training compensation
21 Solidarity mechanism

33
33
33

IX. JURISDICTION
22 Competence of FIFA
23 Football Tribunal
24 Consequences for failure to pay relevant amounts in due time
25 Implementation of decisions and confirmation letters

34
34
35
36
38

X. FINAL PROVISIONS
26 Transitional measures
27 Matters not provided for
28 Official languages
29 Enforcement

40
40
41
41
41

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ArticlePage

ANNEXE 1
Release of players to association teams

42

ANNEXE 2
Rules for the employment of coaches

54

ANNEXE 3
Transfer matching system

62

ANNEXE 3A
Administrative procedure governing the transfer of players
between associations outside TMS

77

ANNEXE 4
Training compensation

81

ANNEXE 5
Solidarity mechanism

85

ANNEXE 6
Rules for the Status and Transfer of Futsal Players

87

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DEFINITIONS 5

DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of these regulations, the terms set out below are defined asfollows:
1.

Former association: the association to which the former club is affiliated.

2.

Former club: the club that the player is leaving.

3.

New association: the association to which the new club is affiliated.

4.

New club: the club that the player is joining.

5.

Official matches: matches played within the framework of organised
football, such as national league championships, national cups andinternational championships for clubs, but not including friendly and trial
matches.

6.

Organised football: association football organised under the auspices ofFIFA, the confederations and the associations, or authorised by them.

7.

Protected period: a period of three entire seasons or three years,
whichever comes first, following the entry into force of a contract, wheresuch contract is concluded prior to the 28th birthday of the professional,
or two entire seasons or two years, whichever comes first, following theentry into force of a contract, where such contract is concluded after the
28th birthday of the professional.

8.

Registration period: a period fixed by the relevant association inaccordance with article 6.

9.

Season: a 12-month period commencing on the first day of the firstregistration period fixed by an association in accordance with article 6.

10. Training compensation: the payments made in accordance with Annexe 4
to cover the development of young players.
11. Minor: a player who has not yet reached the age of 18.
12. Academy: an organisation or an independent legal entity whose primary,long-term objective is to provide players with long-term training throughthe provision of the necessary training facilities and infrastructure. ThisTABLE OF CONTENTS
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DEFINITIONS

shall primarily include, but not be limited to, football training centres,
football camps, football schools, etc.
13. Transfer matching system (TMS): a web-based data information systemwith the primary objective of simplifying the process of international
player transfers as well as improving transparency and the flow of
information.
14. Third party: a party other than the player being transferred, the two clubs
transferring the player from one to the other, or any previous club, withwhich the player has been registered.
15. Eleven-a-side football: football played in accordance with the Laws of theGame as authorised by the International Football Association Board.
16. Futsal: football played in accordance with the Futsal Laws of the Gamethat have been drawn up by FIFA in collaboration with the Sub-Committeeof the International Football Association Board.
17. Registration: the act of making a written record containing details of aplayer that include:– the start date of the registration (format: dd/mm/yyyy);– the full name (first, middle and last names) of the player;– date of birth, gender, nationality and status as an amateur or aprofessional (as per article 2 paragraph 2 of these regulations);– the type(s) of football the player will play (eleven-a-side football /futsal / beach soccer);– the name of the club at the association where the player will play(including the FIFA ID of the club);– the training categorisation of the club at the moment of theregistration;– the FIFA ID of the player;– the FIFA ID of the association.
18. Electronic player registration system: an online electronic information
system with the ability to record the registration of all players at theirassociation. The electronic player registration system must be integrated
with the FIFA Connect ID Service and the FIFA Connect Interface in order
to exchange information electronically. The electronic player registration
system must provide all registration information for all players from theage of 12 through the FIFA Connect Interface and, in particular, mustassign each player a FIFA ID utilising the FIFA Connect ID Service.
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19. FIFA Connect ID Service: a service provided by FIFA assigning globally valid
unique identifiers (the FIFA ID) to individuals, organisations, and facilities,
providing duplicate information in case of a second registration of thesame entity, and keeping a central record of the current registration(s) of
all entities with an assigned FIFA ID.
20. FIFA ID: the worldwide unique identifier given by the FIFA Connect ID
Service to each club, association and player.
21. International transfer: the movement of the registration of a player fromone association to another association.
22. National transfer: the movement of the registration of a player at an
association from one club to another within the same association.
23. Electronic domestic transfer system: an online electronic information
system with the ability to administer and monitor all nationaltransfers within an association, in line with the principles of the model
implemented at international level through the Transfer Matching System(cf. Annexe 3). At a minimum, the system must collect the full name,gender, nationality, date of birth and FIFA ID of the player, the status(amateur or professional as per article 2 paragraph 2 of these regulations),
the name and FIFA ID of the two clubs involved in the national transfer,as well as any payments between the clubs, if applicable. The electronic
domestic transfer system must be integrated with the electronic
registration system of the association and with the FIFA Connect Interface
in order to exchange information electronically.
24. Bridge transfer: any two consecutive transfers, national or international,of the same player connected to each other and comprising a registrationof that player with the middle club to circumvent the application of therelevant regulations or laws and/or defraud another person or entity.
25. Purely amateur club: a club with no legal, financial or de facto links to aprofessional club that:i.

is only permitted to register amateur players; orii. has no registered professional players; oriii. has not registered any professional players in the three years prior toa particular date.
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DEFINITIONS

26. FIFA Connect Interface: a technical interface provided by FIFA within
the FIFA Connect Programme, used to exchange electronic end-to-end
encrypted messages between member associations, and between member
associations and FIFA.
27. Training rewards: the mechanisms which compensate training clubs fortheir role in the training and education of young players, namely training
compensation (cf. article 20) and the solidarity mechanism (cf. article 21).
28. Coach: an individual employed in a football-specific occupation by aprofessional club or association whose:i.

employment duties consist of one or more of the following: training
and coaching players, selecting players for matches and competitions,making tactical choices during matches and competitions; and/orii. employment requires the holding of a coaching licence in accordancewith a domestic or continental licensing regulation.
29. Professional club: a club that is not a purely amateur club.
30. Maternity leave: a minimum period of 14 weeks’ paid absence granted
to a female player due to her pregnancy, of which a minimum of eightweeks must occur after the birth of the child.

Reference is also made to the Definitions section in the FIFA Statutes.
NB: Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders. Any
term in the singular applies to the plural and vice-versa.

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I. INTRODUCTORY PROVISION

1

Scope

1.
These regulations lay down global and binding rules concerning the status ofplayers, their eligibility to participate in organised football, and their transfer
between clubs belonging to different associations.
2.
The transfer of players between clubs belonging to the same associationis governed by specific regulations issued by the association concerned inaccordance with article 1 paragraph 3 below, which must be approved by FIFA.
Such regulations shall lay down rules for the settlement of disputes between
clubs and players, in accordance with the principles stipulated in theseregulations. Such regulations should also provide for a system to reward clubs
affiliated to the relevant association investing in the training and education ofyoung players.
The use of an electronic domestic transfer system is a mandatory step for all
national transfers of professional and amateur players (both male and female)within the scope of eleven-a-side football. A national transfer must be enteredin the electronic domestic transfer system each time a player is to be registeredwith a new club within the same association. Any registration of a player fora new club without the use of the electronic domestic transfer system will be
invalid.
3.
a) The following provisions are binding at national level and must be included
without modification in the association’s regulations: articles 2-8, 10, 11,12bis, 18, 18 paragraph 7 (unless more favourable conditions are available
pursuant to national law), 18bis, 18ter, 18quater (unless more favourable
conditions are available pursuant to national law), 19 and 19bis.
b) Each association shall include in its regulations appropriate means toprotect contractual stability, paying due respect to mandatory national law
and collective bargaining agreements. In particular, the following principles
must be considered:

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I. INTRODUCTORY PROVISION– article 13: the principle that contracts must be respected;– article 14: the principle that contracts may be terminated by either party
without consequences where there is just cause;– article 15: the principle that contracts may be terminated byprofessionals with sporting just cause;– article 16: the principle that contracts cannot be terminated during thecourse of the season;– article 17 paragraphs 1 and 2: the principle that in the event oftermination of contract without just cause, compensation shall bepayable and that such compensation may be stipulated in the contract;– article 17 paragraphs 3-5: the principle that in the event of terminationof contract without just cause, sporting sanctions shall be imposed on
the party in breach.
4.
These regulations also govern the release of players to association teams inaccordance with the provisions of Annexe 1. These provisions are binding for
all associations and clubs.
5.
These regulations also include rules concerning contracts between coaches andprofessional clubs or associations (cf. Annexe 2).

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II. STATUS OF PLAYERS

2

Status of players: amateur and professional players

1.
Players participating in organised football are either amateurs or professionals.
2.
A professional is a player who has a written contract with a club and is paid
more for his footballing activity than the expenses he effectively incurs. Allother players are considered to be amateurs.

3

Reacquisition of amateur status

1.
A player registered as a professional may not re-register as an amateur until atleast 30 days after his last match as a professional.
2.
No compensation is payable upon reacquisition of amateur status. If a player
re-registers as a professional within 30 months of being reinstated as anamateur, his new club shall pay training compensation in accordance witharticle 20.

4

Termination of activity

1.
Professionals who end their careers upon expiry of their contracts andamateurs who terminate their activity shall remain registered at theassociation of their last club for a period of 30 months.
2.
This period begins on the day the player made his last appearance for the clubin an official match.

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III. REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS

5

Registration

1.
Each association must have an electronic player registration system, whichmust assign each player a FIFA ID when the player is first registered. A player
must be registered at an association to play for a club as either a professionalor an amateur in accordance with the provisions of article 2. Only electronicallyregistered players identified with a FIFA ID are eligible to participate inorganised football. By the act of registering, a player agrees to abide by the FIFA
Statutes and regulations, the confederations and the associations.
2.
A player may only be registered with a club for the purpose of playingorganised football. As an exception to this rule, a player may have to beregistered with a club for mere technical reasons to secure transparency inconsecutive individual transactions (cf. Annexe 3).
3.
A player may only be registered with one club at a time.
4.
Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during one season.
During this period, the player is only eligible to play official matches for two clubs,
subject to the temporary exceptions below. As an exception to this rule, a player
moving between two clubs belonging to associations with overlapping seasons (i.e.
start of the season in summer/autumn as opposed to winter/spring) may be eligible
to play in official matches for a third club during the relevant season, provided
he has fully complied with his contractual obligations towards his previous clubs.
Equally, the provisions relating to the registration periods (article 6) as well as tothe minimum length of a contract (article 18 paragraph 2) must be respected.
i.

During the following period, players may be registered with a maximum of
three clubs and are eligible to play official matches for three clubs during
one season:a) for associations following a dual-year calendar: the 2019/20 and 2020/21
seasons; andb) for associations following a single-year calendar: the 2020 and 2021
seasons.

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5.
Under all circumstances, due consideration must be given to the sporting
integrity of the competition. In particular, a player may not play official
matches for more than two clubs competing in the same national
championship or cup during the same season, subject to stricter individualcompetition regulations of member associations.

5bis

Bridge transfer

1.
No club or player shall be involved in a bridge transfer.
2.
It shall be presumed, unless established to the contrary, that if two consecutive
transfers, national or international, of the same player occur within a periodof 16 weeks, the parties (clubs and player) involved in those two transfers haveparticipated in a bridge transfer.
3.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee, in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code,will impose sanctions on any party subject to the FIFA Statutes and regulations
involved in a bridge transfer.

6

Registration periods

1.
Players may only be registered during one of the two annual registration
periods fixed by the relevant association. Associations may fix different
registration periods for their male and female competitions. As an exception
to this rule, a professional whose contract has expired prior to the end ofa registration period may be registered outside that registration period.
Associations are authorised to register such professionals provided due
consideration is given to the sporting integrity of the relevant competition.
Where a contract has been terminated with just cause, FIFA may takeprovisional measures in order to avoid abuse, subject to article 22.

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III. REGISTRATION OF PLAYERSa) As an exception to paragraph 1, a female player may be registered by anassociation outside of a registration period to temporarily replace a female
player that has taken maternity leave. The period of the contract of thetemporary replacement female player shall, unless otherwise mutuallyagreed, be from the date of registration until the day prior to the start of
the first registration period after the return of the female player that has
taken maternity leave.
b) A female player may be registered by an association outside of aregistration period upon completion of her maternity leave (cf. article 18
paragraph 7; and article 18quater) subject to her contractual status.
c) Associations shall adapt their domestic rules accordingly. However, priority
shall be given to ensuring that a female player that has returned frommaternity leave is eligible to participate in domestic competitions, and thesporting integrity of the relevant competition.
d) As a temporary exception to paragraph 1, a professional whose contract
has expired or been terminated as a result of COVID-19 has the right to beregistered by an association outside a registration period, regardless of thedate of expiry or termination.
2.
The first registration period shall begin on the first day of the season. This
period may not exceed 12 weeks. The second registration period shall normallyoccur in the middle of the season and may not exceed four weeks. The tworegistration periods for the season shall be entered into TMS at least 12
months before they come into force (cf. Annexe 3, article 5.1 paragraph 1). Alltransfers, whether a national transfer or an international transfer, shall only
occur within these registration periods, subject to the exceptions in article 6.
FIFA shall determine the dates for any association that fails to communicate
them on time.
3.
Players may only be registered – subject to the exception and temporary
exception provided for in article 6 paragraph 1 – upon submission through theelectronic player registration system of a valid application from the club to therelevant association during a registration period.

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4.
The provisions concerning registration periods do not apply to competitions
in which only amateurs participate. The relevant association shall specify
the periods when players may be registered for such competitions provided
that due consideration is given to the sporting integrity of the relevant
competition.

7

Player passport

The registering association is obliged to provide the club with which the player
is registered with a player passport containing the relevant details of theplayer. The player passport shall indicate the club(s) with which the player has
been registered since the calendar year of his 12th birthday.

8

Application for registration

The application for registration of a professional must be submitted together
with a copy of the player’s contract. The relevant decision-making body has
discretion to take account of any contractual amendments or additional
agreements that have not been duly submitted to it.

9International Transfer Certificate

1.
Players registered at one association may only be registered at a newassociation once the latter has received an International Transfer Certificate(hereinafter: ITC) from the former association. The ITC shall be issued free ofcharge without any conditions or time limit. Any provisions to the contrary
shall be null and void. The association issuing the ITC shall lodge a copy with
FIFA. The administrative procedures for issuing the ITC are contained in
Annexe 3, article 8, and Annexe 3a of these regulations.
2.
Associations are forbidden from requesting the issue of an ITC in order toallow a player to participate in trial matches.

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3.
The new association shall inform the association(s) of the club(s) that trainedand educated the player between the ages of 12 and 23 (cf. article 7) in writingof the registration of the player as a professional after receipt of the ITC.
4.
An ITC is not required for a player under the age of ten years.

10

Loan of professionals

1.
A professional may be loaned to another club on the basis of a writtenagreement between him and the clubs concerned. Any such loan is subject tothe same rules as apply to the transfer of players, including the provisions on
training compensation and the solidarity mechanism.
2.
Subject to article 5 paragraph 4, the minimum loan period shall be the time
between two registration periods.
3.
The club that has accepted a player on a loan basis is not entitled to transfer
him to a third club without the written authorisation of the club that released
the player on loan and the player concerned.

11

Unregistered players

Any player not registered at an association who appears for a club in any
official match shall be considered to have played illegitimately. Without
prejudice to any measure required to rectify the sporting consequences of suchan appearance, sanctions may also be imposed on the player and/or the club.
The right to impose such sanctions lies in principle with the association or theorganiser of the competition concerned.

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12

Enforcement of disciplinary sanctions

1.
Any disciplinary sanction of up to four matches or up to three months thathas been imposed on a player by the former association but not yet (entirely)
served by the time of the transfer shall be enforced by the new association atwhich the player has been registered in order for the sanction to be served atdomestic level. When issuing the ITC, the former association shall notify the
new association via TMS of any such disciplinary sanction that has yet to be(entirely) served.
2.
Any disciplinary sanction of more than four matches or more than threemonths that has not yet been (entirely) served by a player shall be enforced by
the new association that has registered the player only if the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee has extended the disciplinary sanction to have worldwide effect.
Additionally, when issuing the ITC, the former association shall notify the new
association via TMS of any such pending disciplinary sanction.

12bis

Overdue payables

1.
Clubs are required to comply with their financial obligations towards players
and other clubs as per the terms stipulated in the contracts signed with theirprofessional players and in the transfer agreements.
2.
Any club found to have delayed a due payment for more than 30 days
without a prima facie contractual basis may be sanctioned in accordance withparagraph 4 below.
3.
In order for a club to be considered to have overdue payables in the sense of
the present article, the creditor (player or club) must have put the debtor clubin default in writing and have granted a deadline of at least ten days for the
debtor club to comply with its financial obligation(s).

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4.
Within the scope of its jurisdiction (cf. article 22 to 24), the Football Tribunal
may impose the following sanctions:a) a warning;b) a reprimand;c) a fine;d) a ban from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally,for one or two entire and consecutive registration periods.
5.
The sanctions provided for in paragraph 4 above may be applied cumulatively.
6.
A repeated offence will be considered an aggravating circumstance and leadto a more severe penalty.
7.
The terms of the present article are without prejudice to the applicationof further measures in accordance with article 17 in the event of unilateral
termination of the contractual relationship.

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IV. MAINTENANCE OF CONTRACTUAL STABILITY BETWEEN
PROFESSIONALS AND CLUBS

13

Respect of contract

A contract between a professional and a club may only be terminated upon
expiry of the term of the contract or by mutual agreement.

14

Terminating a contract with just cause

1.
A contract may be terminated by either party without consequences of any
kind (either payment of compensation or imposition of sporting sanctions)where there is just cause.
2.
Any abusive conduct of a party aiming at forcing the counterparty toterminate or change the terms of the contract shall entitle the counterparty(a player or a club) to terminate the contract with just cause.

14bis

Terminating a contract with just cause foroutstanding salaries

1.
In the case of a club unlawfully failing to pay a player at least two monthly
salaries on their due dates, the player will be deemed to have a just cause toterminate his contract, provided that he has put the debtor club in default inwriting and has granted a deadline of at least 15 days for the debtor club tofully comply with its financial obligation(s). Alternative provisions in contracts
existing at the time of this provision coming into force may be considered.
2.
For any salaries of a player which are not due on a monthly basis, the pro-rata
value corresponding to two months shall be considered. Delayed payment ofan amount which is equal to at least two months shall also be deemed a justcause for the player to terminate his contract, subject to him complying with
the notice of termination as per paragraph 1 above.

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3.
Collective bargaining agreements validly negotiated by employers’ andemployees’ representatives at domestic level in accordance with national law
may deviate from the principles stipulated in paragraphs 1 and 2 above.
The terms of such an agreement shall prevail.

15

Terminating a contract with sporting just cause

An established professional who has, in the course of the season, appearedin fewer than ten per cent of the official matches in which his club has been
involved may terminate his contract prematurely on the ground of sporting
just cause. Due consideration shall be given to the player’s circumstances in theappraisal of such cases. The existence of sporting just cause shall be established
on a case-by-case basis. In such a case, sporting sanctions shall not be imposed,though compensation may be payable. A professional may only terminate his
contract on this basis in the 15 days following the last official match of theseason of the club with which he is registered.

16

Restriction on terminating a contract during the season

A contract cannot be unilaterally terminated during the course of a season.

17

Consequences of terminating a contract without just cause

The following provisions apply if a contract is terminated without just cause:1.
In all cases, the party in breach shall pay compensation. Subject to theprovisions of article 20 and Annexe 4 in relation to training compensation,and unless otherwise provided for in the contract, compensation for thebreach shall be calculated with due consideration for the law of the country
concerned, the specificity of sport, and any other objective criteria. These
criteria shall include, in particular, the remuneration and other benefits dueto the player under the existing contract and/or the new contract, the timeremaining on the existing contract up to a maximum of five years, the fees and

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expenses paid or incurred by the former club (amortised over the term of thecontract) and whether the contractual breach falls within a protected period.
Bearing in mind the aforementioned principles, compensation due to a player
shall be calculated as follows:i. in case the player did not sign any new contract following the terminationof his previous contract, as a general rule, the compensation shall be equal
to the residual value of the contract that was prematurely terminated;
ii. in case the player signed a new contract by the time of the decision,
the value of the new contract for the period corresponding to the timeremaining on the prematurely terminated contract shall be deductedfrom the residual value of the contract that was terminated early(the “Mitigated Compensation”). Furthermore, and subject to theearly termination of the contract being due to overdue payables, inaddition to the Mitigated Compensation, the player shall be entitled toan amount corresponding to three monthly salaries (the “Additional
Compensation”). In case of egregious circumstances, the Additional
Compensation may be increased up to a maximum of six monthly
salaries. The overall compensation may never exceed the rest value ofthe prematurely terminated contract.
iii. Collective bargaining agreements validly negotiated by employers’ andemployees’ representatives at domestic level in accordance with nationallaw may deviate from the principles stipulated in the points i. and ii.
above. The terms of such an agreement shall prevail.
2.
Entitlement to compensation cannot be assigned to a third party. If a
professional is required to pay compensation, the professional and his new
club shall be jointly and severally liable for its payment. The amount may be
stipulated in the contract or agreed between the parties.
3.
In addition to the obligation to pay compensation, sporting sanctions shallalso be imposed on any player found to be in breach of contract during theprotected period. This sanction shall be a four-month restriction on playing in
official matches. In the case of aggravating circumstances, the restriction shalllast six months. These sporting sanctions shall take effect immediately oncethe player has been notified of the relevant decision. The sporting sanctions

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shall remain suspended in the period between the last official match of theseason and the first official match of the next season, in both cases including
national cups and international championships for clubs. This suspensionof the sporting sanctions shall, however, not be applicable if the player isan established member of the representative team of the association he iseligible to represent, and the association concerned is participating in the
final competition of an international tournament in the period between thelast match and the first match of the next season. Unilateral breach without
just cause or sporting just cause after the protected period shall not result in
sporting sanctions. Disciplinary measures may, however, be imposed outside
the protected period for failure to give notice of termination within 15 days ofthe last official match of the season (including national cups) of the club withwhich the player is registered. The protected period starts again when, while
renewing the contract, the duration of the previous contract is extended.
4.
In addition to the obligation to pay compensation, sporting sanctions shall be
imposed on any club found to be in breach of contract or found to be inducing
a breach of contract during the protected period. It shall be presumed, unlessestablished to the contrary, that any club signing a professional who has
terminated his contract without just cause has induced that professional tocommit a breach. The club shall be banned from registering any new players,either nationally or internationally, for two entire and consecutive registration
periods. The club shall be able to register new players, either nationally orinternationally, only as of the next registration period following the complete
serving of the relevant sporting sanction. In particular, it may not make use of
the exception and the provisional measures stipulated in article 6 paragraph 1of these regulations in order to register players at an earlier stage.
5.
Any person subject to the FIFA Statutes and regulations who acts in a mannerdesigned to induce a breach of contract between a professional and a club inorder to facilitate the transfer of the player shall be sanctioned.

18

Special provisions relating to contracts between
professionals and clubs

1.
If an intermediary is involved in the negotiation of a contract, he shall be
named in that contract.

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2.
The minimum length of a contract shall be from its effective date until theend of the season, while the maximum length of a contract shall be five
years. Contracts of any other length shall only be permitted if consistent withnational laws. Players under the age of 18 may not sign a professional contract
for a term longer than three years. Any clause referring to a longer period
shall not be recognised.
3.
A club intending to conclude a contract with a professional must inform theplayer’s current club in writing before entering into negotiations with him. A
professional shall only be free to conclude a contract with another club if his
contract with his present club has expired or is due to expire within six months.
Any breach of this provision shall be subject to appropriate sanctions.
4.
The validity of a contract may not be made subject to a successful medical
examination and/or the grant of a work permit.
5.
If a professional enters into more than one contract covering the same period,
the provisions set forth in Chapter IV shall apply.
6.
Contractual clauses granting the club additional time to pay to the professionalamounts that have fallen due under the terms of the contract (so-called“grace periods”) shall not be recognised. Grace periods contained in collective
bargaining agreements validly negotiated by employers’ and employees’
representatives at domestic level in accordance with national law shall,
however, be legally binding and recognised. Contracts existing at the time ofthis provision coming into force shall not be affected by this prohibition.
7.
Female players are entitled to maternity leave during the term of theircontract, paid at the equivalent of two thirds of their contracted salary.
Where more beneficial conditions are provided in the applicable national law
in the country of their club’s domicile or an applicable collective bargaining
agreement, these beneficial conditions shall prevail.

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V. THIRD-PARTY INFLUENCE AND OWNERSHIP OF PLAYERS’ECONOMIC RIGHTS

18bis

Third-party influence on clubs

1.
No club shall enter into a contract which enables the counter club/counterclubs, and vice versa, or any third party to acquire the ability to influence in
employment and transfer-related matters its independence, its policies or the
performance of its teams.
2.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee may impose disciplinary measures on clubsthat do not observe the obligations set out in this article.

18ter

Third-party ownership of players’ economic rights

1.
No club or player shall enter into an agreement with a third party wherebya third party is being entitled to participate, either in full or in part, incompensation payable in relation to the future transfer of a player from one
club to another, or is being assigned any rights in relation to a future transfer
or transfer compensation.
2.
The interdiction as per paragraph 1 comes into force on 1 May 2015.
3.
Agreements covered by paragraph 1 which predate 1 May 2015 may continue
to be in place until their contractual expiration. However, their duration may
not be extended.
4.
The validity of any agreement covered by paragraph 1 signed between
1 January 2015 and 30 April 2015 may not have a contractual duration of morethan one year beyond the effective date.

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5.
By the end of April 2015, all existing agreements covered by paragraph 1
need to be recorded within the Transfer Matching System (TMS). All clubs thathave signed such agreements are required to upload them in their entirety,
including possible annexes or amendments, in TMS, specifying the details of
the third party concerned, the full name of the player as well as the durationof the agreement.
6.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee may impose disciplinary measures on clubs orplayers that do not observe the obligations set out in this article.

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VI. SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO FEMALE PLAYERS

18quaterSpecial provisions relating to female
players

1.
The validity of a contract may not be made subject to a player being or
becoming pregnant during its term, being on maternity leave, or utilisingrights related to maternity in general.
2.
If a club unilaterally terminates a contract on the grounds of a player being
or becoming pregnant, being on maternity leave, or utilising rights related tomaternity in general, the club will be deemed to have terminated the contract
without just cause.
a) It shall be presumed, unless proven to the contrary, that the unilateral
termination of a contract by a club during a pregnancy or maternity leaveoccurred as a result of a player being or becoming pregnant.
3.
Where a contract has been terminated on the grounds of the player being or
becoming pregnant, as an exception to article 17 paragraph 1:a) compensation due to a player shall be calculated as follows:i. in case the player did not sign any new contract following thetermination of her previous contract, as a general rule, the compensation
shall be equal to the residual value of the contract that was prematurely
terminated;
ii. in case the player signed a new contract by the time of the decision,
the value of the new contract for the period corresponding to the timeremaining on the prematurely terminated contract shall be deductedfrom the residual value of the contract that was terminated early;iii. in either case described above, the player shall be entitled to additional
compensation corresponding to six monthly salaries of the prematurely
terminated contract;

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iv. collective bargaining agreements validly negotiated by employers’ andemployees’ representatives at domestic level in accordance with nationallaw may deviate from the principles stipulated above. The terms of suchan agreement shall prevail;b) in addition to the obligation to pay compensation, sporting sanctions
shall be imposed on any club found to have unilaterally terminated acontract on the grounds of a player being or becoming pregnant, beingon maternity leave, or utilising rights related to maternity in general.
The club shall be banned from registering any new female players, either
nationally or internationally, for two entire and consecutive registration
periods. The club shall be able to register new players, either nationallyor internationally, only as of the next registration period following thecomplete serving of the relevant sporting sanction. In particular, it may
not make use of the exception and the provisional measures stipulated inarticle 6 paragraph 1 a) of these regulations in order to register players at
an earlier stage;c) the sanction provided for in b) above may be applied cumulatively with afine.
4.
Where a player becomes pregnant, she has the right, during the term of her
contract, to:a) continue providing sporting services to her club (i.e. playing and training),
following confirmation from her treating practitioner and an independent
medical professional (chosen by consensus between the player and herclub) that it is safe for her to do so. In such cases, her club has an obligation
to respect the decision and formalise a plan for her continued sporting
participation in a safe manner, prioritising her health and that of theunborn child;b) provide employment services to her club in an alternate manner, should
her treating practitioner deem that it is not safe for her to continue
sporting services, or should she choose not to exercise her right to continue
providing sporting services. In such cases, her club has an obligation torespect the decision and work with the player to formalise a plan for her
alternate employment. The player shall be entitled to receive her full
remuneration, until such time that she utilises maternity leave;

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VI. SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO FEMALE PLAYERSc) independently determine the commencement date of her maternity leave,
taking into consideration the minimum periods provided (cf. Definitions).
Any club that pressures or forces a player to take maternity leave at a
specific time shall be sanctioned by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee;d) return to football activity after the completion of her maternity leave,following confirmation from her treating practitioner and an independent
medical professional (chosen by consensus between the player andher club) that it is safe for her to do so. In such cases, her club has an
obligation to respect the decision, reintegrate her into footballing
activity (cf. article 6 paragraph 1 b)), and provide adequate ongoing
medical support. The player shall be entitled to receive her full
remuneration following her return to football activity.
5.
A player shall be provided the opportunity to breastfeed an infant and/or
express breast milk whilst providing sporting services to her club. Clubs shallprovide suitable facilities in accordance with applicable national legislation in
the country of a club’s domicile or a collective bargaining agreement.

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VII. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS INVOLVING MINORS

19

Protection of minors

1.
International transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over theage of 18.
2.
The following five exceptions to this rule apply:a) The player’s parents move to the country in which the new club is locatedfor reasons not linked to football.
b) The player is aged between 16 and 18 and:i. the transfer takes place within the territory of the European Union (EU)or European Economic Area (EEA); or
ii. the transfer takes place between two associations within the same
country.
The new club must fulfil the following minimum obligations:iii. It shall provide the player with an adequate football education and/or
training in line with the highest national standards (cf. Annexe 4, article 4).
iv. It shall guarantee the player an academic and/or school and/or vocational
education and/or training, in addition to his football education and/or training, which will allow the player to pursue a career other thanfootball should he cease to play professional football.
v. It shall make all necessary arrangements to ensure that the player islooked after in the best possible way (optimum living standards with ahost family or in club accommodation, appointment of a mentor at theclub, etc.).
vi. It shall, on registration of such a player, provide the relevant association
with proof that it is complying with the aforementioned obligations.

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VII. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS INVOLVING MINORSc) The player lives no further than 50km from a national border and theclub with which the player wishes to be registered in the neighbouringassociation is also within 50km of that border. The maximum distance
between the player’s domicile and the club’s headquarters shall be 100km.
In such cases, the player must continue to live at home and the two
associations concerned must give their explicit consent.
d) The player flees his country of origin for humanitarian reasons, specificallyrelated to his life or freedom being threatened on account of race, religion,
nationality, belonging to a particular social group, or political opinion,
without his parents and is therefore at least temporarily permitted toreside in the country of arrival.
e) The player is a student and moves without his parents to another country
temporarily for academic reasons in order to undertake an exchange
programme. The duration of the player’s registration for the new club until
he turns 18 or until the end of the academic or school programme cannot
exceed one year. The player’s new club may only be a purely amateur clubwithout a professional team or without a legal, financial or de facto link to
a professional club.
3.
The provisions of this article shall also apply to any player who has neverpreviously been registered with a club, is not a national of the country where
the association at which he wishes to be registered for the first time is domiciled,and has not lived continuously for at least the last five years in said country.
4.
Where a minor player is at least ten years old, the Players’ Status Chamber of
the Football Tribunal must approve:a) their international transfer according to paragraph 2;b) their first registration according to paragraph 3; orc) their first registration, where the minor player is not a national of thecountry where the association at which they wish to be registered is
domiciled and has lived continuously for at least five years in that country.
5.
Approval pursuant to paragraph 4 is required prior to any request for an ITC
and/or a first registration by an association.
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6.
Where a minor player is under ten years old, it is the responsibility of theassociation that intends to register the player – as per the request of its
affiliated club – to verify and ensure that the circumstances of the player fall,beyond all doubt, under one of the exceptions provided for in paragraph 2, 3,
or 4 c). Such verification shall be made prior to any registration.
7.
An association may apply to the Players’ Status Chamber of the Football
Tribunal for a limited minor exemption (“LME”).
a) An LME, if granted, relieves an association, under specific terms andconditions and solely for amateur minor players who are to be registeredwith purely amateur clubs, from the application obligations set out inparagraph 4.
b) In such a case, prior to any request for an ITC and/or a first registration,
the association concerned is required to verify and ensure that thecircumstances of the player fall, beyond all doubt, under one of the
exceptions provided for in paragraph 2, 3, or 4 c).
8.
The procedures for applying to the Players’ Status Chamber of the Football
Tribunal for the matters described in this article are contained in theProcedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal.

19bis

Registration and reporting of minors at academies

1.
Clubs that operate an academy with legal, financial or de facto links tothe club are obliged to report all minors who attend the academy to theassociation upon whose territory the academy operates.
2.
Each association is obliged to ensure that all academies without legal, financial
or de facto links to a club:a) run a club that participates in the relevant national championships; allplayers shall be reported to the association upon whose territory theacademy operates, or registered with the club itself; or
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VII. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS INVOLVING MINORSb) report all minors who attend the academy for the purpose of training to
the association upon whose territory the academy operates.
3.
Each association shall keep a register comprising the names and dates of birthof the minors who have been reported to it by the clubs or academies.
4.
Through the act of reporting, academies and players undertake to practisefootball in accordance with the FIFA Statutes, and to respect and promote theethical principles of organised football.
5.
Any violations of this provision will be sanctioned by the Disciplinary
Committee in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
6.
Article 19 shall also apply to the reporting of all minor players who are notnationals of the country in which they wish to be reported.

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VIII. TRAINING COMPENSATION AND SOLIDARITY MECHANISM

20

Training compensation

21

Solidarity mechanism

Training compensation shall be paid to a player’s training club(s): (1) whena player is registered for the first time as a professional, and (2) each time
a professional is transferred until the end of the calendar year of his 23rdbirthday. The obligation to pay training compensation arises whether
the transfer takes place during or at the end of the player’s contract. The
provisions concerning training compensation are set out in Annexe 4 ofthese regulations. The principles of training compensation shall not apply towomen’s football.

If a professional is transferred before the expiry of his contract, any clubthat has contributed to his education and training shall receive a proportionof the compensation paid to his former club (solidarity contribution). The
provisions concerning solidarity contributions are set out in Annexe 5 of theseregulations.

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IX. JURISDICTION

IX. JURISDICTION

22

Competence of FIFA

1.
Without prejudice to the right of any player, coach, association, or club to seek
redress before a civil court for employment-related disputes, FIFA is competentto hear:a) disputes between clubs and players in relation to the maintenance ofcontractual stability (articles 13-18) where there has been an ITC request
and a claim from an interested party in relation to said ITC request, inparticular regarding the issue of the ITC, sporting sanctions or compensation
for breach of contract;b) employment-related disputes between a club and a player of aninternational dimension; the aforementioned parties may, however,
explicitly opt in writing for such disputes to be decided by an independent
arbitration tribunal that has been established at national level within theframework of the association and/or a collective bargaining agreement.
Any such arbitration clause must be included either directly in the contract
or in a collective bargaining agreement applicable on the parties. The
independent national arbitration tribunal must guarantee fair proceedings
and respect the principle of equal representation of players and clubs;c) employment-related disputes between a club or an association and a coachof an international dimension; the aforementioned parties may, however,
explicitly opt in writing for such disputes to be decided by an independent
arbitration tribunal that has been established at national level within theframework of the association and/or a collective bargaining agreement.
Any such arbitration clause must be included either directly in the contract
or in a collective bargaining agreement applicable on the parties. The
independent national arbitration tribunal must guarantee fair proceedings
and respect the principle of equal representation of coaches and clubs;d) disputes relating to training compensation (article 20) and the solidarity
mechanism (article 21) between clubs belonging to different associations;

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IX. JURISDICTION 35e) disputes relating to training compensation (article 20) and the solidarity
mechanism (article 21) between clubs belonging to the same association
provided that the transfer of a player at the basis of the dispute occurs
between clubs belonging to different associations;f) disputes between clubs belonging to different associations that do not fallwithin the cases provided for in a), d) and e).
2.
FIFA is competent to decide regulatory applications made pursuant to theseregulations or any other FIFA regulations.

23

Football Tribunal

1.
The Dispute Resolution Chamber of the Football Tribunal shall adjudicate on
any of the cases described in article 22 paragraphs 1 a), b), d), and e).
2.
The Players’ Status Chamber of the Football Tribunal shall adjudicate on any of
the cases described in article 22 paragraphs 1 c) and f), and 2.
3.
The Football Tribunal shall not hear any case subject to these regulations if
more than two years have elapsed since the event giving rise to the dispute.
Application of this time limit shall be examined ex officio in each individualcase.
4.
The procedures for lodging claims in relation to the disputes described inarticle 22 are contained in the Procedural Rules Governing the Football
Tribunal.

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IX. JURISDICTION

24

Consequences for failure to pay relevant amounts
in due time

1.
When:
a) the Football Tribunal orders a party (a club or a player) to pay anotherparty (a club or a player), the consequences of the failure to pay therelevant amounts in due time shall be included in the decision;b) parties to a dispute accept (or do not reject) a proposal made by theFIFA general secretariat pursuant to the Procedural Rules Governing theFootball Tribunal, the consequences of the failure to pay the relevant
amounts in due time shall be included in the confirmation letter.
2.
Such consequences shall be the following:a) Against a club: a ban from registering any new players, either nationally orinternationally, up until the due amounts are paid. The overall maximum
duration of the registration ban shall be of up to three entire andconsecutive registration periods, subject to paragraph 7 below;b) Against a player: a restriction on playing in official matches up until the dueamounts are paid. The overall maximum duration of the restriction shall be of
up to six months on playing in official matches, subject to paragraph 7 below.
3.
Such consequences may be excluded where the Football Tribunal has:a) imposed a sporting sanction on the basis of article 12bis, 17 or 18quater inthe same case; orb) been informed that the debtor club was subject to an insolvency-related
event pursuant to the relevant national law and is legally unable to comply
with an order.
4.
Where such consequences are applied, the debtor must pay the full amount due(including all applicable interest) to the creditor within 45 days of notification of
the decision.

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5.
The 45-day time limit shall commence from notification of the decision orconfirmation letter.
a) The time limit is paused by a valid request for the grounds of the decision.
Following notification of the grounds of the decision, the time limit shallrecommence.
b) The time limit is also paused by an appeal to the Court of Arbitration forSport.
6.
The debtor shall make full payment (including all applicable interest) to thebank account provided by the creditor, as set out in the decision or confirmation
letter.
7.
Where the debtor fails to make full payment (including all applicable interest)
within the time limit, and the decision has become final and binding:a) the creditor may request that FIFA enforce the consequences;b) upon receipt of such request, FIFA shall inform the debtor that theconsequences shall apply;c) the consequences shall apply immediately upon notification by FIFA,
including, for the avoidance of doubt, if they are applied during an open
registration period. In such cases, the remainder of that registration period
shall be the first ”entire” registration period for the purposes of paragraph
2 a);d) the consequences may only be lifted in accordance with paragraph 8 below.
8.
Where the consequences are enforced, the debtor must provide proof of
payment to FIFA of the full amount (including all applicable interest), in orderfor them to be lifted.
a) Upon receipt of the proof of payment, FIFA shall immediately requestthat the creditor confirm receipt of full payment (including all applicableinterest) within five days.

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IX. JURISDICTIONb) Upon receipt of confirmation from the creditor, or after expiry of thetime limit in the case of no response, FIFA shall notify the parties that theconsequences are lifted.
c) The consequences shall be lifted immediately upon notification by FIFA.
d) Notwithstanding the above, where full payment (including all applicableinterest) has not been made, the consequences shall remain in force until
their complete serving.

25

Implementation of decisions and confirmation letters

1.
The sporting successor of a debtor shall be considered the debtor and be
subject to any decision or confirmation letter issued by the Football Tribunal.
The criteria to assess whether an entity is the sporting successor of anotherentity are, among others, its headquarters, name, legal form, team colours,
players, shareholders or stakeholders or ownership and the category ofcompetition
2.
Where a debtor is instructed to pay a creditor a sum of money (outstanding
amounts or compensation) by the Football Tribunal:a) payment is made when the debtor pays the full amount instructed(including any applicable interest) to the creditor;b) payment is not deemed to have been made where the debtor makes
any unilateral deduction from the full amount instructed (including any
applicable interest).
3.
The following actions do not contravene a registration ban described in article
12bis, 17, 18quater, or 24:a) the return from loan of a professional, solely where the loan agreement
expires naturally;

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IX. JURISDICTION 39b) the extension of the loan of a professional, beyond the natural expiry of
the loan agreement;c) the definitive engagement of a professional who was temporarily registered
for the club directly prior to the registration ban being imposed;d) the registration of a professional who was already registered with the clubas an amateur directly prior to the registration ban being imposed.

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IX. JURISDICTION

X. FINAL PROVISIONS

26

Transitional measures1.
Any case that has been brought to FIFA before these regulations come into
force shall be assessed according to the previous regulations.
a) Any case that has been brought to FIFA for which a decision is still
pending as at 1 October 2021 from the Players’ Status Committee, Dispute
Resolution Chamber, or any of their sub-committees, shall be decided
by the relevant chamber of the Football Tribunal in accordance with theProcedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal;b) The transitory provisions of the Procedural Rules Governing the Football
Tribunal shall apply to those cases.
2.
As a general rule, other cases shall be assessed according to these regulations
with the exception of the following:a) disputes regarding training compensation;b) disputes regarding the solidarity mechanism.
Any cases not subject to this general rule shall be assessed according to theregulations that were in force when the contract at the centre of the dispute
was signed, or when the disputed facts arose.
3.
Member associations shall amend their regulations in accordance with article 1
to ensure that they comply with these regulations and shall submit them toFIFA for approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each member association
shall implement article 1 paragraph 3 a).

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27

Matters not provided forAny matters not provided for in these regulations and cases of force majeure
shall be decided by the FIFA Council whose decisions are final.

28

Official languages

In the case of any discrepancy in the interpretation of the English, French, Spanishor German texts of these regulations, the English text shall be authoritative.

29

Enforcement

These regulations were approved by the Bureau of the FIFA Council on
31 August 2021 and come into force immediately.
Temporary amendments approved by the FIFA Council as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic will be periodically reviewed and removed accordingly.

Zurich, 31 August 2021

For the FIFA Council

President:
Gianni Infantino

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Fatma Samoura

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X. FINAL PROVISIONSANNEXE 1
Release of players to association teams

1

Principles for men’s football1.
Clubs are obliged to release their registered players to the representative
teams of the country for which the player is eligible to play on the basis of his
nationality if they are called up by the association concerned. Any agreement
between a player and a club to the contrary is prohibited.
2.
The release of players under the terms of paragraph 1 of this article ismandatory for all international windows listed in the international match
calendar (cf. paragraphs 3 and 4 below) as well as for the final competitionsof the FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Confederations Cup and the championships
for “A” representative teams of the confederations, subject to the relevant
association being a member of the organising confederation.
3.
After consultation with the relevant stakeholders, FIFA publishes theinternational match calendar for the period of four or eight years. It will
include all international windows for the relevant period (cf. paragraph 4
below). Following the publication of the international match calendar only the
final competitions of the FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Confederations Cup andthe championships for “A” representative teams of the confederations will be
added.
4.
An international window is defined as a period of nine days starting on a
Monday morning and ending on Tuesday night the following week (subject tothe temporary exceptions below), which is reserved for representative teams’
activities. During any international window a maximum of two matches may
be played by each representative team (subject to the temporary exceptions
below), irrespective of whether these matches are qualifying matches for
an international tournament or friendlies. The pertinent matches can bescheduled any day as from Wednesday during the international window,
provided that a minimum of two full calendar days are left between two
matches (e.g. Thursday/Sunday or Saturday/Tuesday).

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During the international window scheduled for September 2021, forassociations affiliated to UEFA:a) the international window is extended by one day; andb) a maximum of three matches may be played by each representative
team.

ii. During the international windows scheduled for September 2021 andOctober 2021, for associations affiliated to CONMEBOL:a) the international windows are extended by two days; andb) a maximum of three matches may be played by each representative
team.
iii. During the international windows scheduled for September 2021,
October 2021, January 2022, and March 2022, for associations affiliated to
CONCACAF:a) the international windows are extended by one day; andb) a maximum of three matches may be played by each representative team.
5.
Representative teams shall play the two matches (subject to the temporary
exceptions set out in paragraph 4 of this article) within an international
window on the territory of the same confederation, with the only exceptionof intercontinental play-off matches. If at least one of the two matches is afriendly, they can be played in two different confederations only if the distance
between the venues does not exceed a total of five flight hours, according tothe official schedule of the airline, and two time-zones.
6.
It is not compulsory to release players outside an international window or
outside the final competitions (as per paragraph 2 above) included in theinternational match calendar. It is not compulsory to release the same player for
more than one “A” representative team final competition per year. Exceptions
to this rule can be established by the FIFA Council for the FIFA Confederations
Cup only.

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7.
For international windows, players must be released and start the travel to join
their representative team no later than Monday morning and must start thetravel back to their club no later than the next Wednesday morning following
the end of the international window, subject to the temporary exception
below. For a final competition in the sense of paragraphs 2 and 3 above,
players must be released and start the travel to their representative team nolater than Monday morning the week preceding the week when the relevant
final competition starts and must be released by the association in the morningof the day after the last match of their team in the tournament.
i.

During the international windows that have been extended in accordancewith paragraphs 4 i. and ii., players must start the travel back to their clubno later than the morning following the end of the international window.

8.
The clubs and associations concerned may agree a longer period of release ordifferent arrangements with regard to paragraph 7 above.
9.
Players complying with a call-up from their association under the terms of thisarticle shall resume duty with their clubs no later than 24 hours after the endof the period for which they had to be released. This period shall be extended
to 48 hours if the representative teams’ activities concerned took place in adifferent confederation to the one in which the player’s club is registered.
Clubs shall be informed in writing of a player’s outbound and return scheduleten days before the start of the release period. Associations shall ensure that
players are able to return to their clubs on time after the match.
10.
If a player does not resume duty with his club by the deadline stipulated in thisarticle, at the request of his club, the Players’ Status Chamber of the Football
Tribunal may decide that the next time the player is called up by his association
the period of release shall be shortened as follows:a) international window: by two days;b) final competition of an international tournament: by five days.

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11.
In the event of a repeated violation of these provisions, at the request of his
club, the Players’ Status Chamber of the Football Tribunal may decide to:a) issue a fine;b) further reduce the period of release;c) ban the association from calling up the player(s) for subsequent
representative-team activities.

1bis

Principles for women’s football1.
Clubs are obliged to release their registered players to the representative
teams of their country for which the player is eligible to play on the basisof her nationality if they are called up by the association concerned. Any
agreement between the player and a club to the contrary is prohibited.
2.
The release of players under the terms of paragraph 1 of this article ismandatory for all international windows listed in the women’s international
match calendar (cf. paragraphs 3 and 4 below) as well as for the final
competitions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, the Women’s Olympic
Football Tournament, the championships for women’s “A” representative
teams of the confederations, subject to the relevant association being amember of the organising confederation, and the confederations’ final-round
qualification tournaments for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
3.
After consultation with the relevant stakeholders, FIFA publishes the women’sinternational match calendar for a period of four years. It will include allinternational windows for the relevant period (cf. paragraph 4 below), as wellas the final competitions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, the Women’s
Olympic Football Tournament and blocked periods for the championships
for women’s “A” representative teams of the confederations as well as forthe confederations’ final-round qualification tournaments for the Women’s
Olympic Football Tournament. Following the publication of the women’sinternational match calendar, only the specific dates for the championships
for women’s “A” representative teams of the confederations and the
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confederations’ final-round qualification tournaments for the Women’s Olympic
Football Tournament will be added within the respective blocked periods. The
championships for the women’s ”A“ representative teams of the confederations
and the final-round qualification tournaments for the Women’s Olympic
Football Tournament must be played within the respective stipulated blocked
periods and confederations are required to notify FIFA of the dates, in writing,at the latest two years in advance of the respective championships for women’s“A” representative teams or final-round tournament.
4.
There are three types of international windows:a) Type I is defined as a period of nine days starting on a Monday morningand ending on a Tuesday night the following week, which is reserved for
representative teams’ activities. During the type I international window,
a maximum of two matches may be played by each representative team,irrespective of whether these matches are qualifying matches for aninternational tournament or friendlies. The pertinent matches can bescheduled on any day as from Wednesday during the international window,
provided that a minimum of two full calendar days are left between two
matches (e.g. Thursday/Sunday or Saturday/Tuesday).
b) Type II is defined as a period of ten days starting on a Monday morningand ending on Wednesday night the following week, which is reserved forfriendly tournaments of the representative teams and qualifying matches.
During the type II international window, a maximum of three matches
may be played by each representative team. The pertinent matches can bescheduled on any day as from Thursday during the international window,
provided that a minimum of two full calendar days are left between two
matches (e.g. Thursday/Sunday/Wednesday).
c) Type III is defined as a period of 13 days starting on Monday morning andending on Saturday night the following week, which is reserved exclusively
for qualifying matches for the championships of the women’s ”A“representative teams of the confederations. During the type III international
window, a maximum of four matches may be played by each representative
team. The pertinent matches can be scheduled on any day as from Thursday
during the international window, provided that a minimum of two fullcalendar days are left between matches (e.g. Thursday/Sunday/Wednesday/
Saturday).

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5.
It is not compulsory to release players outside an international window or
outside the competitions listed in paragraph 2 above that are included in thewomen’s international match calendar.
6.
For all three types of international windows, players must be released and start
the travel to join their representative team no later than Monday morningand must start the travel back to their club no later than the next Wednesday
morning (type I), the next Thursday morning (type II) or the next Sunday
morning (type III) following the end of the international window. For the
confederations’ final-round qualification tournaments for the Women’s Olympic
Football Tournament, players must be released and start the travel to join theirrepresentative team no later than Monday morning before the opening matchof the qualification tournament and must be released by the association on
the morning of the day after the last match of their team in the tournament.
For the latter qualification tournaments, the maximum total period of release(between leaving Monday morning and the day of release back to the clubby the association) is 16 days. For the other final competitions in the sense ofparagraphs 2 and 3 above, players must be released and start the travel to theirrepresentative team no later than the Monday morning of the week preceding
the week when the relevant final competition starts, and must be released by
the association on the morning of the day after the last match of their team in
the tournament.
7.
The clubs and associations concerned may agree a longer period of release ordifferent arrangements with regard to paragraph 6 above.
8.
Players complying with a call-up from their association under the terms of thisarticle shall resume duty with their clubs no later than 24 hours after the endof the period for which they had to be released. This period shall be extended
to 48 hours if the representative teams’ activities concerned took place in adifferent confederation to the one in which the player’s club is registered. Clubs
shall be informed in writing of a player’s outbound and return schedule ten days
before the start of the release period. Associations shall ensure that players areable to return to their clubs on time after the match.

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9.
If a player does not resume duty with her club by the deadline stipulated
in this article, at the request of her club, the Players’ Status Chamber of theFootball Tribunal may decide that the next time the player is called up by her
association the period of release shall be shortened as follows:a) international window: by two days;b) final competition of an international tournament: by five days.
10.
In the event of a repeated violation of these provisions, at the request of herclub, the Players’ Status Chamber of the Football Tribunal may decide to:a) issue a fine;b) further reduce the period of release;c) ban the association from calling up the player(s) for subsequent
representative-team activities.

1ter

Principles for futsal

1.
Clubs are obliged to release their registered players to the representative
teams of the country for which the player is eligible to play on the basis of his
nationality if they are called up by the association concerned. Any agreement
between a player and a club to the contrary is prohibited.
2.
The release of players under the terms of paragraph 1 of this article ismandatory for all international windows listed in the futsal international match
calendar (cf. paragraphs 3 and 4 below) as well as for the final competitionsof the FIFA Futsal World Cup and of the championships for “A” representative
teams of the confederations, subject to the relevant association being amember of the organising confederation.
3.
After consultation with the relevant stakeholders, FIFA publishes the futsal
international match calendar for the period of five years. It will include all
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international windows for the relevant period (cf. paragraph 4 below).
Following the publication of the futsal international match calendar, only the
final competitions of the FIFA Futsal World Cup and of the championships for“A” representative teams of the confederations will be added.
4.
There are two types of international windows:a) Type I is defined as a period of ten days starting on a Monday morningand ending on Wednesday night the following week, which is reserved
for representative teams’ activities. During a Type I international window,
a maximum of four matches may be played by each representative team,irrespective of whether these matches are qualifying matches for aninternational tournament or friendlies. Representative teams can play the
maximum of four matches within an international window of Type I in no
more than two confederations.
b) Type II is defined as a period of four days starting on a Sunday morningand ending on Wednesday night the following week, which is reserved
for representative teams’ activities. During a Type II international window,
a maximum of two matches may be played by each representative team,irrespective of whether these matches are qualifying matches for aninternational tournament or friendlies. Representative teams shall play the
maximum of two matches within an international window of Type II on the
territory of the same confederation.
5.
It is not compulsory to release players outside an international window or
outside the final competitions as per paragraph 2 above included in the futsal
international match calendar.
6.
For both types of international windows, players must be released and start
the travel to join their representative team no later than the first morning of
the window (i.e. Sunday or Monday, respectively), and must start the travelback to their club no later than the Thursday morning following the end of
the international window. For a final competition of the championships for“A” representative teams of the confederations, players must be released andstart the travel to their representative team in the morning 12 days before therelevant final competition starts and must be released by the association in themorning of the day after the last match of their team in the tournament. For
the FIFA Futsal World Cup, players must be released and start the travel to their
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representative team in the morning 14 days before the World Cup starts andmust be released by the association in the morning of the day after the lastmatch of their team in the tournament.
7.
The clubs and associations concerned may agree a longer period of release ordifferent arrangements with regard to paragraph 6 above.
8.
Players complying with a call-up from their association under the terms of thisarticle shall resume duty with their clubs no later than 24 hours after the endof the period for which they had to be released. This period shall be extended
to 48 hours if the representative teams’ activities concerned took place in adifferent confederation to the one in which the player’s club is registered.
Clubs shall be informed in writing of a player’s outbound and return scheduleten days before the start of the release period. Associations shall ensure that
players are able to return to their clubs on time after the match.
9.
If a player does not resume duty with his club by the deadline stipulated in thisarticle, at the request of his club, the Players’ Status Chamber of the Football
Tribunal may decide that the next time the player is called up by his association
the period of release shall be shortened as follows:a) international windows: by two days;b) final competition of an international tournament: by five days.
10.
In the event of a repeated violation of these provisions, at the request of his
club, the Players’ Status Chamber of the Football Tribunal may decide to:a) issue a fine;b) further reduce the period of release;c) ban the association from calling up the player(s) for subsequent
representative-team activities.

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2

Financial provisions and insurance

1.
Clubs releasing a player in accordance with the provisions of this annexe are
not entitled to financial compensation.
2.
The association calling up a player shall bear the costs of travel incurred by theplayer as a result of the call-up.
3.
The club with which the player concerned is registered shall be responsible
for his insurance cover against illness and accident during the entire period of
his release. This cover must also extend to any injuries sustained by the player
during the international match(es) for which he was released.
4.
If a professional player participating in eleven-a-side football suffers during
the period of his release for an international “A” match a bodily injury
caused by an accident and is, as a consequence of such an injury, temporarily
totally disabled, the club with which the player concerned is registered will
be indemnified by FIFA. The terms and conditions of the indemnification,
including the loss-handling procedures, are set forth in the Technical Bulletin –Club Protection Programme.

3

Calling up players

1.
As a general rule, every player registered with a club is obliged to respondaffirmatively when called up by the association he is eligible to represent on
the basis of his nationality to play for one of its representative teams.
2.
Associations wishing to call up a player must notify the player in writing atleast 15 days before the first day of the international window (cf. Annexe 1,
article 1 paragraph 4) in which the representative teams’ activities for which
he is required will take place. Associations wishing to call up a player for the

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final competition of an international tournament must notify the player inwriting at least 15 days before the beginning of the relevant release period.
The player’s club shall also be informed in writing at the same time. Equally,
associations are advised to copy the association of the clubs concerned into thesummons. The club must confirm the release of the player within the following
six days.
3.
Associations that request FIFA’s help to obtain the release of a player playing
abroad may only do so under the following two conditions:a) The association at which the player is registered has been asked tointervene without success.
b) The case is submitted to FIFA at least five days before the day of the match
for which the player is needed.

4

Injured players

A player who due to injury or illness is unable to comply with a call-up fromthe association that he is eligible to represent on the basis of his nationality
shall, if the association so requires, agree to undergo a medical examination
by a doctor of that association’s choice. If the player so wishes, such medical
examination shall take place on the territory of the association at which he isregistered.

5

Restrictions on playing

A player who has been called up by his association for one of its representative
teams is, unless otherwise agreed by the relevant association, not entitled toplay for the club with which he is registered during the period for which hehas been released or should have been released pursuant to the provisions of
this annexe, plus an additional period of five days.

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6

Disciplinary measures

Violations of any of the provisions set forth in this annexe shall result in theimposition of disciplinary measures to be decided by the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee based on the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

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ANNEXE 2
Rules for the employment of coaches

1

Scope

1.
This annexe lays down rules concerning contracts between coaches andprofessional clubs or associations.
2.
This annexe applies to coaches that are:a) paid more for their coaching activity than the expenses they effectively
incur; andb) employed by a professional club or an association.
3.
This annexe applies equally to football and futsal coaches.
4.
Each association shall include in its regulations appropriate means to protect
contractual stability between coaches and clubs or associations, paying due
respect to mandatory national law and collective bargaining agreements.

2

Employment contract

1.
A coach must have a written contract with a club or an association, executedon an individual basis.
2.
A contract shall include the essential elements of an employment contract,such as inter alia the object of the contract, the rights and obligations of theparties, the status and occupation of the parties, the agreed remuneration, theduration of the contract and the signatures of each party.

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3.
If a football intermediary is involved in the negotiation of a contract, they shallbe named in that contract.
4.
The validity of a contract may not be made subject to:a) the granting of a work or residence permit;b) the requirement to hold a specific coaching licence; orc) other requirements of an administrative or regulatory nature.
5.
In their employment process, clubs and associations must act with due diligencein order to ensure that the coach meets the necessary requirements to beengaged (e.g. holding the required coaching licence) and performs their duties.
6.
Contractual clauses granting the club or the association additional time to
pay the coach amounts that have fallen due under the terms of the contract(“grace periods”) shall not be recognised. Grace periods contained in collective
bargaining agreements validly negotiated by employers’ and employees’
representatives at domestic level in accordance with national law shall,
however, be legally binding and recognised. Contracts existing at the time ofthis provision coming into force shall not be affected by this prohibition.

3

Respect of contracts

A contract may only be terminated upon expiry of its term or by mutual
agreement.

4

Terminating a contract with just cause

1.
A contract may be terminated by either party without the payment ofcompensation where there is just cause.

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ANNEXE 22.
Any abusive conduct of a party aimed at forcing the counterparty to terminate
or change the terms of the contract shall entitle the counterparty to terminate
the contract with just cause.

5

Terminating a contract with just cause for outstanding salaries

1.
In the case of a club or association unlawfully failing to pay a coach at least
two monthly salaries on their due dates, the coach will be deemed to have ajust cause to terminate their contract, provided that they have put the debtor
club or association in default in writing and granted a deadline of at least
15 days for the debtor club or association to fully comply with its financial
obligation(s). Alternative provisions in contracts existing at the time of thisprovision coming into force may be considered.
2.
For any salaries of a coach which are not due on a monthly basis, the pro-rata
value corresponding to two months shall be considered. Delayed payment ofan amount which is equal to at least two months shall also be deemed a justcause for the coach to terminate their contract, subject to compliance with thenotice of termination as per paragraph 1 above.
3.
Collective bargaining agreements validly negotiated by employers’ andemployees’ representatives at domestic level in accordance with national law
may deviate from the principles stipulated in paragraphs 1 and 2 above. The
terms of such an agreement shall prevail.

6

Consequences of terminating a contract without just cause

1.
In all cases, the party in breach shall pay compensation.
2.
Unless otherwise provided for in the contract, compensation for the breachshall be calculated as follows:

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Compensation due to a coacha) In case the coach did not sign any new contract following the terminationof their previous contract, as a general rule, the compensation shallbe equal to the residual value of the contract that was prematurely
terminated.
b) In case the coach signed a new contract by the time of the decision,
the value of the new contract for the period corresponding to the timeremaining on the prematurely terminated contract shall be deductedfrom the residual value of the contract that was terminated early (the“Mitigated Compensation”). Furthermore, and subject to the earlytermination of the contract being due to overdue payables, in addition
to the Mitigated Compensation, the coach shall be entitled to an amountcorresponding to three monthly salaries (the “Additional Compensation”).
In case of egregious circumstances, the Additional Compensation may
be increased up to a maximum of six monthly salaries. The overall
compensation may never exceed the residual value of the prematurely
terminated contract.
c) Collective bargaining agreements validly negotiated by employers’ andemployees’ representatives at domestic level in accordance with nationallaw may deviate from the principles stipulated above. The terms of such an
agreement shall prevail.
Compensation due to a club or an associationd) Compensation shall be calculated on the basis of the damages andexpenses incurred by the club or the association in connection with thetermination of the contract, giving due consideration, in particular, to theremaining remuneration and other benefits due to the coach under theprematurely terminated contract and/or due to the coach under any newcontract, the fees and expenses incurred by the former club (amortisedover the term of the contract), and the principle of the specificity of sport.
3.
Entitlement to compensation cannot be assigned to a third party.
4.
Any person subject to the FIFA Statutes who acts in a manner designed toinduce a breach of contract between a coach and a club or association shall besanctioned.

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7

Overdue payables

1.
Clubs and associations are required to comply with their financial obligations
towards coaches as per the terms stipulated in the contracts signed with theircoaches.
2.
Any club or association found to have delayed a due payment for morethan 30 days without a prima facie contractual basis may be sanctioned inaccordance with paragraph 4 below.
3.
In order for a club or an association to be considered to have overdue payablesin the sense of the present article, the creditor coach must have put the debtor
club or association in default in writing and have granted a deadline of atleast ten days for the debtor club or association to comply with its financial
obligation(s).
4.
Within the scope of its jurisdiction, the Football Tribunal may impose thefollowing sanctions:a) a warning;b) a reprimand;c) a fine.
5.
The sanctions provided for in paragraph 4 above may be applied cumulatively.
6.
A repeated offence will be considered an aggravating circumstance and leadto a more severe penalty.
7.
The terms of the present article are without prejudice to the payment ofcompensation in accordance with article 6 paragraph 2 above in the event of
unilateral termination of the contractual relationship.

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8Consequences for failure to pay relevant amounts in due time

1.
When:
a) the Football Tribunal orders a party (a club, a coach or an association)
to pay another party (a club, a coach or an association) a sum of money(outstanding amounts or compensation), the consequences of the failure
to pay the relevant amounts in due time shall be included in the decision;b) parties to a dispute accept (or do not reject) a proposal made by theFIFA general secretariat pursuant to the Procedural Rules Governing theFootball Tribunal, the consequences of the failure to pay the relevant
amounts in due time shall be included in the confirmation letter.
2.
Such consequences shall be the following:a) Against a club: a ban from registering any new players, either nationally orinternationally, up until the due amounts are paid. The overall maximum
duration of the registration ban shall be of up to three entire andconsecutive registration periods, subject to paragraph 7 below.
b) Against an association: a restriction on receiving a percentage ofdevelopment funding, up until the due amounts are paid, subject toparagraph 7 below.
c) Against a coach: a restriction on any football-related activity up until thedue amounts are paid. The overall maximum duration of the restriction
shall be of up to six months, subject to paragraph 7 below.
3.
Such consequences may be excluded where the Football Tribunal has been
informed that the debtor club or association was subject to an insolvency-related
event pursuant to the relevant national law and is legally unable to comply
with an order.
4.
Where such consequences are applied, the debtor must pay the full amount(including all applicable interest) due to the creditor within 45 days of
notification of the decision.
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5.
The 45-day time limit shall commence from notification of the decision orconfirmation letter.
a) The time limit is paused by a valid request for grounds of the decision.
Following notification of the grounds of the decision, the time limit shallrecommence.
b) The time limit is also paused by an appeal to the Court of Arbitration forSport.
6.
The debtor shall make full payment (including all applicable interest) tothe bank account provided by the creditor, as set out in the decision orconfirmation letter.
7.
Where the debtor fails to make full payment (including all applicable interest)
within the time limit, and the decision has become final and binding:a) the creditor may request that FIFA enforce the consequences;b) upon receipt of such request, FIFA shall inform the debtor that theconsequences shall apply;c) the consequences shall apply immediately upon notification by FIFA,
including, for the avoidance of doubt, if they are applied during an open
registration period. In such cases, the remainder of that registration
period shall be the first ”entire” registration period for the purposes ofparagraph 2 a);d) the consequences may only be lifted in accordance with paragraph 8 below.
8.
Where the consequences are enforced, the debtor must provide proof of full
payment (including all applicable interest) to FIFA, for the consequences to belifted.
a) Upon receipt of the proof of payment, FIFA shall immediately request thatthe creditor confirm receipt of full payment within five days.

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c) The consequences shall be lifted immediately upon notification by FIFA.
d) Notwithstanding the above, where full payment (including all applicableinterest) has not been made, the consequences shall remain in force until
their complete serving.
9.
For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions set out in article 25 apply equally tothis annexe.

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ANNEXE 3

ANNEXE 3
Transfer matching system

1

Scope

1.
The transfer matching system (TMS; cf. point 13 of the Definitions section) is
designed to ensure that football authorities have more details available tothem on international player transfers. This will increase the transparency of
individual transactions, which will in turn improve the credibility and standingof the entire transfer system.
2.
TMS is designed to clearly distinguish between the different payments inrelation to international player transfers. All such payments must be entered in
the system as this is the only way to be transparent about tracking the money
being moved around in relation to these transfers. At the same time, thesystem will require associations to ensure that it is indeed a real player who is
being transferred and not a fictitious player being used for illicit activities suchas money-laundering.
3.
TMS helps safeguard the protection of minors. If a minor is being registeredas a non-national for the first time or is involved in an international transfer,approval must be given by the Players’ Status Chamber of the Football Tribunal
for that purpose (cf. article 19 paragraph 4). The request for approval by
the association that wishes to register the minor on the basis of article 19
paragraph 2, 3 or 4 c) and the subsequent decision-making workflow must be
conducted through TMS.
4.
Within the scope of the present annexe (cf. specifically, article 1 paragraph 5),
TMS is the means by which ITCs are requested and delivered.
5.
The use of TMS is a mandatory step for all international transfers ofprofessional and amateur players (both male and female) within the scope of
eleven-a-side football, and any registration of such a player without the use

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of TMS will be deemed invalid. In the following articles of the present annexe,
the term “player” will refer to male and female players participating in elevena-side football. Within this Annexe, the term “international transfer” will
exclusively refer to the transfer of such players between associations.
6.
Every international transfer within the scope of eleven-a-side football must
be entered in TMS. If the player will be registered as an amateur by the new
association, the transfer instruction shall be entered in TMS by the club(s)holding a TMS account, or, in the case of a club not holding a TMS account, by
the association concerned.

2

System1.
TMS provides associations and clubs with a web-based data information systemdesigned to administer and monitor international transfers.
2.
Depending on the type of instruction, a variety of information must be entered.
3.
In case of an international transfer where no transfer agreement exists, the
new club must submit specific information and upload certain documents
relating to the transfer into TMS. The process is then moved to the associations
for electronic ITC handling (cf. section 8 below).
4.
In case of an international transfer where a transfer agreement exists, bothclubs involved must, independently of each other, submit information and,
where applicable, upload certain documents relating to the transfer into TMS
as soon as the agreement has been formed.
5.
In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph of this article, the process isonly moved to the associations for electronic ITC handling (cf. section 8 below)
once club-level agreement has been reached.

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3

Users

1.
All users shall act in good faith.
2.
All users shall check TMS at regular intervals on a daily basis and pay particularattention to any enquiries or requests for statements.
3.
Users are responsible for ensuring that they have all the necessary equipment
to fulfil their obligations.
3.1 Clubs
1.
Clubs are responsible for entering and confirming transfer instructions in TMS
and, where applicable, for ensuring that the required information matches.
This also includes uploading the required documents.
2.
Clubs are responsible for ensuring that they have the necessary training andknow-how in order to fulfil their obligations. In this regard, clubs shall appoint
TMS managers who are trained to operate TMS, and shall be responsible forthe training of a replacement TMS manager if required, so that clubs are at
all times in a position to fulfil their obligations in TMS. The FIFA Regulatory
Enforcement Department and the relevant hotline may assist them in thisrespect with all technical-related issues, if need be. Furthermore, article 5.3 ofthis annexe applies in connection with this matter.
3.2 Associations
1.
Associations are responsible for maintaining their season and registration
details, if applicable for male and female players separately, as well as thoseof their clubs (including, in particular, the categorisation of clubs in connection
with training compensation). In addition, they are responsible for conducting
the electronic ITC process (cf. section 8 below) and, where applicable, forconfirming players deregistering from their association.
2.
Associations are responsible for ensuring that they have the necessary
training and know-how in order to fulfil their obligations. In this regard, each
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association shall appoint a TMS manager and, at least, one additional user who
are trained to operate TMS. Associations shall be responsible for the training ofa replacement TMS manager if required, so that associations are at all times ina position to fulfil their obligations in TMS. The FIFA Regulatory Enforcement
Department and the relevant hotline may assist them in this respect with alltechnical-related issues, if need be.
3.3 FIFA general secretariat
The various competent departments within the FIFA general secretariat are
responsible for:a) entering relevant sporting sanctions and managing possible objections toregulation infringements;b) entering relevant disciplinary sanctions;c) entering association suspensions.
3.4 Confidentiality and access
1.
Associations and clubs will keep all data obtained based on the access to TMS
strictly confidential and take all reasonable measures and apply the highest
degree of care in order to guarantee at all times complete confidentiality
Furthermore, associations and clubs will use the confidential information
exclusively for the purpose of accomplishing player transactions in which they
are directly involved.
2.
Associations and clubs will ensure that only authorised users have access to
TMS. Furthermore, associations and clubs will select, instruct and control theauthorised users with the highest possible care.

4

Obligations of clubs

1.
Clubs must ensure that their contact details (i.e. address, telephone number
and email address) and banking details are valid and kept up to date at all
times.

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2.
Clubs must use TMS for international transfers of players.
3.
Clubs and, if applicable, associations (cf. Annexe 3, article 1 paragraph 6
and article 5) must provide the following compulsory data when creating
instructions, as applicable:
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–

Instruction type (Engage player or Release player)
Indication of whether the transfer is on a permanent basis or on loan
Indication of whether there is a transfer agreement with the former club
Indication of whether the transfer relates to an exchange of players
If related to an earlier loan instruction, indication of whether:• it is a return from loan; or• it is a loan extension; or• the loan is being converted into a permanent transfer
Player’s name, nationality(ies) and date of birth
Player’s former club
Player’s former association
Date of the transfer agreement
Start and end dates of the loan agreement
Club intermediary’s name and commission
Start and end dates of player’s contract with former club
Reason for termination of player’s contract with former club
Start and end dates of player’s contract with new club
Player’s fixed remuneration as provided for in player’s contract with new club
Player intermediary’s nameIndication of whether the transfer is being made against any of thefollowing payments:• Fixed transfer fee, including details of instalments, if any• Any fee paid in execution of a clause in the player’s contract with his/her
former club providing for compensation for termination of the relevant
contract• Conditional transfer fee, including details of conditions• Sell-on fees
• Solidarity contribution• Training compensation
Payment currency
Amount(s), payment date(s) and recipient(s) for each of the above listed
types of payments
Own banking details (name of bank or bank code; account number or
IBAN; bank address; account holder)

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–
–
–
–

Declaration on third-party payments and influence
Declaration on third-party ownership of players’ economic rights
Player’s status (amateur or professional) at the former club
Player’s status (amateur or professional) at the new club

4.
Clubs are also obliged to upload at least the mandatory documents to support
the information that has been entered in TMS (cf. Annexe 3, article 8.2
paragraph 1) and provide confirmation of the relevant instruction.
5.
Equally, where matching exceptions arise, clubs are required to resolve themwith the participation of the other club concerned.
6.
The procedure in relation to the ITC request (cf. Annexe 3, article 8.2
paragraph 1) can only be initiated once the club(s) have complied with their
obligations in line with the preceding paragraphs of this article.
7.
Clubs must declare in TMS any payments made. This also applies to payments
made by the player’s new club to the player’s former club on the basis ofcontractual clauses contained in the player’s contract with his/her former cluband despite no transfer agreement having been concluded. When declaring
the execution of a payment, the club making the payment must upload
evidence of the money transfer into TMS within thirty (30) days of the date of
the payment.
If payment is made in instalments, such evidence must be uploaded for thepayment of each instalment within 30 days of the date of each payment.
Where a payment indicated in TMS is no longer applicable (e.g. as a result of acontractual amendment or conditional payment not due), the clubs involved in
the transfer shall request the force closure of the transfer without delay.

5

Obligations of the associations

Associations must use TMS in connection with international transfers ofplayers.

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5.1 Master data
1.
The start and end dates of both registration periods and of the season, if
applicable for male and female players separately, as well as of possible
registration periods for competitions in which only amateurs participate(cf. article 6 paragraph 4 of these regulations), shall be entered in TMS at least
12 months before they come into force, subject to the temporary exceptions
below. Under exceptional circumstances, associations may amend or modify
their registration period dates up until they commence. Once the registration
period has begun, no alteration of dates will be possible. The registration
periods shall always comply with the terms of article 6 paragraph 2.
a) Associations may, at any stage:i. request to extend or amend their season start date and end date;ii. request to extend or amend their registration periods that have alreadycommenced, provided that their duration complies with the maximum
limit (i.e. 16 weeks) established in article 6 paragraph 2;
iii. request to amend or postpone their registration periods that have notcommenced, provided that their duration complies with the maximum
limit (i.e. 16 weeks) established in article 6 paragraph 2.
b) Any such request will be assessed by the FIFA Administration and is subject
to the guidelines set out in the COVID-19 Football Regulatory Issues FAQs.
2.
Associations shall ensure that club address, telephone, email address, banking
details and training category (cf. Annexe 4, article 4) information is valid andkept up to date at all times.
3.
Associations shall ensure that all affiliated clubs and every player currently
registered with the association have a FIFA ID.
4.
If the FIFA Connect ID Service determines that a player is or appears to beregistered in one or more electronic player registration systems, the member
association(s) involved shall resolve the matter as soon as it becomes apparent,
and update the FIFA Connect ID Service without delay.
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Any other association that may be contacted for assistance in this respect isobliged to collaborate.
5.2 Transfer-related information
1.
When entering transfer instructions, clubs shall specify the player involved(cf. Annexe 3, article 4 paragraph 2). TMS contains the details of many players
who have participated in FIFA tournaments. If the details of the player
involved are not already in TMS, the clubs shall enter them as a part of thetransfer instruction. The procedure in relation to the ITC request (cf. Annexe 3,
article 8.2 paragraph 1) may only be initiated once these player details
have been verified, corrected if required and confirmed by the player’s
former association. The former association shall reject the player if the detailsof his/her identity cannot be fully confirmed against its own registration
records. The verification of player details shall be done without delay.
2.
The procedure in relation to the ITC request (cf. Annexe 3, article 8.2
paragraph 2) shall be carried out by the new association at the appropriate
time.
3.
The procedure in relation to the response to the ITC request and the player
deregistration (cf. Annexe 3, article 8.2 paragraphs 3 and 4) shall be carried out
by the former association at the appropriate time.
4.
In case of ITC receipt, the new association is required to enter and confirm theplayer registration date (cf. Annexe 3, article 8.2 paragraph 1).
5.
In case of rejection of the ITC request (cf. Annexe 3, article 8.2 paragraph 7),
the new association is required to either accept or dispute the rejection, as thecase may be.
6.
In case of provisional registration (cf. Annexe 3, article 8.2 paragraph 6) or incase of authorisation for provisional registration by the single judge after the
new association has disputed the rejection, the new association is required toenter and confirm the registration information.

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5.3 Club training
To ensure that all affiliated clubs are able to fulfil their obligations inrelation to this annexe, ongoing training is the responsibility of the relevant
association.

6

Role of FIFA general secretariat

1.
Upon request from the association concerned through TMS, the relevant
department will deal with any validation exceptions and, if need be, refer thematter to the Players’ Status Chamber of the Football Tribunal for a decision,
except for the so-called “player confirmation”, which needs to be dealt withby the association concerned (cf. Annexe 3, article 5.2 paragraph 1).
2.
The association(s) concerned shall be legally notified of the relevant
department’s assessment or the Football Tribunal decision via TMS. Notification
will be deemed complete once the assessment or the decision has been
uploaded into TMS. Such notification of assessments or decisions shall be
legally binding.
3.
Upon request, the relevant department will deal with any validation warnings
and, if need be, refer the matter to the competent decision-making body for adecision.
4.
Within the scope of proceedings pertaining to the application of theseregulations, FIFA may use any documentation or evidence generated byor contained in TMS or obtained by the FIFA Regulatory Enforcement
Department on the basis of their investigation powers (cf. Annexe 3, article 7
paragraph 3) in order to properly assess the issue at stake.
5.
Sporting sanctions of relevance for TMS will be entered in TMS by thecompetent department.
6.
Disciplinary sanctions of relevance for TMS will be entered in TMS by thecompetent department.
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7.
Association sanctions of relevance for TMS will be entered in TMS by thecompetent department.

7

Role of FIFA

1.
FIFA is responsible for ensuring the availability of and access to the system. FIFAand the FIFA Regulatory Enforcement Department is additionally responsible
for managing user access and defining criteria to be an authorised user.
2.
To ensure that all associations are able to fulfil their obligations in relation
to this annexe, ongoing training and support of member associations is the
responsibility of the FIFA Regulatory Enforcement Department.
3.
To ensure that the clubs and associations are fulfilling their obligations in
respect to this annexe, the FIFA Regulatory Enforcement Department shallinvestigate matters in relation to international transfers. All parties are
obliged to collaborate to establish the facts. In particular, they shall comply,
upon reasonable notice, with requests for any documents, information or any
other material of any nature held by the parties. In addition, the parties shallcomply with the procurement and provision of documents, information or
any other material of any nature not held by the parties but which the parties
are entitled to obtain. Non-compliance with these requests from the FIFA
Regulatory Enforcement Department may lead to sanctions imposed by theFIFA Disciplinary Committee.

8Administrative procedure governing the transfer of players
between associations

8.1 Principles
1.
Any player who is registered with a club that is affiliated to one association may
only be registered with a club affiliated to a different association after an ITC has
been delivered by the former association and the new association has confirmed
receipt of the ITC. The ITC procedure must be conducted exclusively via TMS. Any
form of ITC other than the one created by TMS shall not be recognised.
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2.
At the very latest, the ITC must be requested by the new association in TMS on
the last day of the relevant registration period of the new association.
3.
The former association must upload a copy of the player passport (cf. article 7)
when creating an ITC in favour of the new association.
4.
The former association must upload a copy of any relevant documentation
pertaining to disciplinary sanctions imposed on a player and, if applicable,
their extension to have worldwide effect (cf. article 12) when creating an ITC in
favour of the new association.
8.2 Creating an ITC for a player
1.
All data allowing the new association to request an ITC shall be entered into
TMS, confirmed and matched by the club wishing to register a player during
one of the registration periods established by that association (cf. Annexe 3,
article 4 paragraph 4). When entering the relevant data, depending on theselected instruction type, the new club shall upload at least the following
documents into TMS:
– a copy of the contract between the new club and the professional player,
if applicable;– a copy of the transfer or loan agreement concluded between the new cluband the former club, if applicable;– copy of proof of the player’s identity, nationality(ies) and birth date, suchas passport or identity card;– proof of player’s last contract end date and reason for termination, if
applicable.
Where third-party ownership of players’ economic rights has been declared(cf. Annexe 3, article 4 paragraph 2), the former club shall upload a copy of therelevant agreement with the third party.
Documents must be uploaded in the format required by the relevant FIFA
department.
If explicitly requested, a document not available in one of the four official
languages of FIFA (English, French, German and Spanish), or a specificallydefined excerpt of it, must be uploaded in TMS together with its respective
translation in one of the four official languages. Failure to do so may result in
the document in question being disregarded.
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2.
Upon notification in the system that the transfer instruction is awaiting an ITC
request, the new association shall immediately request the former association
through TMS to deliver an ITC for the player (“ITC request”).
3.
In the case of an international transfer of a player who had professional status
at his former club, upon receipt of the ITC request, the former association
shall immediately request the former club and the professional player toconfirm whether the professional player’s contract has expired, whether earlytermination was mutually agreed or whether there is a contractual dispute.
4.
Within seven days of the date of the ITC request, the former association shall,by using the appropriate selection in TMS, either:a) deliver the ITC in favour of the new association and enter the deregistration
date of the player; orb) reject the ITC request and indicate in TMS the reason for the rejection,
which may be either that the contract between the former club and theprofessional player has not expired or that there has been no mutual
agreement regarding its early termination.
At the same time, the former association shall upload a duly signed statement
in one of the four official languages of FIFA (English, French, German andSpanish) in TMS supporting its argumentation for the rejection of the ITC.
The latter possibility applies to the international transfer of players who had
professional status at their former clubs only.
5.
Once the ITC has been delivered, the new association shall confirm receipt andcomplete the relevant player registration information in TMS.
6.
If the new association does not receive a response to the ITC request withinseven days of the ITC request being made, it shall immediately register theplayer with the new club on a provisional basis (“provisional registration”). The
new association shall complete the relevant player registration information in
TMS (cf. Annexe 3, article 5.2 paragraph 6).

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7.
The former association shall not deliver an ITC for a professional player if acontractual dispute on grounds of the circumstances stipulated in Annexe 3,
article 8.2 paragraph 4 b) has arisen between the former club and theprofessional player. In such a case, upon request of the new association, FIFA
may take provisional measures in exceptional circumstances. In this respect, it
will take into account the arguments presented by the former association tojustify the rejection of the ITC request (cf. Annexe 3, article 8.2 paragraphs 3 and
4). If the Football Tribunal authorises the provisional registration (cf. article 23),
the new association shall complete the relevant player registration informationin TMS (cf. Annexe 3, article 5.2 paragraph 6). Furthermore, the professional
player, the former club and/or the new club are entitled to lodge a claim withFIFA in accordance with article 22. The decision on the provisional registration of
the player shall be without prejudice to the merits of such possible contractual
dispute.
8.
A player is not eligible to play in official matches for his/her new club until the
new association has either:a) entered and confirmed the player registration date in TMS upon receipt of
the ITC for the player (cf. Annexe 3, article 5.2 paragraph 4); orb) completed the player registration information in TMS upon receiving no
response to the ITC request for the player within seven days of the ITC
request being made or upon authorisation of FIFA to provisionally registerthe player (cf. Annexe 3, article 5.2 paragraph 6).
8.3 Loan of professional players
1.
The rules set out above also apply to the loan of a professional player from aclub affiliated to one association to a club affiliated to another association, as
well as to his/her return from loan to his/her original club, if applicable.
2.
When applying for the registration of a professional player on a loan basis, the
new club shall upload a copy of the pertinent loan agreement concluded withthe former club, and possibly also signed by the player, into TMS (cf. Annexe 3,
article 8.2 paragraph 1). The terms of the loan agreement shall be represented
in TMS.

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3.
Loan extensions and permanent transfers resulting from loans shall also beentered in TMS at the appropriate time.

9

Sanctions

9.1 General provision1.
Sanctions may be imposed on any association or club that violates any of theprovisions of the present annexe.
2.
Sanctions may also be imposed on any association or club found to haveentered untrue or false data into the system or for having misused TMS for
illegitimate purposes.
3.
Associations and clubs are liable for the actions and information entered bytheir TMS managers.
9.2 Competence
1.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is responsible for imposing sanctions inaccordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
2.
Sanction proceedings may be initiated by FIFA, either on its own initiative or at
the request of any party concerned.
3.
The relevant FIFA department may also initiate sanction proceedings on its
own initiative for non-compliance with the obligations under its jurisdiction(specifically with respect to the defined Administrative Sanction Procedure(cf. FIFA Circulars 1478 and 1609)) and when authorised to do so by the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee for explicitly specified violations.

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9.3 Sanctions on associations
In particular, the following sanctions may be imposed on associations forviolation of the present annexe in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code:– a reprimand or a warning;– a fine;– exclusion from a competition;– return of awards.
These sanctions may be imposed separately or in combination.
9.4 Sanctions on clubs
In particular, the following sanctions may be imposed on clubs for violation of
the present annexe in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code:– a reprimand or a warning;– a fine;– annulment of the result of a match;– defeat by forfeit;– exclusion from a competition;– a deduction of points;– demotion to a lower division;– a transfer ban;– return of awards.
These sanctions may be imposed separately or in combination.

10

Time limits

With respect to proceedings and investigations conducted by the FIFA
Regulatory Enforcement Department, electronic notifications through TMS
or by email to the address provided in TMS by the parties are considered validmeans of communication and will be deemed sufficient to establish time limits.

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ANNEXE 3A
Administrative procedure governing the transfer of players between
associations outside TMS

1

Scope

The present annexe governs the procedure for the international transfer of all
futsal players.

2

Principles

1.
Any player who is registered with a club that is affiliated to one association
shall not be eligible to play for a club affiliated to a different association unlessan ITC has been issued by the former association and received by the new
association in accordance with the provisions of this annexe. Special forms
provided by FIFA for this purpose or forms with similar wording shall be used.
2.
At the very latest, the ITC must be requested on the last day of the registration
period of the new association.
3.
The association issuing the ITC shall also attach a copy of the player passport to it.

3Issue of an ITC for a professional

1.
All applications to register a professional must be submitted by the new clubto the new association during one of the registration periods establishedby that association. All applications shall be accompanied by a copy of thecontract between the new club and the professional. Equally, a copy of thetransfer agreement concluded between the new club and the former club shallbe provided to the new association, if applicable. A professional is not eligible
to play in official matches for his new club until an ITC has been issued by theformer association and received by the new association.
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2.
Upon receipt of the application, the new association shall immediately request
the former association to issue an ITC for the professional (“ITC request”). An
association that receives an unsolicited ITC from another association is notentitled to register the professional concerned with one of its clubs.
3.
Upon receipt of the ITC request, the former association shall immediately
request the former club and the professional to confirm whether the
professional’s contract has expired, whether early termination was mutuallyagreed or whether a contractual dispute exists.
4.
Within seven days of receiving the ITC request, the former association shall either:a) issue the ITC to the new association; orb) inform the new association that the ITC cannot be issued because thecontract between the former club and the professional has not expired orthat there has been no mutual agreement regarding its early termination.
5.
If the new association does not receive a response to the ITC request
within 30 days of the ITC request being made, it shall immediately registerthe professional with the new club on a provisional basis (“provisional
registration”). A provisional registration shall become permanent one year
after the ITC request.
6.
The former association shall not issue an ITC if a contractual dispute has arisen
between the former club and the professional.
In such a case, upon request of the new association, FIFA may take provisional
measures in exceptional circumstances. In this respect, it will take into accountthe arguments presented by the former association to justify the rejectionof the ITC. If the Football Tribunal authorises the provisional registration(cf. article 23) the new association shall complete the relevant player
registration information in TMS. Furthermore, the professional player, theformer club and/or the new club are entitled to lodge a claim with FIFA in
accordance with article 22. The decision on the provisional registration of theplayer shall be without prejudice to the merits of such possible contractual
dispute.
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7.
The new association may grant a player temporary eligibility to play until theend of the season that is underway on the basis of an ITC sent by fax. If theoriginal ITC is not received by that time, the player’s eligibility to play shall beconsidered definitive.
8.
The foregoing rules and procedures also apply to professionals who, uponmoving to their new club, acquire amateur status.

4

Issue of an ITC for an amateur

1.
All applications to register an amateur player must be submitted by the new
club to the new association during one of the registration periods establishedby that association.
2.
Upon receipt of the application, the new association shall immediately request
the former association to issue an ITC for the player (“ITC request”).
3.
The former association shall, within seven days of receiving the ITC request,
issue the ITC to the new association.
4.
If the new association does not receive a response to the ITC request within
30 days, it shall immediately register the amateur with the new club on aprovisional basis (“provisional registration”). A provisional registration shallbecome permanent one year after the ITC request.
5.
The foregoing rules and procedures also apply for amateurs who, uponmoving to their new club, acquire professional status.

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5

Loan of players

1.
The rules set out above also apply to the loan of a professional from a club
affiliated to one association to a club affiliated to another association.
2.
The terms of the loan agreement shall be enclosed with the ITC request.
3.
Upon expiry of the loan period, the ITC shall be returned, upon request, to theassociation of the club that released the player on loan.

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ANNEXE 4
Training compensation1

Objective

1.
A player’s training and education takes place between the ages of 12 and 23.
Training compensation shall be payable, as a general rule, up to the age of
23 for training incurred up to the age of 21, unless it is evident that a player
has already terminated his training period before the age of 21. In the latter
case, training compensation shall be payable until the end of the calendar year
in which the player reaches the age of 23, but the calculation of the amountpayable shall be based on the years between the age of 12 and the age when
it is established that the player actually completed his training.
2.
The obligation to pay training compensation is without prejudice to any
obligation to pay compensation for breach of contract.

2

Payment of training compensation

1.
Training compensation is due when:a) a player is registered for the first time as a professional; orb) a professional is transferred between clubs of two different associations(whether during or at the end of his contract)
before the end of the calendar year of his 23rd birthday.
2.
Training compensation is not due if:a) the former club terminates the player’s contract without just cause(without prejudice to the rights of the previous clubs); orb) the player is transferred to a category 4 club; orc) a professional reacquires amateur status on being transferred.
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3

Responsibility to pay training compensation

1.
On registering as a professional for the first time, the club with which the player
is registered is responsible for paying training compensation within 30 days ofregistration to every club with which the player has previously been registered(in accordance with the players’ career history as provided in the player passport)
and that has contributed to his training starting from the calendar year of his
12th birthday. The amount payable is calculated on a pro rata basis according
to the period of training that the player spent with each club. In the case of
subsequent transfers of the professional, training compensation will only be
owed to his former club for the time he was effectively trained by that club.
2.
In both of the above cases, the deadline for payment of training compensation is
30 days following the registration of the professional with the new association.
3.
An association is entitled to receive the training compensation which inprinciple would be due to one of its affiliated clubs, if it can provide
evidence that the club in question – with which the professional was
registered and trained – has in the meantime ceased to participate inorganised football and/or no longer exists due to, in particular, bankruptcy,
liquidation, dissolution or loss of affiliation. This compensation shall bereserved for youth football development programmes in the association(s)in question.

4

Training costs

1.
In order to calculate the compensation due for training and education costs,
associations are instructed to divide their clubs into a maximum of four
categories in accordance with the clubs’ financial investment in training
players. The training costs are set for each category and correspond to theamount needed to train one player for one year multiplied by an average“player factor”, which is the ratio of players who need to be trained to
produce one professional player.

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2.
The training costs, which are established on a confederation basis for eachcategory of club, as well as the categorisation of clubs for each association, arepublished on the FIFA website (www.FIFA.com). They are updated at the endof every calendar year. Associations are required to keep the data regarding
the training category of their clubs inserted in TMS up to date at all times(cf. Annexe 3, article 5.1 paragraph 2).

5

Calculation of training compensation

1.
As a general rule, to calculate the training compensation due to a player’s
former club(s), it is necessary to take the costs that would have been incurredby the new club if it had trained the player itself.
2.
Accordingly, the first time a player registers as a professional, the training
compensation payable is calculated by taking the training costs of the
new club multiplied by the number of years of training, in principle fromthe calendar year of the player’s 12th birthday to the calendar year of his
21st birthday. In the case of subsequent transfers, training compensation
is calculated based on the training costs of the new club multiplied by the
number of years of training with the former club.
3.
To ensure that training compensation for very young players is not set at
unreasonably high levels, the training costs for players for the calendar yearsof their 12th to 15th birthdays (i.e. four calendar years) shall be based on the
training and education costs of category 4 clubs.
4.
The Dispute Resolution Chamber may review disputes concerning the amountof training compensation payable and shall have discretion to adjust thisamount if it is clearly disproportionate to the case under review.

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6

Special provisions for the EU/EEA

1.
For players moving from one association to another inside the territory of the
EU/EEA, the amount of training compensation payable shall be establishedbased on the following:a) If the player moves from a lower to a higher category club, the calculation
shall be based on the average training costs of the two clubs.
b) If the player moves from a higher to a lower category, the calculation shallbe based on the training costs of the lower-category club.
2.
Inside the EU/EEA, the final calendar year of training may occur before thecalendar year of the player’s 21st birthday if it is established that the playercompleted his training before that time.
3.
If the former club does not offer the player a contract, no training
compensation is payable unless the former club can justify that it is entitled tosuch compensation. The former club must offer the player a contract in writing
via registered post at least 60 days before the expiry of his current contract,subject to the temporary exception below. Such an offer shall furthermore beat least of an equivalent value to the current contract. This provision is without
prejudice to the right to training compensation of the player’s previous club(s).
i.

The contract offer may be made by electronic mail, provided that theformer club obtains confirmation from the player that he has received acopy of said offer and can provide such confirmation in case of any dispute.

7

Disciplinary measures

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee may impose disciplinary measures on clubs orplayers that do not observe the obligations set out in this annexe.

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ANNEXE 5
Solidarity mechanism

1

Solidarity contribution

1.
If a professional moves during the course of a contract, 5% of any compensation
paid within the scope of this transfer, not including training compensation
paid to his former club, shall be deducted from the total amount of thiscompensation and distributed by the new club as a solidarity contribution to
the club(s) involved in his training and education over the years. This solidarity
contribution reflects the number of years (calculated pro rata if less than oneyear) he was registered with the relevant club(s) between the calendar years of
his 12th and 23rd birthdays, as follows:a) Calendar year of 12th birthday: 5% of 5% of any compensationb) Calendar year of 13th birthday: 5% of 5% of any compensationc) Calendar year of 14th birthday: 5% of 5% of any compensationd) Calendar year of 15th birthday: 5% of 5% of any compensatione) Calendar year of 16th birthday: 10% of 5% of any compensationf) Calendar year of 17th birthday: 10% of 5% of any compensationg) Calendar year of 18th birthday: 10% of 5% of any compensationh) Calendar year of 19th birthday: 10% of 5% of any compensationi) Calendar year of 20th birthday: 10% of 5% of any compensationj) Calendar year of 21st birthday: 10% of 5% of any compensationk) Calendar year of 22nd birthday: 10% of 5% of any compensationl) Calendar year of 23rd birthday: 10% of 5% of any compensation
2.
A training club is entitled to receive (a proportion of) the 5% solidarity
contribution in the following cases:a) a professional player is transferred, either on a definitive or loan basis,
between clubs affiliated to different associations;b) a professional player is transferred, either on a definitive or loan basis,
between clubs affiliated to the same association, provided that the training
club is affiliated to a different association.

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2

Payment procedure1.
The new club shall pay the solidarity contribution to the training club(s) pursuant
to the above provisions no later than 30 days after the player’s registration or, incase of contingent payments, 30 days after the date of such payments.
2.
It is the responsibility of the new club to calculate the amount of the solidarity
contribution and to distribute it in accordance with the player’s career history
as provided in the player passport. The player shall, if necessary, assist the new
club in discharging this obligation.
3.
An association is entitled to receive the proportion of solidarity contribution
which in principle would be due to one of its affiliated clubs, if it can provide
evidence that the club in question – which was involved in the professional’s
training and education – has in the meantime ceased to participate inorganised football and/or no longer exists due to, in particular, bankruptcy,
liquidation, dissolution or loss of affiliation. This solidarity contribution shall bereserved for youth football development programmes in the association(s) inquestion.
4.
The Disciplinary Committee may impose disciplinary measures on clubs that do
not observe the obligations set out in this annexe.

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ANNEXE 6
Rules for the Status and Transfer of Futsal Players

1

Principle

These rules are an integral part of the FIFA Regulations on the Status andTransfer of Players.

2

Scope

1.
The Rules for the Status and Transfer of Futsal Players establish global andbinding provisions concerning the status of futsal players, their eligibility toparticipate in organised football, and their transfer between clubs belonging
to different associations.
2.
The Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players shall apply without
alterations to futsal players unless a diverging provision in this annexe
expressly provides for a different rule applicable to futsal.
3.
The transfer of futsal players between clubs belonging to the same associationis governed by specific regulations issued by the association in accordance witharticle 1 of these regulations.
4.
The following provisions in these regulations are binding for futsal at national
level and shall be included, without modification, in the association’s regulations:articles 2-8, 10 , 11, 12bis, 18, 18bis, 18ter, 19 and 19bis.
5.
Each association shall include in its regulations appropriate means to protect
contractual stability, paying due respect to mandatory national law andcollective bargaining agreements. In particular, the principles in article 1
paragraph 3 b) of these regulations shall be considered.

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3

Release and eligibility of players for association teams

1.
The provisions in Annexe 1 of these regulations are binding.
2.
A player may only represent one association in both futsal and eleven-a-side
football. Any player who has already represented one association (either infull or in part) in an official eleven-a-side or futsal competition of any category
may not play an international match with another association team. This
provision is subject to the exception in article 5 paragraph 3 and article 9 of
the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes.

4

Registration

1.
A futsal player must be registered with an association to play for a club aseither a professional or an amateur in accordance with the provisions of article
2 of these regulations. Only registered players are eligible to participate inorganised football. By the act of registering, a player agrees to abide by the
Statutes and regulations of FIFA, the confederations and the associations.
2.
A player may only be registered for one futsal club at a time. A player may,
however, also be registered for one eleven-a-side club during this time. It is
not necessary for the futsal and the eleven-a-side club to belong to the same
association.
3.
PlaPlayers may be registered with a maximum of three futsal clubs during one
season. During this period, the player is only eligible to play official matches
for two futsal clubs. As an exception to this rule, a player moving between two
futsal clubs belonging to associations with overlapping seasons (i.e. start of theseason in summer/autumn as opposed to winter/spring) may be eligible to play
in official matches for a third futsal club during the relevant season, provided
he has fully complied with his contractual obligations towards his previous
clubs. Equally, the provisions relating to the registration periods (article 6 ofthese regulations) as well as to the minimum length of a contract (article 18

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paragraph 2 of these regulations) must be respected. The number of elevena-side clubs with which the same player may also be registered during one
season is specified in article 5 paragraph 3 of these regulations.

5International Futsal Transfer Certificate

1.
Futsal players registered with one association may only be registered with afutsal club of a new association once the latter has received an International
Futsal Transfer Certificate (hereinafter: IFTC) from the former association. The
IFTC shall be issued free of charge without any conditions or time limitation.
Any provision to the contrary shall be null and void. The association issuing the
IFTC shall deposit a copy with FIFA. The administrative procedures for issuingan International Transfer Certificate (ITC) for eleven-a-side football shall be
likewise applicable to the issuing of an IFTC. These procedures are set out inAnnexe 3a of these regulations. The IFTC must be distinguishable from the ITC
used in eleven-a-side football..
2.
An IFTC is not required for a player under the age of ten.

6

Enforcement of disciplinary sanctions

1.
A suspension imposed in terms of matches (cf. article 20 paragraphs 1 and
2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code) on a player for an infringement committed
when playing futsal or in relation to a futsal match shall only affect the player’s
participation for his futsal club. Similarly, a suspension imposed in terms ofmatches on a player participating in eleven-a-side football shall only affect theplayer’s participation for his eleven-a-side club.
2.
A suspension imposed in terms of days and months shall affect a player’s
participation for both his futsal as well as his eleven-a-side club, regardless ofwhether the infringement was committed in eleven-a-side football or futsal.

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3.
The association with which a player is registered shall notify a suspension
imposed in terms of days and months to the second association with which thisplayer may be registered, if the player is registered for a futsal and an elevena-side club belonging to two different associations.
4.
Any disciplinary sanction of up to four matches or up to three months thathas been imposed on a player by the former association but not yet (entirely)
served by the time of the transfer shall be enforced by the new association atwhich the player has been registered in order for the sanction to be served atdomestic level. When issuing the IFTC, the former association shall notify the
new association in writing of any such disciplinary sanction that has yet to be(entirely) served.
5.
Any disciplinary sanction of more than four matches or more than threemonths that has not yet been (entirely) served by a player shall be enforced by
the new association that has registered the player only if the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee has extended the disciplinary sanction to have worldwide effect.
Additionally, when issuing the IFTC, the former association shall notify the new
association in writing of any such pending disciplinary sanction.

7

Respect of contract

1.
A professional under contract with an eleven-a-side club may only sign a second
professional contract with a different futsal club if he obtains written approval
from the eleven-a-side club employing him. A professional under contract with afutsal club may only sign a second professional contract with a different elevena-side club if he obtains written approval from the futsal club employing him.
2.
The provisions applicable to the maintenance of contractual stability are set
out in articles 13-18 of these regulations.

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8

Protection of minors

International player transfers are only permitted if the player is over the ageof 18. The exceptions to this rule are outlined in article 19 of these regulations.

9

Training compensation

The provisions on training compensation as provided for in article 20 andAnnexe 4 of these regulations shall not apply to the transfer of players toand from futsal clubs.

10

Solidarity mechanism

The provisions on the solidarity mechanism as provided for in article 21 andAnnexe 5 of these regulations shall not apply to the transfer of players to andfrom futsal clubs.

11FIFA competence1.
Without prejudice to the right of any futsal player or club to seek redress
before a civil court for employment-related disputes, FIFA is competent to deal
with disputes as stipulated in article 22 of these regulations.
2.
The Football Tribunal shall adjudicate on all disputes as stipulated in article 23of these regulations.

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12Matters not provided for

Matters not provided for in this annexe shall be governed by these regulations.

13

Official languages

In the case of any discrepancy in the interpretation of the English, French,
Spanish or German texts of these regulations, the English text shall beauthoritative.

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Procedural Rules
Governing theFootball Tribunal
Edition October 2021

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ArticlePage

DEFINITIONS

4

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1 Scope of application
2 Jurisdiction
3 Applicable law
4 Composition
5 Independence and conflict of interest
6 Confidentiality
7 Exemption from liability
8 Role of the FIFA general secretariat

5
5
5
5
6
7
7
7
8

II. GENERAL PROCEDURAL RULES
9 Parties
10 Communications
11 Time limits
12 Procedural rights and obligations
13 Submissions and evidence
14 Meetings and deliberations
15 Notifications of decisions
16 Language
17 Publication

9
9
9
11
12
12
13
13
14
15

III. RULES SPECIFIC TO DISPUTES BEFORE THE DISPUTERESOLUTION CHAMBER, PLAYERS’ STATUS CHAMBER,
OR AGENTS CHAMBER
18 Claims
19 Preliminary procedural matters
20 Proposal from the FIFA general secretariat
21 Response to the claim and counter-claim
22 Second round of submissions
23 Closure of submission phase
24 Adjudication
25 Costs
26 Mediation

16
16
16
17
18
19
19
19
20
21

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IV. RULES SPECIFIC TO THE SOLIDARITY MECHANISM AND
TRAINING COMPENSATION CLAIMS BEFORE THE DISPUTERESOLUTION CHAMBER
27 Claim
28 Procedure

22
22
23

V. REGULATORY APPLICATIONS BEFORE
THE PLAYERS’ STATUS CHAMBER
29 Regulatory applications
30 International transfer or first registration of a minor

24
24
25

VI. FINAL PROVISIONS
31 Transitory provisions
32 Matters not provided for and force majeure
33 Authoritative text
34 Adoption and entry into force

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26
26
26
27

ANNEXE 1

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DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS
The definitions in the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players
and the FIFA Statutes shall apply.

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I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1

Scope of application

1.
These rules govern the organisation, composition and functions of theFootball Tribunal (FT).
2.
The FT shall be composed of three chambers:a. the Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC);
b. the Players’ Status Chamber (PSC); andc. the Agents Chamber (AC).

2

Jurisdiction

1.
The matters for which each chamber has jurisdiction are provided by
specific FIFA regulations.
2.
In the event of uncertainty as to which chamber has jurisdiction to decidea matter, the chairperson of the FT will decide.

3

Applicable law

In their application and adjudication of law, the chambers shall apply theFIFA Statutes and FIFA regulations, whilst taking into account all relevantarrangements, laws, and/or collective bargaining agreements that exist at
national level, as well as the specificity of sport.

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4

Composition

1.
The chairperson of the FT shall have legal qualifications. They shall be
appointed for four years by the FIFA Council.
2.
The chairpersons, deputy chairpersons, and members of each chambershall be appointed for four years by the FIFA Council. The chairpersons
and deputy chairpersons of each chamber shall have legal qualifications.
The members shall have a professional legal background with relevant
football experience.
3.
The DRC shall be composed of:a. a chairperson and two deputy chairpersons, at the proposal of FIFAand agreed upon by consensus between the parties mentioned in b)
and c) below;b. 15 player representatives, appointed at the proposal of players’
associations; andc. 15 club representatives, appointed at the proposal of member
associations, clubs, and leagues.
4.
The PSC shall be composed of:a. a chairperson and one deputy chairperson; andb. the necessary number of members as decided by the FIFA Council,
appointed at the proposal of members associations, confederations,players, clubs and leagues.
5.
The AC shall be composed of:a. a chairperson and one deputy chairperson; andb. the necessary number of members as decided by the FIFA Council,
appointed at the proposal of member associations, confederations,players, clubs, leagues, and football agents.

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6.
If a vacancy occurs, the FIFA Council may appoint a replacement for theremainder of the term of office.

5

Independence and conflict of interest

1.
The members of the FT are bound by the FIFA Statutes, FIFA regulations,and the law.
2.
A member of the FT may not take part in deciding a matter if there
is any legitimate doubt as to their impartiality and shall disclose any
circumstance which might give rise to a conflict of interest. The nationalityof a person appointed to decide a matter does not per se constitute alegitimate doubt as to their impartiality.
3.
A party is entitled to challenge a member of the FT appointed todecide a matter if it believes that there is a legitimate doubt as totheir impartiality. The decision on such challenge shall be made by thechairperson of the FT.

6

Confidentiality

A person appointed to the FT shall maintain strict confidentiality on any
case they decide.

7

Exemption from liability

Neither the persons appointed to the FT nor the FIFA officials acting inan administrative capacity may be held liable for any action or omission
relating to any decision or procedure undertaken in accordance withapplicable FIFA regulations or these Rules.

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Role of the FIFA general secretariat

1.
The FIFA general secretariat will provide the administrative organisationand support for the FT.
2.
The FIFA general secretariat is empowered to make decisions as provided
for in these Rules.

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II. GENERAL PROCEDURAL RULES

9Parties

1.
Subject to the relevant FIFA regulations, only the following natural or
legal persons may be a party before a chamber:a. member associations;b. clubs affiliated to a member association;c. players;
d. coaches;
e. football agents licensed by FIFA; or
f. match agents licensed by FIFA.
2.
A party may appoint an authorised representative to act on its behalf inany procedure. It shall provide written authorisation to be represented in
the specific procedure.
3.
A party is responsible for the conduct of its authorised representative.
Authorised representatives are obliged to tell the truth and act in goodfaith in any procedure.
4.
The FIFA general secretariat may, at any stage of a procedure, request theintervention of any natural or legal person as a party in a procedure.

10

Communications

1.
Communications may be undertaken via email or the Transfer Matching
System (TMS). The specific procedural rules govern the form ofcommunication used in a procedure.

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2.
Communication by these methods is considered a valid means ofcommunication and sufficient to establish time limits and theirobservance.
3.
Communications to FIFA by email shall be addressed to the relevant email
duly announced by FIFA.
4.
Communications from FIFA via email shall be sent to a party by using theemail address provided by the party, or that in TMS. An email addressprovided in TMS is binding on the party that has inserted it. Parties with a
TMS account must ensure that their contact details are always up to date.
5.
Parties with a TMS account must review the respective tabs in TMS daily
for any communications from FIFA. Member associations and clubs are
responsible for any procedural disadvantages that may arise due to a
failure to properly undertake such review.
6.
A submission made in TMS by a member association on behalf of its
affiliated club shall:a. not be subject to the fulfilment of any conditions by its affiliated club;b. be undertaken without delay following receipt of the request to makethe submission by its affiliated club, regardless of whether the member
association agrees with the merits of the submission.
7.
In the absence of an email address provided by a party, or of a TMS
account for a party, communications from FIFA will be addressed to themember association to which it is affiliated or registered. The member
association must forward such communication immediately to therelevant party and provide proof of notification to the FIFA generalsecretariat.
a. Failure by the member association to comply shall result in disciplinary
proceedings being opened.
b. A party shall comply with the instructions in such communications.

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II. GENERAL PROCEDURAL RULES 1111Time limits

1.
For a party that directly receives a communication, the time limit willcommence the day after receipt of the relevant communication.
2.
For a party that receives a communication via its member association,
the time limit will commence four calendar days after receipt of thecommunication by the member association to which it is affiliated orregistered, or on the date of notification of the party by the member
association, whichever is sooner.
3.
If the last day of a time limit coincides with an official public holiday or a
non-working day in the place of domicile of the party required to comply,
the time limit will expire at the end of the next working day.
4.
A time limit is deemed to have been complied with if the action requiredor requested has been completed by latest the last day of the time limit at
the location of the party’s domicile, even where the party has appointed
an authorised representative with a different domicile.
5.
Time limits are paused from 20 December to 5 January inclusive.
6.
Regulatory time limits fixed in these Rules will not be extended.
Time limits set by the FIFA general secretariat may be extended upon
substantiated request.

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Procedural rights and obligations

1.
A party may file submissions, produce evidence, and examine the case file
before any decision is made.
2.
A party shall always act in good faith, tell the truth, and cooperate withany request for information made by a chamber or the FIFA generalsecretariat.
3.
The same obligations apply to any natural person or legal person under
the jurisdiction of FIFA that is not a party in a procedure but has beenrequested to contribute to a procedure by a chamber or the FIFA generalsecretariat.

13

Submissions and evidence

1.
Any submission to a chamber shall be made in an official FIFA language.
Any submission to a chamber not made in an official FIFA language will
be disregarded.
2.
A party that receives a submission made by another party within the scopeof a procedure shall maintain strict confidentiality on that submission,
unless such disclosure is made to professional advisers or is required by law.
3.
Any type of evidence may be produced. A chamber has ultimate discretionas to the weight it gives to evidence.
4.
A chamber may consider and rely on any evidence not presented by theparties, including without limitation the evidence generated by or within
TMS.

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5.
A party that asserts a fact has the burden of proving it.

14

Meetings and deliberations

1.
The chamber makes a decision based on the written file. In exceptional
circumstances, a chairperson may decide that a case is suitable for oral
hearing. The chairperson will decide on the procedure of any oral hearing.
2.
Deliberations may be held electronically or in person and shall be kept
confidential.
3.
A decision is passed by a simple majority of the appointed chamber. If thevotes are equal, the chairperson for that matter shall have the casting
vote.

15

Notifications of decisions

1.
A decision will be notified to a party directly in accordance with theseRules. Where the party is a club, a copy shall be notified to the member
association and confederation to which it is affiliated.
2.
Notification is deemed complete when the decision is communicated toa party. Notification of an authorised representative will be regarded as
notification of the party which they represent.
3.
Decisions enter into force as soon as notification occurs.
4.
Generally, a party shall only be notified of the operative part of thedecision. Decisions that immediately impose sporting sanctions against a
party shall only be communicated with grounds.
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5.
Where no procedural costs are ordered, a party has ten calendar days
from notification of the operative part of the decision to request the
grounds of the decision. Failure to comply with the time limit shall resultin the decision becoming final and binding and the party will be deemed
to have waived its right to file an appeal. The time limit to lodge anappeal begins upon notification of the grounds of the decision.
6.
Where procedural costs are ordered, notification of the grounds of adecision will only be made to the party that has requested the grounds ofthe decision, following payment of its share of the procedural costs within
the regulatory time limit of ten calendar days from notification of theoperative part of the decision, if any.
7.
Failure to comply with the time limit referred to in paragraph 6 of thisarticle shall result in the request for the grounds being deemed to havebeen withdrawn. As a result, the decision will become final and binding
and the party will be deemed to have waived its right to file an appeal.
8.
Obvious mistakes in decisions and obvious procedural errors discovered
after a decision is rendered may be corrected, ex officio or on application,by the chamber that made the decision. Where a decision has beencorrected, regulatory time limits will commence from the time ofnotification of the rectified decision.

16

Language

1.
The language(s) used in all proceedings shall be the official FIFA
languages.
2.
Where submissions or evidence in a matter are in a single official FIFA
language, the decision of the chamber will be in that language.

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3.
Where submissions or evidence in a matter are in multiple official FIFA
languages, the procedure will be conducted in English and the decision
will be in English.

17

Publication

1.
The FIFA general secretariat may publish decisions of the FT, or awardsof the Court of Arbitration for Sport which derive from appeals against
decisions of the FT, on legal.fifa.com.
2.
Where a decision contains confidential information, a party may request
within five days of the notification of the grounds of the decision that
FIFA publishes an anonymised or a redacted version.
3.
In decisions involving minors, only an anonymised or a redacted version
which protects the identity of the minor(s) concerned may be publishedby FIFA.

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III. RULES SPECIFIC TO DISPUTES BEFORE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CHAMBER,
PLAYERS’ STATUS CHAMBER, OR AGENTS CHAMBER

III. RULES SPECIFIC TO DISPUTES BEFORE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTIONCHAMBER, PLAYERS’ STATUS CHAMBER, OR AGENTS CHAMBER

18

Claims1.
Pursuant to the relevant FIFA regulations, a party may submit a claim
against another party via email. The claim shall contain the following:a) the name and address(es) for notification of the party;b) (if applicable) the name and address(es) for notification of any
authorised representative, and a copy of a written, specific and recent
power of attorney;c) the identity and address(es) for service of the respondent(s);d) a statement of claim, setting out full written arguments in fact andlaw, the full body of evidence, and requests for relief;e) the details of a bank account registered in the name of the claimant
on a signed copy of the Bank Account Registration Form; andf) the date and a valid signature.
2.
The FIFA general secretariat will assess whether these requirements are
met. If the claim is incomplete, the FIFA general secretariat will informthe claimant and request rectification. If the claim is not rectified within
the time limit given, it is deemed to be withdrawn and will need to be
resubmitted.

19

Preliminary procedural matters

1.
The FIFA general secretariat, after assessing whether a claim is complete,
will subsequently assess whether:a) the relevant chamber obviously does not have jurisdiction; and/orb) the claim is obviously time-barred.

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2.
Following this assessment, the FIFA general secretariat may refer thecase directly to the chairperson of the relevant chamber of the FT for an
expedited decision.
3.
If the chairperson of the relevant chamber of the FT considers that theclaim is not affected by any preliminary procedural matters, they shallorder the FIFA general secretariat to continue the procedure.

20

Proposal from the FIFA general secretariat

1.
After determining that the claim is complete, in disputes without
prima facie complex facts or legal issues, or in cases where this is clear
established jurisprudence, the FIFA general secretariat may make aproposal to finalise the matter without a decision issued by a chamber.
Such proposal is without prejudice to any future decision issued by achamber.
2.
A party shall accept or reject the proposal within the time limit granted by
the FIFA general secretariat.
3.
A party that fails to respond to the proposal shall be deemed to haveaccepted it.
4.
Where a proposal is accepted, a confirmation letter will be issued by theFIFA general secretariat. The confirmation letter shall be considered a
final and binding decision pursuant to the relevant FIFA regulations.
5.
Where a proposal is rejected, the respondent(s) must submit their
response within the time limit indicated in the proposal.

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21

Response to the claim and counter-claim

1.
After determining that the claim is complete, and (where relevant) if
the procedure is to continue following the conclusion of any preliminary
procedural matters, the FIFA general secretariat will request that the
respondent(s) submit their response to the claim within the time limit
granted. If the respondent(s) fail(s) to submit a response to the claim
within the time limit, a decision will be made based on the file.
2.
The respondent(s) may submit a counterclaim with their response to theclaim. A counterclaim shall have the same form as a claim and shall be
submitted within the same time limit as that for the response to the claim.
3.
If a party submits a new claim which is related to an existing case in which
it is a respondent, the new claim shall be joined with the existing caseand treated as a counterclaim in the existing case. Where the party has
already been notified of the existing case, the new claim must have been
submitted within the same time limit as that for the response to the claimin the existing case in order to be considered.
4.
Where the respondent validly submits a counterclaim, the counterrespondent(s) (i.e. the original claimant) shall reply solely to thecounterclaim within the time limit granted by the FIFA general secretariat.
5.
Should the response to the counterclaim refer to matters which did notform part of the counterclaim, those matters will not be considered.
6.
A response to a counterclaim submitted after the time limit expires will
not be considered.

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22

Second round of submissions

The FIFA general secretariat will decide, where necessary, whether there
shall be a second round of submissions.

23

Closure of submission phase

1.
The FIFA general secretariat will notify the parties of the closure of thesubmission phase of the procedure. After such notification, the parties
may not supplement or amend their submissions or requests for relief or
produce new evidence.
2.
The FIFA general secretariat and/or the respective chamber may request
additional information and/or documentation at any time within thescope of a procedure.

24

Adjudication

1.
In procedures before the DRC, where the relief requested is:a. lower than USD 200,000 (or its equivalent in another currency), asingle judge may adjudicate as a general rule;b. equivalent to or higher than USD 200,000 (or its equivalent in anothercurrency) or the matter is legally complex, at least three judges may
adjudicate. The specific matter will be chaired by the chairperson or a
deputy chairperson.
2.
In procedures before the PSC or the AC, a single judge may adjudicate asa general rule. Where the matter is legally complex, at least three judges
may adjudicate. The specific matter will be chaired by the chairperson or a
deputy chairperson.

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Costs

1.
Procedures are free of charge where at least one of the parties is a player,coach, football agent, or match agent.
2.
Procedural costs are payable in all other types of disputes. Procedural
costs are payable on order by the relevant chamber, at the conclusion of amatter. The amounts are defined in Annexe 1 of these Rules.
3.
An advance of costs is payable for proceedings before the PSC, with the
exception of proceedings relating to regulatory applications.
4.
Advance of costs shall be paid by the claimant or counter-claimant when
the claim or counterclaim is lodged, and are defined in Annexe 1 of theseRules.
5.
The chamber will decide the amount that each party is due to pay, in
consideration of the parties’ degree of success and their conduct during
the procedure, as well as any advance of costs paid. In exceptional
circumstances, the chamber may order that FIFA assumes all procedural
costs.
6.
A party that has been ordered to pay procedural costs is only obliged to
pay where:a) it requests the grounds of the decision after having been notified of
the operative part; orb) the decision has been notified directly with grounds.
7.
Procedural costs shall be paid within ten days as from the notification of
the relevant decision to the bank account provided in the decision.

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8.
No legal costs shall be awarded. Parties shall bear all their own costs inconnection with any procedure.

26

Mediation

1.
If the chairperson of the FT considers it appropriate, they may invite theparties to mediate the dispute.
2.
Mediation is a voluntary process and free of charge. It shall be conductedin accordance with the general principles of the CAS Mediation Rules andthrough the mediators recognised by a list approved by the FIFA generalsecretariat.
3.
If mediation is successful, a settlement agreement will be signed by theparties and ratified by the mediator and the chairperson of the respective
chamber. The settlement agreement shall be considered a final andbinding decision of the FT pursuant to the relevant FIFA regulations. If
mediation is unsuccessful, the FIFA general secretariat shall continue theprocedure at the point it was paused.

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IV. RULES SPECIFIC TO THE SOLIDARITY MECHANISM AND TRAINING COMPENSATION
CLAIMS BEFORE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CHAMBER

IV. RULES SPECIFIC TO THE SOLIDARITY MECHANISM AND
TRAINING COMPENSATION CLAIMS BEFORE THE DISPUTERESOLUTION CHAMBER

27

Claim

1.
Pursuant to the relevant FIFA regulations, a party must submit a claim
for training compensation or the solidarity mechanism and its additional
documents in TMS. The claim shall contain the following (subject to thenature of the claim):a) the name and address(es) for service of the claimant;b) (if applicable) the name and address(es) for service of any authorised
representative, and a copy of a written, specific, and recent power ofattorney;c) a statement of claim, setting out full written arguments in fact andlaw, the full body of evidence, and requests for relief;d) the details of a bank account registered in the name of the claimant
on a signed copy of the Bank Account Registration Form;e) (if applicable) confirmation from the claimant’s member association of
the start and end dates of its sporting season during the period when
the player was registered with the claimant;f) complete career history of the player, setting out all clubs with which
they have been registered since the calendar year of their 12thbirthday until the date of their registration with the respondent club,taking into account any possible interruptions, as well as indicating thestatus of the player (amateur or professional) when registered, andwhether such registration was permanent or temporary;g) (if applicable) evidence that the club in question – with which theprofessional was registered and trained – has in the meantime ceased
to participate in organised football and/or no longer exists due to, in
particular, bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution or loss of affiliation;

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CLAIMS BEFORE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CHAMBER 23

For training compensation onlyh) (if applicable) confirmation from the claimant’s member association of
the category of the claimant;i) (if applicable) the category of the respondent(s);j) (if applicable) information about the exact date of the first registrationof the player as a professional;k) (if applicable) information about the exact date of the transfer onwhich the claim is based;l) (if applicable) evidence of a professional contract offer;
For the solidarity mechanism onlym) information about the exact date of the transfer on which the claim isbased;n) information about the clubs involved in the transfer on which theclaim is based;o) the percentage of the solidarity contribution claimed; andp) the alleged amount for which the player was transferred to their
new club, if known, or a statement to the effect that the amount iscurrently not known.

28

Procedure

Except for article 18, the specific procedural rules for disputes in Chapter
III shall apply equally to procedures subject to Chapter IV.

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V. REGULATORY APPLICATIONS BEFORE THE PLAYERS’ STATUS CHAMBER

V. REGULATORY APPLICATIONS BEFORE THE PLAYERS’ STATUS
CHAMBER

29

Regulatory applications

1.
Pursuant to the relevant FIFA regulations, the PSC shall adjudicate
regulatory applications regarding:a) the international transfer or first registration of a minor;b) a limited minor exemption (LME);c) FIFA intervention to authorise the registration of a player;d) a request for eligibility or change of association; ore) the late return of a player from representative-team duty.
2.
Any such application, which shall be submitted via email or TMS, must
contain full written arguments in fact and law. In processing theseapplications, the FIFA general secretariat must apply the principles ofdue process. The specific requirements regarding an application for theinternational transfer or first registration of a minor (article 30) is set out
in these Rules.
3.
Upon receipt, the FIFA general secretariat will assess whether anapplication is complete.
a) If the application is not complete, the FIFA general secretariat will
inform the applicant and request rectification.
b) If the application is not rectified within the time limit granted by theFIFA general secretariat, the PSC shall decide based on the file.
c) Once an application is deemed complete, or upon explicit request of
the applicant, it will be transmitted to the PSC for decision.
4.
Generally, a single judge shall adjudicate. In a complex matter or where
exceptional circumstances exist, at least three judges shall adjudicate.

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30

International transfer or first registration of a minor

1.
Pursuant to the relevant FIFA regulations, a member association that wishes
to register a player, at the request of its affiliated club, may apply via TMS
for:a) the international transfer of a minor player; orb) the first registration of a foreign minor player; orc) the first registration of a minor player who is not a national of thecountry where the member association in which they wish to beregistered is domiciled, and has lived continuously for at least five
years in that country.
2.
An application is not required where:a) the minor is a national of the country where the member associationin which they wish to be registered is domiciled, and was neverpreviously registered at another member association;b) the minor is less than ten years old; orc) the member association has been granted an LME and theinternational move of the minor falls within the scope of that LME.
3.
An application must contain the documents (subject to the type of
application) requested in TMS, as described in the Guide to Submitting a
Minor Application.
4.
For international transfers, the former member association at which theminor was registered will be:a) provided access to all non-confidential documents via TMS; andb) invited to make a submission and submit any documents within aregulatory time limit set by the FIFA general secretariat.
5.
For international transfers relating to humanitarian reasons, the former
member association at which the player was registered will not be
notified of the application.
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VI. FINAL PROVISIONS

VI. FINAL PROVISIONS

31

Transitory provisions

1.
Procedures that commenced prior to these Rules coming into force shallbe subject to these Rules.
2.
The FIFA general secretariat shall make all decisions regarding theapplication of these Rules to procedures that commenced prior to theseRules coming into force.

32

Matters not provided for and force majeure1.
Any matters not provided for in these Rules shall be determined by theFIFA general secretariat.
2.
Cases of force majeure affecting these Rules shall be decided by thechairperson of the FT whose decisions are final.

33

Authoritative text

If there are any discrepancies between the interpretation of these Rules inthe various languages, the English text is authoritative.

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34

Adoption and entry into force

1.
These Rules were approved by the Bureau of the FIFA Council on
31 August 2021 and come into force on 1 October 2021.
2.
The provisions concerning the Agents Chamber enter into force following
approval of the FIFA Football Agents Regulations by the FIFA Council.

Zurich, 31 August 2021

For the FIFA Council

President:
Gianni Infantino

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Secretary General:
Fatma Samoura

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ANNEXE 1
1.
Advance of costs are fixed as follows:
Amount in dispute (USD)
USD

Fixed advance of costs

0 to USD 49,999.99

USD 1,000

USD 50,000 to USD 99,999.99

USD 2,000

USD 100,000 to USD 149,999.99

USD 3,000

USD 150,000 to USD 199,999.99

USD 4,000

USD 200,000+

USD 5,000

2.
Procedural costs are fixed as follows:
Amount ordered (in USD)
USD

Fixed procedural costs

0 to USD 49,999.99

USD 5,000

USD 50,000 to USD 99,999.99

USD 10,000

USD 100,000 to USD 149,999.99

USD 15,000

USD 150,000 to USD 199,999.99

USD 20,000

USD 200,000+

USD 25,000

3.
Payment of the advance of costs or procedural costs shall be made to thefollowing account, with a clear reference to the parties involved in thedispute:UBS Zurich
Account number 230-366677.61N (FIFA Players’ Status)
Clearing number 230
IBAN: CH12 0023 0230 3666 7761 N
SWIFT: UBSWCHZH80ATABLE OF CONTENTS
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on Working with Intermediaries

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Contents
ArticlePage

Regulations on working with intermediaries
Definition of an intermediary
Preamble
1 Scope
2 General principles
3 Registration of intermediaries
4 Requisites for registration
5 Representation contract
6 Disclosure and publication
7 Payments to intermediaries
8 Conflicts of interest
9 Sanctions
10 Enforcement of associations’ obligations
11 Transitional measures

4
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
14
15
16

Annexe 1
Intermediary Declaration for natural persons

17

Annexe 2
Intermediary Declaration for legal persons

20

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Regulations on Working with Intermediaries
Definition of an intermediary
A natural or legal person who, for a fee or free of charge, represents players
and/or clubs in negotiations with a view to concluding an employment
contract or represents clubs in negotiations with a view to concluding atransfer agreement.
NB: Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders aswell as to legal persons. Any term in the singular applies to the plural andvice-versa.
Preamble
FIFA bears the responsibility to constantly improve the game of footballand to safeguard its worldwide integrity. In this context, one of FIFA’s key
objectives is to promote and safeguard considerably high ethical standards inthe relations between clubs, players and third parties, and thus to live up to
the requirements of good governance and financial responsibility principles.
More specifically, FIFA considers it essential to protect players and clubs frombeing involved in unethical and/or illegal practices and circumstances in thecontext of concluding employment contracts between players and clubs
and of concluding transfer agreements. In the light of these considerations,and with the aim of properly addressing the changing realities of modernday relations between players and clubs as well as to enable proper control
and transparency of player transfers, FIFA has enacted these regulationsin accordance with article 4 of the Regulations Governing the Applicationof the FIFA Statutes. These regulations shall serve as minimum standards/
requirements that must be implemented by each association at national level,
the latter having the possibility of further adding thereto.

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1

Scope

1.
These provisions are aimed at associations in relation to the engagement of
the services of an intermediary by players and clubs to:a) conclude an employment contract between a player and a club, orb) conclude a transfer agreement between two clubs.
2.
Associations are required to implement and enforce at least these minimum
standards/requirements in accordance with the duties assigned in theseregulations, subject to the mandatory laws and any other mandatory national
legislative norms applicable to the associations. Associations shall draw up
regulations that shall incorporate the principles established in these provisions.
3.
The right of associations to go beyond these minimum standards/requirements
is preserved.
4.
These regulations and potential additional provisions going beyond theseminimum standards/requirements implemented by the associations shallnot affect the validity of the relevant employment contract and/or transfer
agreement.

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Regulations on Working with Intermediaries

2

General principles

1.
Players and clubs are entitled to engage the services of intermediaries whenconcluding an employment contract and/or a transfer agreement.
2.
In the selection and engaging process of intermediaries, players and clubs
shall act with due diligence. In this context, due diligence means that players
and clubs shall use reasonable endeavours to ensure that the intermediaries
sign the relevant Intermediary Declaration and the representation contractconcluded between the parties.
3.
Whenever an intermediary is involved in a transaction, he shall be registeredpursuant to article 3 below.
4.
The engagement of officials, as defined in point 11 of the Definitions sectionof the FIFA Statutes, as intermediaries by players and clubs is prohibited.

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3

Registration of intermediaries

1.
For the sake of transparency, each association is required to implement a
registration system for intermediaries that has to be publicised in accordancewith article 6 paragraph 3 below. Intermediaries must be registered in therelevant registration system every time they are individually involved in a
specific transaction (cf. paragraphs 2 and 3 below).
2.
Within the scope of the above-mentioned registration system, associations
must require clubs and players who engage the services of an intermediary tosubmit at least the Intermediary Declaration in accordance with annexes 1 and
2 of these regulations. Associations may request further information and/or
documentation.
3.
Following the conclusion of the relevant transaction, a player engaging
the services of an intermediary within the scope of article 1 paragraph 1a)above must submit to the association of the club with which he signed his
employment contract at least the Intermediary Declaration and any otherdocumentation required by the association. In case of renegotiation of an
employment contract, a player engaging the services of an intermediary mustalso provide the association of his current club with the same documentation.
4.
Following the conclusion of the relevant transaction, a club engaging theservices of an intermediary within the scope of article 1 paragraph 1b) above
must submit to the association of the club with which the player in question
is to be registered at least the Intermediary Declaration and any otherdocumentation required by the association. If the releasing club engaged
the services of an intermediary, that club shall also submit a copy of theIntermediary Declaration to its association.
5.
The aforementioned notification by players and clubs must be made each time
any activity within the scope of article 1 paragraph 1 of these regulations takes
place.

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Requisites for registration

1.
In addition to the information provided to the relevant association by theplayer or the club under article 3 above, and before the relevant intermediarycan be registered, the association concerned will at least have to be satisfied
that the intermediary involved has an impeccable reputation.
2.
If the intermediary concerned is a legal person, the association responsible forregistering the transaction will also have to be satisfied that the individuals
representing the legal entity within the scope of the transaction in question
have an impeccable reputation.
3.
Associations must also be satisfied that in carrying out his activities, theintermediary contracted by a club and/or a player has no contractual
relationship with leagues, associations, confederations or FIFA that could leadto a potential conflict of interest. Intermediaries are precluded from implying,directly or indirectly, that such a contractual relationship with leagues,
associations, confederations or FIFA exists in connection with their activities.
4.
Associations are considered to have complied with their obligations underparagraphs 1 to 3 above if they obtained a duly signed Intermediary
Declaration as per annexes 1 or 2 of these Regulations from the intermediaryconcerned.
5.
The representation contract that the intermediary concludes with a player and/or a club (cf. article 5 below) must be deposited with the association when theregistration of the intermediary takes place.

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Representation contract

1.
For the sake of clarity, clubs and players shall specify in the relevant
representation contract the nature of the legal relationship they have with
their intermediaries, for example, whether the intermediary’s activities
constitute a service, a consultancy within the scope of article 1 paragraph 1 ofthese regulations, a job placement or any other legal relationship.
2.
The main points of the legal relationship entered into between a player and/or
club and an intermediary shall be recorded in writing prior to the intermediary
commencing his activities. The representation contract must contain thefollowing minimum details: the names of the parties, the scope of services, theduration of the legal relationship, the remuneration due to the intermediary,
the general terms of payment, the date of conclusion, the termination
provisions and the signatures of the parties. If the player is a minor, the player’s
legal guardian(s) shall also sign the representation contract in compliance with
the national law of the country in which the player is domiciled.

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Disclosure and publication

1.
Players and/or clubs are required to disclose to their respective association(cf. article 3 paragraphs 2 and 3) the full details of any and all agreed
remunerations or payments of whatsoever nature that they have made orthat are to be made to an intermediary. In addition, players and/or clubs
shall, upon request, with the exception of the representation contract, thedisclosure of which is mandatory under article 4 paragraph 5 above, disclose
to the competent bodies of the leagues, associations, confederations andFIFA, all contracts, agreements and records with intermediaries in connection
with activities in relation to these provisions, for the purpose of theirinvestigations. Players and/or clubs shall in particular reach agreements with
the intermediaries to ensure that there are no obstacles to the disclosure of
the above-mentioned information and documents.
2.
All above-mentioned contracts shall be attached to the transfer agreement or
the employment contract, as the case may be, for the purpose of registrationof the player. Clubs or players shall ensure that any transfer agreement or
employment contract concluded with the services of an intermediary bears thename and signature of such intermediary. In the event that a player and/or aclub have not used the services of an intermediary in their negotiations, thepertinent documentation lodged within the scope of the respective transaction
shall contain a specific disclosure of this fact.
3.
Associations shall make publicly available at the end of March of every
calendar year, for example on their official website, the names of allintermediaries they have registered as well as the single transactions inwhich they were involved. In addition, associations shall also publish the total
amount of all remunerations or payments actually made to intermediaries by
their registered players and by each of their affiliated clubs. The figures to be
published are the consolidated total figure for all players and the individual
clubs’ consolidated total figure.
4.
Associations may also make available to their registered players and affiliatedclubs any information relating to transactions that have been found to be inbreach of these provisions that is of relevance for the pertinent irregularities.

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Payments to intermediaries

1.
The amount of remuneration due to an intermediary who has been engaged
to act on a player’s behalf shall be calculated on the basis of the player’s basic
gross income for the entire duration of the contract.
2.
Clubs that engage the services of an intermediary shall remunerate him
by payment of a lump sum agreed prior to the conclusion of the relevanttransaction. If agreed, such a payment may be made in instalments.
3.
While taking into account the relevant national regulations and any
mandatory provisions of national and international laws, and as arecommendation, players and clubs may adopt the following benchmarks:a) The total amount of remuneration per transaction due to intermediaries
who have been engaged to act on a player’s behalf should not exceed
three per cent (3%) of the player’s basic gross income for the entire
duration of the relevant employment contract.
b) The total amount of remuneration per transaction due to intermediaries
who have been engaged to act on a club’s behalf in order to conclude an
employment contract with a player should not exceed three per cent (3%)
of the player’s eventual basic gross income for the entire duration of therelevant employment contract.
c) The total amount of remuneration per transaction due to intermediaries
who have been engaged to act on a club’s behalf in order to conclude atransfer agreement should not exceed three per cent (3%) of the eventual
transfer fee paid in connection with the relevant transfer of the player.
4.
Clubs shall ensure that payments to be made by one club to another clubin connection with a transfer, such as transfer compensation, training
compensation or solidarity contributions, are not paid to intermediaries andthat the payment is not made by intermediaries. This includes, but is not
limited to, owning any interest in any transfer compensation or future transfer
value of a player. The assignment of claims is also prohibited.

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5.
Subject to article 7 paragraph 6 and article 8 below, any payment for theservices of an intermediary shall be made exclusively by the client of theintermediary to the intermediary.
6.
After the conclusion of the relevant transaction and subject to the club’s
agreement, the player may give his written consent for the club to pay theintermediary on his behalf. The payment made on behalf of the player shall bein accordance with the terms of payment agreed between the player and theintermediary.
7.
Officials, as defined in point 11 of the Definitions section of the FIFA Statutes,
are prohibited from receiving any payment from an intermediary of all orpart of the fees paid to that intermediary in a transaction. Any official who
contravenes the above shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions.
8.
Players and/or clubs that engage the services of an intermediary whennegotiating an employment contract and/or a transfer agreement areprohibited from making any payments to such intermediary if the player
concerned is a minor, as defined in point 11 of the Definitions section of theRegulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

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Conflicts of interest

1.
Prior to engaging the services of an intermediary, players and/or clubs shall use
reasonable endeavours to ensure that no conflicts of interest exist or are likely
to exist either for the players and/or clubs or for the intermediaries.
2.
No conflict of interest would be deemed to exist if the intermediary discloses
in writing any actual or potential conflict of interest he might have with
one of the other parties involved in the matter, in relation to a transaction,
representation contract or shared interests, and if he obtains the express
written consent of all the other parties involved prior to the start of therelevant negotiations.
3.
If a player and a club wish to engage the services of the same intermediary
within the scope of the same transaction under the conditions establishedin paragraph 2 above, the player and the club concerned shall give theirexpress written consent prior to the start of the relevant negotiations, andshall confirm in writing which party (player and/or club) will remunerate theintermediary. The parties shall inform the relevant association of any suchagreement and accordingly submit all the aforementioned written documents
within the registration process (cf. articles 3 and 4 above).

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Sanctions

1.
Associations are responsible for the imposition of sanctions on any party under
their jurisdiction that violates the provisions of these Regulations, their statutes
or regulations.
2.
Associations are obliged to publish accordingly and to inform FIFA of any
disciplinary sanctions taken against any intermediary. The FIFA Disciplinary
Committee will then decide on the extension of the sanction to haveworldwide effect in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

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Enforcement of associations’ obligations

1.
FIFA shall monitor the proper implementation of these minimum standards/
requirements by the associations and may take appropriate measures if therelevant principles are not complied with.
2.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall be competent to deal with such mattersin accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

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Transitional measures

1.
These provisions, which were approved by the FIFA Executive Committee
on 21 March 2014, supersede the Players’ Agents Regulations last amended
on 29 October 2007 and come into force on 1 April 2015.
2.
With the coming into force of these provisions, the previous licensing systemshall be abandoned and all existing licences will lose validity with immediate
effect and shall be returned to the associations that issued them.

Zurich, 21 March 2014

For the FIFA Executive Committee

President:
Joseph S. Blatter

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Secretary General:
Jérôme Valcke

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Annexe 1
Intermediary Declaration for natural persons
First name(s):Surname(s):Date of birth:
Nationality/nationalities:
Full permanent address (incl. phone/fax and e-mail):I, __________________________________________________________________(First name(s), surnames(s) of intermediary)

HEREBY DECLARE THE FOLLOWING:
1. I pledge to respect and comply with any mandatory provisions of applicablenational and international laws, including in particular those relating to job
placement when carrying out my activities as an intermediary. In addition,
I agree to be bound by the statutes and regulations of associations andconfederations, as well as by the Statutes and regulations of FIFA in thecontext of carrying out my activities as an intermediary.
2. I declare that I am currently not holding a position of official, as defined inpoint 11 of the Definitions section of the FIFA Statutes, nor will I hold sucha position in the foreseeable future.
3. I declare that I have an impeccable reputation and in particular confirm
that no criminal sentence has ever been imposed upon me for a financial
or violent crime.
4. I declare that I have no contractual relationship with leagues, associations,confederations or FIFA that could lead to a potential conflict of interest.
In case of uncertainty, any relevant contract shall be disclosed. I also
acknowledge that I am precluded from implying, directly or indirectly, thatsuch a contractual relationship with leagues, associations, confederations
or FIFA exists in connection with my activities as an intermediary.
5. I declare, pursuant to article 7 paragraph 4 of the FIFA Regulations on
Working with Intermediaries, that I shall not accept any payment to bemade by one club to another club in connection with a transfer, such astransfer compensation, training compensation or solidarity contributions.

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6. I declare, pursuant to article 7 paragraph 8 of the FIFA Regulations on
Working with Intermediaries, that I shall not accept any payment fromany party if the player concerned is a minor, as defined in point 11 of theDefinitions section of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
7. I declare that I shall not take part in, either directly or indirectly, orotherwise be associated with, betting, gambling, lotteries and similar
events or transactions connected with football matches. I acknowledge
that I am forbidden from having stakes, either actively or passively, incompanies, concerns, organisations, etc. that promote, broker, arrange or
conduct such events or transactions.
8. I consent, pursuant to article 6 paragraph 1 of the FIFA Regulations on
Working with Intermediaries, to the association obtaining full details ofany payment of whatsoever nature made to me by a club or a player for
my services as an intermediary.
9. I consent, pursuant to article 6 paragraph 1 of the FIFA Regulations on
Working with Intermediaries, to the leagues, associations, confederations
or FIFA obtaining, if necessary, for the purpose of their investigations,
all contracts, agreements and records in connection with my activities
as an intermediary. Equally, I consent to the aforementioned bodies
also obtaining any other relevant documentation from any other party
advising, facilitating or taking any active part in the negotiations for which
I am responsible.
10. I consent, pursuant to article 6 paragraph 3 of the FIFA Regulations on
Working with Intermediaries, to the association concerned holding andprocessing any data for the purpose of their publication.
11. I consent, pursuant to article 9 paragraph 2 of the FIFA Regulations on
Working with Intermediaries, to the association concerned publishingdetails of any disciplinary sanctions taken against me and informing FIFAaccordingly.
12. I am fully aware and agree that this declaration shall be made available tothe members of the competent bodies of the association concerned.
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I make this declaration in good faith, the truth of which is based on theinformation and materials currently available to me, and agree that theassociation concerned shall be entitled to undertake such checks as may
be necessary to verify the information contained in this declaration. I also
acknowledge that, having submitted this declaration, in the event that anyof the above-mentioned information changes, I must notify the association
concerned immediately.
______________________________(Place and date)

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Annexe 2
Intermediary Declaration for legal persons
Name of company (legal person/entity):
Address of company (incl. phone/fax, e-mail and website):
Hereinafter referred to as “the company”
First name(s) and surname(s) of the individual duly authorised to represent the
aforementioned company (legal person/entity):(NB: each individual acting on behalf of the company has to fill in a separate
Intermediary Declaration)
I, __________________________________________________________________(First name(s), surnames(s) of the individual representing the legal person/
entity)duly authorised to represent the company

HEREBY DECLARE THE FOLLOWING:
1. I declare that both the company I represent and that I myself shall respect
any mandatory provisions of applicable national and international laws,
including in particular those relating to job placement when carrying out
activities as an intermediary. In addition, I declare that both the company
I represent and that I myself agree to be bound by the statutes andregulations of associations and confederations, as well as by the Statutes
and regulations of FIFA in the context of carrying out activities as anintermediary.
2. I declare that I am currently not holding a position of official, as defined inpoint 11 of the Definitions section of the FIFA Statutes, nor will I hold sucha position in the foreseeable future.
3. I declare that I have an impeccable reputation and in particular confirm
that no criminal sentence has ever been imposed upon me for a financial
or violent crime.
4. I declare that neither the company I represent nor I myself have any
contractual relationship with leagues, associations, confederations or FIFA
that could lead to a potential conflict of interest. In case of uncertainty, any
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Annexe 2
relevant contract shall be disclosed. I also acknowledge that the relevant
company is precluded from implying, directly or indirectly, that such acontractual relationship with leagues, associations, confederations or FIFA
exists in connection with its activities as intermediary.
5. I declare, pursuant to article 7 paragraph 4 of the FIFA Regulations on
Working with Intermediaries, that neither the company I represent
nor I shall accept any payment to be made by one club to another clubin connection with a transfer, such as transfer compensation, training
compensation or solidarity contributions.
6. I declare, pursuant to article 7 paragraph 8 of the FIFA Regulations on
Working with Intermediaries, that neither the company I represent nor I
shall accept any payment from any party if the player concerned is a minor,
as defined in point 11 of the Definitions section of the Regulations on the
Status and Transfer of Players.
7. I declare that neither the company I represent nor I shall take part in, either
directly or indirectly, or otherwise be associated with, betting, gambling,lotteries and similar events or transactions connected with footballmatches. I acknowledge that both the company I represent and I myself
are forbidden from having stakes, either actively or passively, in companies,
concerns, organisations, etc. that promote, broker, arrange or conduct such
events or transactions.
8. On behalf of the company I represent, I consent, pursuant to article 6paragraph 1 of the FIFA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries,
to the associations obtaining full details of any payment of whatsoever
nature made to the company by a club or a player for its services as anintermediary.
9. On behalf of the company I represent, I consent, pursuant to article 6paragraph 1 of the FIFA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries, tothe leagues, associations, confederations or FIFA obtaining, if necessary, forthe purpose of their investigations, all contracts, agreements and records inconnection with the activities as an intermediary of the company. Equally,
I consent to the aforementioned bodies also obtaining any other relevant
documentation from any other party advising, facilitating or taking
any active part in the negotiations for which the company I represent is
responsible.

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Annexe 2
10. On behalf of the company I represent, I consent, pursuant to article 6paragraph 3 of the FIFA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries, tothe association concerned holding and processing any data for the purposeof their publication.
11. On behalf of the company I represent, I consent, pursuant to article 9paragraph 2 of the FIFA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries, tothe association concerned publishing and informing FIFA of any disciplinary
sanctions taken against the company I represent.
12. I am fully aware and agree that this declaration shall be made available tothe members of the competent bodies of the association concerned.
13. Remarks and observations which may be of potential relevance:___________________________________________________________________
I make this declaration in good faith, the truth of which is based on theinformation and materials currently available to me, and agree that theassociation concerned shall be entitled to undertake such checks as may
be necessary to verify the information contained in this declaration. I also
acknowledge that, having submitted this declaration, in the event that anyof the above-mentioned information changes, I must notify the association
concerned immediately.
______________________________(Place and date)

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Governing International Matches

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Contents
ArticlePage

Denitions
1 Object2 Scope3 Purpose
4 Duties of Members
5 Name of International Matches or competitions
6 Authorisation
7 Tier 1 International Matches
8 Tier 2 International Matches
9 Tier 3 International Matches
10 Authorisation procedure for tier 1 International Matches andcompetitions
11 Authorisation procedure for tier 2 International Matches andcompetitions
12 Reporting
13 Levies and statement of account
14 Sanctions
15 Ofcial languages
16 Transitional provision and entry into force
Appendices

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5
6
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9
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DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of these regulations, the terms set out below are dened asfollows:
1. Club Team: a team representing a club that is afliated directly or indirectly
to a Member.
2. Confederation: a group of associations recognised by FIFA that belong to
the same continent or assimilable geographic region.
3. Domestic Team: a team containing players registered with different Club
Teams afliated to the same Member (e.g. representing a Member’s league
or regional association).
4. International Match: a match between two teams belonging to different
Members or a match involving a Scratch Team. For the purpose of
authorisation, any match or competition played between two teams
belonging to the same Member but in a Third Country shall be recognised
as an International Match or competition.
5. International “A” Match: a match for which both Members eld their rst
Representative Team (“A” Representative Team).
6. Member: an association that has been admitted into membership of FIFAby the FIFA Congress.
7. Representative Team: a team representing a Member.
8. Scratch Team: a team brought together on a one-off basis, containing
active players registered with clubs playing in the highest division of a
Member that are not afliated to the same Member.
9. Third Country: the territory of a Member upon which a match orcompetition is to be played and to which none of the teams participatingin the match or competition is afliated.
N.B. Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders.
Any term in the singular applies to the plural and vice-versa.

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Based on articles 77, 82, 83 and 84 of the FIFA Statutes of 31 July 2013, the FIFA
Executive Committee has issued the following regulations.

1

Object

These regulations set forth the authorisations, notications and otherrequirements for organising matches and/or competitions between teams
belonging to different Members, or between teams belonging to the same
Member but playing in a Third Country, or involving players or teams that are
not afliated to Members or provisional members of the Confederations as set
forth in art. 83 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes of 31 July 2013.

2

Scope

1.
These regulations apply to all International Matches and competitions except
those included in competitions organised by FIFA or one or more of theConfederations, or matches and competitions falling under article 84 of theFIFA Statutes of 31 July 2013.
2.
These regulations apply equally to association football, futsal and beach soccer.
3.
International Matches or competitions authorised by the FIFA Executive
Committee on an exceptional basis shall not be subject to these regulations.

3

PurposeThe purpose of these regulations is to protect the integrity of the game bycreating a framework that allows the Members, Confederations and FIFA tooversee International Matches and competitions. The oversight of International
Matches and competitions shall allow the Members, Confederations and FIFA
to promote integrity, ethics and fair play with a view to preventing all methods
or practices which might jeopardise the integrity of matches, competitions,players, ofcials and Members, or give rise to abuse of the game.

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Duties of Members

1.
Members shall draw up their own regulations governing the proceduresfor the authorisation and notication of International Matches, which mustcomply fully with these regulations as well as those of the Confederation(s)concerned.
2.
Members must ensure that their own Members respect these regulations,those of the Confederation(s) concerned as well as their own regulations.
3.
Members, to which a Representative Team, Club Team or Domestic Teamparticipating in an International Match or competition belongs, shall be
responsible for obtaining authorisation from their Confederation as set forth
herein.
4.
The Member on whose territory an International Match or competition will
be played shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with the applicableregulations. It shall be responsible for obtaining nal authorisation from FIFA
and/or the Confederation to which it is afliated, as required.
5.
A Member shall inform the relevant Members, the Confederation(s) and FIFA
about any match that was arranged and played on its territory and for whichauthorisation was either not sought or not given.
6.
Members must reply to any written request in relation to an authorisation
request from another Member, a Confederation or FIFA within seven days of
its receipt.
7.
If for any reason the referees appointed for an International Match arechanged, the participating teams must be informed and the reasons shallbe documented accordingly in a report signed by an authorised Member
association ofcial and sent to the Members concerned, the Confederation(s)concerned and/or FIFA.

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8.
Anyone submitting applications for authorisation and subsequent documents
must ensure and conrm the accuracy and authenticity of the information
contained therein.
9.
The Member on whose territory an International “A” Match is played
shall be responsible for collecting all applicable levies and preparing therequired statement of account for the international match and submitting
the latter as well as forwarding the appropriate amounts to FIFA and/or the
Confederation(s) concerned.

5

Name of International Matches or competitions

1.
The name used for International Matches and competitions may not refer tothe existing ofcial names of any competitions of FIFA, the Confederations orMembers.
2.
FIFA and the Confederations reserve the right to approve all competition
names.

6

Authorisation

1.
International Matches may only be authorised by FIFA, a Confederation or a
Member in accordance with these regulations.
2.
All International Matches must be authorised by the Members to which theparticipating teams belong and by the Member on whose territory the matchis to be played. Matches involving a Scratch Team must be authorised by theMembers with which the players are registered.

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3.
Every team participating in an International Match shall be responsible forrequesting the authorisation of the Member to which they belong. The
Member, in turn, shall be responsible for requesting the authorisation fromthe Confederation to which it is afliated. The Member(s) to which theparticipating teams belong shall provide these authorisations to the host
Member in order that the nal request for authorisation can be completed inaccordance with the timeframes stipulated in these regulations.
4.
FIFA and the Confederation(s) may reject applications not complying withthese regulations.
5.
FIFA’s authorisation or FIFA’s refusal of authorisation is given by the FIFA
general secretariat, whose decision shall be nal and binding.
6.
An authorisation does not entail liability on the part of FIFA, the Confederation(s)or any Member in the event that any legal claims subsequently arise.
7.
The FIFA general secretariat, in principle, or the FIFA Executive Committee, in
exceptional circumstances, shall be responsible for FIFA’s authorisation or FIFA’s
refusal of authorisation for matches and/or competitions involving players
or teams that are not afliated to Members or provisional members of theConfederations as set forth in art. 83 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes of 31 July 2013.

7

Tier 1 International Matches

1.
For the purpose of these regulations, a tier 1 International Match shall mean
any International Match in which both of the teams participating are the “A”
Representative Teams of the Members concerned, or an International Match
involving a Scratch Team.
2.
All tier 1 International Matches must be authorised by FIFA and theConfederation(s) and Members concerned. A summary of the authorisations
required for tier 1 International Matches is set forth in Appendix A.
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3.
A competition that contains at least one tier 1 International Match shall beclassied as a tier 1 competition.

8

Tier 2 International Matches

1.
For the purpose of these regulations, a tier 2 International Match shall mean
any International Match involving one “A” Representative Team, any other
Representative Team, a Domestic Team or the rst team of a Club Team thatparticipates in the highest division of a Member.
2.
All tier 2 International Matches must be authorised by the Confederation(s)and the Members concerned. A summary of the authorisations required fortier 2 International Matches is set forth in Appendix B.
3.
A competition that does not involve any tier 1 International Matches andinvolves at least one tier 2 International Match shall be classied as a tier 2
competition.

9

Tier 3 International Matches

1.
For the purpose of these regulations, a tier 3 International Match shall mean
all International Matches that are not tier 1 or tier 2 International Matches.
2.
The regulation of tier 3 International Matches shall be determined by each
Confederation.
3.
A competition involving International Matches that are neither tier 1 nor tier 2
shall be classied as a tier 3 competition.

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Regulations Governing International Matches

10

Authorisation procedure for tier 1 International Matches
and competitions

1.
Procedure for International “A” Matches:
Members whose “A” Representative Team will participate in an International“A” Match, as well as a Member on whose territory an International “A”
Match is planned, shall request the authorisation of the Confederation towhich they are afliated at least 21 days before the earliest of the proposed
dates for such match. When received, the Member(s) shall pass the relevant
authorisations to the Member on whose territory the International “A” Matchis planned. The Member on whose territory the International “A” Match isplanned shall submit a nal authorisation request containing all required
Member and Confederation authorisations to FIFA at least 14 days before theearliest of the proposed dates for such match. All requests for authorisation
to host or participate in an International “A” Match shall be on the ofcial
FIFA forms as set forth in Appendix C. The host association must verify that theassigned referee and assistant referees are included on the current FIFA List ofInternational Referees and Assistant Referees. FIFA may replace the proposed
appointed referees at its sole discretion. Once authorisation has been granted,
FIFA shall notify the host Member as well as the relevant Confederation(s).
A competition containing an International “A” Match shall be authorised inaccordance with the procedure for International “A” Matches.
2.
Procedure for Scratch Team matches:
The organiser of an International Match or competition involving a Scratch
Team shall request the authorisation of each Member with which the players
involved in the match or competition are registered as well as all concerned
Confederations at least 21 days before the earliest of the proposed dates forsuch match or competition. Once these authorisations have been received by
the organiser, the organiser shall pass the authorisations to the host Member,
who shall submit a nal authorisation request to FIFA at least 14 days before theearliest of the proposed dates for such match or competition. The authorisation
request shall be on the ofcial FIFA form as set forth in Appendix C.

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11

Authorisation procedure for tier 2 International Matches
and competitions

1.
Procedure for matches or competitions involving teams from one
Confederation playing on the territory of the same Confederation:
These matches and competitions shall be authorised in accordance with theregulations of that Confederation. Once authorisation has been granted, thehost Confederation shall notify the host Member and FIFA.
2.
Procedure for matches or competitions involving teams from morethan one Confederation or teams from one Confederation playing
on the territory of a different Confederation:
Every participating team shall request the authorisation of the Member to which
it belongs, who in turn shall request the authorisation of the Confederation towhich it is afliated at least 21 days before the earliest of the proposed dates
for such match or competition. The participating teams shall pass the relevant
authorisations to the Member on whose territory the International Match orcompetition is planned. The Member on whose territory the International Matchor competition is planned shall submit a nal authorisation request containing
the authorisations of all relevant Members and non-host Confederations to thehost Confederation at least 14 days before the earliest of the proposed dates forsuch match or competition. The authorisation requests for participating in andhosting a tier 2 International Match or competition shall be on the ofcial FIFA
forms as set forth in Appendix C. The host Confederation and FIFA may replace
the proposed appointed referees at its sole discretion. Once authorisation has
been granted, the host Confederation shall notify the host Member, FIFA andthe non-host Confederation(s).

12Reporting

The Member on whose territory the match is played shall, within 48 hours ofeach International “A” Match, submit a match report and list of players to theFIFA general secretariat, using the ofcial form for this purpose as set forth inAppendix D. This form shall be lled in completely and signed. This report andlist of players is in addition to the report that the referee of every International“A” Match shall send to FIFA and the Member on whose territory the matchis played, in accordance with art. 12 par. 1 of the Regulations Governing theApplication of the Statutes.
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13

Levies and statement of account1.
FIFA leviesa) Members shall complete a statement of account and pay FIFA a levy forevery International “A” Match, including matches that are played as partof the Olympic Football Tournaments.
b) The Member on whose territory the match was played shall complete thestatement of account and pay the levy.
c) The levy to be paid to FIFA for each such match shall equal 2% of the grossreceipts (ticket sales, advertising rights for television and radio broadcast,lm and video rights, etc.) derived from each such match. This levy issubject to the following:i)the levy due to FIFA in respect of matches played on the territory of a
Confederation between Members belonging to that Confederation is
only 1%, the remaining 1% being payable directly to the Confederation
involved;ii) the levy due in respect of matches played between Members afliated todifferent Confederations, on the territory of one of these Confederations,is payable to FIFA, which will retrocede 0.5% to each of the Confederations
involved;iii) the levy due in respect of matches played between Members afliatedto different Confederations, on the territory of a third Confederation, isonly 1%, the remaining 1% being payable directly to the Confederation
on whose territory the match was played.
d) The statement of account shall contain all the requisite gures reecting
the entire income and any taxes or charges deducted therefrom. The total
amount deducted shall not exceed 30% of the entire gross receipts.
e) Irrespective of the nancial outcome of the match, the contribution to be
paid to FIFA shall be at least CHF 500.
f) The statement of account and the amount due shall be sent to FIFA within
60 days of the date of the match. The statement of account shall be
submitted on the ofcial FIFA form as set forth in Appendix E.

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2.
Confederation and Member leviesa) The Confederations and Members may demand their own levy independentlyof FIFA, in accordance with their own statutes and regulations.
b) The Confederations and Members shall publish the schedule of levies
applicable to International Matches and the procedures and time periods
for paying those levies.

14

Sanctions

Any violations of these regulations shall be sanctioned in accordance with theFIFA Disciplinary Code and/or the FIFA Statutes.

15

Ofﬁcial languages

1.
These regulations have been issued in the four ofcial languages of FIFA
(English, French, Spanish and German).
2.
In the event of any discrepancy between the four texts, the English version is
authoritative.

16

Transitional provision and entry into force

1.
The provisions in these regulations in relation to the levies to be paid by Members
to FIFA in connection with International “A” Matches (cf. art. 4 par. 9, art. 13 par. 1,
and Appendix E) will be rescinded as of 1 January 2015.
2.
These regulations were approved by the FIFA Executive Committee on 21 March2014 and come into force on 1 May 2014.

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Appendix A

A

Tier 1 International Matches

Tier 1 International MatchesType of team involved

Type of match/competition

First Representative TeamInternational “A“ Matches only (“A“ v. “A“)

Scratch TeamIn all cases

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Authorisation by Authorisation by Authorisation by
the host Member the Members to Confederation(s)which the teams concerned
belongX

X

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X

Authorisationby all Memberswith which
the players areregistered

X

X

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Appendix A

Authorisation by
FIFA

X

X

X

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Appendix B

B

Tier 2 International Matches

Tier 2 International MatchesType of team involved

Type of match/competition

First Representative Team

Not “A“ match (“A“ v. other team)

Any other Representative
Team or a Domestic TeamIn all cases

First team of Club Teamsparticipating in the highest
division of a Member

In all cases

Single Confederation caseMultiple Confederation case
Single Confederation caseMultiple Confederation case
Single Confederation caseMultiple Confederation case

Key
Conf Regs:

authorisation/notiﬁcation process to be determined in the
Confederation‘s regulations
Single Confederation case:teams from one Confederation playing in that Confederation
Multiple Confederation case: teams from more than one Confederation or teams from one
Confederation playing on the territory of different Confederation

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Authorisation by Authorisation by Authorisation
the host Member the Member(s)by non-hostto which theConfederation(s)teams belong

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

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Authorisation
by hostConfederationWhenauthorised, hostConfederation
informs host
Member, FIFAand non-hostConfederation(s)Conf Regs

X

X

X

Conf Regs

X

X

X

Conf Regs

X

X

X

X

X

X

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Forms for hosting or participating in an
International Match or competition

Appendix C

FIFA application form for hosting atier 1 International Match or competition

Preamble:
In accordance with art. 4 par. 4 and subject to the conditions stipulated in arts 6, 7 and 10 of the FIFA
Regulations Governing International Matches, a Member on whose territory a tier 1 International Matchor competition is to be played must obtain prior authorisation from FIFA and the Confederation to which
it is affiliated.
The applicant is a FIFA Member and intends to host a tier 1 International Match or competition on its
territory. Consequently, the applicant…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Name of the FIFA Member, herein “the applicant“)

submits the following

Authorisation request for a tier 1 International Match orcompetitionin order to host the following tier 1 International Match or competition:

Description:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Description/name of the tier 1 International Match or competition. If the present request relates to acompetition, attach a match schedule and competition regulations.)

arranged by:Name:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Name of the party responsible for promoting and staging the tier 1 International Match orcompetition, such as a FIFA Member or a FIFA match agent, etc. In the case of a third-party matchagent, please denote licensing below.)

is a licensed FIFA match agent or

is not a licensed FIFA match agent

1

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Teams:

Appendix C

1.

……………………………………………………………………………

2.

……………………………………………………………………………

(If the present request relates to a competition, include team details in the match schedule.)

Date:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Date on which the tier 1 International Match is to take place. If the present request relates to acompetition, please indicate the dates on the match schedule.)

Referees:1.

……………………………………………………………………………

2.

……………………………………………………………………………

3.

……………………………………………………………………………

(Full name and nationality of the referee and assistant referees in accordance with the current FIFAInternational List of Referees. If the present request relates to a competition, please list all referees
and assistant referees on the match schedule. If for any reason the above-named referees arechanged, the participating teams must be informed and the reasons documented in a report signedby an authorised Member official and submitted to the Confederation(s) and FIFA.)

Referees assigned by:

Member: ……………………………………………………………………..
Person responsible: ………………………………………………………..
(List the name(s) of the person(s) responsible for appointing and assigning the listed referees.)

Stadium:……………………………………………………………………………
(Name and location of the stadium to be used for the tier 1 International Match. If the present
request relates to a competition, please include all venues on the match schedule.)

For an International “A” Match or competition, when submitting these documents to FIFA for final
authorisation the host Member must include:ll

An application form for participating in an International Match or competition for every
participating Member
The authorisation of every Confederation concerned

For an International Match involving a Scratch Team, when submitting these documents to FIFA for final
authorisation the host Member must include:l

The authorisation of all Members with which the players involved are registeredl

The authorisation of every Confederation concerned
2

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Appendix C

Forms for hosting or participating in an
International Match or competition

The signatory hereby explicitly confirms compliance with the requirements of the FIFA Regulations
Governing International Matches for hosting a tier 1 International Match or competition.

……………………………………………………………
(Place and date)……………………………………………………………
(Name and position of the signatory)……………………………………………………………
(Signature)

3

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Appendix C

FIFA application form for hosting atier 2 International Match or competition(required for matches or competitions involving multiple Confederations)

Preamble:
In accordance with art. 4 par. 4 and subject to the conditions stipulated in arts 6, 8 and 11 of the FIFA
Regulations Governing International Matches, a Member on whose territory a tier 2 International Matchor competition is to be played must obtain prior authorisation from the Confederation to which it isaffiliated.
The applicant is a FIFA Member and intends to host a tier 2 International Match or competition on its
territory. Consequently, the applicant………………………………………………………………………………….,(Name of the FIFA Member, herein “the applicant“)

submits the following

Authorisation request for a tier 2 International Match orcompetitionin order to host the following tier 2 International Match or competition:

Description:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Description/name of the tier 2 International Match or competition. If the present request relates to acompetition, attach a match schedule.)arranged by:Name:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Name of the party responsible for promoting and staging the tier 2 International Match orcompetition, such as a FIFA Member or a FIFA match agent, etc. In the case of a third-party matchagent, please denote licensing below.)

is a licensed FIFA match agent or

is not a licensed FIFA match agentiTeams:

1.

……………………………………………………………………………

2.

……………………………………………………………………………

(If the present request relates to a competition, include team details in the match schedule.)
1

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Appendix C

Date:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Date on which the tier 2 International Match is to take place. If the present request relates to acompetition, please indicate the dates on the match schedule.)

Referees:1.

……………………………………………………………………………

2.

……………………………………………………………………………

3.

……………………………………………………………………………

(Full name and nationality of the referee and assistant referees in accordance with the current FIFAInternational List of Referees. If the present request relates to a competition, please list all referees
and assistant referees on the match schedule. If for any reason the above-named referees arechanged, the participating teams must be informed and the reasons documented in a report signedby an authorised Member official and submitted to the Confederation(s) and FIFA.)

Referees assigned by:

Member: ……………………………………………………………………..
Person responsible: ………………………………………………………..
(List the name(s) of the person(s) responsible for appointing and assigning the listed referees.)

Stadium:……………………………………………………………………………….
(Name and location of the stadium to be used for the tier 2 International Match. If the present
request relates to a competition, please include all venues on the match schedule.)

The signatory hereby explicitly confirms compliance with the requirements of the FIFA Regulations
Governing International Matches for hosting a tier 2 International Match or competition that involves
multiple Confederations (tick each box):
The host Member herewith submits an application form for participating in an International
Match or competition for every participating Member.
The host Member herewith submits the authorisation of every non-host Confederation
concerned.

……………………………………………………………
(Place and date)……………………………………………………………
(Name and position of the signatory)……………………………………………………………
(Signature)
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Appendix C

Application form for participating in atier 1 International Match or competition

Preamble:
In accordance with art. 6 par. 2 in connection with art. 7 of the FIFA Regulations Governing International
Matches, all International Matches must be authorised by the Members to which the participating teams
are affiliated.
The applicant is a FIFA Member and intends to participate in an International Match or competition.
Consequently, the applicant………………………………………………………………………………….,(Name of the FIFA Member, herein “the applicant“)

submits the following

Authorisation request for a tier 1 International Match orcompetitionin order to participate in the following International Match or competition:

Description:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Description/name of the tier 1 International Match or competition)

arranged byName:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Name of the party responsible for promoting and staging the tier 1 International Match orcompetition, such as a FIFA Member or a FIFA match agent, etc.)

on the territory ofMember:………………………………………………………………………………..
(Name of the FIFA Member on whose territory the tier 1 International Match or competition is to beplayed.)Teams:

1.

……………………………………………………………………………

2.

……………………………………………………………………………

(Names of the teams participating in the tier 1 International Match. If the present request relates to acompetition, include only your team.)
1

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Appendix C

Date(s):…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Date on which the tier 1 International Match is to be played. If the present request relates to acompetition, please indicate the dates.)

Head of delegation: ….....……………………………………………………………………………
….....……………………………………………………………………………
….....……………………………………………………………………………
….....……………………………………………………………………………
(Name and contact information of the head of delegation. The head of delegation shall be a natural
person who is responsible for the official travel delegation of each team of the Member participatingin the International Match or competition.)

This form shall be submitted to the Confederation to which the Member is affiliated at least 21 days
before the date of the International Match or competition in question.
Once authorisation has been granted by the Confederation, the Member shall submit this form and theauthorisation of the Confederation to which it is affiliated to the Member on whose territory theInternational Match or competition is planned.

The signatory hereby explicitly confirms compliance with the FIFA Regulations Governing International
Matches.

……………………………………………………………
(Place and date)……………………………………………………………
(Name and position of the signatory)……………………………………………………………
(Signature)

2

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Appendix C

Application form for participating in atier 2 International Match or competition(required for matches or competitions involving multiple Confederations)

Preamble:
In accordance with art. 6 par. 2 in connection with art. 8 of the FIFA Regulations Governing International
Matches, all International Matches must be authorised by the Members to which the participating teams
are affiliated.
The applicant is a FIFA Member and one of its affiliated teams or clubs intends to participate in an
International Match or competition. Consequently, the applicant………………………………………………………………………………….,(Name of the FIFA Member, herein “the applicant“)

submits the following

Authorisation request for a tier 2 International Match orcompetitionin order for one of its affiliated teams to participate in the following International Match or competition:

Description:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Description/name of the tier 2 International Match or competition)

arranged byName:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Name of the party responsible for promoting and staging the tier 2 International Match orcompetition, such as a FIFA Member or a FIFA match agent, etc.)

on the territory ofMember:………………………………………………………………………………..
(Name of the FIFA Member on whose territory the tier 2 International Match or competition is to beplayed.)Teams:

1.

……………………………………………………………………………

2.

……………………………………………………………………………

(Names of the teams participating in the tier 2 International Match. If the present request relates to acompetition, include only the team(s) or club(s) affiliated to your association.)

1

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Appendix C

Date:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Date on which the tier 2 International Match is to be played. If the present request relates to acompetition, please indicate the dates.)

Head of delegation: ….....……………………………………………………………………………
….....……………………………………………………………………………
….....……………………………………………………………………………
….....……………………………………………………………………………
(Name and contact information of the head of delegation. The head of delegation shall be a natural
person who is responsible for the official travel delegation of each team of the Member participatingin the International Match or competition.)

This form shall be submitted to the Confederation to which the Member is affiliated at least 21 days
before the date of the International Match or competition in question.
Once authorisation has been granted by the Confederation, the Member shall submit this form and theauthorisation of the Confederation to which it is affiliated to the Member on whose territory theInternational Match or competition is planned.

The signatory hereby explicitly confirms compliance with the FIFA Regulations Governing International
Matches.

……………………………………………………………
(Place and date)……………………………………………………………
(Name and position of the signatory)……………………………………………………………
(Signature)

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Appendix D

Report form

Preamble:
In accordance with art. 12 of the FIFA Regulations Governing International Matches, a FIFA Member on
whose territory an International “A“ Match has been played shall provide the FIFA general secretariat withthe relevant report within 48 hours.
Accordingly, the following

Reportis brought to the attention of the FIFA general secretariat.

Description:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Description/Name of the International “A“ Match)

Date:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Date on which the International “A“ Match took place)arranged byName:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Name of the party responsible for promoting and staging the International “A“ Match)

between the following

Teams:

1.

……………………………………………………………………………

2.

……………………………………………………………………………

(Names of the teams participating in the International “A“ Match)

Final score:…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Final score of the International “A“ Match)

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Appendix D

Referee:

Association reporting form and list of players…………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………..
(Name and nationality of the referee)

Assistant1.

……………………………………………………………………………

referees:2.

……………………………………………………………………………

3.

……………………………………………………………………………

4.

……………………………………………………………………………

(Name and nationality of the assistant referees)

The signatory confirms the accuracy of the aforementioned statements. In addition, in order to fulfil theconditions of art. 12 of the FIFA Regulations Governing International Matches, the signatory confirms thatthe following additional documents have been attached (tick each box):

A list of players for each teamThe referee’s report, signed by the match referee……………………………………………………………
(Name of the FIFA Member)……………………………………………………………
(Place and date)……………………………………………………………
(Name and position of the signatory)……………………………………………………………
(Signature)
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Association reporting form and list of players

LIST OF PLAYERS - LISTE DES JOUEURSLISTA DE LOS JUGADORES - SPIELERLISTE
1TEAM A ____________________ TEAM B____________________IN
2 PLAYEDJOUE A______________________________(CITY - VILLE - CIUDAD - STADT)JUGADO ENGESPIELT IN/______________________________(DATE - DATE - FECHA - DATUM)/______________________________(TIME - HEURE - HORA - UHRZEIT)

3 TEAM OF _____________________________________________GOALKEEPERGARDIEN DE BUT
GUARDAMETATORWARTCAPTAIN
CAPITAINECAPITÁN
KAPITÄN

OUTFIELD PLAYERSJOUEURS DE
CHAMPSJUGADORES DECAMPOFELDSPIELERRESERVESREMPLACANTSSUSTITUTOSERSATZSPIELER

NO.

POS.

SURNAMENOM DE FAMILLEAPELLIDO(S)
FAMILIENNAME

FIRST NAME(S)PRENOM(S)NOMBRE(S)VORNAME(N)DATE OF BIRTHDATE DE NAISSANCEFECHA DE NACIMIENTOGEBURTSDATUM(dd/mm/yy)

GG
G

G = Goalkeeper / D = Defender / M = Midfielder / F = Forward
OF THE COACH:
4 NAMENOM DE L'ENTRAINEUR:NOMBRE DEL ENTRENADOR:NAME DES TRAINERS:

Signature of Team Administrator: ……………………………….
THIS LIST MUST BE FAXED TO THE FIFA SECRETARIAT WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE MATCH.
CETTE LISTE DOIT ETRE ENVOYEE PAR FAX AU SECRETARIAT DE LA FIFA DANS LES 48 HEURES APRES LE MATCH.
ESTA LISTA DEBERÁ SER REMITIDA POR FAX A LA SECRETARÍA DE LA FIFA EN UN PLAZO DE 48 H DESPUÉS DEL PARTIDO.
DIESE LISTE MUSS DEM SEKRETARIAT DER FIFA INNERHALB VON 48 STUNDEN PER FAX GESCHICKT WERDEN.
FIFA-STRASSE 20, P.O. BOX, 8044 ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, TELEPHONE 41-43/222 7777, TELEFAX 41-43/222 7878

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Appendix E

Statement of account

RECEIPT DECLARATION FORM
FEUILLE DE RECETTESHOJA DE INGRESOS
EINNAHME-ERKLÄRUNG
1

TEAM A __________________(HOME TEAM)

2
3
4

TEAM B __________________(VISITING TEAM)//

PLAYED IN
JOUE AJUGADO EN ______________________________________________________________________________________GESPIELT IN (CITY - VILLE - CIUDAD - STADT)(DATE - DATE - FECHA - DATUM)(TIME - HEURE - HORA - ZEIT)STADIUM
SUR LE TERRAIN DE
ESTADIO _________________________________________________________________________________________________STADIONNUMBER OF SPECTATORSNOMBRE DE SPECTATEURSNÚMERO DE ESPECTADORES _________________________________________________________________________________________ANZAHL ZUSCHAUER

5 GROSS RECEIPTS / RECETTES BRUTESINGRESOS BRUTOS / BRUTTOEINNAHMENTICKET SALES
5.1 BILLETS D'ENTREE
VENTA DE ENTRADAS
EINTRITTSKARTEN
NUMBERNOMBRENÚMEROANZAHL

5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5

PRICE
PRIX UNITAIREPRECIO UNITARIOEINHEITSPREIS

TOTAL
TOTAL
TOTAL
TOTAL

=

+

=

+

=

+

=

+

=

+

=

+

TELEVISION FEEDROITS DE TELEVISION
DERECHOS DE TELEVISIÓNFERNSEHEINNAHMENADVERTISINGPUBLICITE
PUBLICIDADWERBUNGOTHERSAUTRESOTROS
ANDERETOTAL++IN LOCAL CURRENCY / EN MONNAIE LOCALE
EN MONEDA LOCAL / IN LOKALER WÄHRUNG

Fédération Internationale de Football Association
FIFA-Strasse 20 P.O. Box 8044 Zurich Switzerland

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Appendix E

Statement of account

6 TAXES AND HIRE OF THE STADIUM / TAXES ET LOCATION DU STADEIMPUESTOS Y ALQUILER DEL ESTADIO / STEUERN UND STADIONMIETE

6.1
6.2
6.3

TAXES (STATE, LOCAL)TAXES (GOUVERNEMENTALES, PROVINCIALES, MUNICIPALES)IMPUESTOS (GUBERNAMENTALES, PROVINCIALES, MUNICIPALES)STEUERN (STAAT, PROVINZ, GEMEINDE)
HIRE OF THE STADIUM
LOCATION DU STADE
ALQUILER DEL ESTADIO
STADIONMIETE

TOTAL

+
+

IN LOCAL CURRENCY / EN MONNAIE LOCALE
EN MONEDA LOCAL / IN LOKALER WÄHRUNG(TOTAL 30% MAXIMUM / TOTAL 30% AU MAXIMUM / TOTAL 30 % MÁXIMO / TOTAL
30% MAXIMUM)=

7 NET RECEIPTS / RECETTES NETTESINGRESOS NETOS / NETTOEINNAHMEN
7.1 TOTAL GROSS RECEIPTS / TOTAL RECETTES BRUTESTOTAL INGRESOS BRUTOS / TOTAL BRUTTO-EINNAHMEN= Section 5.5+

LESS / MOINS / MENOS / ABZÜGLICH

7.2 TOTAL TAXES AND HIRE / TOTAL TAXES ET LOCATIONTOTAL IMPUESTOS Y AQUILER / TOTAL STEUERN UND MIETE

7.3

TOTAL

= Section 6.3-

IN LOCAL CURRENCY / EN MONNAIE LOCALE
EN MONEDA LOCAL / IN LOKALER WÄHRUNG

8=IN LOCAL CURRENCY
EN MONNAIE LOCALE
EN MONEDA LOCALIN LOKALER WÄHRUNGIN SWISS FRANCSEN FRANCS SUISSESEN FRANCOS SUIZOSIN SCHWEIZER FRANKENLEVY DUE TO FIFA (see below)
POURCENTAGE DÛ A LA FIFA
PORCENTAJE ADEUDADO A LA FIFASPIELABGABE AN DIE FIFA
FOR MATCHES BETWEEN TEAMS FROM THE SAME CONFEDERATION THE LEVY DUE IS 1% (MIN. CHF 500). FOR MATCHES BETWEEN TEAMS FROM TWO
DIFFERENT CONFEDERATIONS THE LEVY DUE IS 2% (MIN. CHF 500). THE LEVIES DUE TO FIFA AND THE CONFEDERATIONS SHALL BE PAID WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE
MATCH AT THE OFFICIAL RATE OF EXCHANGE ON THE DAY THE PAYMENT IS DUE.
THE UNDERSIGNED GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE ORGANISING ASSOCIATION CERTIFIES WITH HIS SIGNATURE THAT THE DECLARATIONS CONTAINED IN THISRECEIPT FORM ARE CORRECT AND COMPLETE AND THAT HE WILL REMIT THE AMOUNT OF PERCENTAGE DUE TO FIFA TO THEIR UBS ACCOUNT, ZURICH.

POUR LES MATCHES ENTRE EQUIPES D’UNE MEME CONFEDERATION, LE POURCENTAGE DÛ EST DE 1% (MIN. CHF 500.-). POUR LES MATCHES ENTRE EQUIPES
DE DEUX CONFEDERATIONS DIFFERENTES, LE POURCENTAGE DÛ EST DE 2% (MIN. CHF 500.-). LE POURCENTAGE DÛ A LA FIFA ET AUX CONFEDERATIONS SERAACQUITTE DANS UN DELAI DE 60 JOURS APRES LE MATCH AU COURS DU CHANGE OFFICIEL DU JOUR OÛ LE MONTANT EST DÛ.
LE SOUSSIGNE, SECRETAIRE GENERAL DE L'ASSOCIATION ORGANISATRICE, CERTIFIE PAR SA SIGNATURE QUE LES DECLARATIONS FIGURANT SUR CETTE FEUILLE DE
RECETTES SONT EXACTES ET COMPLETES ET IL S'ENGAGE A FAIRE VIRER LE MONTANT DU POURCENTAGE DÛ A LA FIFA SUR SON COMPTE AUPRES DE L’UBS,ZURICH.

POR PARTIDOS DE EQUIPOS DE LA MISMA CONFEDERACIÓN SE ABONA UN PORCENTAJE DEL 1 % (MÍN. 500 CHF) POR PARTIDOS DE EQUIPOS DE DOS
CONFEDERACIONES SE ABONA UN PORCENTAJE DEL 2 % (MÍN. 500 CHF). LOS PORCENTAJES QUE SE DEBEN A LA FIFA Y A LAS CONFEDERACIONES SE PAGARÁN
EN UN PLAZO DE 60 DÍAS DESPUÉS DEL PARTIDO AL TIPO DE CAMBIO OFICIAL DEL DÍA EN QUE SE DEBE EFECTUAR EL PAGO.
EL QUE SUBSCRIBE, SECRETARIO GENERAL DE LA ASOCIACIÓN NACIONAL ORGANIZADORA, CERTIFICA CON SU FIRMA QUE LAS DECLARACIONES QUE CONTIENEESTA HOJA DE INGRESOS SON EXACTAS Y COMPLETAS Y SE COMPROMETE A REMITIR EL IMPORTE DEL PORCENTAJE A LA CUENTA DE LA FIFA EN EL UBS, ZURICH.

FÜR SPIELE ZWISCHEN TEAMS DERSELBEN KONFÖDERATION BELÄUFT SICH DIE ABGABE AUF 1 % (MIND. CHF 500), FÜR SPIELE ZWISCHEN TEAMSVERSCHIEDENER KONFÖDERATIONEN AUF 2 % (MIND. CHF 500). DIE ABGABE AN DIE FIFA UND DIE KONFÖDERATIONEN IST INNERHALB VON 60 TAGEN NACH
DEM SPIEL ZUM OFFIZIELLEN KURS DES FÄLLIGKEITSDATUMS ZAHLBAR.
DER UNTERZEICHNETE GENERALSEKRETÄR DES ORGANISIERENDEN VERBANDES BESCHEINIGT DURCH UNTERSCHRIFT, DASS DIE ANGABEN IN DIESER EINNAHMEERKLÄRUNG RICHTIG UND VOLLSTÄNDIG SIND, UND ER VERPFLICHTET SICH, DEN BETRAG DES PROZENTSATZES AUF DAS KONTO BEI DER UBS IN ZÜRICH
EINZUZAHLEN.

9

DATE
DATE
FECHA __________________________DATUM

SIGNATURE OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY
SIGNATURE DU SECRETAIRE GENERALFIRMA DEL SECRETARIO GENERAL ________________________________________________UNTERSCHRIFT DES GENERALSEKRETÄRS

Fédération Internationale de Football Association
FIFA-Strasse 20 P.O. Box 8044 Zurich Switzerland

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Match Agents
Regulations

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Match Agents Regulations
LANGUAGESENGLISH1 - 11FRENCH13 - 23SPANISH25 - 35

GERMAN37 - 47

CONTENTS
Match Agents Regulations

5

Preamble

6

I.

Principles

6

II.

FIFA licence

6III. Rights and duties inherent in the FIFA licence8

IV. Disputes

9

V.

Termination of Activity

10

VI. Transitional Provisions

10

VII. Final Provisions

10

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Match Agents Regulations
At its meeting on 17 December 2002, the FIFA Executive Committee passed thefollowing regulations in compliance with art. 16 par. 3 of the Regulations Governing theApplication of the FIFA Statutes.
To simplify matters, the use of the male gender in these regulations applies to bothmales and females.

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Preamble
1

These regulations govern the occupation of match agents who arrange matches
between teams belonging to different confederations.

2

Any confederation that makes use of its entitlement to issue its own match agent’s
licence (cf. art. 3 par. 2 of these regulations) shall ensure that its regulations are basedon the guidelines contained in these regulations. In particular, the principles outlined
under art. 4, 8, 9, 12, 16, 17, 19 and 24 of these regulations are binding for confederations.

I. Principles
Art. 1The employment of agents to arrange matches shall be permitted (cf. art. 16 par. 1 of
the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes).
Art. 2Agents who arrange matches between teams belonging to different confederations
must be in possession of a licence issued by FIFA (cf. art. 16 par. 3 of the Regulations
Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes).
Art. 3
1

Agents who arrange matches between teams from the same confederation must be
officially recognised by the confederation in question (cf. art. 16 par. 2 of the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes).

2

Confederations shall be entitled to make provisions to issue a licence of their own.

3

If a confederation makes use of this entitlement, a match agent who is either domiciledor has his headquarters within that confederation shall not be authorised to become aFIFA match agent unless he has already obtained a licence from this confederation.

4

If a confederation has no provisions to issue a licence, the match agent may obtain alicence from FIFA.

II. FIFA licenceArt. 41

Anyone wishing to obtain a FIFA licence to arrange matches shall send a written request
to the FIFA general secretariat.

2

Only a natural person may apply for a licence. Applications from companies or clubs are
not permitted.
Art. 5

1

The national association where the prospective match agent is either domiciled or has
his headquarters shall enclose written confirmation with the application thata) the candidate applying for the licence has a good reputation;b) it does not object to the candidate acting as an agent to organise matches.

2

6

It is the responsibility of the national association in question to examine the application.

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Art. 6
In his application, the prospective match agent shall formally declare that he is fully
conversant with the terms of these regulations and the provisions contained in art. 16 of
the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes and that he accepts theconditions therein.
Art. 7
Once the above-mentioned conditions have been fulfilled, the FIFA general secretariat
shall submit the application received to the FIFA Players’ Status Committee.
Art. 81

Once the application has been approved by the FIFA Players’ Status Committee, thecandidate shall conclude professional liability insurance with an insurance company
in his country.
If the candidate is domiciled or has his headquarters in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA), he may conclude the requisite insurance policy withan insurance company in any EU/EEA country.
The candidate shall then send the insurance policy to the FIFA general secretariat.

2

The aim of the insurance is to cover any claims for compensation that are made by any
party under contract with a match agent and that have arisen from the match agent’s
typical activities which, in the opinion of FIFA, have contravened the principles of theseregulations (cf. art. 20 of these regulations). The policy shall therefore be worded insuch a way that every possible risk connected with a match agent’s occupation is covered.

3

The minimum amount to be covered by the insurance policy shall not be less than CHF
200,000 or the equivalent in another currency. Match agents may insure themselves
for a higher amount in accordance with their turnover.

4

The professional liability insurance policy shall also cover claims made after expiry of
the policy regarding events that occurred during the duration of the policy.

5

The match agent is required to renew the insurance policy as soon as it has expired andautomatically send the relevant documents to the FIFA general secretariat.
Art. 91

If it is impossible for the candidate to conclude a professional liability insurance policy
in his country in compliance with art. 8 above, he may deposit a bank guarantee to theamount of CHF 100,000. The guarantee shall be issued by a Swiss bank and shall beirrevocable.

2

Only FIFA has access to this bank guarantee, which has the same objective as that ofprofessional liability insurance (cf. art. 8 par. 2 of these regulations). The amount of theguarantee (CHF 100,000) does not represent the maximum amount that may be due toany party claiming damages.

3

If the amount of the guarantee is reduced by a payment from the bank in response to aclaim for damages against a match agent, the agent’s licence will be suspended until
the amount of the guarantee has been restored to the initial amount (CHF 100,000).

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Art. 10Once it has received the professional liability insurance policy or, in exceptional
cases, the bank guarantee, the FIFA general secretariat shall issue the licence.
Art. 11
The rights and duties described under chapter III below are inherent in the licence.
Art. 12The match agent’s licence is not transferable. It is not commercial property that can be
negotiated, loaned or sold.

III. Rights and duties inherent in the FIFA licenceArt. 13
The FIFA licence to arrange matches confers upon the holder the exclusive right toarrange friendly matches or tournaments between national teams or clubs from different
confederations.
Art. 14
It is the responsibility of the clubs to obtain authorisation from their national associations to arrange one or more matches involving two clubs from different national
associations.
Art. 15
If no arrangements have been made directly between clubs and/or national associations, the latter shall, in principle, only authorise matches organised by authorised
agents.
Art. 16
The club, national association or the person the match agent claims he is representing,shall, upon demand, confirm such a mandate in writing as well as any commitments
undertaken on their behalf.
Art. 17
Any commitments undertaken by and for a match agent shall be drawn up in duplicate
in writing in the form of a contract signed by all the parties concerned.
Art. 18
1

To be valid, a contract drawn up in accordance with art. 17 shall contain provisions
covering:a) expenses for travel, board and basic living costs of the contractual parties;b) the total net indemnification (after deduction of all charges, levies or taxes) due tothe contractual parties;c) the conditions that shall apply if a match is (or matches are) cancelled in the case offorce majeure;

8

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d) the conditions that shall apply if a player who was due to have been fielded under
the terms of the contract does not appear in the team (including reasons of force
majeure);e) the fact that the parties concerned shall be aware of these regulations and undertake to observe the provisions therein.
2

Contracts that do not include one or more of the above provisions shall be null andvoid.
Art. 19

1

The commission received by the FIFA match agent shall not exceed 25% of the amount
he has negotiated for the club or national association he represents. Contractual provisions that contain higher commission shall be null and void, but do not affect thevalidity of the contract as a whole.

2

If the contract concluded between the FIFA match agent and his client does not containany provisions regarding commission, the match agent shall be entitled to compensation of 10% of the amount he has negotiated for the club or national association herepresents.
Art. 20

1

FIFA may intervene to ensure that any commitments undertaken between match agentsand teams under contract to the agents are observed only if the two conditions mentioned under art. 16 par. 4 of the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA
Statutes have been complied with.

2

If one of the parties to the contract can prove that it has suffered loss as a result of amatch agent’s activities, the FIFA Players’ Status Committee may decide to indemnify
the party concerned from the professional liability insurance or, in exceptional cases,from the bank guarantee provided by the match agent (cf. art. 8 and 9 of these regulations).

3

If a match agent repeatedly causes problems, the FIFA Players’ Status Committee may
decide to withdraw his licence.

4

Any national association or club that does not observe the commitments it has undertaken or fails to adhere to the provisions contained herein shall be sanctioned inaccordance with the statutes and regulations in force.
Art. 21

The FIFA body responsible for supervising and ruling on any matters connected withthe application of these regulations shall be the FIFA Players’ Status Committee.

IV. Disputes
Art. 22
1

In the event of a dispute between a match agent and a national association, a club
and/or another match agent, the complaint shall be submitted to the FIFA Players’
Status Committee for consideration and resolution.

2

Any confederation that makes use of the entitlement to issue a match agent’s licence(cf. art. 3 of these regulations) shall be responsible for dealing with disputes between a

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match agent and a national association, a club and/or another match agent, whenever
all of the parties involved are registered with the same confederation. In such a case,the confederation in question is obliged to deal with the case and pass a decision.
3

The FIFA Players’ Status Committee shall not consider any dispute under these regulations if more than two years have elapsed since the facts leading to the dispute arose,and in any case no later than six months after the match agent concerned has terminated his activity as such.

V. Termination of Activity
Art. 23
1

Any FIFA match agent who terminates his activity is obliged to return his licence.

2

The match agent may not cancel his professional liability insurance policy until he has
terminated his occupation (the licence has either been returned or withdrawn). The
match agent shall, however, ensure that any claim for compensation that is made aftertermination of his occupation and that arises from his former activity as a match agent
is covered by the insurance (cf. art. 8 par. 4 of these regulations).

VI. Transitional Provisions
Art. 24
Any match agent who has deposited a bank guarantee with a Swiss bank in compliancewith art. 8 of the Regulations Governing Match Agents dated 2 May 1995 may request
FIFA to release the bank guarantee upon production of a professional liability insurance
policy. The policy shall have been issued by an insurance company in the country of thematch agent concerned.
If the match agent is domiciled or has his headquarters in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA), he may conclude the requisite insurance policy with aninsurance company in any EU/EEA country.
Art. 25
Any dispute between a match agent and a national association, a club and/or anothermatch agent that was submitted to FIFA before these regulations came into force shall besettled in compliance with the former version of the FIFA Regulations Governing Match
Agents dated 2 May 1995.

VII. Final Provisions
Art. 26
Any matter not provided for in these regulations shall be settled by the FIFA Players’
Status Committee.
Art. 27
These regulations were initially adopted on 13 June 1991 and subsequently amended
on 31 May 1995 and 17 December 2002. The new version shall come into force on 1
March 2003.
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Madrid/Zurich, 17 December 2002

For the FIFA Executive Committee:
President
Joseph S. Blatter

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General Secretary
Urs Linsi

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FIFA Regulations
Club Licensing

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INDEX

ArticlePage

Definitions
I.

6

General provisions
1

Introduction
1.1

9

Objectives of the club licensing system

10

II. FIFA Club Licensing Regulations
2

Procedure
2.1

Criteria gradation

11

2.1.1

Principle

11

2.2

Licensing implementation

11

2.2.1

Principle

11

2.2.2

Implementation at confederation level

11

2.2.3

Existence of a legal basis within the statutes of theconfederation

12

Integration of the FIFA regulations into confederation
regulations

12

2.2.5

Implementation at national level

12

2.2.6

Existence of a legal basis within the statutes of themember association

12

2.2.7

Sanctions under the national club licensing system

13

2.2.8

Integration of the confederation regulations
into national regulations

13

2.2.9

Applicability of the system

14

2.2.10

Option to delegate the club licensing system to anaffiliated league

14

Bodies of the confederation

15

2.2.4

2.3
3

11

Licensor

15

2
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Article

4

5

6

Page

3.1

Introduction

15

3.2

Definition of licensor

15

3.2.1

Principle

15

3.2.2

Decision-making bodies

15

3.2.3

First-instance body (FIB)

16

3.2.4

Appeals body (AB)

17

3.2.5

Decision-making procedure

18

Licence applicant and licence

18

4.1

Introduction

18

4.2

Circle of licence applicants

19

4.2.1

Authority to define licence applicants

19

4.3

Definition of licence applicant

19

4.3.1

Principle

19

4.4

Licence20

4.4.1

Principle

20

4.5

Extraordinary application of the club licensing systemfor entering confederation club competitions

21

4.5.1

Principle

21

4.5.2

Procedure

22Core process

22

5.1

Introduction

22

5.1.1

Principle

22

Sporting criteria

23

6.1

Introduction

23

6.2

Objectives

23

6.3

Benefits for clubs

23

6.4

Criteria

24

3
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INDEX

ArticlePage“A” criteria

24

Infrastructure criteria

25

7.1

Introduction

25

7.2

Objectives

25

7.3

Benefits for clubs

26

7.4

Criteria

26

7.4.1

“A” criteria

26

7.4.2

“B” criteria

28

7.4.3

“C” criteria

29

6.4.1
7

8

9

10

Personnel and administrative criteria

31

8.1

Introduction

31

8.2

Objectives

32

8.3

Benefits for clubs

32

8.4

Criteria

33

8.4.1

“A” criteria

33

8.4.2

“B” criteria

36

Legal criteria

37

9.1

Introduction

37

9.2

Criteria

37

9.2.1

“A” criteria

37

Financial criteria

40

10.1

Introduction

40

10.2

Objectives

40

10.3

Benefits

40

10.4

Criteria

41

4
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ArticlePage

III. Final provisions
11

Obligations

46

12

Spot checks and sanctions by confederations

46

13

Spot checks and sanctions by FIFA

47

14

Diverging texts

47

15

Adoption and enforcement48

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DEFINITIONSDefinition
Accounting policies

The specific principles, bases, conventions,rules and practices adopted by an entity
in preparing and presenting its financial
statements.

Annual financial
statements

A complete set of financial statements
prepared as at the statutory closing date,normally including a balance sheet, profit
and loss account, a statement of cash flows
and those notes, other statements andexplanatory material that are an integral
part of the financial statements.

Control

The power to govern the financial andoperating policies of an entity so as to obtainbenefits from its activities.

Core process

Minimum requirements that the licensor
must put in place for verification ofcompliance with the criteria described in
the regulations as a basis for the issue of alicence to an applicant.

Criteria

Requirements to be fulfilled by the licenceapplicant divided into five categories(sporting, infrastructure, personnel andadministrative, legal and financial), witheach category being split into threegrades A-C (mandatory and best-practicerecommendation).

Deadline for submissionof the application to thelicensor

The date by which each licensor requires
the licence applicant to have submitted all
relevant information for its application fora licence.

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Definition
Employee benefits

All forms of consideration given by anentity in exchange for service rendered by
employees.

Licence

Certificate confirming fulfilment of all
mandatory minimum requirements by thelicensee in order to start the admission
procedure for confederation clubcompetitions.

Licence applicant

Legal entity fully and solely responsible forthe football team participating in national
and international club competitions thatapplies for a licence.

LicenseeLicence applicant which has been granted alicence by the licensor.

Licensor

Body that operates the licensing system andgrants the licence.

May

Indicates a party’s discretion to do something(i.e. optional rather than mandatory).

Must or shall

Indicates an obligation to do something(i.e. mandatory).

National club licensing
regulations

Working document which describes thenational club licensing system in a particularcountry. It includes all the minimum
requirements of the FIFA and confederation
licensing system as well as any specificnational particularities and objectives.

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DEFINITIONSDefinition
Related party

A party is related to an entity if:a) directly, or indirectly through one or moreintermediaries, the party:i) controls, is controlled by, or is undercommon control with, the entity (thisincludes parents, subsidiaries andfellow subsidiaries);ii) has an interest in the entity that gives
it significant influence over the entity;oriii) has joint control over the entity;b) the party is an associate of the entity;c) the party is a joint venture in which theentity is a venturer;d) the party is a member of the key
management personnel of the entity or
its parent;e) the party is a close member of the familyof any individual referred to in (a) or (d);f) the party is an entity that is controlled,
jointly controlled or significantly influenced
by, or for which significant voting powerin such entity resides with, directly or
indirectly, any individual referred to in (d)or (e); org) the party is a post-employment benefit
plan for the benefit of employees of theentity, or of any entity that is a related
party of the entity.

Stadium

The venue for a competition match,including, but not limited to, all properties
and facilities near to such stadium (e.g.
offices, hospitality areas, press centres andaccreditation centres).

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I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article1

Introduction

The FIFA Club Licensing Regulations (hereinafter: FIFA regulations) are abasic working document for confederations and member associations
that is to be transformed into national club licensing regulations(hereinafter: national regulations). They incorporate minimum
requirements and guidelines and have been developed according to
the principles elaborated by the FIFA Task Force “For the Good of theGame”.
The FIFA regulations are divided into two main sections.
The first section addresses the member association as the licensor,
explaining its tasks, defining the licence applicant and the licensing
bodies as well as the core process to be applied.
The second section is directed at the clubs of the member association.
The five categories of minimum criteria are described in five chapters,
which are as follows: sporting criteria, infrastructure criteria, personnel
and administrative criteria, legal criteria and financial criteria. The
criteria are divided into three different grades (“A”, “B” and “C”).
The confederations and member associations are invited to:a) read and understand the FIFA regulations;b) decide whether the club licensing system applies to the national
context (which divisions or clubs and which criteria);c) take into account national law, statutes and regulations;d) adapt their own structure and relevant organisation according to
the minimum requirements regarding the core process and further
procedures;e) consider increasing the minimum criteria set in this document
and upgrading or adding other criteria according to the specificneeds and the existing quality of confederations and domestic
competitions;f) set up a working plan for the implementation of the FIFA regulations
at confederation and national level.
The national regulations must be accredited by the relevant
confederation.

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I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1

Objectives of the club licensing system
The club licensing system has the following overall objectives inaccordance with the decision taken by the FIFA Congress in Munich
in 2006:• safeguarding the credibility and integrity of club competitions;• improving the level of professionalism within the football family;• promoting sporting values in accordance with the principles of fairplay as well as safe and secure match environments;• promoting transparency in the finances of clubs;• promoting transparency in the ownership of clubs;• promoting transparency in the control of clubs.

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II. FIFA CLUB LICENSING REGULATIONSArticle2

Procedure

Criteria gradation

2.1
2.1.1

Principle

2.1.1.1

The criteria described in these FIFA regulations are graded into three
separate categories.

2.1.1.2

The different grades have been defined as follows:a) “A” criteria – “MANDATORY”: if the licence applicant does not
fulfil any “A” criteria, then it may not be granted a licence to enter
confederation/national club competitions;b) “B” criteria – “MANDATORY”: if the licence applicant does not
fulfil any “B” criteria, then it is sanctioned as specified by thelicensor but may still receive a licence to enter confederation/national club competitions;c) “C” criteria – “BEST PRACTICE”: “C” criteria are best-practicerecommendations. Non-fulfilment of any “C” criteria does notlead to any sanction or to the refusal of the licence. Certain “C”
criteria may become mandatory criteria at a later stage.
Licensing implementation

2.2
2.2.1

Principle

2.2.1.1

These FIFA regulations must be transformed into confederation club
licensing regulations (hereinafter: confederation regulations) which set
the minimum criteria to be integrated into national regulations.

2.2.2

Implementation at confederation level

2.2.2.1

The implementation of the club licensing system at confederation level
includes the following steps:a) existence of a legal basis within the statutes;b) the integration of the principles of the FIFA regulations into
confederation regulations.

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2.2.3

Existence of a legal basis within the statutes of the confederation

2.2.3.1

For the implementation of the club licensing system, each confederationmust have a legal basis within its statutes that describes the objectiveof the system and the relevant authority and contains a reference tofurther, more detailed regulations.

2.2.4

Integration of the FIFA regulations into confederation regulations

2.2.4.1

Each confederation shall include the principles and minimum criteria
defined in the FIFA regulations in confederation regulations.

2.2.4.2

The FIFA regulations are structured and worded in such a mannerthat the confederation can use their full text as a master document.
The confederation is free to increase the minimum requirements or to
upgrade the criteria established by these regulations for the purposeof entering confederation club competitions.

2.2.5

Implementation at national level

2.2.5.1

The implementation of the club licensing system at national level
includes the following steps and processes:a) existence of a legal basis within the statutes;b) establishment of rules regarding sanctions under the national club
licensing system;c) integration of the minimum criteria defined in the confederation
regulations into national regulations, including the exception andaccreditation processes;d) decision on the applicability of the licensing system to licenceapplicants;e) option for the member association to delegate club licensing
responsibilities to an affiliated league.

2.2.6

Existence of a legal basis within the statutes of the member
association

2.2.6.1

For the implementation of the club licensing system, each member
association must have a legal basis within its statutes that describes
the objective of the system and the relevant authority and contains areference to further, more detailed regulations.

2.2.6.2

As an alternative, the club licensing system may also be based on acontract between the club and the member association.

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2.2.7

Sanctions under the national club licensing system

2.2.7.1

To guarantee an appropriate assessment process the member
association shall:a) set up a catalogue of sanctions for the club licensing system (e.g. fornon-fulfilment of B criteria). It pertains to the relevant licensing bodies
to determine these sanctions against licence applicants/licensees.
The catalogue of sanctions may include a caution, a fine and theobligation to submit evidence or fulfil certain conditions by a certain
deadline, etc.
If the club licensing system also applies to participation in national
competitions, the catalogue of sanctions may additionally include
the deduction of points, a prohibition on concluding new transfer
agreements or players’ contracts, the obligation to submit guarantees,
etc. Furthermore, the licensor may sanction the club before the start
as well as during the season;b) refer to national disciplinary regulations with regard to the violationof the licensing regulations (e.g. submission of falsified documents,
failure to meet deadlines, sanctions against individuals, etc.).

2.2.8

Integration of the confederation regulations into national
regulations

2.2.8.1

Each member association shall define the parties involved (licensor,
licence applicant, decision-making bodies), their rights and duties, thecriteria and the necessary processes in accordance with the confederation
regulations for entering confederation club competitions.

2.2.8.2

The transformation of the confederation regulations into national
regulations includes the following processes that require the approvalof the confederation:a) exception process and policy, whereby a member association may
request exceptions to certain criteria;b) accreditation process, whereby the confederations must approve
the national regulations.
Both the exception process and accreditation process must be set upby the relevant confederation. The confederation must also set therelevant deadlines.

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2.2.8.3

The member association is free to increase the minimum requirements
or to upgrade the criteria established in the confederation regulations
for the purpose of entering confederation and/or national clubcompetitions. The member association may also introduce additional
criteria not included in the confederation regulations. Where introducedby the member association in its national regulations, any increased
minimum requirements, upgraded or additional criteria shall apply
mutatis mutandis to entry for confederation club competitions. The
member association may also adapt the wording of their regulations
according to:a) member associations’ objectives and priorities;b) the statutes and regulations of the member association;c) national law;d) flexibility given by the confederation.

2.2.9

Applicability of the system

2.2.9.1

The member association must decide to which clubs the system applies.
As a minimum, the club licensing system must be implemented in respectof top-division clubs which qualify for confederation club competitions
on sporting merit. It is best practice to implement the club licensing
system in respect of all top-division clubs of the member association.

2.2.9.2

The member association may also decide to implement the system
in respect of participation in both confederation competitions andnational competitions (top division and lower divisions). The quality
standards would thereby be improved on a broader basis in thenational championship as well as in confederation club competitions,and clubs of the same division would be treated equally.

2.2.10

Option to delegate the club licensing system to an affiliated league

2.2.10.1

The member association may delegate the club licensing system toan affiliated league subject to the approval of the confederation’s
executive committee.

2.2.10.2

Vis-à-vis FIFA and the confederation, the member association as amember of FIFA and the confederation remains responsible for theproper implementation of the club licensing system, regardless ofwhether there is a delegation or not.

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Bodies of the confederation

2.3

The confederation shall indicate the bodies through which theconfederation shall act with regard to the club licensing system.

Article3

Licensor

Introduction

3.1

This chapter defines the licensor and the decision-making bodies.
Definition of licensor

3.2
3.2.1

Principle

3.2.1.1

The member association is the licensor.

3.2.1.2

The licensor shall govern the licensing system, appoint the corresponding
licensing bodies and determine the necessary processes.

3.2.1.3

The licensor guarantees the licensee full confidentiality with regard
to all information given by the licence applicant during the licensing
process. Anyone involved in the licensing process or appointed by
the licensor must sign a confidentiality clause before commencing its
tasks.

3.2.2

Decision-making bodies

3.2.2.1

The licensor shall establish an appropriate administration and appoint
qualified staff members.

3.2.2.2

The licensor shall establish two decision-making bodies, the names ofwhich it shall determine:a) first-instance body (FIB);b) appeals body (AB).

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3.2.2.3

The decision-making bodies shall be independent from each other.
They shall receive administrative support from the administration of
the licensor. A member must in all cases automatically abstain if there
is any doubt as to his/her independence towards the licence applicant
or if there is a conflict of interest.
In this connection, the independence of a member may not be
guaranteed if he/she or any member of his/her family (spouse,children, parents, siblings) is a member, shareholder, business partner,
sponsor or consultant, etc. of the licence applicant. The foregoing list
is illustrative and not exhaustive.

3.2.3

First-instance body (FIB)

3.2.3.1

The FIB shall decide on whether a licence shall be granted to an
applicant on the basis of the documents provided and in accordancewith the provisions of the national regulations at the submission
deadline set by the licensor.

3.2.3.2

Unless provided otherwise by the statutes, the executive committeeof the member association shall decide on the composition of thisbody.

3.2.3.3

The licensor shall decide on the quorum of the FIB. The quorum must
be a minimum of three members. The chairman shall have the castingvote.

3.2.3.4

In the case of a licence refusal, the decision must be put in writing andinclude the reasoning.

3.2.3.5

Members of the FIB may not belong simultaneously to a statutory
judicial body of the licensor and must act impartially in the dischargeof their duties.

3.2.3.6

The licensor may nominate administrative staff of the member
association and its affiliated league as members of the FIB, with the
exception of the licensing manager, who may not be a member of theFIB.

3.2.3.7

The executive committee of the member association shall decide if themembers of the FIB are elected or appointed.

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3.2.4

Appeals body (AB)3.2.4.1

The AB shall decide on appeals submitted in writing and make a final
and binding decision on whether a licence shall be granted.

3.2.4.2

Appeals may only be lodged by:a) the licence applicant following a refusal by the FIB;b) the licensor, the competent body of which must be defined (e.g.
licensing manager).
The AB shall make its decision based on the decision of the FIB andall the evidence provided by the licence applicant or licensor with
its written request for appeal within the deadline determined in theappeal procedure by the chairman of the AB. Any further evidence
submitted to the AB at a later stage shall not be taken into account.

3.2.4.3

3.2.4.4

In the case of a licence refusal, the decision must be put in writing andinclude the reasoning.

3.2.4.5

The member association shall decide whether the club licensing systemcomes under the authority of the court of arbitration specified inits statutes. In this respect, particular attention shall be paid to therelevant deadlines for entering confederation club competitions.

3.2.4.6

Unless otherwise provided by the statutes, the executive committee ofthe member association shall decide on the composition of the AB.

3.2.4.7

The licensor shall decide on the quorum for the decisions of the AB.
The quorum must be a minimum of three members. The chairman
shall have the casting vote.

3.2.4.8

Administrative staff of the member association and its affiliated league
may not be members of the AB.

3.2.4.9

Members of the AB may not simultaneously be members of any otherstatutory body or committee of the licensor.

3.2.4.10

The executive committee of the member association shall decide if themembers of the AB are elected or appointed.

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3.2.5

Decision-making procedure

3.2.5.1

In the national regulations or in a specific regulation, the licensor shalldefine procedural rules with respect to decision-making (cf. 5.1.1).
These shall, as a minimum, regulate the following standards:a) deadlines (e.g. submission deadlines);b) the principle of equal treatment;c) representation (e.g. legal representation);d) the right to be heard (e.g. convocation, hearing);e) official language(s);f) time limit to issue a request (e.g. calculation, compliance,interruption and extension thereof);g) time limit to appeal;h) effect of the appeal;i) type of evidence requested;j) burden of proof (e.g. licence applicant has burden of proof);k) decisions (in writing with reasoning, etc);l) ground for complaint;m) content and form of pleading;n) deliberation and hearings;o) cost of procedure, administrative fee and deposit.

Article4.1

4

Licence applicant and licence

Introduction
This chapter defines the legal entity that must apply for the
licence and the licence to enter confederation and/or national clubcompetitions.
The legal entity applying for a licence is called the licence applicant.
Once the licence applicant has been granted a licence by the licensor
it becomes a licensee. For the purpose of this chapter only, the term
licence applicant is used.

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Circle of licence applicants

4.2
4.2.1

Authority to define licence applicants

4.2.1.1

The licensor defines the licence applicants according to the statutes
and regulations of the member association, the following provisions
and in accordance with national law. This may be regulated in thelicensing regulations and/or in the statutes of the member association
and/or in other specific national regulations. Furthermore, FIFA andconfederation statutes as well as relevant regulations must also betaken into account (e.g. FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer
of Players).
Definition of licence applicant

4.3
4.3.1

Principle

4.3.1.1

The licence applicant is defined as being the legal entity fully
responsible for the football team which participantes in national andinternational club competitions and which is a member of the member
association.

4.3.1.2

The status of a football club (professional, semi-professional oramateur) is not relevant to the issue of a licence.

4.3.1.3

The legal form of a football club is not relevant to the issue of thelicence in accordance with national statutes and law.

4.3.1.4

Only a registered member may apply for/receive a licence. Natural
persons may not apply for/receive a licence.

4.3.1.5

The licence applicant is fully responsible for participation in national
and international football competitions as well as the fulfilment of theclub licensing criteria.

4.3.1.6

The licence applicant is, in particular, responsible for ensuring thefollowing:a) that all players are registered at the member association and/or
its affiliated league and, if professional players, that they have awritten employment contract with either the registered member(see articles 2 and 5 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status andTransfer of Players);b) that all the compensation paid to the players arising fromcontractual or legal obligations and all the revenues arising fromgate receipts are accounted for in the books of the registeredmember;
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4.3.1.7c) that the licence applicant is fully responsible for the football teamcomposed of registered players participating in national andinternational competitions;d) that the licensor is provided with all necessary information and/or
documents relevant to proving that the licensing obligations are
fulfilled. These obligations relate to the sporting, infrastructure,
personnel and administrative and legal and financial criteria set
out under articles 6-10 respectively;e) that the licensor is provided with information on the reporting
entity/entities in respect of which sporting, infrastructure, personnel
and administrative and legal and financial information is required
to be provided. In turn, the licensor must assess whether, in respectof each licence applicant, the selected reporting entity/entities is/are appropriate for club licensing purposes.
In addition to the above-mentioned mandatory provisions, it isrecommended that the licence applicant:a) is based legally in the territory of the member association and plays
its home matches only in that territory. The member association
may define exceptions, subject to the approval of FIFA and theconfederation;b) has the right to use the name and the brands of the club anddoes not change the name of the club for advertising/promotional
purposes;c) accepts no clauses in contracts with television, sponsors or othercommercial partners that could restrict the club in its freedom ofdecision or affect its management.
Licence4.4
4.4.1

Principle

4.4.1.1

Licences must be issued according to the provisions of the accredited
national regulations.

4.4.1.2

The licensor must issue an invitation to the football clubs to apply fora licence punctually and in writing. The club applying for a licencemust submit a written application to the licensor. In this application,
the club must, in particular, declare that it shall fulfil the obligationsof the licensing system.

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4.4.1.3

Only clubs which fulfil the criteria set in the accredited national
regulations by the relevant deadline and that have qualified on thebasis of their sporting results may be granted a licence by the member
association to enter the confederation/national club competitions of
the coming season.

4.4.1.4

A licence expires without prior notice at the end of the season forwhich it was issued.

4.4.1.5

A licence may be withdrawn by the national decision-making bodies
during a season if:a) for any reason a licensee becomes insolvent and enters into
liquidation during the season, as determined by the applicablenational law (where a licensee becomes insolvent but enters
administration during the season, the licence should not be
withdrawn as long as the purpose of the administration is torescue the club and its business);b) any of the conditions for the issue of a licence are no longer
satisfied; orc) the licensee violates any of its obligations under the national
regulations.
As soon as a licence withdrawal is envisaged, the member associationmust inform the confederation.

4.4.1.6
4.4.1.7

A licence may not be transferred.
Extraordinary application of the club licensing system forentering confederation club competitions

4.5

4.5.1

Principle

4.5.1.1

If a club qualifies for a confederation club competition based on its
sporting results but has not undergone a national licensing process at
all or has undergone a licensing process which is lower/not equivalent
to the one applicable to top-division clubs because it belongs to adivision other than the top division, the member association of the clubconcerned may – on behalf of such a club – request the extraordinary
application of the club licensing system.

4.5.1.2

In practice, such a club could for example be the winner or the runnerup of the main domestic cup or league cup playing in a division otherthan the top division.

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4.5.1.3

Based on such an extraordinary application, the confederation may
grant special permission to enter the corresponding club competition
which only applies to that specific applicant and for the season inquestion.

4.5.2

Procedure
The confederation shall define the relevant procedure.

Article5Core process

Introduction

5.1

This article defines the assessment process (hereinafter: core process)of the club licensing system.
5.1.1

Principle
The core process describes the minimum requirements that the licensor
must put in place for the verification of the criteria described in theFIFA regulations (sporting criteria, infrastructure criteria, personnel andadministrative criteria and legal criteria and financial criteria) in order
to control the issue of a licence to a licence applicant.
The core process must, as a minimum, fulfil the following
requirements:• The deadlines for submission of the licensing documentation must
be clearly defined and communicated;• The fulfilment of each set of criteria by the licence applicant must
be verified by suitably qualified staff acting for the licensor;• The decision-making process must be based on a two-step
approach (i.e. first-instance and appeal);• The decision-making bodies must fulfil the requirements ofqualification, independence and confidentiality;• The licensor shall submit to the confederation the list of licensed
clubs by the relevant deadline. The confederation shall submit toFIFA the list of licensed clubs upon request by FIFA.

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Article6.1

6Sporting criteria

Introduction
For the future of football it is absolutely necessary to have a broad baseof footballers available who have the necessary skills and motivation
to become professional players. Therefore, it is important to foster
youth development programmes and to attract into football more andbetter-educated boys and girls who not only play the game but arealso supporters.

6.2

Objectives
The objectives of the sporting criteria are that licence applicants:• invest in quality-driven youth development programmes;• support football education and encourage non-football educationof their youth players;• foster medical care of their youth players;• practise fair play on and off the pitch.

6.3

Benefits for clubs
The first and main advantage of the sporting criteria is to “produce”
football talents for the club’s first-team squad every year. They also
normally fit more easily and quickly into the first-team squad since
they have partly trained with them, know their tactics and speak thesame language. They lack only experience.
Under the FIFA transfer system, clubs that have trained players younger
than 23 who are then transferred internationally receive financial
compensation. Clubs will thus receive a return on their investment
if they train young players. Programmes for improving relations andrespect between coaches, officials, players and referees support
the idea of fair play on and off the pitch. The image of the players
and clubs will improve and on the other hand, fines for disciplinary
sanctions can be reduced.

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Criteria

6.4“A” criteria

6.4.1

No.

Grade

Description

S.01

A

Approved youth development programme
The licence applicant must have a written youth
development programme approved by the licensor.
This education programme must include at least thefollowing:a) objectives and youth development philosophy;b) organisation of youth sector (organisational chart, bodies
involved, relation to licence applicant, youth teams,etc.);
c) personnel (technical, medical and administrative, etc.)
and required minimum qualifications;d) infrastructure available for youth sector (training andmatch facilities, etc.);e) financial resources (available budget, contribution bylicence applicant, players or local community etc.);f) a football education programme for the different age
groups (playing skills, technical, tactical and physical);g) an educational programme on the Laws of the Game;h) medical support for youth players (including medical
checks).
The youth development programme must further show
the licence applicant’s commitment to and support ofmandatory and complementary school education for youth
players.

S.02

A

Youth teams
The licence applicant must have at least the following
youth teams within its legal entity or affiliated to its legal
entity:a) at least one youth team within the age range of 15 to21;b) at least one youth team within the age range of 10 to
14.

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Article7.1

7Infrastructure criteria

Introduction
The criteria and requirements contained in this section are based
mainly on the following documents:• the Laws of the Game;• the FIFA book Football Stadiums – Technical Recommendations
and Requirements.
On the basis of these documents as well as long-standing experience,strict minimum requirements have been established and are describedin the following pages. Because the infrastructure criteria should beseen as long-term investments, several recommendations have been
introduced which must be taken into consideration if a stadium is tobe built or renovated in the short term (one to three years). These
recommendations will probably be essential requirements for stadiums
one day. Therefore, it would be appreciated if the recommendations
were either already incorporated into the stadium planning or stadium
adaptations began right away in order to improve quality standards
on a voluntary basis.
The national law also needs to be taken into consideration whenestablishing the stadium and security requirements.

7.2

Objectives
The objectives of the following infrastructure criteria are that licenceapplicants:• have an approved stadium available for playing club competition
matches that provides spectators and media and press
representatives with a well-equipped, well-appointed and safe andcomfortable stadium;• have suitable training facilities for their players to help them
improve their technical skills.

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Benefits for clubs

7.3

It is appreciated that nowadays people only follow events that are
attractive, entertaining and are worth spending a certain amountof money on. A match between two football teams is no longer
enough to bring people into a football stadium to watch a match live.
Therefore, each club, together with the stadium owner and the local
community, should try to provide a stadium that is attractive to visit,
safe and secure, easily accessible by car (including parking facilities)
and/or public transport, has comfortable seats with a close viewof the pitch, clean hospitality facilities and shops, is equipped withhygienic and spacious toilets for both sexes, provides communication
installations (loudspeakers and a video screen) and, finally, also offersinteresting and exciting football on the pitch.
Finally, the comfort of a stadium is an important element in terms of
having a large crowd to support the teams on the pitch.
Criteria

7.4“A” criteria

7.4.1

No.

Grade

Description

I.01

A

Stadium – Certification
The stadium must be certified.
The certification is defined according to national/local
law and must include provisions related to safety and an
evacuation plan. If such law does not exist, the licensor
shall establish the content of the stadium certificate andthe procedure in close cooperation with the appropriate
body/bodies (e.g. local security authorities, the local
hospital, fire brigade, police, etc.).
The certificate issued by the appropriate body must not
be older than two years at the beginning of the new clubcompetition season.

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I.02

A

Stadium – Control room
Each stadium must have a control room which ensures
an overall view of the inside of the stadium in accordancewith the provisions of the applicable law or according to
the requirements of the licensor, in consultation with theappropriate civil body (e.g. local police).

I.03

A

Stadium – Capacity
The minimum capacity of the stadium shall be determinedaccording to the average demand in the domestic
championship.

I.04

A

Stadium – Availability
The licence applicant must have a stadium available to hostclub competitions.
Alternative 1: The licence applicant legally owns thestadium.
Alternative 2: The licence applicant may provide a written
contract with the owner of a stadium orwith owners of different stadiums it will
use within the territory of the member
association. This contract guarantees theuse of the stadium for home matches in
the coming season for which the clubqualifies in sporting terms.

I.05

A

Stadium – Floodlighting
For evening matches, the stadium must be equipped withfloodlight installations which comply with the standard
values set by the confederation.

I.06

A

Stadium – Spectator areas
Each stand within the stadium must be capable of being
divided into separate sectors according to the requirementsof the local security authorities or, if no such requirements
exist, those of the licensor.

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I.07

A

Stadium – First aid rooms and stadium doping control
room
Each stadium must be equipped with first aid room(s) tocare for spectators in need of medical assistance. This must
be done in accordance with local authority regulations,otherwise the licensor shall determine the exact number,size and location of the first aid room(s) in consultation
with the appropriate civil body (e.g. local authorities forsecurity and health).
The doping control room must be near to the teams’ andreferees’ dressing rooms and inaccessible to the public andthe media.

I.08

A

Field of play – Specification
The field of play must comply with the Laws of the Gameand be:Alternative 1: Natural grass;
Alternative 2: Artificial turf (according to the FIFA
quality standards), subject to the relevant
approvals.
“B” criteria

7.4.2

No.

Grade

Description

I.09

B

Stadium – Ground rules
Each stadium must issue stadium ground rules and affix
them to the stadium in such a way that the spectators canread them. These rules must provide information on atleast the following:• admission rights;• abandonment or postponement of events;• description of prohibitions and penalties, such as entering
the field of play, throwing objects, use of foul or abusive
language, racist behaviour, etc.;• restrictions with regard to alcohol, fireworks, banners, etc.;• seating rules;• causes for ejection from the ground;• risk analysis specific to the stadium.

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I.10

B

Training facilities – Availability to club
The training facilities must be available to the clubthroughout the year.
Alternative 1: The licence applicant legally owns thetraining facilities;
Alternative 2: The licence applicant may provide written
contract(s) with the owner(s) of the training
facilities. This contract guarantees the useof the training facilities for the coming
season for all club teams participating ina championship approved by the national/
regional association.

I.11

B

Stadium – Sanitary facilities
Each stand must provide sufficient toilet facilities for both
sexes in accordance with the local authority regulations or
the licensor’s requirements.
These amenities must include washing facilities with atleast cold water and a plentiful supply of towels and/or
hand dryers.
They must be bright, clean and hygienic and a procedure
should be established to maintain that condition
throughout each event.
“C” criteria

7.4.3

No.

Grade

Description

I.12

C

Stadium – Individual seats
The stadium must be equipped with individual seats thatmust be:• fixed (e.g. to the floor);• separate from the others;• comfortable (anatomically formed);• numbered; and• have a backrest of a minimum height of 30cm whenmeasured from the seat.

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I.13

C

Stadium – Covered seats
The licensor shall determine the minimum number ofindividual seats which must be covered.

I.14

C

Stadium – Accommodation of visiting supporters
At least five per cent of the certified total stadium capacity
must be made available for accommodating visiting
supporters in a separate area.
This provision is subject to decisions by the competentbodies of the licensor and/or the local authority regarding
safety and security (high-risk matches, etc.).

I.15

C

Stadium – Signposting and directions
All public direction signs inside and outside the stadium
must be presented in internationally understandable
pictographic language.
Clear, comprehensive signposting must be provided at
the stadium approaches and around and throughout thestadium to point the way to the different sectors.

I.16

C

Stadium – Media and press facilities
There must be suitable media and press facilities (working
room and press conference room).
The licensor shall determine the content of this provisionaccording to the actual needs of its media, taking into
consideration the following recommendations, and in
consultation with the appropriate media bodies (e.g. media
committee):• specific media entrance to the stadium or entrances
if there is separate access for photographers and TV
personnel;• reception desk or room where late accreditation/media
information can be collected;• permanent press seats, equipped with desks big enoughto accommodate a laptop computer, a notepad and atelephone;• power supply and phone/modem connections at each
desk;

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• media working room accommodating a minimum of… persons (unless separate facilities are provided),including photographers (to be determined according
to the average demand in the domestic championship);• toilet facilities for both sexes;• press conference room with a suitable number of seats(to be determined according to the average demand in
the domestic championship);• press conference room to be equipped with a soundsystem and split box;
• photographers with heavy equipment should haveparking spaces available as close to the access point as
possible and/or a drop-off point where they can unload
equipment from vehicles;• the licensor determines a minimum number of seats inthe press box according to the average demand in its
domestic championship.
I.17

Article8.1

Stadium – Spectators with disabilities
The licensor shall set up requirements to accommodate
disabled spectators and accompanying persons safely andcomfortably.

C

8

Personnel and administrative criteria

Introduction
Nowadays a football club is not only a sports club but is also incontact with other parties. The members, the supporters, the media,
the sponsors, the suppliers, the commercial partners, the local
community and, in some cases, the shareholders of the football clubare increasingly involved and interested in the development and resultsof a football club.
Therefore, professional support should be sought from specialists
from various economic fields and industries (e.g. marketing, finance,
entertainment and media). They can share their knowledge andexperience with today’s football clubs to better satisfy the needs anddemands of participants and stakeholders in football, who must be
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treated as customers. Football clubs already operate in a competitiveenvironment on the sporting side and they are increasingly becoming
involved in an economic competition. Clubs must strengthen
profitability in the long term. Football clubs should look for new
and different sources of revenue in addition to the existing ones
(TV, gate receipts, sponsors) in order to be more independent of theincome from the club’s sporting success and have a greater chance offunctioning as a financially successful entity.
In this respect, football clubs need advice from other professionals,
namely experienced, well-educated and innovative people who canbring different skills and know-how into the club and help to satisfy
the additional needs and demands of football today.
8.2

Objectives
The objectives of the personnel and administrative criteria are to:• manage licence applicants in a professional way;
• make well-educated, qualified and skilled specialists with a certain
know-how and experience available to licence applicants;• provide the players of the first and other teams with training by
qualified coaches and support from the necessary medical staff.

8.3

Benefits for clubs
Professional, well-educated and experienced staff is of key importanceto run a football club in an efficient and effective manner. Being
professional at all levels and in all functions does not mean thatlicence applicants must recruit only full-time staff. The focus is on theprofessional manner in which the persons appointed perform theirduties. Each criterion in this section is really important for the smoothand successful running of the club and every club should be able
to afford these staff in financial terms. Professionalism will also be
improved if clubs define clear profiles for these staff which include
the main activities, the main responsibilities (technical, financial anddecision-making power, if applicable) and the requirements for thejob (education, work experience, technical know-how, IT skills, humancompetences, language skills and others including football knowhow).
It is up to the decision-making body of the licence applicant to look
for people who meet the set requirements and to engage those

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candidates that comply with the defined profile (e.g. full-time, parttime, voluntary).
Qualified coaches are the basis for high-quality education within the
football teams. In order to achieve this objective, licence applicantsneed the support of the member association to establish a coacheducation programme. To improve the football skills of the youth
teams as well as the first-team squad in all aspects (technically,tactically and physically), trained and qualified coaches are needed.
Each youth player who dreams of becoming a professional footballer
is entitled to the best-qualified coaches from the youngest age. Otherskills (e.g. psychological training, media training, social skills andlanguage skills) are necessary and must be achieved through specifictraining organised by the member association with a view to issuinga licence for coaches. This is not only desirable but is a must.
Criteria

8.4“A” criteria

8.4.1

No.

Grade

Description

P.01

A

Club secretariat
The licence applicant must have available office space torun its administration.
The required surface of the office(s) and the required
minimum technical infrastructure including telephone, fax,
internet access and e-mail must be available.
The licence applicant must have appointed the appropriate
number of skilled secretarial staff according to its needs torun its daily business. It must also ensure that its office isopen to communicate with the licensor and the public.

P.02

A

General manager
The licence applicant must have appointed a generalmanager responsible for running its daily business(operative matters).
The appointment must have been made by the appropriate
body (e.g. executive board) of the licence applicant.

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P.03

A

Finance officer
The licence applicant must have appointed a qualified
finance officer responsible for its financial matters, who
can be either a person working in the club’s administrationor an external partner mandated by the club through awritten contract.
The appointment must have been made by the appropriate
body of the licence applicant.

P.04

A

Security officer
The licence applicant must have appointed a qualified
security officer (with a specific diploma or experience)
responsible for safety and security matters.
The appointment must have been made by the appropriate
body of the licence applicant.

P.05

A

Doctor and physiotherapist
The licence applicant must have appointed at least one
doctor and one physiotherapist responsible for providing
medical support and advice to the first-team squad aswell as doping prevention policy. He must ensure medical
support during matches and training.
The doctor must be recognised and certified by theappropriate national health authorities and be duly
registered with the member association or league.

P.06

A

Head coach of first-team squad
The licence applicant must have appointed a head coachresponsible for the football matters of the first-teamsquad.
The head coach must:a) hold the highest available coaching licence of themember association of the territory on which thelicence applicant is situated or any valid foreign diploma
which is equivalent to this one and recognised by theconfederation as such;b) already have started the required education course
recognised by the member association that will allow
him to achieve the required diploma as defined under a)above; or

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c) hold a “recognition of competence” issued by themember association if he has a minimum of five years’practical experience as head coach at any top or seconddivision club in the association. The head coach must be
duly registered with the member association or league.
The appointment of the head coach must have been madeby the appropriate body of the licence applicant.
P.07

A

Head of youth development programme
The licence applicant must have appointed a head of youth
development programme responsible for running the daily
business and the technical aspects of the youth sector.
The head of youth development programme must:a) hold the second-highest available coaching licence ofthe member association of the territory on which thelicence applicant is situated;b) already have started the required education course
recognised by the member association that will allow
him to achieve the required diploma as defined under a)above or;c) hold a “recognition of competence” issued by themember association if he has a minimum of two years’practical experience as head of youth development inany top or second-division club in the association.
The head of youth development programme must be duly
registered with the member association or league.
The appointment of the head of youth development
programme must have been made by the appropriate bodyof the licence applicant.

P.08

A

Youth coaches
The licence applicant must have appointed at least
one coach responsible for all football matters for eachmandatory youth team (cf. S.02).
The youth coach must hold the minimum qualification as
defined by the licensor. He must be duly registered withthe member association or league.
The appointment must have been made by the appropriate
body of the licence applicant.
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P.09

Safety and security organisation – Stewarding
The licence applicant must have established safety
and security measures for home matches through theengagement of stewards. For this purpose, it must:a) employ stewards;b) conclude a written contract with the stadium owner toprovide the stewards; orc) conclude a written contract with an external security
company to provide stewards.
The licence applicant must provide appropriately qualified
stewards (internal or external).

A“B” Criteria

8.4.2

No.

Grade

Description

P.10

B

Rights and duties
The rights and duties of the licence applicant’s staff
members defined in P.01 to P.09 must be defined inwriting.

P.11

B

Duty to notify significant changes
Any event occurring after the submission of the licensing
documentation to the licensor representing a significant
change compared to the information previously submitted
relating to criteria P.01 to P.08 must be notified to thelicensor by the set deadline.

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Article9Legal criteria

Introduction

9.1

This criteria defines the minimum legal criteria for licence applicants.
It is of fundamental importance that the sporting integrity of clubcompetitions be protected. To that end, FIFA and the confederations
reserve the right to intervene and to take appropriate action in any
situation in which it transpires that the same natural and legal person
is in a position to influence the management, administration and/or
sporting performance of more than one club participating in the same
club competition.
Criteria

9.2“A” criteria

9.2.1

No.

Grade

Description

L.01

A

Declaration in respect of participation in clubcompetitions
The licence applicant must submit a legally valid declaration
confirming the following:a) it recognises as legally binding the statutes, rules andregulations and decisions of FIFA, the confederation,
the member association and, where such exists, of thenational league;b) it recognises the exclusive jurisdiction of CAS (the Courtof Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne) for any dispute ofinternational dimension and in particular involving FIFA
and/or the confederations;c) it recognises the prohibition on recourse to ordinary
courts under the FIFA Statutes and the confederation
statutes;d) at national level it will play in competitions that arerecognised and endorsed by the member association(e.g. national championship, national cup);

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recognised by the confederation. For the avoidanceof doubt, this provision does not relate to friendly
matches;f) it undertakes to abide by and observe the provisions andconditions of the national regulations;g) all submitted documents are complete and correct;h) it authorises the competent club licensing authority to
examine documents, seek information and, in the eventof any appeal procedure, seek information from any
relevant public authority or private body in accordancewith national law;i) it acknowledges that the confederation reserves theright to execute spot checks at national level reviewing
the assessment process and the decision-making;j) it acknowledges that FIFA reserves the right toexecute spot checks at national level to review theassessment process and the decision-making in case theconfederation fails to implement and execute a spotcheck procedure at national level.
This declaration must be executed by an authorised
signatory no more than three months prior to thecorresponding deadline for its submission to the licensor.
L.02

A

Statutes and extract of register
The licence applicant must submit the following
information:a) a copy of valid statutes;b) an extract from a public register (e.g. trade register)
containing information on the licence applicant (such as
name, address, legal form, list of authorised signatories
and type of required signature).

L.03

A

Ownership and control of clubs
The licence applicant must submit a legally valid declaration
outlining the ownership structure and control mechanismof the clubs and confirming the following:
No natural or legal person involved in the management,
administration and/or sporting performance of the club,
either directly or indirectly:

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a) holds or deals in the securities or shares of any other clubparticipating in the same competition;b) holds a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights of any
other club participating in the same competition;c) has the right to appoint or remove a majority of themembers of the administrative, management or
supervisory body of any other club participating in thesame competition;d) is a shareholder and alone controls a majority of theshareholders’ voting rights of any other club participatingin the same competition pursuant to an agreement
entered into with other shareholders of the club inquestion;e) is a member of any other club participating in the same
competition;f) is involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management,
administration and/or sporting performance of any otherclub participating in the same competition;g) has any power whatsoever over the management,
administration and/or sporting performance of any otherclub participating in the same club competition.
This declaration must be executed by an authorised
signatory no more than three months prior to thecorresponding deadline for its submission to the licensor(cf. F.01).

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II. FIFA CLUB LICENSING REGULATIONSArticle10 Financial criteria

10.1

Introduction
The preparation and presentation of financial statements by entities
differs from country to country due to a variety of social, economic
and legal circumstances and due to different countries having in
mind different users of financial statements when setting national
requirements.
FIFA recognises that the implementation of the financial criteria in thenational regulations presents a challenging task for many member
associations and clubs.

10.2

Objectives
The financial criteria aim principally to:• improve the economic and financial capability of the clubs;• increase clubs’ transparency and credibility; and• place the necessary importance on the protection of creditors.

10.3

Benefits
Implementation of the financial criteria will help deliver both shortand long-term improvements for clubs, the licensors and the footballfamily in general.
For the football family in general, the financial criteria should helpto:• safeguard the continuity and integrity of competitions;• increase the transparency and credibility of clubs’ financial
operations;• improve confidence in the probity of the football industry;• create a more attractive market for the game’s commercial partners
and investors; and• provide the basis for fair competition, because competition is notjust about the teams on the pitch.
For the licensors, the financial criteria should help to:• improve their understanding of the financial position and prospectsof their member clubs;• encourage clubs to settle liabilities to creditors on a timely basis;

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• enhance transparency in the money flow of clubs;• enhance their ability to be proactive in assisting clubs with financial
issues; and• provide a starting point for club benchmarking at a national level
for those licensors and clubs who want to develop this aspect.
For the clubs, the financial criteria should help to:• improve the standards and quality of financial management andplanning activities;• enable better management decision-making;• enhance clubs’ financial and business credibility withstakeholders;• improve financial stability; and• enhance revenue-generating ability and cost management.
Criteria

10.4

Every licensor must ensure that, in respect of the clubs which qualify
for club competitions, the following minimum criteria are met. The
licensor may develop additional criteria, information requirements
and assessment procedures for implementation in the national
regulations.
No.

Grade

Description

F.01

A

Annual financial statements – audited
Regardless of the legal structure of the licence applicant,annual financial statements consisting of a balance sheet,profit and loss account and notes based on the local
legislation for incorporated companies shall be prepared
and audited by independent auditors.
The financial statements must include the following
minimum information in respect of the balance sheet:
Current assetsi)cash and cash equivalents;ii) accounts receivable from player transfers;iii) accounts receivable from group entities and relatedparties;iv) accounts receivable – other;v) inventories;
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Non-current assetsvi) tangible fixed assets;vii) intangible assets – players;viii) intangible assets – others;ix) investments;
Current liabilitiesx) bank overdrafts and loans;xi) accounts payable relating to player transfers;xii) accounts payable to group entities and relatedparties;xiii) accounts payable – other;xiv) tax liabilities;xv) short-term provisions;Non-current liabilitiesxvi) bank and other loans;xvii) other long-term liabilities;
xviii) tax liabilities;xix) long-term provisions;
Net assets/liabilitiesxx) net assets/liabilities;
Equityxxi) treasury shares;xxii) issued capital and reserves.
The minimum requirements for the content in respect of
profit and loss account are as follows
Revenuei)gate receipts;ii) sponsorship and advertising;iii) broadcasting rights;iv) commercial;v) other operating income;42
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Expensesvi) cost of sales/materials;vii) employee benefits expense;viii) depreciation and amortisation;ix) impairment of fixed assets;x) other operating expenses;
Otherxi) profit/loss on disposal of assetsxii) finance costs;xiii) tax expense;xiv) profit or loss after taxation.
Notes on the annual financial statements shall be presented
in a systematic manner. Each item on the face of thebalance sheet and profit and loss account shall be crossreferenced to any related information in the notes. The
minimum requirements for disclosure in the notes are as
follows:a) Accounting policies
The basis for preparation of the financial statements anda summary of the significant accounting policies used:b) Controlling party
When the reporting entity is controlled by another party,
there must be disclosure of the related-party relationshipand the name of that party and, if different, that of
the ultimate controlling party. If the controlling party or
ultimate controlling party of the reporting entity is notknown, that fact shall be disclosed;c) Ultimate owner
There must be disclosure of the owner(s) of the licenceapplicant. When the reporting entity is controlled byanother party there must be disclosure of the ultimate
owner(s) controlling such third party;

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II. FIFA CLUB LICENSING REGULATIONSd) Related-party transactions
If there have been transactions between related parties
during the period, the reporting entity shall disclose
the nature of the related-party relationship, as well as
information about the transactions during the period andoutstanding balances at the period end necessary for anunderstanding of the potential effect of the relationshipon the financial statements; ande) Other disclosure
Any additional information or disclosure that is notpresented on the face of the balance sheet, profit andloss statement or cash-flow statement, but is relevant
to an understanding of any of those statements and/or
is required to meet the minimum financial information
requirements.
F.02

A

No payables overdue towards football clubs arisingfrom transfer activities
The licence applicant must prove that it has no payables
overdue (e.g. final and binding decisions of the FIFA Players’
Status Committee, the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber
and the Court of Arbitration for Sport) towards footballclubs arising from transfer activities as at 31 Decemberof the year preceding the season to be licensed, unlessby the following 31 March they have been fully settled,deferred by mutual agreement with the creditor or are
subject to a not obviously unfounded dispute submitted
to a competent authority.

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F.03

A

No payables overdue towards employees and social/
tax authorities
The licence applicant must prove that, in respect ofcontractual and legal obligations with its current andformer employees (including all professional players
according to the applicable FIFA Regulations on the Status
and Transfer of Players, the general manager (P.02), thefinance officer (P.03), the security officer (P.04), the doctor
and the physiotherapist (P.05), the head coach of first-teamsquad (P.06), the head of youth development programme(P.07) and the youth coaches (P.08); list exhaustive), it has
no payables overdue towards employees and social/tax
authorities as at 31 December of the year preceding theseason to be licensed, unless by the following 31 Marchthey have been fully settled, deferred by mutual agreementwith the creditor or are subject to a not obviously
unfounded dispute submitted to a competent authority.

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III. FINAL PROVISIONS

Article11 Obligations

1.

The confederation shall establish confederation regulations by the
2009-2010 season at the latest.

2.

The member associations shall then transform the confederation
regulations into national regulations and implement the club licensing
system at national level by the 2010-2011 season at the latest.

3.

The confederation shall support the associations with the setting up,
developing and implementing of the club licensing system at national
level.

Article12 Spot checks and sanctions by confederations

1.

The confederation shall implement a spot-check procedure and carryout spot checks with the licensor in order to ensure that the licence
was correctly awarded at the time of the final and binding decision.

2.

FIFA has the right to ask a confederation to carry out a specific spot
check.

3.

The confederations shall send FIFA comprehensive reports about theresult of the spot checks at FIFA’s request.

4.

If the confederation realises that a licensor issued a licence in breachof national regulations, the relevant association shall be sanctionedby the confederation’s disciplinary committee in accordance with theconfederation’s disciplinary code or other relevant regulations.

5.

FIFA and the confederations shall cooperate with each other.

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Article13 Spot checks and sanctions by FIFA

1.

In the event that a confederation fails to implement a spot-checkprocedure, does not carry out spot checks with the licensor or does
not send, at FIFA’s request, comprehensive reports about the result of
the spot checks to FIFA, FIFA shall set the confederation a deadline todo so. If this deadline is not respected by the confederation, FIFA has
the right to carry out the spot checks directly. The licensor is obliged tocooperate with FIFA for this purpose and provide FIFA with full accessto the files.

2.

If FIFA realises that a licensor has issued a licence in breach of national
regulations, FIFA shall inform the relevant confederation in order tosanction the relevant association in accordance with article 12. In theevent that the confederation fails to take action or fails to impose
sanctions, FIFA shall set the confederation a deadline to do so. If thisdeadline is not respected by the confederation, the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee has the right to sanction the relevant association directlyin accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

Article14 Diverging texts
The FIFA regulations exists in the four languages of FIFA (English,
French, German, Spanish). In the event of any discrepancy between
the four texts, the English version shall be authoritative.

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III. FINAL PROVISIONS

Article15 Adoption and enforcement
These regulations were adopted by the FIFA Executive Committee on
29 October 2007 and come into force on 1 January 2008.

Zurich, 29 October 2007

For the FIFA Executive Committee:

President:
Joseph S. Blatter

General Secretary:
Jérôme Valcke

12.07 rva 9000 MAV/nlo/pma

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FIFA Stadium
Safety and Security
Regulations

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CONTENTS

Page

Article2

CONTENTS

6

DEFINITIONS

11

PREAMBLE
Preamble

12
13

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. Scope of application
2. Basic principles

14
14
16
17
18
20
21
22
23
24

II. SAFETY AND SECURITY MANAGEMENT
3. Denitions and requirements
4. Responsibility
5. Stafng
6. Stadium safety and security planning
7. Stadium risk assessments
8. Spectator safety and security policy document
9. Stadium contingency plans
10. Stadium emergency plans
11. Terrorism
12. Record keeping

26
27
28
29
31
32
32
33
34

III. STEWARDS
13. Stewards
14. Steward deployment plan
15. Agreement on responsibilities of stewards
16. Stewards’ duties
17. Stewards’ code of conduct
18. Identication of stewards
19. Pitchside stewards
20. Communication with stewards
21. Steward training

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Article36
36
38

IV. MAXIMUM SAFE CAPACITY OF A STADIUM
22. Basic principles
23. Calculating the maximum safe capacity
24. Safety certicate

40
41
42
43
44

V. STRUCTURAL AND TECHNICAL MEASURES
25. Access control
26. Match tickets
27. Accreditation
28. Access for police and other agencies
29. Security checks

46
46
47
48
49
51
52
55
58
58
59
60
61
63
64

30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.

66
67
67
68
69
69

VI. CROWD MANAGEMENT
45. Crowd build-up
46. Stadium code of conduct
47. Safety signs
48. Information signs
49. Commercial signs and hoardings
50. Alcoholic beverages

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Stadium zones
Stadium perimeters, turnstiles and checkpoints
Field of play
Special security provisions for teams, ofcials and VIPs/VVIPs
Spectator areas
Temporary demountable structures
Venue operation centre (VOC)
VOC systems
Rooms for stewards and police ofcers
Safety and emergency lighting and power supply
Electronic video screen (giant screen)
Closed circuit television (CCTV)
Public address system
Public address system – operation
Stadium announcer

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Article

71
71
74
74
75
76
77
77

VII. EMERGENCY SERVICES
51. Fire services
52. Minimising re risks
53. Fire warning and detection systems
54. Fireghting facilities and equipment
55. Staff re awareness and training
56. Emergency evacuation and places of safety
57. Emergency evacuation of spectators with disabilities
58. Medical
VIII. OTHER REQUIREMENTS

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80
82
82
84
84

59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.

85
85
85
85
86

IX. FINAL PROVISIONS
65. Administrative rules
66. Violations
67. Matters not provided for
68. Diverging texts
69. Effective date

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Prevention of provocative and aggressive actions
Stadium bans
High-risk matchesFIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
FIFA Futsal World Cup

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X. ANNEXES

88
88
89

ANNEXE A
Requirements of the national security ofcer
Requirements of the senior national security advisor
Requirements of the stadium security ofcer

90

ANNEXE BCounter-terrorism
ANNEXE C

95

Recommended content of the stadium code of conduct

98

ANNEXE D
Stadium areas and zones

101

ANNEXE E
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups

105

ANNEXE F
FIFA Futsal World Cups

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DEFINITIONS

All-seater stadium: A stadium that only has seating, or a stadium in which
terraced (standing) areas are closed to spectators.
Association: A football association recognised by FIFA. It is a member of FIFA
unless a different meaning is evident from the context.
Award ceremony: The ceremony immediately following the conclusion of thenal match of the competition, during which the competition trophy and/or
medals and/or other awards are presented to the players.
Chief steward: The senior steward responsible for the deployment andmanagement of the other stewards.
Competent person: A person shall be regarded as occupationally competentif he has sufcient training and experience to meet the national occupational
standards relevant to the tasks within their identied role.
Confederation: A group of associations recognised by FIFA that belong to thesame continent (or assimilable geographic region).
Contingency plan: A contingency plan is prepared by the stadium
management and sets out the action to be taken in response to incidents
occurring at the venue which might prejudice public safety or security or
disrupt normal operations. Also referred to as a stadium contingency plan.
Emergency plan: An emergency plan is prepared and owned by the
emergency services for dealing with a major incident at the venue or in thevicinity. Also known as an emergency procedure plan or major incident plan.
Event: See “FIFA event”.
Event organiser: The entity organising a FIFA event, such as the LOC,
association, confederation or any other agency.
Exit: A stairway, gangway, passageway, ramp, gateway, door, or any othermeans of passage used to leave the stadium and its accommodation.

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Field of play: The playing surface whose measurements comply with the Lawsof the Game and upon which any match is played within a stadium, including
any areas immediately behind the goal lines and touch lines.
FIFA: Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
FIFA event: Subject to the provisions contained herein, any match,
tournament or competition being played under the direct operational
administration of FIFA.
Host nation: The country in which a FIFA event is being held.
Inner perimeter: The perimeter that immediately surrounds the stadiumbuilding, which usually contains the turnstiles. This perimeter may comprise thestadium walls.
LOC: Local Organising Committee.
Match: Any football match in its entirety (including replays, extra time andpenalty shoot-outs) that takes place as part of the competition.
Match day: The day on which any match takes place.
Match organiser: An organisation or group that is responsible for delivering aFIFA match (see “Event organiser”).
Maximum safe capacity: The total number of spectators that can be safely
accommodated in a stadium or section of a stadium.
Member association: Any association that has been admitted into
membership of FIFA by the Congress.

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DEFINITIONS

Mixed zone: The area designated by FIFA and/or the association which is to belocated between the team dressing rooms and the dedicated team bus pick-up
area, where players may be interviewed by media representatives.
National security ofcer: As dened in article 5.
Ofcial: A board member, committee member, referee, assistant referee,coach, trainer or any other person responsible for technical, medical oradministrative matters at FIFA, a confederation, association, league or club.
Ofcial competition: A competition for representative teams organised byFIFA or any confederation.
Operations manual: A manual which sets out the way a stadium operates
on a daily basis. It should include but not be limited to the stewarding plan,
medical plan, planned preventative maintenance schedule, re risk assessment,
event day procedures, contingency plans, capacity calculations, site plans anddetails of safety equipment.
Opening ceremony: The ceremony immediately preceding the rst match of
the competition.
Organiser: See “Event organiser”.
Outer perimeter: The perimeter outside the inner perimeter, beyond which
only ofcially accredited personnel and match ticket holders are entitled to passon match days.
Place of reasonable safety: A place within a building or structure thatprovides protection from the effects of re and smoke for a limited period oftime. This place, usually a corridor or stairway, will normally have a minimum of
30 minutes’ re resistance (unless otherwise stipulated under the host country’s
re safety regulations) and allow people to continue their escape to a place ofsafety.

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Place of safety: A place, away from the building, in which people are in no
immediate danger from the effects of re.
Player: Any football player licensed by an association.
Safety and security management team: As dened in article 3.
Senior national security advisor: As dened in article 5.
Spectator accommodation: The area of a ground or structure in the groundprovided for the use of spectators, including all circulation areas, concourses
and the viewing areas.
Sports hall: Usually a multipurpose building containing indoor football pitches
used for FIFA Futsal World Cups. In these regulations, any reference to astadium shall also mean sports halls used for FIFA Futsal World Cups.
Stadium: Any stadium at which a match is played. This includes the entire
premises (to the extent that an accreditation card is required in order to gain
access) of the stadium facility inside the outer perimeter fence and (on matchdays and on any day on which any ofcial team training session takes place
within the stadium) the aerial space above such stadium premises. “Stadium”
shall also include all parking facilities, VIP/VVIP and hospitality areas, media
zones, concession areas, commercial display areas, buildings, the eld of play,
the pitch area, the broadcast compound, the stadium media centre, the stands
and the areas beneath the stands.
Stadium safety and security management team: As dened in article 3.
Stadium security ofcer: As dened in article 5. Also known as a stadium
safety ofcer.

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DEFINITIONS

Stadium authority: The legal entity (whether a privately owned company or
governmental entity) with the ultimate, ongoing, management and operational
control of a stadium used for a particular event; the legal entity that grants thelegal right to use the stadium for the particular event as identied in the leaseagreement for that event.
Steward: As dened in article 13.
STC: Stadium ticketing centre.
TCP: Ticketing clearing point.
Temporary demountable structure: Any structure erected on a temporary
basis at a stadium, including stands, standing terraces, hospitality areas, award
ceremony platforms and media installations.
Ticket terms & conditions: The terms and conditions established by FIFA
which apply to the use of match tickets and which set forth the rules applicable
to all holders of match tickets.
Viewing area: Seats, terraces, sky boxes and hospitality suites etc., fromwhich spectators can observe the match.
VOC: A venue operation centre (VOC) is a designated room or area within
the stadium from which all safety and security operations are controlled andmanaged.
Vomitory: An access route built into a gradient of a stand which directly links
spectator accommodation to concourses and/or routes for ingress, egress or
emergency evacuation.
NB: Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders. Any
term in the singular applies to the plural and vice versa.

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Preamble
These regulations are intended to make organisers of FIFA events aware of theirduties and responsibilities before, during and after matches in relation to safety
and security at the stadium.
These regulations contain the minimum safety and security measures thatevent organisers and stadium authorities must take to ensure safety, security
and order at the stadium.
LOCs/event organisers, associations and clubs/stadium authorities musttake all reasonable measures necessary to ensure safety and security at thestadium. LOCs/event organisers, associations and clubs/stadium authorities are
responsible for the behaviour and competence of the persons entrusted withthe organisation of a FIFA event.

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I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1

Scope of application

1. The host associations of FIFA events shall apply these regulations (including
qualifying and nal competition matches) when these events are under the
direct administration of FIFA.
2. Furthermore, FIFA recommends that these regulations be used as guidelines
for all international matches in accordance with the FIFA Regulations Governing
International Matches.
3. If an association or confederation arranges an event that will beadministrated and governed by its own competition regulations, the respective
association’s or confederation’s own safety and security regulations shall apply
and these regulations may only serve as guidelines.
4. These regulations constitute the minimum requirements; however, when
the respective association’s or confederation’s safety and security provisions
are stricter or more exhaustive than some or all of the principles establishedhereinafter, those safety and security provisions shall prevail.

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13

Basic principles

1. Successful stadium safety and security strikes the right balance between
stadium design and stadium management. Guidance on new builds andstadium refurbishments can be found in the FIFA publication Football Stadiums –Technical Recommendations and Requirements, which should be used as areference for all FIFA events together with the latest version of this document.
2. A stadium may only be used to host a FIFA event if the structural andtechnical condition of the stadium complies with the host nation’s safety
requirements and a safety certicate has been issued by the relevant authority.
3. The laws, regulations, ordinances and administrative directives in place forthe construction and technical facilities of stadiums shall be respected.
4. The maximum number of spectators admitted into the stadium shall not
exceed the stadium’s agreed maximum safe capacity.

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II. SAFETY AND SECURITY MANAGEMENT

3

Denitions and requirements

1. For the purposes of these regulations, the safety and security management
team is dened as those persons appointed by the association, event organiser
and host nation who are responsible for all aspects of safety and security at aFIFA event. The exact composition of this group will depend on the size andtype of the FIFA event, but its leading members will always be the national
security ofcer and the senior national security advisor, as dened hereinafter.
Further guidance and support should be sought from representatives of all
relevant agencies and stakeholders such as the re, emergency and medical
services. A formal mandate should be established for this group, stating lines ofcommunication, levels of responsibility and deliverables.
2. Furthermore, every stadium used during a FIFA event shall have a stadium
safety and security management team, which will be headed by the stadium
security ofcer, as dened hereinafter, and the senior local police commander
responsible for police activities in and around the stadium.

4

Responsibility

1. Associations are responsible for appointing an occupationally competent
national security ofcer, as dened hereinafter.
2. The associations, through the national security ofcer and the stadium safety
and security management team as dened hereinafter, are responsible for
ensuring the safety and security of all spectators, players, ofcials, VIPs/VVIPs
and any person present at a stadium hosting a FIFA event.
3. If the association, event organiser or stadium authority has no legal authority
to arrange the necessary safety and security measures, it must cooperatewith the relevant host nation authorities to ensure that they are in place. If
any of the FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations are not in place, theassociation must be informed immediately, who in turn must inform FIFA.

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4. The association must ensure that the stadium safety and security
management team is aware of and fully understands the obligations placed
upon them, including:a) The requirements of the stadium safety certicate to be issued by therelevant authority.
b) The requirements for a safety certicate for any temporary demountablestructures.
c) The host nation’s/confederation’s/association’s stadium safety andsecurity regulations.
d) The FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations.
e) The FIFA publication Football Stadiums – Technical Recommendations
and Requirements.
f) FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC) – Football
Emergency Medicine Manual.
g) The host nation’s re safety legislation.
h) The host nation’s health and safety at work legislation.
i) The host nation’s legislation relating to people with disabilities.
j) The host nation’s civil contingencies legislation and/or guidelines.
k) Insurance requirements, where applicable.
l) Any other specic laws of the host nation that may have relevant safety
or security implications.
m) Any other stadium regulations or policies that may have relevant safety
or security implications.

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5

Stafng

The following key appointments are required in order to ensure that both thesafety and security management and stadium safety and security management
teams are properly staffed. The details of the requirements, competences andstatus of the key appointments can be found in Annexe A.
a) National security ofceri) Every member association shall appoint a national securityofcer. This person must have experience of working with publicauthorities and the police services, as well as prior knowledge of
event organisation issues, spectator supervision and event safety
and security matters.
ii) The national security ofcer shall be responsible for developing,coordinating and delivering the safety and security concept across aFIFA event, including at training sites, ofcial hotels, transport hubs,etc.
iii) The national security ofcer shall assume responsibility for theongoing education and training of all stadium security ofcers
employed during events. He shall also conduct all briengs, devise
a training and education programme and be available to provide
guidance and advice to all stadium security ofcers.
b) Senior national security advisor
Every member association, in conjunction with its national authorities, shallappoint a senior national security advisor, who must be a serving seniorpolice ofcer. Although not a full-time post, this role will serve as a vitallink between the event organiser and the national and local authorities
during the build-up to a FIFA event and through to its conclusion.

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17c) Stadium security ofcer
The event organiser, in consultation with the national security ofcer, is
responsible for appointing an occupationally competent stadium securityofcer for each stadium to be used during the FIFA event. The stadium
security ofcer shall be responsible for all safety and security matters at thedesignated stadium.

6

Stadium safety and security planning

When preparing to host a FIFA event, the stadium safety and security
management team shall:a) Ensure that a spectator safety and security policy document for thestadium is created (see article 8).
b) Ensure that written and tested stadium contingency plans are created(see article 9).
c) Agree with local authorities on emergency procedures and major
incident plans (see article 10).
d) Agree with authorities on the level of policing and support from otheragencies.
e) Agree on procedures for accommodating all spectators, including thosewith disabilities, the elderly, families and children and, where appropriate,
supporters of visiting teams.

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7

Stadium risk assessments

1. The stadium security ofcer is responsible for the production of risk
assessments for all matches including any ancillary activities, such as opening
or award ceremonies. Input should be provided by local and, when required,national authorities and all relevant emergency services, such as re, civil
emergency and ambulance services.
2. The risk assessment should consist of the following steps, all of which should
be documented:a) Identify the risks to which spectators, VIPs/VVIPs, players and/or ofcials
or any other person present at the stadium may be exposed.
b) Determine who may be affected and how.
c) Evaluate the risks and decide on the precautions to be taken.
d) Record the ndings and implement risk reduction and/or risk mitigation
measures.
e) Continually assess and review the measures and revise them where
necessary.
3. The risk assessment should include consideration of the following factors:a) Political tensions at national, local or team supporter level.
b) Terrorist threats – to be identied by national and local authorities.
c) Historical enmity between teams or their supporters.
d) Likelihood of supporters arriving without tickets or expected numbers ofcounterfeit tickets.

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19e) The need for spectator segregation and the numbers of groups
requiring segregation.
f) Supporters with a history of using pyrotechnics or any other dangerous
objects, including laser pointers.
g) The possibility of racist or aggressive language, banners or behaviour.
h) The layout and size of the stadium including sponsor and concession
activities.
i) The expected attendance.
j) The familiarity of the spectators with the stadium.
k) Expected behaviour of spectators, including the likelihood of pitch
invasion, violence or standing in seated areas.
l) Expected ow rate through the controlled points of entry including
search requirements.
m) Auxiliary activities, such as opening, closing or award ceremonies.
n) Hospitality facilities.
o) Times and duration of the match(es).

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8Spectator safety and security policy document

1. The host association shall create common safety and security regulations ora safety and security manual, including counter-terrorism measures, in line withnational laws and regulations.
2. In line with the above, the national security ofcer and stadium safety andsecurity management team shall produce a spectator safety and security policy
document for each stadium to be distributed to all stakeholders. The policy
document should clearly state:a) The event organiser’s and host nation’s philosophy on safety andsecurity.
b) With whom ultimate responsibility lies for safety and security at thestadium.
c) To whom responsibility is delegated.
d) The chain of command and lines of reporting.
e) How the safety and security policy is to be implemented andcommunicated.
f) Who the key stakeholders are.

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921

Stadium contingency plans

1. The stadium safety and security management team, in conjunction with
relevant expert agencies and organisations, should assess the risk of any
incident occurring at the stadium which might prejudice safety and security or
disrupt normal operations. In conjunction with local authorities, contingency
plans shall be developed to determine specic actions and/or the mobilisationof specialist or additional resources.
2. As a guideline, contingency plans should be established for the following:a) Fireb) Terrorist attacki) bomb threat or actual bomb attackii) suspect packageiii) shootingiv) airborne attackv) suicide bombingvi) chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attacksc) Buildings and servicesi) damage to structuresii) power cut or failureiii) passenger lift or escalator failure (if applicable)iv) gas leak or hazardous materials incidentd) Safety equipment failurei) turnstile or spectator entry counting systemii) automated turnstile mechanism (free ow of spectators or
prevention of access)iii) closed circuit televisioniv) public address systemv) electronic video screens (giant screens)vi) safety and security communication systemsvii) re warning, detection and other re safety systems
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II. SAFETY AND SECURITY MANAGEMENTe) Crowd controli) surging or crushingii) pitch incursion/invasioniii) late arrivals or delayed startiv) lockouts including progressive turnstile closurev) disorder at the stadiumvi) ticket forgery and illegal ticket toutingvii) overcrowding of the stadium or a section of the stadiumf) Emergency evacuation (by section or the entire stadium)g) Severe adverse weather (such as lightning strikes, ash oods, highwinds, hurricanes)h) Natural disasters (such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions)i) Strategy if a match is abandoned, postponed or delayed

10

Stadium emergency plans

1. The local emergency services are required to prepare an emergency plan(also known as an emergency procedure plan or major incident plan) for
dealing with any major incident occurring in or around the stadium. It is the
responsibility of the senior national security advisor to ensure compliance withthis requirement.
2. There must be consultation between the stadium security ofcer, the police,re and ambulance services, the local health authority, the local government
authority and the event organiser, in order to produce an agreed plan of action
for all potential emergencies.
3. Although contingency plans are prepared by the stadium safety and security
management team and emergency plans by the local emergency services, thetwo plans must be compatible.

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11

23

Terrorism

1. FIFA events are exposed to greater threats than may normally be present
in the host nation and this includes acts of terrorism. When preparing plansfor FIFA events, specic attention must be given to this threat and the fullest
support secured from competent local and national authorities. Expert advice
should be provided by the appropriate national authorities and, whererequired, international agencies.
2. The stadium safety and security management team must implement basic
countermeasures as part of their daily “housekeeping”. As a minimum,
stadiums (including areas within the outer perimeter) must be searchedby trained personnel prior to it being handed over for event use. Once a
stadium has been searched, it must be suitably guarded by security to prevent
unauthorised access. Furthermore, all vehicles and personnel entering a secured
stadium must be searched.
3. Advice and guidance shall be provided by the senior national security advisor
on all matters relating to terrorism.
4. Guidelines on basic countermeasures and stadium searches are contained in
Annexe B.

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12

Record keeping

1. The stadium security ofcer is responsible for overseeing and retaining all
safety and security records for each match. These should include:a) Details of all pre-event inspections and making note of any deciencies
or additional requirements along with an action plan to address theserequirements.
b) Details of any pre-event training given to stewards and other stadium
staff or existing qualications held.
c) The attendance gures at each match. Ideally, these should be broken
down by stadium and ticket categories.
d) A record of the medical plan.
e) If an accident or incident occurs during an event, a full written reportmust be produced detailing what happened, what action was taken andby whom, and any subsequent follow-up action required. This should
include a record of any police intervention or instance whereby the police
assumed control of the stadium.
f) A record of all rst aid or medical treatment provided, while preserving
any medical condentiality regarding the identity of those treated.
g) Details of all emergency drills, evacuation exercises and contingency
plan tests.
h) Reports of any signicant movement of a structure within the stadium,or of the stadium structure itself.
i) Details of all res and re alarm activations.
j) Details of all emergency or communication system failures.

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25k) Details of any ticket forgeries or illegal ticket sales on the day of thematch and action taken.
l) Details of any arrests made at the stadium and/or evictions of spectators.
The above list is for guidance only and is not intended to be comprehensive.
2. All documents must be held for a minimum of two years after a match, or
longer if mandated under the applicable laws of the host nation. Such records
shall be made available for inspection by FIFA on reasonable request.

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III. STEWARDS

13

Stewards

1. For the purpose of these regulations, a steward is dened as any person
employed, hired, contracted or volunteering at the stadium to assist in
the management of safety and security of spectators, VIPs/VVIPs, players,ofcials and any other person at the stadium, excluding those persons solely
responsible for the security of designated individuals and members of thepolice services responsible for maintaining law and order.
2. At some events, police or military personnel may be employed as stewards
as dened above. In such circumstances, those personnel identied to performthe duties of stewards shall apply the principles contained in these regulations
when performing said duties.
3. Stewards must be t and active and have sufcient maturity of characterand temperament to carry out the duties required of them.
4. Subject to the laws of the host nation, stewards must be at least 18 years old.
5. All stewards must undergo formal training in their roles and responsibilities
prior to the start of any FIFA event. Steward training, qualication andcertication must meet the standards set by the host nation/association,subject to article 21.

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27

Steward deployment plan

1. A steward deployment plan shall be produced by the chief steward andauthorised by the stadium security ofcer, taking into consideration the resultsof the risk assessment. As a guide, the following steward categories should be
provided for:a) Supervisory staff:
Deputy security ofcer, chief steward(s) and supervisors.
b) Static posts:
Crowd monitoring points, exits, turnstiles, activity areas, perimeter gates,
escalators/stairways, restricted zones (in accordance with the FIFA zoningplan) and other strategic points or areas.
c) Mobile posts:
As a guide, there should be a ratio of one steward per 250 of the
anticipated attendance for a low-risk match. This ratio should be
increased to up to one per 100 of the anticipated attendance where therisk assessment shows a need for a higher level of safety and security
management.
d) Specialist stewards:
For areas used by children, spectators with disabilities and in hospitality
facilities.
e) Additional stewards:
For specic events, such as opening and award ceremonies.

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2. Other staff that should be included in the overall plan include:a)

Car park attendantsb)Turnstile operatorsc)

Search personnel (people and vehicles)

NOTE: Consideration must be given to providing sufcient female searchpersonnel for the expected attendance of female spectators.

15

Agreement on responsibilities of stewards

1. The responsibilities and authority of stewards must be agreed between
the safety and security management team, the host association, the event
organiser and the relevant authorities prior to the start of any FIFA event. Thisagreement shall include the following:a) Powers of arrest and/or detention of individuals.
b) Powers of ejection from the stadium and procedures to be followed.
c) Powers of conscation of prohibited and any other dangerous items.
d) Procedures for escorting spectators to stadium ticketing centres/
ticketing clearing points.
e) Authority to search persons and vehicles entering the stadium and theprocedures to be followed.
f) Handling procedures for the sale or use of fraudulent tickets or for illegal
ticket touts.
g) Handling procedures for ambush marketing activities.

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29h) Handling procedures for unauthorised merchandising or sale ofunauthorised items within the agreed exclusion zones.
i) Illegal entry or unauthorised entry into restricted areas.
j) Lines of communication.
k) Chain of command.
l) Training, certication and accreditation requirements.
2. The powers bestowed upon stewards must comply with the laws andregulations of the host nation.

16

Stewards’ duties

The stewards’ basic duties should be to enforce the stadium’s safety andsecurity policy and the stadium regulations. These duties include:a) Understanding their roles and responsibilities for the safety and securityof all spectators, ofcials, players, VIPs/VVIPs, other stewards, stadium
staff, themselves and any other person present at the stadium.
b) Assisting in the safe operation of the stadium, as opposed to watching
the match or any other activity taking place.
c) Carrying out safety and security checks as directed by the stadium safety
and security management team.
d) Controlling access into the stadium and directing spectators entering,leaving or moving around the stadium to help achieve an even ow to andfrom the spectator accommodation.

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III. STEWARDSe) Preventing unauthorised access to restricted areas by any person who
does not have the correct accreditation and authorisation to do so and inparticular from gaining access to zones 1 and 2 as dened hereinafter.
f) Ensuring that spectators are accommodated in accordance with theirticket (i.e. they are sitting in the correct seat for the ticket they hold).
g) Ensuring that all entry and exit points, including all emergency exit
points and routes, remain unobstructed at all times.
h) Unless otherwise stated, ensuring that all prohibited items are prevented
from entering the stadium or are removed if found inside the stadium.
i) Protecting players and ofcials when entering, leaving or on the eld ofplay.
j) Recognising and reporting crowd conditions to ensure the safe dispersalof spectators and prevent overcrowding.
k) Assisting the emergency services as required.
l) Providing basic emergency rst aid as required.
m) Responding to incidents and emergencies, raising the alarm and taking
the necessary immediate action in line with the stadium’s contingency andemergency plans.
n) Undertaking specic duties in an emergency as directed by the venue
operation centre (VOC).

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31o) In accordance with the requirements of local/national authorities andwithin the laws of the host nation, denying access to or removing any
persons who cannot prove their right to be in the stadium, are committing
an offence under the stadium code of conduct, present a risk due toconsumption of alcohol and/or drugs, are subject to a banning order orrefuse to give their consent to searches.
This list is for reference only and is not a substitute for formal training.

17

Stewards’ code of conduct

During events, stewards are often the only interface with the public. It istherefore essential that a formal code of conduct for all stewards is establishedacross all venues. The code of conduct shall include the following:a) Stewards should be polite, courteous and helpful to all spectators at all
times, regardless of their afliation.
b) Stewards should be smartly dressed at all times. Their appearance
should be clean and tidy.
c) Stewards are not employed, hired or contracted to watch the event.
They should concentrate on their duties and responsibilities at all times.
d) Stewards should never:i) Wear clothing that may appear to be partisan or cause offence
while on duty.
ii) Celebrate the event or show an extreme reaction to it.
iii) Display any allegiance towards one team over another.
iv) Eat, drink or smoke in public view.
v) Consume alcohol before or during the event.
vi) Use obscene, offensive or intimidating language or gestures.

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Identication of stewards

1. Stewards shall wear uniform clothing that is easily identiable in allconditions. As a minimum, they shall be provided with appropriate highvisibility jackets or tabards bearing the word “STEWARD” that can be seenfrom a distance or in a crowd.
2. Stewards shall not wear sponsored or branded uniforms, in compliance withFIFA Marketing guidelines.
3. Care should be taken to ensure that tabards worn by pitchside stewards
cannot be confused with FIFA bibs worn by players, ball boys, ofcials andother persons. Final agreement on the colour to be used will be made at thematch coordination meeting, which must be attended by the stadium securityofcer.
4. All stewards shall be appropriately accredited and this shall be displayed at
all times whilst on duty.

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Pitchside stewards

In order to protect the players and ofcials as well as maintain public order, it
may be necessary to deploy stewards and/or police around the perimeter of theeld of play. When doing so, the following guidelines must be considered:a) Any steward or police ofcer deployed around the eld of play is likely
to be recorded on television, and as such their conduct and appearance
must be of the highest standard at all times.
b) No rearms or “crowd control gas” shall be carried or used.

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33c) During the match, all stewards and/or police ofcers must maintain as
low a prole as possible. This shall include:i) Being positioned between the advertising hoardings and the stands.
ii) Where practical, being seated on chairs so as not to stand out on
television or to obstruct the view of spectators unless required
through a pre-agreed escalation of stance that is in direct relation
to crowd behaviour and an existing threat.
iii) Not wearing aggressive items (helmets, face masks, shields, etc.)
unless required through a pre-agreed escalation of stance that is in
direct relation to crowd behaviour and existing threat.
d) The number of pitchside stewards and/or police ofcers must be kept
to a minimum and based on the match risk assessment, taking into
consideration the expected crowd behaviour and likelihood of a pitch
invasion.
e) If there is a high risk of pitch invasion or crowd disorder, consideration
should be given to allow police ofcers and/or stewards to occupy thefront rows of seats in the stadium if it is considered necessary to increase
the overall presence and capability. If this approach is to be adopted, careshould be taken to ensure that those seats occupied by police ofcers
and/or stewards are not sold to the public.

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Communication with stewards

1. The stewarding operation must be coordinated from the VOC, which should
maintain an efcient and robust means of communication with the stewards at
all times.
2. Radios are the most efcient means of communication. Earpieces should be
provided to ensure that stewards can hear communications above the noise of
the stadium. Care should also be taken to ensure that there are no radio “deadspots” around the stadium.

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3. Back-up and alternative means of communication, such as intercoms, xed
land lines and/or “runners” to pass on messages, should be provided in casethe primary means of communication fail.
4. Standard commercial mobile phones should not be considered as a
primary or back-up means of communication, as the networks often become
overloaded during an incident and therefore cannot be relied upon as a meansof communication for safety and security.

21

Steward training

1. It is the event organiser’s responsibility to ensure that all stewards areappropriately trained and competent to undertake their normal duties andperform their roles under emergency and contingency plans.
2. Training must be conducted by occupationally competent persons ororganisation(s), which must also assess the stewards’ competency to performtheir duties. Courses should include the following subjects:a) Roles and responsibilities of a steward.
b) Stewards’ code of conduct.
c) Stadium code of conduct and prohibited items.
d) The legal rights and powers of a steward.
e) Search techniques (subject to the laws and regulations of the hostcountry).
f) Ticket and accreditation identication and anti-forgery checks (specic
to a FIFA event).

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35g) Arrest and/or detention (subject to the laws and regulations of the hostcountry).
h) Stadium ejection procedures.
i) Emergency rst aid.
j) Basic reghting and response to a re.
k) Stadium zones (specic to a FIFA event).
l) Crowd dynamics and management.
m) Use of CCTV (CCTV operators and supervisors only).
n) Communications.
o) Stadium contingency plans and the role of stewards in an emergency.
3. Supervisors should receive additional training that develops their skills andcompetencies, especially when responding to unplanned incidents.
4. Any steward training must comply with the host nation’s mandatory
requirements.

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IV. MAXIMUM SAFE CAPACITY OF A STADIUM

22

Basic principles

1. Accurately assessing the maximum safe capacity of a stadium is crucial toestablishing a safe and secure environment. Overcrowded stadiums continue toresult in serious injuries and fatalities, which FIFA nds unacceptable.
2. Subject to the provisions of article 34, when calculating the maximum
safe capacity of a stadium, each section of the stadium must be consideredseparately.

23

Calculating the maximum safe capacity

When calculating the maximum safe capacity of an all-seater stadium, thefollowing calculations must be considered:
1. Holding capacity (A)This is the number of people that can be safely accommodated within thestadium and is determined by the actual number of seats, less any that cannot
be used as they:a) Have a restricted view or are obstructed by objects or people, such as
camera positions, advertising boards or railings.
b) Are damaged or missing.
c) Are unavailable for use, for example because they are being used by
security staff or form part of a segregation plan.
d) Do not full the specications set out in the FIFA publication Football
Stadiums – Technical Recommendations and Requirements for seating row
depths, seat widths and/or clearways.

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2. Entry capacity (B)The entry capacity is the number of people that can pass through the turnstiles
and/or other controlled entry points within a period of one hour. The main
factors affecting the rate of entry are:a) The number and dispersal of turnstiles/entry points.
b) The adequacy of directional information and communications and thefamiliarity of the spectators with the stadium layout.
c) The division of entry categories, including special requirements such as
disabled access.
d) The design, type and condition of turnstiles/entry points.
e) The level of searching required.
3. Exit capacity (C)This is the number of people that can safely exit from the viewing area undernormal conditions, within a reasonable timeframe, not to exceed ten minutes.
The following factors will affect the exit capacity:a) The number, size and dispersal of exit gates.
b) The adequacy of directional information and communications and thefamiliarity of the spectators with the stadium layout.
c) The width and distribution of stairways, escalators, and gangways.
d) Choke points.
e) Obstructions.

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4. Emergency evacuation capacity (D)a) This is determined by the emergency evacuation time, which is in partbased on the level of risk and the available emergency evacuation routes
to places of safety and/or places of reasonable safety. Factors such as thetype of construction and materials used in the stadium will have an impact
on this calculation as re will be one of the major risks to be considered. If,
for example, the risk of re is high due to the construction of the stadium,the evacuation time should be reduced.
b) The emergency evacuation capacity is the number of people that cansafely negotiate the emergency evacuation routes and reach a place ofsafety or reasonable safety within the determined emergency evacuationtime.
c) Note: The eld of play can only be regarded as a place of reasonablesafety and, as such, if one or more of the emergency evacuation routes
includes access onto the eld of play, further consideration must be given
to subsequently moving spectators off the eld of play to a place of safety.
5. Final maximum safe capacity
Having established all the above gures, the nal maximum safe capacity of asection of a stadium will be determined by whichever is the lowest gure for
A, B, C or D above. Once all the sections of the stadium have been considered,including sky boxes, hospitality suites and VIP/VVIP areas, the total maximum
safe capacity of the stadium can be established.

24

Safety certicate

1. The relevant local or national authorities (depending on the host nation’slaws and legislation) are responsible for agreeing the maximum safe capacityof a stadium to be used for a FIFA event. Having considered the above factors,
they shall issue a formal safety certicate that clearly states the stadium’s
maximum safe capacity, detailing the constituent sections and categories andstating that the stadium is structurally t for purpose.

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2. Once the maximum safe capacity of a section of a stadium has been
determined, under no circumstances must a larger number of spectators be
admitted without the prior written approval of the relevant authorities thatissued the safety certicate.
3. Subject to the relevant FIFA competition regulations, a safety certicateshould not be more than two years old. In addition, it must be reviewed andreissued in the following circumstances:a) When any structural changes have been made to the stadium.
b) When there has been any alteration in the stadium capacity.
c) When any temporary structures have been constructed either inside thestadium or within the outer perimeter.
d) If there has been an incident in the stadium resulting in serious injury toor death of any spectators.

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Access control

1. On match days, only persons in possession of a valid permit shall be granted
entry to the stadium. Valid permits include:a) Match tickets.
b) Accreditations and, when used, supplementary accreditation devices(SADs).
c) Other permits as dened herein.
2. During FIFA events, formal accreditation will be established and put
into force before the start of the event as specied in the respective FIFA
competition regulations. Once accreditation has been established, access to
stadiums will only be permitted to those persons with a valid accreditation or
permit (except on match days when tickets are in use).
3. If a person cannot produce a valid permit, he shall be refused entry or
escorted from the stadium.
4. It is the responsibility of all stewards, stadium safety and security
management staff and police ofcers to ensure that only those persons withauthority to be inside the stadium, including members of the public, ofcials
and staff, are permitted into the stadium.
5. Where restricted access zones have been established (for example, players’
areas, the eld of play, the media, hospitality, etc.), stewards or otherappropriate security staff must be in place to enforce and control access inaccordance with the established accreditation and stadium zoning plan.

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41

Match tickets

1. Match tickets shall display the following information:a) The date, time and location of the match.
b) Where appropriate, the match number.
c) If possible, details of the teams playing.
d) The sector, block, row and seat number that the ticket is valid for.
e) The points of entry into the stadium (if applicable).
f) A plan of the stadium on the reverse side.
g) If possible, the name of the ticket holder/purchaser.
2. The sale of match tickets shall be subject to strict control. If segregation isrequired, the sale of match tickets shall be organised so that the fans of thetwo opposing teams are allocated distinctly separate areas of the stadium.
3. The FIFA organising committee for the respective FIFA event(s) shall passdecisions regarding the number of tickets to be allocated to the participating
associations and host association.
4. Where applicable, each association shall take all reasonable measures toensure that its allocation of tickets is only made available to its own supporters.
It shall also ensure that specic details are recorded during the sales process,such as the name and address and contact details of persons who have been
issued with tickets.
5. The tickets shall be protected against forgery by integrating security features
as considered necessary. If there is the slightest suspicion that forged tickets
may be in circulation, the police must be informed immediately.

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6. On the day of the match, tickets may not be sold at the stadium. If tickets
are to be sold on match days, a venue must be selected away from thestadium and well outside the established outer perimeter, so as not to cause
congestion and crowd build-up at the stadium entry points and access routes.
Furthermore, prior approval for match day ticket sale sites must be sought from
FIFA, the police, the stadium safety and security management team and therelevant public authorities.
7. The number of tickets on sale cannot exceed the declared and approved
maximum safe capacity of the stadium.
8. A system that records the number of spectators who have entered thestadium through each turnstile/entry point must be established and the rate of
ow and numbers inside the stadium regularly updated to the VOC. Any entry
counting system should also take into account the number of people afforded
VIP/VVIP status and/or housed in hospitality facilities within the stadium.
9. The price of tickets for supporters of the visiting team shall not exceed theprice of tickets for supporters of the home team in a similar ticket category.

27

Accreditation

1. Holders of accreditation are granted access to specied stadiums andlocations within stadiums, including any restricted zones. Accreditation shall be
issued by FIFA or the LOC to individuals with specic functions at a FIFA event.
2. Accreditation shall, as far as possible, be forgery-proof and provide
protection against multiple use.
3. Accreditation is not transferable.
4. The permits shall restrict access to specic, clearly marked areas andspecied stadiums.

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5. The number of “access all areas” passes shall be kept to an absolute
minimum and access rights must be based on working requirements.
6. Accreditation does not permit the holder to attend a match day as aspectator or to occupy any seat in the stadium that would normally be coveredby a ticket.
7. A background/criminal check shall be performed by the host nation
authorities as part of the accreditation process.
8. The host nation authorities may refuse the issue of an accreditation on the
grounds of security without reference to the event organiser or FIFA.
9. Provision must be made for the withdrawal (on a temporary or permanent
basis) of any person’s accreditation if the holder is acting in a manner that may
prejudice the safety and security of others, a criminal act has been committed
or suspected by the holder, the holder’s actions are prejudicing the smoothrunning of the event or the holder has breached the stadium code of conduct.

28

Access for police and other agencies

1. Subject to the agreed security concept and approved accreditation plans,
identity cards held by members of the police and other ofcial agencies(including re and ambulance services) that allow them to carry out operationaltasks at the stadium shall also be regarded as valid permits subject to articles
25 and 27, provided said members are in uniform and clearly identiable.
2. Police ofcers and members of other security agencies wearing plain
clothes must be issued with appropriate accreditation for the tasks they are
performing.
3. Members of the police or other emergency services may not occupy seats inthe stadium that would normally be covered by tickets.

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Security checks

1. Security checks shall be carried out on persons and vehicles at the entry
points of the outer and inner perimeters, as well as at entry points to areasthat are not open to the general public. These security checks shall verify thefollowing:a) That the person possesses a valid ticket, accreditation or other form ofvalid permit to gain access to the stadium.
b) That the person is not in possession of any weapons or other prohibited
items as set out in the stadium code of conduct (see Annexe C) that may
not be taken into the stadium, unless required by accredited staff andauthorities in order for them to perform their ofcial duties.
c) That the person is not in possession of any other dangerous objects that
may not, for legal reasons, be taken into the stadium, including aggressiveor racist banners and laser pointers.
d) That the person is not in possession of any unauthorised alcoholic
beverages or intoxicating substances or drugs as regulated by the stadium
authority.
e) That the person is not under the inuence of alcohol or intoxicating
substances or drugs.
f) That the person has access rights to any restricted areas or controlled
zones.
g) That the person complies with the ticket terms and conditions, sales
regulations and stadium code of conduct.

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2. A person may be subjected to a full search of their person and/or
possessions at the security checkpoints.
3. All vehicles entering the outer perimeter of the stadium must undergo
security screening and a search. It is recommended that this occurs at a remotesearch facility located at a suitable safe distance from the stadium. The locationand positioning of any remote search facilities shall be identied by a risk
assessment conducted by the police/appropriate authority.
4. The identity of a person entering the stadium with accreditation will bechecked against the photograph on his badge. The stadium and zoning
privileges will also be checked. Accreditation is not proof of identity andaccredited persons may be asked to provide an acceptable alternative proof ofidentity before access is granted.
5. While stewards may not enforce compulsory searches at the stadium
points of entry, any person who resists searches shall be refused entry into thestadium.
6. If prohibited or any other dangerous items are found during the search, theyshall be handed to the police or stored in a suitable facility until such time as
they can be properly disposed of.
7. If a person surrenders his right of ownership to and possession of an object
that is banned from the stadium and is not liable to be taken into police
custody as no criminal offence has been committed, the conscated object
shall be held in a secure place until such time as it can be properly disposed of.
8. If it is established during security checks that a person is under the inuenceof alcohol or any other intoxicating substances or drugs, that person shall berefused access to the stadium.

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Stadium zones

1. For FIFA events, all stadiums shall be allocated specic zones, which shallbe secured with appropriate access control measures through the use ofaccreditation. This is to ensure that restricted areas are kept secure and that
only persons with valid permits will be allowed access. Stewards and/or policeor other appropriate security staff will be required to control access to speciczones and areas to prevent unauthorised access.
2. It is essential that the stadium security ofcer contributes to, and if possible
takes the lead in, developing the stadium zoning plan. Basic guidance on
stadium zones and areas at FIFA events is contained in Annexe D.

31

Stadium perimeters, turnstiles and checkpoints

1. A wall or fence shall enclose the outer perimeter of the stadium. It shallbe at least 2.5 metres in height and shall not be easy to scale, penetrate, pull
down or remove. Its purpose shall be to deter and delay any unauthorised
intruder(s). Perimeter fences shall be protected by CCTV or security posts or a
combination of the two.
2. Entry and exit points into and out of the stadium shall be staffed at all times
during a match and designed in such a way as to facilitate the ow of people
and vehicles in and around the stadium, taking into consideration the special
requirements contained hereinafter for VIPs/VVIPs, players and ofcials and therequirements of the emergency services.
3. All access gates must be able to be opened or closed quickly withoutcausing any danger or hazard. The gates shall be designed to withstandpressure from large crowds of people. When open, the gates must be rmly
secured. The gates must also be equipped with reproof locks.

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4. All turnstiles and entry points must be able to accurately check the validity oftickets and/or accreditation and count the number of spectators entering thestadium.
5. Turnstiles and checkpoint facilities may be incorporated within the innerperimeter. They must be able to withstand extreme pressure and be reproof.
6. Entry points must be equipped with facilities for searching persons and for
temporarily storing prohibited items securely.
7. The stadium perimeters must be kept secure at all times for the duration of aFIFA event, including on non-match days.

32

Field of play

1. While the removal of all perimeter fences and screens from football stadiums
is desirable and FIFA is opposed to insurmountable fences and screens, it isacknowledged that there are places where local authorities insist upon theprovision of such barriers.
2. The eld of play must be protected against intrusion by unauthorised persons.
Where unauthorised access cannot be controlled by stewards and/or
police ofcers, stadium management may erect a fence, a suitable moat thatprevents intrusion, or a combination of the two. Barbed or razor wire shall not be
used. Where a physical barrier or fence is used, spectator lines of sight must be
taken into consideration. The decision as to whether to have a physical barrier andif so, what type of barrier, shall be considered in a formal risk assessment and theuse of such barriers must not present a risk or danger to spectators or players.
3. If a perimeter fence surrounds the eld of play, there must be emergency
access points/gates onto it. If the spectator areas are separated from the eldof play by a moat, crossing points (bridges) must be provided at the emergency
gates. Exceptions to the above are permitted if the local authority has granted
prior approval in the safety certicate, provided there are suitable alternative

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exit routes for spectators that take into account all emergency contingencies.
All access points onto the eld of play must be staffed by stewards and/or
police ofcers.
4. All emergency gates must be able to be opened quickly and easily towards theeld of play. They should be positioned directly in line with the stairways in therespective spectator areas. The emergency evacuation routes to the eld of playmust not be obstructed by advertising boards or any other objects. Advertisingboards must be designed in such a way as to avoid creating an obstacle.
5. The emergency exit gates shall have one door and be at least two metreswide. They shall be a different colour from their surroundings and easily
identiable. When spectators are in the stadium, all emergency exits shall be
staffed at all times and not secured by locks.
6. If there is a remote-controlled opening mechanism on the gates, each gate
must also have a manual override facility so that it can be opened by hand inan emergency.
7. On entering and leaving the eld of play, including during the match, players
and ofcials must be protected from spectators.

33

Special security provisions for teams, ofcials and VIPs/VVIPs

1. Approach roads and entry/exit points for teams, ofcials and VIPs/VVIPs shallbe kept separate from those for spectators.
2. Drop-off and pick-up points for teams, ofcials and VIPs/VVIPs as well as theparking facilities for their vehicles shall be kept secure at all times and accessdenied to the public and unauthorised persons.
3. Working with the local and national police authorities, the event organiser
must guarantee the safety and security of the participating teams, theirofcials, VIPs/VVIPs and FIFA match ofcials at all times.

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49

Spectator areas

1. Generala) Guidance on spectator accommodation specications can be found in
the FIFA publication Football Stadiums – Technical Recommendations andRequirements.
b) The three major FIFA tournaments (the FIFA World Cup™ (including
qualifying matches), the FIFA Confederations Cup and the FIFA Club World
Cup) may only be played in all-seater stadiums. Subject to the respective
FIFA competition regulations, other FIFA events may admit standing
spectators or permit the use of seated accommodation that does notmeet the requirements specied in the FIFA publication Football Stadiums– Technical Recommendations and Requirements, provided prior written
approval is obtained from the relevant local authorities and FIFA, following
a detailed inspection.
c) The spectator areas shall be divided into sectors that are easily
identiable by spectators and stadium staff alike.
d) There shall be adequate diagrammatic signage to help spectators andstadium staff navigate their way around the stadium and locate facilities
and seating areas.
e) There should be easy access to public conveniences and refreshment
stalls in all sectors of the stadium.
2. Viewing areas for persons with disabilities
Stadiums shall provide accessible viewing areas to spectators with disabilities.
Such areas must have suitable access and evacuation routes, taking into
consideration the specic needs of the spectators concerned.

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3. Viewing standards
The provision of adequate viewing standards is important in ensuring thatseated accommodation is both safe and serves its intended purpose. Spectators
should have a clear, unrestricted view of the whole of the pitch. Any seats withrestricted views must be noted and the stadium security ofcer, in consultation
with FIFA, will need to assess whether or not the seat in question is to be
included in the holding capacity of the stadium. Causes of restricted views may
include:a) Inadequate sight lines.
b) Roof supports or roof structures.
c) Flanking walls, screens or overhanging upper tiers of stands.
d) Barriers serving gangways.
e) Segregation barriers or fences (temporary or permanent).
f) Structures such as oodlights, scoreboards or camera platforms.
g) Advertising hoardings.
h) Media personnel (such as photographers and camera operators),
stewards and any other personnel.
i) Substitute/team benches and match ofcials.

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51

Temporary demountable structures

1. Temporary demountable structures, such as temporary stands and award
ceremony platforms, should be avoided as far as possible. The use of temporary
stands should only be considered if there are no other options available andthe local authorities have previously inspected the construction in question andsubsequently issued a safety certicate approving its use, on which basis FIFAmay carry out its own inspection.
2. All temporary demountable structures must be issued with a safety
certicate and a full risk assessment of their use shall be completed.
3. Temporary structures should be constructed in a robust, stable, threedimensional form and designed to support maximum loads for the required
period and use with an adequate margin of safety. The following main points
should also be considered:a) Temporary demountable structures are exposed to the threat ofaccidental damage, unauthorised removal and alteration and generalmisuse. Stewards should monitor the circulation and behaviour ofspectators around the structure to ensure that no one is allowed to climb
up or underneath any part of it, or behave in such a way that may cause
damage or affect the stability of the structure.
b) The robustness of temporary structures should be such that the effectsof accidental damage are not disproportionate, and thus do not lead toprogressive collapse.
c) Having assessed the structure’s overall stability, ballast and/or anchorage
to the ground should be provided where necessary to ensure adequate
resistance to overturning or excessive lateral movement.
d) Walkways must have non-slip surfaces and be free from trip hazards.

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V. STRUCTURAL AND TECHNICAL MEASURESe) Handrails must be tted on walkways, stairs and stages, be one metrehigh and of a design that is sufcient to prevent a person falling from thestructure.
f) If the structure contains ammable material such as wood, additionalre safety precautions must be put in place.
g) Adverse weather conditions – especially high winds – should bemonitored. If these conditions affect the safety or stability of the structure,
it should be immediately taken out of use.
h) The construction of any temporary demountable structure should not
obstruct existing exits or walkways.
i) The positioning of the structure should take into consideration sight linesof other spectator accommodation.

36

Venue operation centre (VOC)

1. Purpose and designa) Each stadium must have a venue operation centre (VOC), which is
the room from which those persons responsible for safety and security
operations at the stadium can monitor, control, and direct resources in
response to any given situation before, during, and after a match. Its mainfunctions include:i) To allow the stadium safety and security management team tomonitor the safety and security of people attending the stadiumand in its immediate vicinity.
ii) To coordinate responses to specic incidents.
iii) To provide, if required, a monitoring facility for the emergency
services.
iv) To monitor public order.
v) To assist the stadium management in staging the match.

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53b) The VOC should be located in a secure area of the stadium and havean overall view of the inside of the stadium. The size, conguration, andfurnishings of the VOC should be designed to accommodate all equipment
and personnel necessary to manage stadium safety and security efciently.
When designing a VOC, the stadium authority should consult with local
police, re and other relevant civil authorities.
c) The VOC and all safety and security equipment must have anuninterruptible power supply.
2. Stafnga) The exact stafng of the VOC will vary depending on local factors
such as the structures of civil authorities and the police. As a minimum
requirement, the following posts must be provided for:i) Stadium security ofcer.
ii) Police commander responsible for all police activity at the stadiumand in its vicinity (more than one police commander may beneeded, depending on the structure).
iii) A representative of the medical services.
iv) Fire service commander responsible for all reghting capabilities
at the stadium and in its vicinity.
v) Chief steward.
vi) CCTV operators.
vii) Communications operators and log keepers.
viii) Ticketing coordinator.
b) If any of the above-listed commanders are not positioned in the VOC
for any reason, a suitable deputy must be present who has direct contact
with the commander at all times.

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V. STRUCTURAL AND TECHNICAL MEASURESc) The VOC must be fully operational and fully staffed prior to the gates
being opened to the public and must remain operational until the stadium
has been cleared and returned to normal non-match operations.
3. Stadium plans, maps and paperwork
Copies of the following must be held as a minimum in the VOC:a) All contingency plans.
b) Emergency plans.
c) Steward deployment plans.
d) Security personnel deployment plans.
e) Medical plans.
f) Egress and ingress plans.
g) Large-scale stadium maps, including detailed stadium plans (showing
key facilities) as well as maps of the surrounding areas.
h) CCTV camera positions.
i) Stadium code of conduct.
j) All relevant regulations and legislation in place.
k) Contact details of all stakeholders.

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55

VOC systems

The following systems should be fully integrated into the VOC:
1. Public address system override
Although the public address announcer should not be located in the VOC,
he should be situated close by to allow safety and security messages to bepassed across the system. The VOC should have a PA override facility to allow
safety and security staff to use the PA system in an emergency that has priority
control over that of other operators.
2. Fire alarm control panel
The re alarm control panel is an electronic panel that is the controllingcomponent of the stadium’s re alarm detection and monitoring system. Thisequipment will need to be staffed by an appropriately trained and qualiedperson, with direct communication to the commander of the re services.
3. Pitch lighting control panel
The lighting control panel controls pitch lighting. If the pitch lighting
unexpectedly loses power, the control panel allows the VOC to remotely toggle
power (on-off) to restore the pitch lighting.
4. Electronic video screen (giant screen) control system (where installed)
The giant screen control system consists of a control panel and monitoring
screens that allow a user to manage the time, score, video replays and otherentertainment functions on the giant screen. It should also be able to display
written messages in case of an emergency, so that instructions and information
can be provided to spectators and stadium staff. As with the public address
announcer, the main operator of the giant screen should not be located in the
VOC but in a separate room near it, so that messages can be passed from the
VOC to the operator. Management should consider having an override facility
in the VOC to allow safety and security staff to use the giant screen for sending
messages when required.

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5. CCTV monitors
Sufcient CCTV surveillance monitors and control systems shall be installed inthe VOC to properly undertake proactive and reactive surveillance monitoring
and control of the cameras. Furthermore, the system shall contain digital
video recorders (DVRs) of sufcient capacity to record and store images for aminimum of 60 days.
6. Communications
There shall be a robust and comprehensive communications system for all
aspects of stadium safety and security. Standard commercial mobile phone
networks often become overloaded during an incident and therefore cannot
be relied upon as a means of communication for the purposes of safety andsecurity. As such, the following systems shall be in place in the VOC:a) External xed landline, direct dial (i.e. not through a switchboard)b) Intercom or internal xed landlines between key locations around thestadium and the VOC to include:i) PA system announcerii) Giant screen operatoriii) Entry pointsiv) First aid roomsv) Police detention roomsvi) Team and referees’ dressing roomsvii) FIFA General Coordinator’s ofcec) Radio network for all safety and security functions*d) Internet/data facilities*Experience has shown that when using radios at a stadium, earpieces are
required to counteract the noise levels during a match and to ensure thatmessages can be effectively transmitted.

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7. Spectator entry counting system
Stadium entry points must have a system for counting spectators. Ideally, thisshould be automated, but whichever system is adopted, the information must
be collated in the VOC at regular intervals of 15 minutes from the time thegates are open until kick-off plus 30 minutes, so that the safety and security
management team can assess the entry ow and capacity of the stadium. For
venues that have more than one match being played on the same day, entry
monitoring must be maintained until kick-off plus 30 minutes of the last game.
8. Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)a) All electrical systems listed above should have an uninterruptible power
supply (UPS), which consists of an electrical apparatus that provides
emergency power to a load when the input power source, typically theutility mains, fails. A UPS differs from an auxiliary or emergency powersystem or standby generator in that it will provide instantaneous or nearinstantaneous protection from input power interruptions by means of
one or more attached batteries and associated electronic circuitry for
low power users. The on-battery runtime of most uninterruptible powersources is relatively short, with 15 minutes being typical for smaller units
but sufcient to allow time to bring an auxiliary power source on line, orto properly shut down the protected equipment.
b) If any or all of the above are not integrated into the VOC, appropriate
measures must be put in place to ensure that there is direct and immediate
communication between the VOC and system user.

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38

Rooms for stewards and police ofcers

1. Police ofcers and stewards should be provided with meeting, brieng
and storage facilities as well as sufcient space for any vehicles that may berequired for their operational tasks.
2. Police detention facilities should be provided and located in a secure andsuitable area.
3. All of these facilities shall be easily accessible and have controlled access.

39

Safety and emergency lighting and power supply

1. The safety and emergency lighting shall:a) Provide sufcient levels of illumination to allow people to see hazards
and obstacles.
b) Provide sufcient levels of illumination to ensure effective CCTV
operations.
c) Avoid issues such as glare or icker that could mask or cause a risk.
d) Avoid reections which could impact adversely on safety.
e) Be suitable for the environment (indoors/outdoors).
f) Be positioned so that it does not cause a re risk.
g) Avoid presenting a risk to users such as burns.
h) Be properly positioned to allow for maintenance and repair.

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2. For matches played when there is insufcient natural light, the following
areas must be illuminated:a) All entry and exit points in the outer and inner perimeters, turnstile
areas and approaches to the entry and exit points as well as parking areasand paths leading from public transport facilities to the stadium.
b) Paths/areas between the outer and inner perimeters and the spectatoraccommodation.
c) Spectator and media areas.
d) Stairwells, concourses and vomitories around the stadium.
e) Toilets.
f) Areas containing concession stalls and refreshment facilities.
3. A careful evaluation of the available utility service is crucial to ensuring thatall safety and emergency lighting equipment remains operational. Redundantservices and on-site power sources will be necessary to provide back-up andride-through in the event of utility outages. This is essential for all life safety
equipment.
4. For more guidance on lighting and emergency power supply, the stadium
management should refer to the FIFA publication Football Stadiums – Technical
Recommendations and Requirements.

40

Electronic video screen (giant screen)

1. Where installed, the stadium’s electronic video screen may be used before,
during and after the match, provided that the relevant FIFA regulations andinstructions are strictly observed.

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2. Under the direction of the VOC, safety, security or emergency messages may
be transmitted via the electronic video screen. When using the electronic video
screen to transmit safety, security and emergency messages, it is recommended
that only pre-prepared messages are used.

41

Closed circuit television (CCTV)

1. All stadiums shall be tted with adequate and effective closed circuit
television (CCTV) systems, with monitor screens and control consoles located inthe VOC. They should be positioned so as to include coverage of the following
areas:a) All entry and exit points.
b) Approaches to the stadium grounds.
c) Spectator accommodation inside the stadium.
d) Stairways and passageways.
e) Concession/refreshment areas.
f) Broadcast/TV compound.
g) Player and ofcials drop-off and pick-up points.
h) Corridors leading to players’ and ofcials’ dressing rooms.
i) Player entrance onto the eld of play.
j) Other key facilities including on-site power generators.

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2. The primary function of the CCTV system is to allow personnel in the
VOC to identify incidents, or potential problems, assist with the situational
assessment and inform courses of action and responses. It is not a substitutefor stewarding or safety and security management.
3. The secondary function of the CCTV system is to make recordings thatcan be used for investigations following an incident or for the purposes ofevidence.
4. Personnel operating the system should be suitably trained and, whereappropriate, qualied in the operation of CCTV systems. They should also be
trained in the interpretation, use and storage of the data.
5. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) must be provided to ensure
continued operation of the CCTV system even in the event of a power failure.
Any back-up power supply should be sufcient to enable the CCTV system tocontinue to function at full load in an emergency, such as a re or a failure of
the mains supply, for up to three hours.
6. CCTV recordings shall be securely stored for a period of 60 days following amatch. If there is an incident or accident occurring during a match, recordings
shall be securely stored for a period of two years in a format that can bereviewed as required.

42

Public address system

1. The public address (PA) system is the main form of direct communication
between the stadium management team and spectators. It can also be used
as a form of communication between stadium management and stadium staff
during an incident or where mass notication is required.

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2. As a guideline, the public address system should meet the following
requirements:a) Intelligibility
The system should be intelligible, so that broadcast messages can be heard
under reasonable conditions (including emergencies) by all persons ofnormal hearing in any part of the stadium to which the public has access,including those people waiting to gain entry.
b) Zoning
Ideally, the PA system should be designed to allow broadcasts to be madeto specied individual areas both inside and outside the stadium, including
the pitch.
c) Override facilityi) Whilst it is not recommended that the PA system is operated innormal use from the VOC, it is essential that the VOC can override
the PA system for safety, security and emergency messages.
ii) Predetermined messages (including any coded messages) shouldbe established and detailed in the stadium’s contingency andemergency plans. All such messages must be known by all stadium
staff who are required to take action.
iii) If there are areas of the ground which have the facility to turndown the output from the public address system (such as
hospitality boxes or lounges), the system should be designed tooverride these volume controls automatically when emergency
messages are broadcast.
d) Back-up power supply
The back-up power supply to the public address system should be sufcient
to enable the system to continue to function at full load in an emergency,such as a re or a failure of the mains supply, for up to three hours.

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V. STRUCTURAL AND TECHNICAL MEASURES63e) Back-up loudhailers
If the public address system fails, for whatever reason, loudhailers should
be available for the use of stewards and police in all parts of the ground,for directing or instructing spectators.
f) Inspections and tests
The PA system must undergo a full system check two weeks before thestart of a FIFA event and within 24 hours of kick-off on match days toensure that the system is fully functional.

43

Public address system – operation

It is important that the operation of the PA system is conducted by a competentand trained individual. The following considerations should be taken into
account:a) Provision of a separate boothi) It is strongly recommended that the public address announcer is
not stationed within the VOC, although, as previously stated, it
must be possible for staff in the VOC to override the system during
an emergency.
ii) The operating booth for the PA announcer should have a goodview of the pitch and be linked to the VOC by telephone orintercom (landline). Ideally, this link should also include theprovision of a clearly visible red light, so that the general announcer
can see instantly when someone in the VOC is trying to makecontact with him.
iii) The ideal location of the PA announcer’s booth is directly adjacentto the VOC, with an interconnecting window or door between thetwo rooms.
iv) Whichever arrangement is provided, it is vital that public address
announcements can be heard clearly in the VOC.

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V. STRUCTURAL AND TECHNICAL MEASURESb) Pre-announcement signal
Important announcements relating to crowd safety should be preceded bya loud, distinct signal, in order to catch the attention of the crowd.
c) Tone and content of announcements
During an emergency, it is essential that clear, accurate information is
given to spectators and staff at the earliest possible time. Messages should
be positive, leaving those to whom they are addressed in no doubt as towhat is required of them. The messages should be scripted in advancein consultation with the police, re services, medical teams and stadium
security ofcer.
d) Languages
All emergency public announcements are to be made in the participatingteams’ native language plus the language of the host nation (if different).
For all predetermined safety announcements, it is recommended that thesetranslations are pre-recorded to ensure that there is no confusion.

44

Stadium announcer

1. The stadium announcer shall be trained accordingly and provided with texts
written in advance for broadcasting over the public address system.
2. Texts covering the following eventualities shall be drafted and readily
available to both the public announcer and the police:a) Congestion in spectator area in front of entry gates.
b) Spectators still outside the entry gates at kick-off.
c) Decision to postpone match.
d) Clashes between violent groups of supporters.

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V. STRUCTURAL AND TECHNICAL MEASURES65e) Penetration of perimeter fence by one or more spectators.
f) Discovery of potentially explosive/inammable device.
g) Threat of attacks with explosive/inammable devices.
h) Possible danger caused by poor weather or stadium construction faults.
i) Danger posed by panic among spectators.

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Crowd build-up

1. Dangerous overcrowding can arise if spectators are able to force theirway into a stadium that is already full or nearly full, for example by scalingor breaking through perimeter fences, gates or turnstiles. To avoid this risk,boundary walls, fences and gates should be of the appropriate height andstrength, should not provide the opportunity for climbing, and should bemonitored by CCTV and/or stewards and/or police ofcers.
2. Turnstile areas must always be controlled by stewards and/or police ofcers.
For matches where crowd build-up is expected, additional resources may berequired.
3. Contingency plans should be drawn up in order to deal with situations
where unduly large crowds gather outside the stadium’s outer perimeter. Local
knowledge of the stadium and crowd patterns should be taken into account indrawing up such contingency plans.
4. It should be stressed that the opening of additional or under-used entrances
could lead to sudden uncontrolled movement and possible crushing. If
the stadium contingency plans dealing with large crowds outside include
the opening of additional entrances, the plan must also contain sufcientmeasures to prevent uncontrolled crowd movements. It should also ensure thatspectators who enter in such situations can still be accurately counted, and that
adequate stewarding arrangements are in place for their dispersal once inside
the stadium.
5. Under no circumstances should there be uncontrolled admission into theground.

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67

Stadium code of conduct

1. A stadium code of conduct that meets the legal requirements of the hostnation and FIFA shall be prepared for all stadiums in consultation with the local
authorities and the stadium authority and shall be displayed throughout thestadium.
2. The stadium code of conduct should be made available to spectators in
as many forms as required to ensure that they are known. This may include
booklets, websites, public announcements, etc.
3. The stadium code of conduct shall contain provisions that help to reduce therisk of spectator behaviour that may threaten safety, security or good order.
If these provisions are violated, the offenders shall be punished in accordancewith the host nation’s laws, which may include eviction from the stadium.
4. Guidance on stadium codes of conduct can be found in Annexe C.

47

Safety signs

1. Safety signs appear in ve different categories, and should follow the hostnation’s standardised formatting for signs. The ve categories are:a) Prohibition signs: for example, “No smoking”.
b) Warning signs: for example, “Low headroom” or “Uneven steps”.
c) Mandatory signs: for example, “Spectators must have a valid ticket”.
d) Emergency signs: for example, escape routes or rst aid stations.
e) Fireghting equipment signs: for example, hose reels, extinguishers.

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2. All signs in these categories should be easily seen and understood. In
conditions of poor natural light, it may be necessary to provide either articial
illumination and/or to ensure the signs use reective material.
3. Where possible, signs should be pictorial in design to assist those who
cannot read or understand the language in which the sign is written.

48

Information signs

1. These are signs communicating information relative to the stadium or eventor to specic restrictions. Such signs include:a) Stadium plans: simplied ground plans shall be displayed at suitablelocations, such as by main entrances, and, where appropriate, in places
where they might benet spectators. The ground plans should display any
colour-coded information relating to ticketing and entry requirements.
b) Stadium regulations/stadium code of conduct: including
information on prohibited items.
c) Directional signs: both outside and inside the ground.
d) Block, row and seat indicators.
2. Signs in these categories should not use predominant colouring which could
lead to their being confused with safety signs.

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69

Commercial signs and hoardings

1. Care should be taken to ensure that signs and hoardings in this category
are located in such a way that they do not obscure or detract from safety
or information signs, for example, by being too close, by blocking the lineof vision, or by the overuse of predominant colours utilised in the safety or
information signs.
2. Commercial signs must not restrict movement of spectators or block
entrances and exits.

50

Alcoholic beverages

1. FIFA recognises that the regulation of the consumption of alcohol is critical.
If the possession, sale, distribution or consumption of alcohol is to be permitted
at a match, the event organiser must take all reasonable measures to ensurethat the consumption of alcohol does not interfere with the spectators’ safe
enjoyment of the match. Unless otherwise regulated by the law of the country
where the FIFA event takes place, the following minimum measures shall beapplied:a) Restrict the sale and distribution of alcohol to that by authorised
personnel only.
b) Prohibit the possession and distribution of alcohol at the stadium
premises (outer security perimeter) or in the stadium itself by any
unauthorised individuals.
c) Prohibit the admission of any individual who appears to be drunk.
d) Prohibit the possession and distribution of glass, cans or any closed
portable containers that may be thrown and cause injury.

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2. FIFA, the confederations and associations reserve the right to further restrict
the possession, sale, distribution or consumption of alcohol at matches,
including the type of beverages that may be sold, where alcoholic beverages
may be consumed, or to ban alcohol, as deemed appropriate under thecircumstances.

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71

Fire services

1. The stadium safety and security management team shall plan, organise,
control, monitor and review the necessary preventative and protective resafety measures and record these arrangements in writing.
2. The host nation’s re safety legislation shall be referred to and adhered towithin all stadiums.
3. It is a requirement that a competent person or authority produce a rerisk assessment. If the risk of re at a stadium or a section of the stadium isdeemed as medium to high, the capacity of the section should be limited to
the number of spectators who can safely exit within the appropriate time.

52

Minimising re risks

The following measures and practices should be considered when seeking tominimise the re risk:a) Sources of ignition
The re risk assessment should identify all potential sources of ignitionat the stadium. Where possible, those sources should be removed or
replaced. Where this cannot be done, the ignition source should be kept
well away from combustible materials, be adequately guarded or made thesubject of management controls. Ignition sources may include:i) Cooking appliances.
ii) Central heating boilers.
iii) Room heaters.
iv) Light ttings.
v) Certain electrical apparatus, especially if not maintained.
vi) Smoking areas.

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VII. EMERGENCY SERVICESb) Smokingi) The stadium safety and security management team must ensurethat if smoking is permitted inside the stadium perimeter, it does
not increase the risk of re. This can be achieved by designatingsmoking areas at controlled points that are equipped with suitable
ashtrays and extinguishers.
ii) The stadium safety and security management team should adopt
and enforce a clear policy on smoking for both staff and spectators.
The policy should be supported by suitable signs and use of the
public address system to inform spectators.
iii) In areas which are constructed of, or contain, combustible orammable items or materials, smoking should be strictly prohibitedin that vicinity.
c) Flares and reworksi) The stadium safety and security management team must adopt andenforce a clear policy prohibiting spectators from bringing ares,reworks or other forms of pyrotechnics into the stadium. Thisshould be clearly stated in the stadium code of conduct.
ii) Any event activities which include pyrotechnic displays must be
included in the re risk assessment and a formal plan prepared,
which must be approved by the re services and local authorities.
d) Voids
Voids under seating areas, or under the ooring itself, are often used
for the unauthorised storage of combustible materials. They may also
accumulate waste or litter. All voids should be inspected prior to an event
as part of the risk assessment and made safe.
e) Waste and litter
The accumulation of waste and litter (such as programmes and food anddrink packaging) should be avoided. Sufcient waste and litter bins must
be provided throughout the stadium and arrangements made for theirfrequent emptying throughout the match.

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73f) High-risk re areas
High-risk re areas should be separated from any other parts of spectatoraccommodation by a construction having a re resistance of at least
30 minutes. Such areas may include:i) Kitchens.
ii) Catering outlets.
iii) Hospitality areas.
iv) Boiler rooms, oil fuel stores and general stores.
v) Enclosed or underground car parks.
Adequate reghting equipment must be positioned in these areas, taking
into consideration the types of extinguisher required, such as CO², water,etc.
g) Catering facilities
Wherever possible, all catering facilities should be located in permanent
structures. Any temporary or mobile catering facility must be included inthe re risk assessment.
h) Fuel or power supply
Special care should be taken to ensure that any fuel or power supply
used for cooking or heating, in particular liqueed petroleum gas (LPG)
cylinders, is stored safely.
i) Hazardous materials
If it is necessary to utilise hazardous materials, such as fuels (whether incontainers or within fuel tanks and machinery), fertilisers, weed killers,paints or gas cylinders used for medical purposes, they should, if held
within or near to spectator facilities, be stored in re-resistant facilities thathave appropriate access control.
j) Temporary structures and ancillary activities
Any temporary accommodation or facility must be included within there safety risk assessment. Any ancillary activity not included in the overallre safety risk assessment must be the subject of a site-specic risk
assessment.

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Fire warning and detection systems

1. Consideration should be given to the installation of an automatic redetection (AFD) system in all high-risk re areas and also in any unoccupied
areas that contain a normal re risk. This system should:a) Give an automatic indication of the re warning and its location.
b) If the re warning panel is located in a part of the stadium other thanthe VOC, there should be a repeater panel sited in the VOC.
c) Be designed, installed, commissioned, maintained and tested byprofessionally competent persons.
2. Whichever warning or detection system is in place, the re services must be
informed immediately of any warning.
3. The procedures for notifying the re services must form part of the stadium’s
contingency plans and staff must be trained accordingly.

54

Fireghting facilities and equipment

All stadiums must be provided with adequate reghting equipment. Advice
on the type, level of provision and positioning of reghting equipment
should be sought from the re services or authority responsible for enforcing
re legislation. When providing such equipment, the following should beconsidered:a) Where appropriate, hose reels should provide adequate protection to
the whole oor area and be installed in a suitable position by entrances,
exits and stairways.

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75b) Where hose reels are not provided, sufcient portable re extinguishers
should be installed to give adequate cover. The number and type will
depend upon the structure’s size, layout, re separation and risk.
c) Fire blankets and appropriate re extinguishers should be provided in all
catering facilities and outlets.
d) Portable reghting equipment should be located so that it cannot bevandalised but is readily accessible to staff when needed.
e) All reghting equipment must be regularly inspected to ensure that it
is in full working order.

55

Staff re awareness and training

It is the event organiser’s responsibility to ensure that all staff working at thestadium are aware of the need to guard against re, including the possibility ofarson. Staff should be trained in how to respond as follows:a) To raise the alarm and inform the VOC immediately.
b) To save life and prevent injury to others, without becoming a casualty
themselves.
c) Provided it is safe to do so, to attempt to put out the re and/or prevent
it from spreading.
d) To assist in the safe evacuation of the section/stadium/area concerned.

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Emergency evacuation and places of safety

1. The emergency evacuation time is a calculation which, together withthe appropriate rate of passage, is used to determine the capacity of theemergency exit system from the viewing accommodation to a place of safety orreasonable safety, during an emergency.
2. The re risk assessment should take into account the availability and locationof one or more places of safety or reasonable safety.
3. A place of safety may be a road, walkway or open space adjacent to, oreven within, the boundaries of the stadium.
4. Within a large stadium, there may also be a need to designate a place orplaces of “reasonable safety”, where people can be safe from the effects ofre for 30 minutes or more (unless otherwise stated by the host nation’s laws
and legislation), thus allowing extra time for them to move directly to a placeof safety. A place of reasonable safety may include:a) An exit route that is protected throughout its length by a construction
having a re resistance of 30 minutes, unless otherwise stated by the hostnation’s laws and legislation.
b) A stairway that is in the open air and protected from re breaking out
onto or below it.
c) The eld of play.
5. Emergency evacuation routes, one inside and one outside of the stadium,must be agreed upon with the police, stewards, re service, rst aid andemergency services. The external evacuation route shall have two lanes and be
negotiable by vehicle and must be kept unobstructed at all times.

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6. The eld of play within the stadium must be accessible by at least one
vehicle entry point.
7. If it is determined that the eld of play is to be used as a place of reasonablesafety, there must be a method of subsequently moving evacuated spectatorsfrom the eld of play to a place of safety outside the stadium.

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Emergency evacuation of spectators with disabilities

Contingency plans for emergency evacuation must take into account the
special needs of spectators with disabilities.

58

Medical1. Every stadium must ensure that appropriate and qualied medical and rst
aid provisions are available for all spectators, including VIPs/VVIPs, in addition
to the medical facilities set aside for players and ofcials.
2. In order to assess the level of requirement, the event organiser shouldcommission a medical risk assessment from a competent person(s) ororganisation.
3. Medical provisions must comply with the relevant national legislation forthe provision of medical services at large public gatherings/sporting events.
For further advice and guidance, stadium management should refer to thefollowing FIFA publications:a) Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC) – Football
Emergency Medicine Manual.
b) Football Stadiums – Technical Recommendations and Requirements.

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VIII. OTHER REQUIREMENTS

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TV and media

1. Generala) The stadium security ofcer is responsible for ensuring that TV andmedia activities do not interfere with the safety and security operations of
the stadium.
b) Media and TV companies, in conjunction with the host broadcaster,
must provide the stadium security ofcer with a risk assessment for theirinstallations. In addition, the stadium security ofcer shall ensure that all
media and TV facilities, whether permanent or temporary, are included
within the overall stadium risk assessment.
c) The stadium security ofcer is responsible for ensuring that appropriate
security is in place to prevent unauthorised access to TV broadcast
compounds and other TV and media facilities, in agreement with the hostbroadcaster. He must further ensure that all TV and media equipment
inside the stadium grounds is not stolen, vandalised or interfered with inany way. The following provides guidance on the levels of security required
and principles to be applied:i) Level A: From the time that broadcast installation starts at
a stadium (e.g. cabling, temporary buildings, etc.), suitable
monitoring must be in place to prevent the accidental or deliberate
tampering with the facilities at any time.
ii) Level B: From the time that full technical or ofce installation starts
at a stadium, 24-hour security must be provided for the broadcast
compound. In addition, broadcast areas within the stadium must
be included within the overall stadium security plan.
iii) Level C: On match day and match day -1 (or on days whenteam training sessions or similar activities take place), full security
must be in place to ensure that all broadcast areas are free from
accidental or deliberate interference by unauthorised personnel.

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79d) TV and media parking and broadcast compounds must be segregatedfrom the public and be provided with appropriate levels of lighting.
2. TV and media pre-event planninga) Pre-event planning and briengs should include proposed arrangementsfor pre-match, half-time or post-match entertainment or ceremonies.
Consideration should be given to appointing a safety and security liaisonofcer for media and TV activities.
b) If any TV or media provision results in restricted views for any areas ofspectator accommodation, tickets for those areas should not be sold, andaccess to them not permitted for spectators during the event.
c) TV and media personnel unfamiliar with emergency procedures at thestadium should be fully briefed by the stadium security ofcer. This isparticularly important with regard to any pitchside operators or remotecamera positions.
3. TV and media pre-event inspections
The stadium security ofcer should consider the following:i) TV and media vehicles should not be parked in such a manner as toobstruct ingress and egress to the stadium.
ii) Cables should not run along or across gangways or passageways,
or otherwise obstruct the movement of spectators. Where laid infront of pitch perimeter exits, cables should be buried or installed ina cable duct.
iii) Where camera platforms are located above spectator areas,
protective measures, such as netting, should be provided to guard
against falling objects.
iv) Where cameras or camera gantries are located in spectator areas,or where sight lines are restricted as a result of their location, seatkills must be factored into the overall capacity of that section of thestadium. Stadium management should also ensure that tickets forthe affected areas are not sold.

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VIII. OTHER REQUIREMENTSv) The precautions listed above apply also to loudspeaker systems andother media installations, such as video screens, stages, etc.
vi) The output from loudspeaker systems should not drown out police
and stewards’ radios, or the public address system. Provision should
be made for an override switch (normally in the VOC), so that theloudspeaker output can be interrupted if necessary.
4. TV and media personnel – identicationa) All TV and media personnel, in particular everyone whose function
requires them to operate around the eld of play or have access to otherrestricted areas, should be clearly identied, but in such a way that theirclothing cannot be confused with that of the stewards or other safety andsecurity personnel.
b) Regardless of role and location, all media and TV personnel must be
properly accredited.

60

Prevention of provocative and aggressive actions

1. Political action
The promotion or announcement of political or religious messages or any otherpolitical or religious actions, inside or in the immediate vicinity of the stadium,by any means, is strictly prohibited before, during and after matches.
2. Provocative and aggressive action and racisma) The event organiser must guarantee in cooperation with the local
security authorities that, in the stadium or its immediate vicinity, supporters
do not act in a provocative or aggressive manner. This includes, forexample, unacceptable levels of verbal provocation or aggression towards
players, match ofcials or opposing fans, racist behaviour and banners

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and ags that bear provocative or aggressive slogans. If such actions arise,
the event organiser and/or security forces must intervene over the public
address system and immediately remove any offensive material. Stewards
must draw the attention of the police to serious acts of misbehaviour,
including racist insults, so that offenders may be removed from thestadium.
b) Furthermore, all associations and clubs shall observe the relevantFIFA regulations and implement all available measures to prevent such
misconduct.
c) Any serious acts of misbehaviour, including racist insults, shall result inthe offender being removed from the stadium, in line with the stadiumcode of conduct. If a civil or criminal offence is committed, the police shallbe informed immediately so that appropriate action can be taken.
3. Supporter liaison ofcera) All associations shall employ a supporter liaison ofcer.
b) The supporter liaison ofcer shall be responsible for ensuring that
all measures are taken to ensure that the association’s supporters areprevented from engaging in any behaviour that may threaten safety or
security inside or outside the stadium. The supporter liaison ofcer shallalso make special efforts to identify and eliminate any violent tendencies
and to eradicate or at least reduce existing prejudices.
c) The supporter liaison ofcer shall take the following measures inparticular to meet the above objectives:i) Engage in dialogue with spectators and disseminate information.
ii) Mix with spectators and encourage sensible behaviour.
iii) Assist stadium stewards and police in dealing with unruly fans.

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VIII. OTHER REQUIREMENTS

61

Stadium bans

1. The relevant authorities retain the right to impose a stadium ban or othersanctions on and take necessary legal action against any identied person(s)whose behaviour either inside the stadium or outside the stadium affects orposes a threat to the safety and security of the event or to other people.
2. The relevant authorities retain the right to impose sanctions and take legal
action against any identied person(s) who is in breach of the stadium code of
conduct or whose behaviour is in breach of local laws.
3. The relevant authorities must collaborate and exchange and verify
information at their disposal before every event, thus ensuring the smoothapplication of stadium bans in the area of jurisdiction of the organiser.
4. Only the body that imposed the ban or other sanction may rescind it.

62

High-risk matches

1. It is primarily the responsibility of the host association to classify thematches and to determine whether a match is to be regarded as high-risk. Thisdecision shall be taken as soon as possible after consultation with the relevant
stakeholders, and in particular, with the senior national security advisor. The
association shall inform the FIFA general secretariat of its decision immediately.
In exceptional circumstances, the FIFA general secretariat or the respective
confederation may, on the basis of its own information, designate the match as
high-risk.

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2. The following measures shall be implemented for matches classied as highrisk:a) Strict segregation of fans by allocating sectors other than thoseindicated on the match ticket (enforced segregation).
b) Creating and reserving empty stadium sectors between “dangerous”
spectator sectors.
c) Increasing the number of stewards and/or police ofcers, particularly
at entry and exit points in spectator sectors, around the eld of play andbetween groups of rival supporters.
d) Assigning stewards to the visiting association/club to accompany thefans from the airport, railway station, port or bus/tram station and back.
Where appropriate, police services may also be required.
e) Employing a stadium announcer from the visiting association/club.
f) Keeping spectators in the stadium at the end of the match until ordercan be guaranteed outside the stadium. In such cases, the following
principles shall be observed:i) Shortly before the end of the match, the decision to retain a groupof supporters shall be announced over the public address system inthe language of the supporter group concerned.
ii) The match organiser shall ensure that, during the period ofretention, the retained supporters have access to refreshments andsanitary facilities.
iii) If possible, the retained supporters shall be entertained (music,
giant screen, etc.) to help the waiting time pass more quickly andkeep them calm.
iv) The retained supporters should be informed regularly of how much
longer they may have to wait before being allowed to leave thestadium.
3. Whilst FIFA may decide at any time to appoint a FIFA security ofcer for its
matches, a FIFA security ofcer will be appointed for all high-risk matches.

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VIII. OTHER REQUIREMENTS

4. Associations, confederations and event organisers shall report to the FIFA
Security Division any information that may be relevant to illegal activity, illegal
gambling or match-xing. The FIFA Security Division retains the right to appoint
an investigator or investigators to any match or event that is under suspicion ofillegal activities, illegal gambling or match-xing without prior communication
with the association, confederation or event organiser. Associations shallcooperate fully with FIFA with regard to the above and, where requested,facilitate the investigator(s) attending the match and conduct interviews asrequired.

63

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

1. The articles contained within these regulations shall also apply to FIFA Beach
Soccer World Cups, with the exception of those articles or parts of articles asdened in Annexe E.
2. It is recognised that certain aspects of safety and security are specic to
the requirements of FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups. Further guidance on the
additional and/or minimum requirements is provided in Annexe E.

64FIFA Futsal World Cup

1. The articles contained within these regulations shall also apply to FIFA Futsal
World Cups, with the exception of those articles or parts of articles as dened
in Annexe F.
2. It is recognised that certain aspects of safety and security are specic to therequirements of FIFA Futsal World Cups. Further guidance on the additional
and/or minimum requirements is provided in Annexe F.

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85

Administrative rules

If a stadium does not meet the structural, technical, organisational andoperational requirements specied in these regulations, and severe safety,
security or disorder problems are to be expected as a result, a stadium may beprohibited from hosting FIFA events.

66

Violations

Violations of these regulations may be subject to disciplinary measures inaccordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code, provided these regulations areapplicable in accordance with article 1.

67

Matters not provided forAny matters that are not provided for in the present regulations shall be dealt
with by the relevant FIFA bodies. Such decisions are nal.

68

Diverging texts

The regulations exist in the four ofcial languages of FIFA (English, French,
German and Spanish).
If there is any discrepancy between the four texts, the English version shall beauthoritative.

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IX. FINAL PROVISIONS

69

Effective date

The FIFA Executive Committee adopted these regulations on 14 December
2012. These Stadium Safety and Security Regulations shall come into force on
1 January 2013.

Tokyo, 14 December 2012

For the FIFA Executive Committee
President:
Joseph S. Blatter

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Secretary General:
Jérôme Valcke

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X. ANNEXES

Annexe A

87

Requirements of the national security ofcer, the seniornational security advisor and the stadium security ofcer

Annexe B

Counter-terrorism

Annexe C

Recommended content of the stadium code of conduct

Annexe D

Stadium areas and zones

Annexe E

Guidance for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups

Annexe F

Guidance for FIFA Futsal World Cups

Acknowledgements
FIFA acknowledges the support provided by the Sports Grounds Safety
Authority and its agreement to the reproduction, where appropriate, of advice
contained in the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds.

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ANNEXE A

Requirements of the national security ofcer
In order to discharge his duties properly, the national security ofcer shouldmeet the following requirements:
Competence
A person will be regarded as occupationally competent for the role of national
security ofcer when he has sufcient training, experience and knowledge tobe able to fully perform his roles and responsibilities.
StatusDuring FIFA events, the national security ofcer should be recognised as beingin overall control of operational safety and security management issues relating
to the event in conjunction with the senior police commander/senior national
security advisor. On non-match days, he should be regarded as the principal
advisor to the member association on all safety and security issues in relation to
football stadiums and hosting FIFA events.
The national security ofcer will be responsible for ensuring that all stadium
security ofcers appointed for FIFA events are properly trained and competent.
He will provide guidance and advice to ensure that any stadium used for a FIFA
event meets FIFA’s minimum safety and security standards.
Requirements of the senior national security advisor
In order to discharge his duties properly, the senior national security advisor
should meet the following requirements:
Competence
The senior national security advisor shall be a serving senior police ofcer who
has experience and knowledge of sporting events.

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Status
The senior national security advisor should not be a full-time position but
should involve regular contact with the national security ofcer. During events,
he will be in overall control of all security matters involving the police
and/or other relevant agencies and will work with the national security ofcer
to ensure constant liaison between authorities and event organisers.
The senior national security advisor shall be instrumental in assisting with theplanning and preparation of a FIFA event and with the delivery of resources
to provide the security infrastructure together with the relevant authorities.
He shall also oversee the production of major incident plans.
Requirements of the stadium security ofcer
In order to discharge his duties properly, the stadium security ofcer shouldmeet the following requirements:
Competence
A person will be regarded as occupationally competent for the role of stadium
security ofcer when he has sufcient training, experience and knowledge tobe able to fully perform his roles and responsibilities.
Status
The stadium security ofcer should be recognised as being in overall control
of operational safety and security management issues on a match day inconjunction with the senior police commander at the stadium. On non-matchdays, the stadium security ofcer should be regarded as the principal advisor to
the stadium management on all safety and security issues.
Although the stadium security ofcer may be appointed on a part-time basis,
he must not be deployed on the day of a match in which they have had no
input into the safety and security planning at that stadium.

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ANNEXE BCounter-terrorism
FIFA events are targets for terrorist groups or individuals, regardless of whether
the host nation possesses an intrinsic capability. Terrorism can come in many
forms, not just physical, and can include threats or hoaxes designed to frighten
and intimidate.
All counter-terrorism matters should be addressed by the relevant national
authorities as part of an overall national security strategy, and specic advice
relating to terrorist threats must be obtained from the relevant national
authorities prior to the start of any FIFA event. Counter-terrorism measures
should be integrated into stadium contingency plans wherever possible.
As a basic measure, the stadium safety and security management team should
establish low-level search and awareness policies. The vigilance of all staff(including cleaning, maintenance and ground staff and contract staff) is an
essential means of deterrence and detection. As they know their own work
areas, stadium staff should be encouraged to be alert to unusual behaviour oritems that are out of place.
Basic searches of the stadium should be conducted as part of a daily routine,
especially on match days. As a guideline, stadium searches should be
conducted on the following occasions:a) Prior to a stadium being handed over for a FIFA event and accreditation
being enforced.
b) Prior to any ofcial training taking place at the stadium.
c) Prior to any match.
Detailed searches utilising professional resources should be conducted in
response to any specic threat or on the discovery of a suspicious item.

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All staff must have the condence to report anything suspicious in theknowledge that reports, including false alarms, will be taken seriously andregarded as a contribution to the safety and security of the event. Under the
direction of the senior national security advisor, training and briengs should be
conducted at all stadiums for all staff, not only safety and security employees.
Staff should be briefed to look out for packages, bags or other items in odd
places, carefully placed (rather than dropped) items in rubbish bins and unusualinterest shown by strangers.
If there is an increased risk of terrorist activity at a particular stadium or acrossthe whole event, it may be necessary to conduct more thorough searches ofpeople and vehicles entering the stadium. This may require additional resourceson the approaches to the turnstiles or entry points, which in turn may reduce
the rate at which spectators can enter on match days. If this is the case, it
may be necessary to inform spectators in advance and open the gates earlier
than usual to compensate for the time it will take spectators to pass throughsecurity.
Search plans
The stadium security ofcer and the local police commander are responsible fordeveloping a stadium search plan.
a) Search plans should be prepared in advance of the event and all staff
should receive training and perform rehearsals for them.
b) The overall objective of the plan is to make sure that the entire stadium
area is searched in a systematic and thorough manner so that no part isleft unchecked.
c) Those best placed to search a stadium are those who work there on aregular basis. Police and other agencies can conduct searches, but they
may not be familiar with the layout or be aware of what should be there
or is out of place, and as such cannot search as quickly or as thoroughly as
stadium staff.

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ANNEXE Bd) The member(s) of staff nominated to carry out the search do not needto have expertise in explosives or other types of device, but they must be
familiar with the place they are searching. They are looking for any items
that should not be there, that cannot be accounted for or are out of place.
e) Ideally, those conducting searches should do so in pairs.
Recommended action
Consider dividing the stadium into sections that are of a manageable size andeasily understood.
The search plan should have a written checklist, to be signed when completed
by the stadium security ofcer. A copy should be held in the VOC.
Remember to include any stairs, re escapes, corridors, toilets and lifts in the
search plan, as well as car parks, service yards and other areas outside that fallwithin the outer perimeter of the stadium.
If evacuation is considered or implemented, then a search of the assemblyareas, the routes to them and the surrounding area should also be made prior
to evacuation.
Consider the most effective method of initiating the search, for example bysending a message to the search teams over a public address system (themessages should be coded to avoid unnecessary disruption and alarm to the
public).
Search plans should incorporate the following key instructions:a) Do not touch or attempt to move any suspect items.
b) Move everyone away to a safe distance and out of line of sight.
c) Notify the VOC immediately.
d) Prevent others from approaching the suspect item.

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93e) Communicate safely and calmly to staff, ofcials, players, VIPs/VVIPs
and spectators who are in the area.
f) Only use hand-held radios or mobile phones away from the immediate
vicinity of a suspect item, remaining out of line of sight and behind hardcover.
g) Ensure that whoever found the item or witnessed the incident remains
on hand to brief the police.
Searching of persons entering a venue
Subject to the threat assessment, once a stadium search is complete all persons
entering the stadium should be subjected to a search regime.
Consider the following:a) Anyone refusing to be searched will not be permitted access into thestadium.
b) The search regime is for everyone entering the stadium, including all
staff, goods deliverers, volunteers and members of the public.
c) Consider advising spectators that searches will be carried out. They
should arrive early and be encouraged not to bring bags. This can beachieved via tickets, websites or pre-event advertising. A list of banned
items should also be included in the information.
d) Ensure that the search staff are properly briefed and trained on theirpowers and what they are searching for.
e) If detection equipment such as metal detectors and scanners is used,ensure that those operating the equipment fully understand how theywork and their limitations.
f) Ensure that the search areas have sufcient space.

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ANNEXE Bg) Ensure that there are sufcient staff to carry out the searches.
h) Ensure that there are sufcient search facilities to handle the expectedattendance within the available time.
i) If there is a car park within the outer perimeter of the stadium being
used, all cars entering the car park must be searched.
j) The vehicles of VIPs/VVIPs, players and ofcials should be searcheddaily and, where possible, guarded to prevent any interference. Whentransporting VIPs/VVIPs, players and ofcials to the stadium, vehicles
should be fully searched prior to passengers alighting from the vehicle
and escorted to the stadium by police so as to avoid them having to be
searched on entry to the stadium.

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Recommended content of the stadium code of conduct
For all FIFA events, a formal stadium code of conduct shall be establishedbetween FIFA, the host nation, the relevant local authority and the stadium
authority.
The stadium code of conduct shall contain provisions that help to reduce therisk of any spectator behaviour that may threaten safety, security or good order.
If these provisions are violated, the offender(s) shall be punished in accordancewith the host nation’s laws and subject to eviction and/or banning fromstadiums.
When drawing up the stadium code of conduct, the following should beconsidered:
1. Entry to the stadiumThis section describes the conditions of entry into the stadium by visitors andaccredited persons. It should include the requirements of producing a valid
ticket or accreditation and, where requested, proof of identity. Furthermore,stadium visitors and accredited persons must submit to searches and agree
that access is limited to those areas of the stadium as specied on the ticket or
accreditation.
2. Prohibited items
This section deals with all items that stadium visitors and accredited persons are
not permitted to use, possess, hold or bring into the stadium. Prohibited items
are loosely grouped into the following categories:a) Any item that could be used as a weapon, cause damage and/or injury
or be used as a projectile.
b) Illegal substances, not just limited to narcotics.
c) Items of a racist, xenophobic, charitable or ideological nature or items
that could detract from the sporting focus.

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ANNEXE Cd) Items that increase the risk of re or are harmful to health, not solely
pyrotechnics.
e) Animals, except those used for the purpose of assisting people withdisabilities or impairments.
f) Large, unwieldy objects that cannot be stowed under a seat.
g) Any item that could distract the players and/or ofcials, including laser
pointers and items that produce excessive volumes of noise.
h) Promotional or commercial materials.
i) Recording devices or cameras of any kind other than those for personaluse.
j) Any other object that could compromise public safety and security and/or
harm the reputation of the event.
k) Any items that could restrict the view of other spectators.
3. Common sense conduct inside the stadiumThis section sets out the required standard of behaviour of stadium visitors
and accredited persons whilst inside the stadium. It should include, but not be
restricted to, such provisions as:
Stadium visitors and accredited persons shall:a) Conduct themselves in a manner that is not offensive to, endangers thesafety of, hinders or harasses others.
b) Only occupy seats and hospitality facilities as indicated on the ticket.
c) Not cause obstructions or restrict the circulation of people or vehicles.
d) Not drop litter.

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97e) Smoke only in designated areas.
f) Not enter the eld of play or other restricted areas, unless authorised.
g) Not obstruct the view of others.
h) Not throw any objects or substances at others or on to the eld of play.
i) Not cause re or the risk of re or use pyrotechnics of any kind.
j) Not act in a manner that could cause offence to others, including but
not restricted to acts of racism.
k) Not act in a manner that could detract from the sporting event.
l) Not sell goods or tickets to others unless authorised to do so.
m) Not create any threat to safety or life, or harm themselves or others.
n) Not climb on or over any structures not intended for general use.
o) Unless authorised to do so, not record, photograph, transmit ordisseminate any sound, image, description or result of any activity within
the stadium for commercial use.
p) Not act in a manner that could distract or harm the players or ofcials.
q) Not engage in any activity that could compromise the safety, security or
reputation of the event.
When drawing up the stadium code of conduct, the local laws, customs andpast spectator behaviour will need to be considered.

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ANNEXE D

Stadium areas and zones
Stadium perimeters and areas
Stadiums used during FIFA events are divided into ve distinct perimeters, as
follows:
1. The public zone

1

2. The exclusive zone
3. Outer perimeter(visual ticket check)2

4. Inner perimeter3(electronic access control)

4

5. The stands

5

A. TCPC

B

B. Mags & bags
C. Turnstiles

A

D. STCD
Notes:
TCP: Ticketing clearing point
STC: Stadium ticketing centre

1. Public zone
This area includes the city and surrounding outskirts of the stadium precinct
and is outside of stadium control.
2. Exclusive zone
This is the exclusive commercial zone, which is strictly monitored according to
the Rights Protection Programme (RPP) rules and regulations for the FIFA event.
3. Outer perimeter (visual ticket check)
The rst visual check of a pass and search are carried out at this perimeter.
Access to this area requires a valid accreditation badge or match ticket.

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4. Inner perimeter (electronic access control)
This is where the turnstiles are located and also includes the public access areasand hospitality suites.
5. Stands
These are the seating areas and playing eld.
Stadium zones
Stadiums used during FIFA events are designated nine further zones, which aredesigned to control access to restricted areas and areas of work for those withaccreditation. The designated zones will be indicated on accreditation passes.
Only persons with the correct accreditation showing the zone number may
enter that zone.
On match days, supplementary accreditation devices (SADs) may be deployed
to further restrict access to key zones such as zones 1 and 2.
It is recommended that signs be put up at all entry points into the various
stadium zones showing which passes are valid for entry.
Zone Area

Details

1

Field of play

• Pitch• Substitutes’ benches• Fourth ofcial’s bench• Photographers’ positions• Pitch access and tunnel

2Competition areas• Dressing rooms, players• Dressing rooms, referees• Medical examination room
• FIFA delegation room
• Doping control room
• Corridors (with access to these areas)• Teams’ and ofcials’ drop-off and pick-up
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Zone Area

Details3

Public areas• General public entrance and areas• Public toilet facilities• Public concession stands• Public rst aid facilities• Commercial and host city displays• Spectator accommodation

4

Operations areas (ofces)• FIFA and LOC ofce• VOC• Stadium announcer, giant screen andsound rooms• Medical facilities• IT room• FIFA and LOC storage rooms• Police and security facilities

5

VIP areas• VIP reception room
• VIP stand• VIP interview area
• VVIP area

6

Media tribune• Print media seats• Seats for radio and TV commentators andobservers• Mixed zone
• Press conference room

7

Media centre• Media work area
• Media catering area
• Media brieng area
• Photographers’ area
• Development and service centres

8

Broadcast area

• TV compound• TV and radio studios

9

Hospitality area

• Commercial afliates’ village• Commercial hospitality• Hospitality lounges• Sky boxes

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101

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups
General1. The articles contained in these regulations shall be referred to, taking into
consideration the deletions and insertions detailed below.
2. It is recognised that certain aspects of safety and security are specic to therequirements of FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups. This Annexe provides further
guidance, highlighting the additional and/or minimum requirements.
Article Delete
7

3. d)

9

2. e) vi)

11

12Further guidance/comments
Full risk assessments must becompleted, paying particularattention to the construction andtype of materials used to construct
the stadium site, including back ofhouse areas.

If car parks are contained within theouter perimeter of the stadium siteor within 500 metres of the stadium,
they must be included in the risk
assessment and stadium security plan.
1. k)

14

Some matches are likely to attract
greater spectator demand than thecapacity of the stadium and thismust be factored into the steward
deployment plan, and where required
additional police support secured.

15

1. d)
1. f)

16

f)

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Article Delete

InsertFurther guidance/comments

21

Of particular importance, stewards
must be able to clearly identify when
the stadium has reached maximum
capacity, and take appropriate
action to prevent overcrowding
and subsequent overloading of thestadium structure.

24

The construction of the stadium
must be robust enough to support
the calculated weight loading, in linewith article 35. This must be includedin the safety certicate.

25

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1. a)

Public admittance is Spectators are expected to comepermitted without
and go throughout the day, withtickets free of charge anticipated surges for popular
on a rst-come, rst- matches, such as those involving theserved basis, subject host nation’s team. As such, there
to the maximum
must be a robust access control
safe capacity of the mechanism in place to ensure that thestadium.
stadium never exceeds its maximum
safe capacity. The following points areto be considered:• There must be a counting system
to count entries into and exits fromthe spectator viewing areas.
• The stadium security ofcer mustmonitor the crowd at all times
to ensure that no sections of thestadium become overcrowded.
• Entrances into the spectator
viewing areas must be able to
be closed once the stadium hasreached its maximum safe capacity,
whilst leaving suitable separate exit
routes for spectators leaving thestadium under normal conditions orin an emergency.
• Access into the spectator viewing
areas must be controlled at all times.

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Article Delete
26

Art. 26

29

1. a)

1. g)

31

3.
4.
5.
6.

36

2. a) viii)

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Further guidance/comments

That the person
possesses a valid
permit to gain accessto restricted areas ofthe stadium.
That the personcomplies with thestadium code of
conduct.
The stadium site must have appropriate
levels of full-time security from themoment construction of the site starts.
This shall include the TV broadcast
compound and media facilities.

32

45

Insert103

Due to the construction of beach soccer
stadiums, the eld of play should at
no time be considered as a suitableevacuation route, place of safety orreasonable place of safety. As suchthere must be sufcient emergency exit
routes from the stadium to a place ofsafety for spectators as well as ofcials
and players.

It is essential that the spectators
entering the stadium site are aware
at all times of the number of available
seats in the viewing area, so that
expectation management can behandled away from the entry points into
the spectator viewing areas to avoid
congestion, overcrowding and surges.

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Article Delete
56

4.
6.
7.

62

2.

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InsertFurther guidance/comments
Due to the construction of beachsoccer stadiums, the eld of playshould at no time be considered asa suitable evacuation route, place ofsafety or reasonable place of safety.

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105

FIFA Futsal World Cups
General1. The articles contained in these regulations are to be referred to, taking into
consideration the deletions and insertions detailed below.
2. It is recognised that certain aspects of safety and security are specic to
the requirements of FIFA Futsal World Cups. This Annexe provides further
guidance, highlighting the additional and/or minimum requirements.
3. When these regulations refer to a stadium, it shall also mean a sports hall.
Article Delete

Insert7p) Areas of the
sports hall not
being used for theFIFA event.

Further guidance/comments

11

If car parks are contained within theouter perimeter of the stadium site,or within 500 metres of the stadium,
they must be included in the risk
assessment and stadium security plan.

24

The safety certicate must
incorporate all areas within the
sports hall, whether they are used or
not during the FIFA event.

32

The eld of play should at no time
be considered as a place of safety.

34

FIFA Futsal World Cups are to beplayed in all-seater stadiums.

36

A single VOC must be established
for the sports hall. While it may not
be possible for the VOC to have aphysical overview of the football
pitch and viewing areas, it must havesufcient CCTV coverage to allow
monitoring of crowd conditions.

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ANNEXE F

Article Delete

InsertFurther guidance/comments

39

All lighting inside the sports hall musthave an uninterruptable power supply
to ensure that there are no periods ofblackout, either on the eld of play, or
within the stairways, vomitories andentry/exit routes.

41

CCTV coverage should also include
areas within the sports hall that are
not in use for the FIFA event.

51

1. Fire risk
assessments
must include
all areas of the
sports hall,whether they
are in use or notduring the FIFA
event.

53

54

56

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Consideration should be given to
including re detection and warning
systems in all areas of the sports
hall, whether they are in use or notduring the FIFA event.
f) Suitable reprecautions
that meet thehost nation’s
regulations shall be
implemented in allareas of the sports
hall, whether they
are in use or not
for the FIFA event.
The eld of play should at no time
be considered as a place of safety.

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Contents
ArticlePage

Preface/Objective

7

I. Denitions

8

II. General terms
1 Scope of application
2 Principles

15
15
16

III. Basic compulsory Equipment
3 Components of basic compulsory Equipment

17
17

IV. Playing Equipment
Section 1: General terms
4 Playing Equipment
5 Colours
6 Numbers
7 Players’ names

18
18
18
20
23
27

Section 2: Special terms
Subsection 1: Decorative Elements and Sleeve Free Zone
8 Decorative Elements
9 Sleeve Free Zone

29
29
29
30

Subsection 2: Identication of Member Associations on Playing Equipment
10 Identications of Member Associations
11 Identications on shirts
12 Identications on shorts
13 Identications on socks

31
31
32
37
39

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Subsection 3: Other marks or insignia
14 FIFA World Champions Badge
15 Winners’ stars
16 Recognition of continental championships
17 Matchday customisation of shirts
18 Ofcial FIFA badges

41
41
42
43
45
45

V. Special Equipment
Section 1: Special Equipment for Players
19 General principle
20 Captain’s armband
21 Goalkeeper gloves
22 Goalkeeper Caps
23 Gloves worn by outeld players and Team Ofcials
24 Headband and wristbands
25 Head covers
26 Special items for medical or performance-related purposes
27 Beach soccer foot bindings and other support bandages
28 Items worn under Playing Equipment
29 Warm-up bibs

46
46
46
46
47
49
50
51
51
51
52
52
53

Section 2: Special Equipment for individuals present in Pitch Area
30 General principle
31 Tops
32 Bottoms
33 FIFA Equipment for Match Ofcials

54
54
55
55
56

Section 3: Special Equipment for other persons
34 Ball boys and girls, player escorts and ag bearers

58
58

Section 4: Other Equipment items
35 Footballs
36 Football boots
37 Shinguards
38 On-eld equipment

59
59
60
60
60

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Contents
ArticlePage

VI. Manufacturer’s Identication
Section 1: General terms
39 Types of Manufacturer’s Identication, Technology Labels
and Quality Seals
40 General principle
41 No Manufacturer’s Identications as Decorative Elements

61
61

Section 2: Manufacturer’s Identication on Playing Equipment items
42 Identications on shirts
43 Identications on shorts
44 Identications on socks
45 Identications by means of special manufacturing techniques

64
64
68
69
71

61
62
63

Section 3: Manufacturer’s Identication on Special Equipment
items for Players
46 Captain’s armband, goalkeeper gloves, Caps, gloves worn by outeld
players and Team Ofcials, headband and wristbands and head covers
47 Special items for medical or performance-related purposes,
beach soccer foot bindings and similar items
48 Items worn under Playing Equipment
49 Warm-up bibs
50 Technology Labels and Quality Seals on Special
Equipment items for Players

76

Section 4: Manufacturer’s Identication on Special Equipment items forindividuals present in Pitch Area
51 Tops
52 Bottoms

78
78
80

Section 5: Manufacturer’s Identication on Special Equipment items
for other persons
53 Ball boys and girls, player escorts and ag bearers

82
82

Section 6: Manufacturer’s Identication on further Special Equipment
54 Footballs
55 Football boots
56 On-eld equipment

83
83
84
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72
73
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VII. Sponsor advertising
57 Sponsor advertising by teams, Players and Team Delegation Members
58 Sponsor advertising by Match Ofcials
59 Sponsor advertising by ball boys and girls, player escorts andag bearers
60 Sponsor advertising on on-eld equipment

86
86

VIII. Approval process
Section 1: General terms
61 Approval requirement
62 Match Commissioner

87
87
87
87

Section 2: Final Competition
63 Approval process
64 Effect of approval
65 Process in case of disapproval
66 Effect of disapproval
67 Preliminary examination

88
88
89
90
91
91

Section 3: Preliminary Competitions and other Matches
68 Specication requirement
69 Determination of Playing Equipment

93
93
93

IX. Measurement procedure
70 Measurement method

94
94

X. Disciplinary procedure
71 Disciplinary matters

95
95

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XI. Final provisions
72 No liability
73 Diverging texts
74 Inconsistency
75 Matters not provided for
76 Adoption and enforcement

96
96
96
96
96
97

Annexe A: List of Equipment items

98

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Preface/Objective
The overriding principle of the FIFA Equipment Regulations is to treat all
Member Associations on an equal basis in the spirit of fair play and to allow
Manufacturers to enhance our sport, fostering medical protection andperformance support as well as aesthetic creativity and design. In return, thoseparties are expected to follow the rules outlined on the subsequent pages.
We wish to draw your attention to the fact that there are some differences in
the requirements for Equipment used in football matches held on the occasionof a Final Competition or a Preliminary Competition.
These Regulations are also intended to provide an example for the Member
Associations and Confederations to adjust their own competition regulations
accordingly. A global and consistent policy for the use of Equipment will be forthe benet of all parties involved.

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I. Denitions
The terms given below denote the following:
Association: any football association recognised by FIFA. It is a member ofFIFA, unless a different meaning is evident from the context.
Cap: any head gear in the form of a cap, hat, knitted cap or bonnet, including
any goalkeeper caps and further caps, whether worn inside the Pitch Area by
any Players or Team Ofcials.
Club: any football club whose representative team participates in the FIFAClub World Cup.
Collar Zone: the band which is 5cm wide around the neck of the jersey, shirt
or top starting at the neck opening (where no actual collar is presented) or at
the base of a clearly dened structural collar as indicated in the illustrations in
Annexe A.
Colour: one single colour from the Pantone® or Pantone Matching System®
(PMR®) catalogue or referenced by another international colour matchingsystem for one selected colour. Any variation of a Pantone® colour otherthan a variation resulting from different materials used in an Equipment itemor reference of another international colour matching system is consideredanother colour.
Competition Regulations: the relevant regulations for a FIFA Event as
issued by the FIFA Executive Committee, being the binding regulations forthe relevant FIFA Event regulating the rights, duties and responsibilities of all
Member Associations participating in the Preliminary Competition or the Final
Competition.
Confederation: a group of Associations recognised by FIFA that belong to thesame continent (or assimilable geographic region).
Congress: the supreme and legislative body of FIFA.
Controlled Stadium Area: the Pitch Area of a stadium as well as the teamdressing rooms, stands, mixed zones, interview rooms, media and television
facilities and VIP rooms.
Country Name: the ofcial name of the country of the Member Association,
including standardised abbreviations thereof.

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I. Denitions
Decorative Elements: a representation of geometric gures, designs andfurther aesthetic elements, which are added to, and used in, the design of any
Equipment item as further dened in art. 8 below.
Elbow Point: the exact position where the upper arm ends and the forearm
starts at the elbow as indicated in the illustrations in Annexe A.
Equipment: all garments and apparel items, in particular items listed in
Annexe A, whether already existing or hereafter invented, which are worn by
the following individuals involved in a Match:a) Players;b) Team Ofcials;c) Match Ofcials; andd) Ball boys and girls, player escorts and ag bearers.
Equipment includes Playing Equipment items, Special Equipment items,
football boots and shinguards.
Executive Committee: the executive body of FIFA.
FIFA: the Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
FIFA Event: any football competition that features the representative teamsof Member Associations and is organised by, or under the auspices of, FIFA,
including each of the two separate phases of the competition, being thePreliminary Competition and the Final Competition.
FIFA World Champions Badge: a special badge designed by FIFA andprovided to the reigning champion of the latest edition of the FIFA World
Cup™, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, the FIFA Club World Cup, the FIFA
Futsal World Cup or the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Final Competition: the nal competition of a FIFA Event which is scheduled
to take place in a host country appointed by FIFA featuring those Member
Associations whose representative teams have qualied as a result of thePreliminary Competition.
Foundation Year: means the ofcial year of the foundation of the Member
Association displayed in a script or gure.

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I. Denitions
IFAB: The International Football Association Board.
International List: the International FIFA Referee List as issued by FIFA on anannual basis.
Laws of the Game: the rules dening the sport of association football in theform authorised by The IFAB, as potentially amended by The IFAB from time totime, including their ofcial interpretation and guidelines for referees.
Manufacturer: a company that designs, produces (directly or through a nonbranded licensee) and sells products bearing its own registered trademarks foruse in the sports market. Suppliers or further entities distributing such products
are not considered Manufacturers.
Manufacturer’s Identication: a registered trademark of a Manufacturer
which is displayed on an Equipment item in a manner dened in art. 39 par. 1.
Match: any football match held in connection with a FIFA Event as well as any
Preliminary Olympic Match.
Match Commissioner: the ofcial Match commissioner who is appointed
and entrusted by FIFA with supervising the orderly organisation of a Matchand ensuring that FIFA’s regulations and instructions are observed.
Match Ofcials: collectively all referees, assistant referees, the fourth ofcialon the International List and any further appointed match ofcials. Whenapplicable, it also includes the fth ofcial as well as the additional assistantreferees.
Media and Marketing Regulations: the regulations issued, and to beissued, by FIFA governing the manner in which:a) all commercial rights relating to a Final Competition and/or a PreliminaryCompetition may be exploited;b) the media and marketing rights to Matches held in a Final Competition
and/or a Preliminary Competition are protected for the benet of FIFA andthe Member Associations.
Member Association: an Association that has been admitted into
membership of FIFA by the Congress.

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I. Denitions
National Flag: the ofcially recognised national ag of the country of
the Member Association, or parts thereof, in its exact geometric form or a
proportional representation thereof.
National Team Nickname: a descriptive name or designation given to
the representative team of a Member Association which is commonly andpublicly used in the country of the Member Association and abroad. A slogan,campaign or similar message associated with a representative team or Member
Association shall not be considered a National Team Nickname.
Number Zone: the zone that must be created on the back and/or on the frontof the shirt pursuant to art. 6 par. 4 to ensure the legibility of the numbering.
Ofcial Equipment: the Playing Equipment that a Member Association’s
representative team normally wears as its rst choice.
Ofcial Member Association Emblem: the ofcial emblem or logo
(whether registered or unregistered) selected by a Member Association tocommonly and publicly represent the Member Association.
Ofcial Member Association Mascot: the ofcial mascot (whether
registered or unregistered) selected by a Member Association to be commonlyand publicly identied with, or to represent, the representative team of a
Member Association or the Member Association itself.
Ofcial Member Association Name: the ofcial name and designation of a
Member Association as notied to the FIFA general secretariat, in the national
language(s) of the relevant country or the Member Association or in any otherofcial FIFA language, as well as commonly and publicly used abbreviations
thereof.
Ofcial Member Association Symbol: any commonly and publicly used
symbol or graphic element (whether registered or unregistered), otherthan the Ofcial Member Association Emblem, as selected by the Member
Association to ofcially represent the representative team of a Member
Association or the Member Association itself, including any ofcial national
symbol of the country of the Member Association.

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I. Denitions
Pitch Area: the eld of play and its immediate surroundings inside a stadium,including tunnels, technical areas and warm-up areas, but not including thestands of the stadium.
Player: any football player, including outeld players, goalkeepers andsubstitutes, called up by a Member Association to play for the representative
team of the Member Association who, pursuant to the relevant Competition
Regulations, may be required to be notied to FIFA on the List of Players.
Playing Equipment: comprises collectively the components/items of shirt,
shorts and socks.
Preliminary Competition: the continental and intercontinental qualication
phase for a Final Competition, featuring the representative teams of all
Member Associations that have applied to enter the respective FIFA Event.
As a result of the Preliminary Competition, representative teams are either
eliminated from the FIFA Event or qualied for the Final Competition.
Preliminary Olympic Match: any football match organised by, or under the
auspices of, FIFA which is held in the preliminary competitions of the football
tournaments held on the occasion of the Olympic Games or the Youth Olympic
Games (if applicable).
Quality Seal: a tag, label or comparable element of the Manufacturer,
designed to ofcialise an Equipment item and to protect the Equipment item
against counterfeiting.
Religious Symbol: any symbol, including archetypes or artwork, used by areligion or used to represent a religion or religious disposition, not including
symbols forming part of a National Flag or the Ofcial Member Association
Emblem of the respective country of a Member Association.
Reserve Equipment: any Playing Equipment of a Member Association‘srepresentative team consisting of a different Colour to the Ofcial Equipment.
Shoulder Point: the position where the shoulder ends and the upper arm
starts.
Sleeve Free Zone: the free surface of at least 12cm in length and 8cm inwidth, centred along the outer seam of each sleeve which is centred between
the Shoulder Point and the Elbow Point, as set out in art. 9. The Sleeve Free
Zone is exclusively reserved for specied badges that may be provided by FIFA.

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I. Denitions
Special Equipment: any Equipment item other than Playing Equipment.
Supplier: any company or further entity, other than a Manufacturer,that provides, distributes or in any form supplies Equipment to a Member
Association or any Team Delegation Member.
Team Delegation: collectively all Team Delegation Members.
Team Delegation Member: any of the Players and Team Ofcials of a
Member Association.
Team Ofcials: all coaches, assistant coaches, managers, media ofcers,
medical staff (doctors, physiotherapists, etc.), representatives and otherindividuals appointed by a Member Association to be present in the Controlled
Stadium Area forming part of a Team Delegation.
Technology Label: an identication label used by a Manufacturer tocommunicate a material used in the manufacturing of an Equipment item or aterm identifying the manufacturing method.

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I. Denitions
Interpretation
Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa.
References to “include” or “in particular”, “e.g.” or similar are to be construed
as being inclusive and without limitation to the listed examples.
References to “days” mean actual days, not business days.
References to “chapters“, “sections”, “subsections”, “articles”, “paragraphs”
and/or “annexes” are, unless expressly stated otherwise, references tochapters, sections, subsections, articles or paragraphs of these Regulations.
References to the male gender in these Regulations are for simplication andapply to both men and women unless specied specically.
All annexes and illustrations attached to these Regulations form an integral
part of these Regulations.
All capitalised terms shall have the meanings as dened in this Chapter I.

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II. General terms

1

Scope of application

1.1
These Regulations govern the authorisation of all Equipment used inconnection with Matches inside the Pitch Area by all:a) Team Delegation Members;b) Match Ofcials; andc) Ball boys and girls, player escorts and ag bearers.
1.2
These Regulations shall not govern any football match held in the nal
competition of the football tournaments held on the occasion of the Olympic
Games and the Youth Olympic Games (if applicable).
1.3
Save as explicitly otherwise regulated in the relevant Competition Regulations,the relevant Media and Marketing Regulations or these Regulations, for the
purpose of the nal competition of the FIFA Club World Cup, any reference
under these Regulations to a Member Association shall apply analogously to
the Clubs participating in the FIFA Club World Cup. These Regulations shallnot govern any football match held in the continental competitions based on
which the Clubs participating in the FIFA Club World Cup are determined.

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II. General terms

2

Principles

2.1
All Member Associations must fully comply with these Regulations, further
guidelines, directives and decisions issued by FIFA at any time and mustensure that all of their Team Delegation Members fully comply with theseRegulations, and any further guidelines, directives and decisions issued by FIFA.
2.2
All Member Associations shall be responsible for the correct implementationof these Regulations, further guidelines, directives and decisions issued byFIFA, and must ensure that the Manufacturer supplying Equipment to their
Team Delegations correctly implements these Regulations, and any further
guidelines, directives and decisions issued by FIFA.
2.3
All Member Associations shall also be responsible for ensuring that all of their
Team Delegation Members comply with these Regulations, and any further
guidelines, directives and decisions issued by FIFA.
2.4
All Team Delegation Members shall comply with these Regulations, and any
further guidelines, directives and decisions issued by FIFA.
2.5
The basic compulsory Equipment of a Player is dened in Law 4 of the Laws of
the Game. The use of any Equipment item on the eld of play in connection
with any Match is subject foremost to the referee’s authority as dened in
the Laws of the Game. The use of any Equipment item on the eld of playin connection with any Match of a Final Competition remains subject to theapproval procedure set out in Chapter VIII below.
2.6
Except as explicitly authorised to the Member Associations under theseRegulations, no additional elements such as marks, insignia of the Member
Association, a Manufacturer, a Supplier or any third party, further Colours,
numbers, names, recognitions or Decorative Elements are permitted on
Equipment items without the prior written consent of the FIFA generalsecretariat.

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III. Basic compulsory Equipment

3

Components of basic compulsory Equipment

3.1
Except for the Playing Equipment used for beach soccer, in accordance withLaw 4 of the Laws of the Game, the basic compulsory Equipment of a Player
comprises the following separate Equipment items:a) a jersey or shirt with sleeves;b) shorts;c) socks (stockings);d) shinguards; ande) footwear.
3.2
The basic compulsory Equipment of a beach soccer Player comprises thefollowing separate Equipment items:a) a jersey or shirt with sleeves; andb) shorts.

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IV. Playing Equipment
Section 1: General terms

4

Playing Equipment

4.1
Each individual component of Playing Equipment must be worn consistently by
all Players of the same representative team and must be produced consistently
by the same Manufacturer. Different components of Playing Equipment may
be produced by different Manufacturers.
4.2
In accordance with Law 4 of the Laws of the Game, the inside of all Playing
Equipment items is required to comply with the Laws of the Game and may befreely used by the Member Association provided that:(a) under any prevailing conditions, such as weather and light, no detrimental
effect is caused to the identical visible appearance and clear distinction of
the Players; and(b) the inside of any such Playing Equipment item is not applied or used in amanner so that it is visible from the outside.
4.3
Subject to FIFA’s approval pursuant to Chapter VIII, Playing Equipment
items may contain special performance or comparable tools to support
the performance and/or to protect the health of Players. Any such tool
integrated into a Playing Equipment item must not affect the identical visible
appearance of the respective Playing Equipment item of all Players of the same
representative team, including:a) being transparent or of the identical Colour as the respective part of thePlaying Equipment item associated with the performance tool or tool toprotect health;b) not being designed or used in a manner limiting the ability of all Players,
Match Ofcials, spectators and media to clearly distinguish the opposing
teams irrespective of the prevailing conditions, such as weather and light;c) not bearing any identications associated with the Member Association or
Manufacturer’s Identications; andd) not being used as a Decorative Element of the respective Playing
Equipment item.

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IV. Playing Equipment
4.4
Each Playing Equipment item shall be composed of structural sections which
are combined in order to make up a full shirt (including sleeves, Collar Zone,
chest area), a pair of shorts (including waistband and legs) or socks (including
the top edges of a sock). Any such structural section may be determined by achange of fabric (e.g. cotton or polyester) and/or technique (e.g. woven).
4.5
No structural section of a Playing Equipment item or material used fornumbers, Player names, or badges, or to identify the Member Association, theManufacturer or any third party, may be made of reective material or change
Colour or appearance due to any external inuence, including pressure, light,
temperature, water or other liquid.

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IV. Playing Equipment

5

Colours

5.1
Playing Equipment items worn by outeld players, goalkeepers and MatchOfcials shall enable all Players, Match Ofcials, spectators and media toclearly distinguish the opposing teams and outeld players and goalkeepers
irrespective of the prevailing conditions, such as weather and light.
5.2
Save as explicitly stated otherwise under these Regulations, no Playing
Equipment item worn by an outeld player or goalkeeper may consist of morethan four Colours. Colours used in identications of Member Associations,
Manufacturer’s Identications and/or other marks or insignia shall not be
deemed a Colour of the Playing Equipment.
5.3
With the sole exception of vertically, horizontally or similarly striped andchequered shirts using two Colours equally in a non-predominant manner,in the event that three or four Colours are used on the surface of a Playing
Equipment item, based on the visual impression created by such Playing
Equipment item when used by the Players, one of the Colours used must be
clearly predominant and the remaining Colours on the same Playing Equipment
item must be clearly minor. The predominant Colour must be visible to thesame extent on the back and front of the Playing Equipment item.
In the event of vertically, horizontally or similarly striped or chequered shirtsusing two Colours equally in a non-predominant manner, the third or fourth
Colour on the surface of the shirt shall be used in a manner not affecting thepredominant visual impression of the two Colours used as stripes and chequersand one of these two Colours must be predominant on shorts or socks.
Vertically, horizontally or similarly striped or chequered shirts must not use
more than two Colours equally in a non-predominant manner.
5.4
Notwithstanding art. 5 par. 2 above, a fth Colour may be used for numberingand naming purposes (e.g. Player’s name, numbers). The Colours used fornumbering and naming purposes shall be the same for all outeld players of
the same team. Based on the principle of light and dark contrast of Colours
used for numbering and naming purposes and irrespective of the prevailingconditions, such as weather and light, the Colour used for numbering andnaming purposes must be clearly legible and distinguishable from a distancefor all Players, Match Ofcials, spectators and media from the Colours used forthe respective Playing Equipment item.
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IV. Playing Equipment

Playing Equipment

Reserve Equipment
5.3• Striped shirt
using two Colours
equally in a nonpredominant manner
5.1 and 5.6• Principle of light anddark shirts
5.3• Chequered shirt using
two Colours equallyin a non-predominantmanner
5.1 and 5.6• Principle of light anddark shirts

5.1 and 5.6• Principle of lightand dark shirts

5.1 and 5.6• Principle of lightand dark shirts

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IV. Playing Equipment
5.5
The Colours of the Playing Equipment worn by a goalkeeper must be clearly
distinguishable from the Colours of the Playing Equipment worn by theouteld players of his own team, the outeld players of the opposing team,
the goalkeeper of the opposing team and the Match Ofcials. The Playing
Equipment of all goalkeepers of the same team must be identical. To ensurethat the Playing Equipment worn by a goalkeeper is clearly distinguishable inany case, the Member Associations may provide additional Reserve Equipment
for the goalkeepers in varying Colours or Colour combinations.
5.6
The Colours or Colour combinations of Ofcial Equipment and Reserve
Equipment used by a Member Association must be clearly distinguishable
based on the principle of light and dark contrast of used Colours irrespective of
the prevailing conditions, such as weather and light. Member Associations may
provide additional Reserve Equipment to offer an additional Colour or Colour
combination in order to improve a clear distinction and differing visibility fromthe Ofcial Equipment. In the event that, in FIFA’s, the Match Ofcials’ or the
Match Commissioner’s reasonable discretion, no clear distinction and differing
visibility can be achieved between the Ofcial Equipment, the Reserve
Equipment or any additional Reserve Equipment of one Member Associationand the opposing team, in exceptional cases FIFA, the Match Ofcials or the
Match Commissioner are entitled to request on a Match-by-Match basis one
Member Association to combine Playing Equipment items of the Ofcial
Equipment with Playing Equipment items of the Reserve Equipment or
additional Reserve Equipment.
5.7
The Colour of any tape or similar material temporarily applied to a Playing
Equipment item must be of the same group of a basic Colour as the
predominant Colour of the same Playing Equipment item.
5.8
Except as otherwise provided for pursuant to art. 36 par. 2 below in relation
to football boots, the Colour of any Equipment item covering the ankle of aPlayer, such as a support bandage, additional sock or similar item, shall be of
the same group of a basic Colour as the predominant Colour of the socks.

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IV. Playing Equipment

6

Numbers
6.3
A number must be of
one Colour and must
create a contrast with
the Colour of the shirt.

6.5
Men’s shirts:
25-35cm
Women’s shirts:
20-35cm
6.3 – 6.4
A Number Zone must be created on the back of theshirt unless, in FIFA’s discretion, the number appearing isclearly legible and distinguishable from a distance.

6.6
10-15cm

6.7
10-15cm

6.3 – 6.4
A Number Zone may be createdon the front of the shirt.

6.6
Stroke width 3-5cm

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IV. Playing Equipment
6.1
The numbering of the Players shall be regulated by the relevant Competition
Regulations to be issued by FIFA.
6.2
A number must appear on the back (centred) and the front (not necessarily
centred) of any shirt and on the front of any shorts used as Playing Equipment.
This art. 6 par. 2 shall not apply to the numbering on the front of any shirt usedas Playing Equipment during Matches of the FIFA Club World Cup.
6.3
A number (i.e. one or more digits) must consist of one single Colour only or thesame group of a basic Colour provided that, in FIFA’s reasonable discretion, insuch case the visual impression of one single Colour is created and a light anddark contrast of Colours between the stroke of the number and the specicPlaying Equipment items is equally achieved. Based on the principle of lightand dark contrast of Colours used for the respective Playing Equipment item
and irrespective of the prevailing conditions, such as weather and light, theColour used for the stroke of any number appearing on Playing Equipment
must be clearly legible and distinguishable from a distance for all Players,
Match Ofcials, spectators and media from the Colours used for the respective
Playing Equipment item. This distinction may be achieved by displaying thenumbers on a single-coloured patch. The number may be surrounded by aborder or shadow outline to improve the clear legibility and distinction of thenumber. The Colour of the numbers appearing on the shirt may be different
from the Colour of the number appearing on the shorts.
6.4
A Number Zone must be created on the back of the shirt unless, in FIFA’s
discretion, the number appearing is clearly legible and distinguishable froma distance for all Players, Match Ofcials, spectators and media, from theColours used for the respective Playing Equipment item and irrespective of
the prevailing conditions, such as weather and light. A Number Zone may becreated on the front of the shirt and the shorts.
Any Number Zone must contain one single Colour to ensure the legibility of
the number and must be kept free of any Decorative Elements. Pinstripesof a maximum width of 2mm in a different Colour shall not constitute aninterruption of the Number Zone.

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IV. Playing Equipment
On the back of the shirt, the minimum surface of the Number Zone isdened by the height and width of a two-digit number. Its minimum verticalboundaries are 2cm above the highest point and 3cm below the lowest pointof the two digits. Its minimum horizontal boundaries are 3cm from the leftedge of the left-hand digit and 3cm from the right edge of the right-handdigit. If created on the front of the shirt or the shorts, the surface of a Number
Zone shall be in proportion to the size of the number, providing sufcientspace to ensure the visibility of the number irrespective of the prevailingconditions, such as weather and light.
6.5
The size of the number applied on the back of each shirt used by Players in any
men’s Match must be between 25cm and 35cm in height and positioned in thecentre of the back of the shirt.
The size of the number applied on the back of each shirt used by Players in any
women’s Match must be between 20cm and 35cm in height and positioned in
the centre of the back of the shirt.
The number must be entirely visible when the Player’s shirt is tucked into theshorts and irrespective of a specic cut of the Player’s shirt.
6.6
The stroke width of the gure of the numbers on the back of the shirts usedby Players must be between 3cm and 5cm. The number on the front of theshirt must be positioned at chest level irrespective of a specic cut or size of thePlayer’s shirt. The size of the number applied on the front of the shirt must be
between 10cm and 15cm in height.
6.7
The number on the front of the shorts may be positioned on either leg. The
size of the number applied on the front of the shorts must be between 10cm
and 15cm in height.
6.8
The sizes of the numbers applied to the shirts or shorts of the Players of thesame representative team must be consistent.

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IV. Playing Equipment
6.9
Numbers appearing on Playing Equipment shall be sewn on or afxed by heattransfer or similar technique. The number shall be attached permanently to
the Playing Equipment. No number shall be attached with Velcro or othertemporary means.
6.10
The Ofcial Member Association Emblem may only appear in its entirety once
on the bottom of each gure of the number on the back of the shirt. The sizeof the Ofcial Member Association Emblem shall not exceed 5cm² and shallnot affect the legibility of the number.
Except for the Ofcial Member Association Emblem, a number shall notcontain, or give the visual impression of, any identication of the Member
Association, a Manufacturer’s Identication, identication of a Supplier orelements which in FIFA’s reasonable discretion create an association with theMember Association, Manufacturer, Supplier, a sponsor or any third party.
6.11
Numbers applied on the shirt or shorts may contain breathing holes notexceeding 2mm in width. Each gure may further be divided into no morethan four parts by lines which must not be more than 2mm wide. No suchbreathing holes or division into lines shall contain any Manufacturer’s
Identication, identication of a Supplier, sponsor/product advertising,commercial or further message of any kind, Decorative Elements, design
features or other elements.

6.10
The Emblem of the Member
Association may appear once at
RFC@MRRMKMDC?AFjESPCMDRFC
LSK@CPMLRFC@?AIMDRFCQFGPR
max. 5cm2

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IV. Playing Equipment

7

Players’ names

7.1
Players’ names must appear on the back of the shirt used as Playing Equipment
for all Matches played in Final Competitions. Players’ names may appear on
the back of the shirt used as Playing Equipment for all Matches played in
Preliminary Competitions and all Preliminary Olympic Matches.
In the event that a Player’s name appears on the back of the shirt pursuant tothis art. 7 par. 1, the terms and conditions of art. 7 pars 2-7 below shall apply.
7.2
The Player’s name must correspond to the name indicated on the List of Players
pursuant to the relevant Competition Regulations.
7.3
Based on the principle of light and dark contrast of used Colours andirrespective of the prevailing conditions, such as weather and light, the Colour
used for the stroke of each character of the Player’s name appearing on ashirt must be clearly legible and distinguishable by all Players, Match Ofcials,
spectators and media from the Colours used for the shirts. This distinction may
be achieved by displaying the Player’s name on a single-coloured patch. The
Player’s name may be surrounded by a border or shadow outline to improvethe clear legibility and distinction of the Player’s name.
7.4
The letters used for the Player’s name shall not contain any identication of
the Member Association, Manufacturer’s Identication, identication of a
Supplier, sponsor/product advertising, commercial or further message of any
kind, Decorative Elements, design features or other elements. In the event that
the Colour of the letters used for the Player’s name is different from the Colour
used for the number displayed on the back of the shirt, the Colour of theletters used for the Player’s name shall be considered one of the four colours
used on the surface of the shirt pursuant to art. 5 par. 2 above, and in such casea fth Colour pursuant to art. 5 par. 4 above may only be used for numbering
purposes.
7.5
The Player’s name must be positioned above the number on the back of theshirt. The letters used for the Player’s name applied on the back of the shirt
shall be between 5cm and 7.5cm in height and must be separated from thenumber by at least 4cm.
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IV. Playing Equipment
7.6
The letters used for the Player’s name must be Latin characters. Phonologicaldiaeresis, such as accents or umlauts, are permitted.
7.7Players’ names appearing on shirts shall be sewn on or afxed by heat transfer
or similar technique. The Player’s name shall be attached permanently to thePlaying Equipment. No Player’s name shall be attached with Velcro or othertemporary means.

7.1 – 7.7
Players’ names

Final Competition

5cm-7.5cm

Preliminary Competition

min. 4cm• Players’ names may appear on theback of the shirt for matches in
Preliminary Competitions but are
not required.

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IV. Playing Equipment
Section 2: Special terms
Subsection 1: Decorative Elements and Sleeve Free Zone8

Decorative Elements

8.1
Playing Equipment items may contain Decorative Elements which shall,irrespective of the prevailing conditions, such as weather and light, not bedesigned or used in a manner:a) limiting the ability of all Players, Match Ofcials, spectators and media toclearly distinguish the opposing teams; orb) adversely affecting the legibility of the numbering and Players’ names on
the shirt or the legibility of the numbering on the shorts.
Decorative Elements may not, by any means, dominate a Playing Equipment
item, such as by means of Colour, size and/or position. Any Decorative Element
must be permanently incorporated in a Playing Equipment.
8.2
Decorative Elements contained in the Ofcial Equipment and the Reserve
Equipment may be identical, provided that no Decorative Elements aredesigned or used in a manner limiting the distinction between the Ofcial
Equipment and Reserve Equipment.
8.3
Decorative Elements may form part of a Manufacturer’s generic product line,
provided these Decorative Elements do not produce, or by any other means
give, the (visual) impression of a Manufacturer’s Identication, identicationof a Supplier, sponsor/product advertising, a commercial or further message ofany kind, or any other elements which, in FIFA’s reasonable discretion, create an
association with a sponsor, Manufacturer or Supplier (e.g. slogans), the shape ofa country, a Religious Symbol, a political or comparable symbol by displaying or
stylising or by any other means giving the impression of registered trademarks
or recognisable, but unregistered, designs.

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IV. Playing Equipment

9

Sleeve Free Zone

9.1
A space needs to be kept free on each sleeve of the shirt, where no Manufacturer’s
Identication or any type of identication of the Member Association, or parts
thereof, or similar elements of the shirt such as marks may be displayed. This
Sleeve Free Zone is exclusively reserved for specied badges for FIFA identication
purposes. No other elements shall be positioned immediately adjacent to thebadges exclusively provided by the FIFA general secretariat.
The Sleeve Free Zone on each sleeve must be at least 12cm high, 8cm wide andbe centred between the Shoulder Point and the Elbow Point. The Sleeve Free
Zone must be of the same fabric (e.g. cotton or polyester) and/or technique(e.g. woven) of the sleeve of the shirt.

• long-sleeve shirts
9.1
Sleeve Free Zone
A zone must be kept free on thesleeves for badges supplied by FIFA.

ýAK

ýAK

• short-sleeve shirts

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IV. Playing Equipment
Subsection 2: Identications of Member Associations on Playing Equipment

10

Identications of Member Associations

10.1
Subject to the restrictions set out in arts 11-13 below in relation to therespective Playing Equipment item, Member Associations may display thefollowing types of Member Association-related identication on their Playing
Equipment:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem;b) Ofcial Member Association Mascot;c) Ofcial Member Association Symbol;d) Ofcial Member Association Name;e) National Team Nickname;f) Foundation Year;g) Country Name;h) National Flag; andi) other marks and insignia (as described in arts 14-18 below) as applicable to
the Member Association.
10.2
Any type of identication of the Member Association listed in art. 10 par. 1
above must be registered with FIFA and may not contain or stylise, or by
any other means give the impression of, any Manufacturer’s Identication,
identication of a Supplier, sponsor/product advertising, commercial or further
message of any kind, Decorative Elements (i.e. save as otherwise permitted
pursuant to art. 11 pars 8 and 9 below) or other elements which, in FIFA’s
reasonable discretion, create an association with a sponsor, Manufacturer or
Supplier (e.g. slogans), design features or other elements.
10.3
Except for the National Flag, which in the event it is used as an identicationof the Member Association, and unless otherwise explicitly permitted in theseRegulations, must be used in its geometric form and according to its correct
proportions, there are no restrictions on the shape of any type of identicationof the Member Association listed in art. 10 par. 1 above.

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IV. Playing Equipment
10.4
Any type of identication of the Member Association listed in art. 10 par. 1
above may be printed, embroidered or sewn on as a badge. Any identicationof the Member Association shall be attached permanently to the Playing
Equipment. No such identication of the Member Association may be attachedwith Velcro or other temporary means.
10.5
Any type of identication of the Member Association listed in art. 10 par. 1
above must not interfere with other elements of the Playing Equipment
identifying the Player (e.g. Player’s number) and must not impede the clear
distinction of the Players and the opposing team. In particular the Foundation
Year must, by means of its Colour and/or position, not interfere with thenumbering on the shirt.
10.6
The terms and conditions of arts 10-13 shall not apply to Manufacturer’s
Identications, which are specically governed by Chapter VI below.

11

Identications on shirts

11.1
Subject to the restrictions set out in art. 11 pars 2-9 below, Member
Associations may display the identications of the Member Association listed
in art. 10 par. 1 above on the front and the back of the shirt, in the Collar Zone
and/or on the sleeves.
11.2
On the front of the shirt, Member Associations may display the following
identications of the Member Association no more than once per type ofidentication:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem;b) either Ofcial Member Association Mascot or Ofcial Member Association
Symbol;c) Ofcial Member Association Name;d) either Country Name or National Team Nickname;e) National Flag; and/orf) other marks and insignia as applicable to the Member Association.

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IV. Playing Equipment
These identications of the Member Association may be positioned at chestlevel on the front of the shirt only and shall neither limit the legibility of thenumber positioned on the front of the shirt nor be tangent to any otherelement of the shirt, such as marks, any further identication of the Member
Association, the FIFA World Champions Badge or any further recognitionreferred to in art. 16 below. The Member Association is entitled to determine
the exact locations of these identications at its sole discretion, whereas in theevent that the Member Association has chosen to display the Ofcial Member
Association Emblem and the Country Name, those identications are required
to be adjacent to each other.
11.3
On the back of the shirt, the Ofcial Member Association Emblem may appear
once on the bottom of each gure of the number as set out in art. 6 par. 10
above.
11.4
In the Collar Zone (whether inside or outside of the collar) on the back of theshirt only, in a centred position, Member Associations may display one single
identication of the Member Association to be chosen from among:a) Ofcial Member Association Name;b) Ofcial Member Association Symbol;c) Foundation Year;d) Country Name;e) National Flag; orf) National Team Nickname.
Such identication of the Member Association may be integrated in a Decorative
Element displaying a representation of the National Flag, or parts thereof or
Colours contained therein, and may not be used in its exact geometric form.
No identication of the Member Association may be displayed in that part of the
Collar Zone (whether inside or outside) located on the front or side of the shirt.

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IV. Playing Equipment

11.2 and 11.6 – 11.7
2FCDMJJMUGLE+CK@CPQQMAG?RGMLGBCLRGjA?RGMLQ
may be displayed on the shirt according to thefollowing maximum measurements
LMRGLAJSBGLEGBCLRGjA?RGMLQGLRFC!MJJ?P8MLC-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML#K@JCKAK¥
-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML+?QAMRAK¥
-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML1WK@MJAK¥
-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML,?KCAK¥JCRRCPGLEAKK?VGKSKGLFCGEFR,?RGML?J2C?K,GAIL?KCAK¥JCRRCPGLEAKK?VGKSKGLFCGEFR!MSLRPW,?KCAK¥JCRRCPGLEAKK?VGKSKGLFCGEFR,?RGML?J$J?EAK¥#K@JCK
AK¥,?RGML?J$J?E
AK¥

TABLE OF CONTENTS
FIFA LEGAL HANDBOOOK#K@JCK
AK¥AL

1WK@MJ#K@JCK
K?V AK¥ AK¥

MascotK?V AK¥G E RIAAL

G E RI A,?RGML?J$J?EAK¥#K@JCKAK¥!MSLRPW,?KC
K?V AK¥?LB
K?V AKGLFCGEFRTABLE OF CONTENTS
EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS

1WK@MJ
AK¥#K@JCK
AK¥

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IV. Playing Equipment
11.5
On each sleeve of the shirt, between the Shoulder Point and the Elbow Point,
Member Associations may display only the National Flag once, whereas the
Sleeve Free Zone must be respected on the left and right sleeves, irrespective ofwhether the shirt has long or short sleeves.

11.4, 11.6 and 11.7
In the Collar Zone of the shirt, the Member Association Name,
Symbol, Country Name, National Flag, Foundation Yearor National Team Nickname may appear in a maximum size of 20cm².
Height of lettering of the Member Association Name, Country Name,Foundation Year or National Team Nickname maximum 2cm in height.

11.6
National Flagmax. 20cm²

11.5
Only the National Flag
may appear on the sleeve
as a Member Association'BCLRGjA?RGMLK?V AK¥

11.6
Country Namemax. 20cm² and lettering
2cm in height

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11.6
National Team Nickname max. 20cm²
and lettering max. 2cm in height

11.6
Foundation Year max. 20cm²
and lettering max. 2cm in height

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11.6
Symbolmax. 20cm²

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IV. Playing Equipment
11.6
In relation to identications of the Member Association located on the shirt,
the following measurements must be observed:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem:
max. of 100cm², subject to theprevailingterms and conditions of art. 6
par. 10 above with respect to thenumbering;b) Ofcial Member Association Mascot:
max. of 100cm²;c) Ofcial Member Association Symbol:
max. of 100cm²;d) Ofcial Member Association Name:max. of 12cm²;e) National Team Nickname:max. of 12cm²;f) Country Name:max. of 12cm²;g) National Flag:max. of 25cm²; andh) Ofcial Member Association Name,Ofcial Member Association Symbol,
Foundation Year, Country Name,
National Flag and the National Team
Nickname used in the Collar Zone:
max. of 20cm².
The measurements for any other marks and insignia as applicable to theMember Association are described in arts 14-18 below.
11.7
Any letters used for the Ofcial Member Association Name, the National Team
Nickname, the Foundation Year (i.e. if used as a script) and/or the Country
Name must not exceed 2cm in height. Any numbers used for the Foundation
Year must not exceed 2cm in height.
11.8
Subject to the restrictions set out in art. 8 above, Member Associations may
use or stylise one of the following types of Member Association-related
identication completely or in part on the shirt in the form of a Decorative
Element:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem;b) Ofcial Member Association Mascot;c) Ofcial Member Association Symbol; ord) National Flag.
Unless a dominating visual impression of the Decorative Elements is createdpursuant to art. 8 par. 1 above, the Member Association is entitled todetermine the exact location of such Decorative Element at its sole discretion.

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IV. Playing Equipment
11.9
Unless used or stylised on the shirt in the form of a Decorative Element
pursuant to art. 11 par. 8 above, one single identication of the Member
Association may be chosen from among the Ofcial Member Association
Emblem, the Ofcial Member Association Mascot, the Ofcial Member
Association Symbol, the Ofcial Member Association Name and the National
Team Nickname to be displayed on the shirt in the form of jacquard weave,
embossing, laser etching or print as a special manufacturing technique.
There is no limitation as to the number, size and positioning of the type ofidentication of the Member Association chosen. The Colour of the special
manufacturing technique pattern must be tonal with the Colour of the surfaceof the Playing Equipment item on which the special manufacturing techniquepattern is displayed. The special manufacturing technique pattern must notdominate, contain a contrasting Colour or affect the distinctiveness of thePlaying Equipment items.

12

Identications on shorts

12.1
Member Associations may display the following identications no more thanonce per identication:a) either Ofcial Member Association Emblem or Ofcial Member Association
Symbol;b) Ofcial Member Association Name; and/orc) either National Flag or Country Name.
12.2
Any identication of a Member Association may only be displayed on the frontof the shorts, and no identication of a Member Association may appear on
the back, whereas the following identications of the Member Association (ifchosen) must be located adjacent to each other at the bottom of the same legof the shorts:(a) either Ofcial Member Association Emblem or Ofcial Member Association
Symbol; and/or(b) Ofcial Member Association Name.
The National Flag, Country Name, Ofcial Member Association Emblem,
Ofcial Member Association Symbol or Ofcial Member Association Name
may either be displayed at the bottom of either leg or centred on the front
waistband of the shorts.
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IV. Playing Equipment
12.3
In relation to identications located on the shorts, the following
measurements must be observed:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem:
max. of 50cm²;b) Ofcial Member Association Symbol:
max. of 50cm²;c) Ofcial Member Association Name:max. of 12cm²;d) National Flag:max. of 25cm²; ande) Country Name:max. of 12cm².

AL

G E RIAAL

G E RIA

12.31WK@MJ
K?V AK¥

12.3,?RGML?J$J?E
K?V AK¥

12.3#K@JCK
K?V AK¥

12.3#K@JCK
K?V AK¥

12.3#K@JCK
K?V AK¥

12.3/12.4!MSLRPW,?KC
K?V AK¥?LBJCRRCPGLEK?V AKGLFCGEFR

12.1 – 12.4
On the front of the shorts, on either leg, the following Member Association
GBCLRGjA?RGMLQ may be displayed according to the following maximum measurements:
-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML#K@JCKAK¥
-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML1WK@MJAK¥
-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML,?KCAK¥JCRRCPGLEAKK?VGKSKGLFCGEFR!MSLRPW,?KCAK¥JCRRCPGLEAKK?VGKSKGLFCGEFR,?RGML?J$J?EAK¥

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IV. Playing Equipment
12.4
Any letters used for the Ofcial Member Association Name or Country Namemust not exceed 2cm in height.
12.5
One single identication of the Member Association may be chosen fromamong the Ofcial Member Association Emblem, the Ofcial Member
Association Mascot, the Ofcial Member Association Symbol, the Ofcial
Member Association Name and the National Team Nickname to be displayedon the shorts in the form of jacquard weave, embossing, laser etching or print
as a special manufacturing technique. There is no limitation as to the number,size and positioning of the type of identication of the Member Association
chosen. The Colour of the special manufacturing technique pattern must
be tonal with the Colour of the surface of the Playing Equipment item on
which the special manufacturing technique pattern is displayed. The special
manufacturing technique pattern must not dominate, contain a contrasting
Colour or affect the distinctiveness of the Playing Equipment items.

13

Identications on socks

13.1
Member Associations may display the same two identications of the Member
Association on both socks, to be chosen from among:(a) either Ofcial Member Association Emblem or Ofcial Member Association
Symbol;(b) Ofcial Member Association Name; and/or(c) either National Flag or Country Name.
This type of identication of the Member Association may be freely positionedon the socks, whereas each such identication shall be displayed no more thanonce on each sock.

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IV. Playing Equipment
13.2
In relation to identications of the Member Association located on the socks,
the following measurements must be observed:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem:
max. of 50cm²;b) Ofcial Member Association Symbol:
max. of 50cm²;c) Ofcial Member Association Name:max. of 12cm²;d) National Flag:max. of 25cm²; ande) Country Name:max. of 12cm².
13.3
Any letters used for the Ofcial Member Association Name or Country Namemust not exceed 2cm in height.

13.2,?RGML?J$J?E
K?V AK¥

13.2
Member Association
1WK@MJK?V AK¥

13.2
Member Association#K@JCKK?V AK¥

13.2 – 13.3
!MSLRPW,?KC
K?V AK¥?LBJCRRCPGLE
K?V AKGLFCGEFR

13.1 – 13.3
3NRMRUM+CK@CPQQMAG?RGMLGBCLRGjA?RGMLQK?W@CBGQNJ?WCBMLC?AFQMAI@MRFQMAIQ
KSQRBGQNJ?WRFCQ?KCGBCLRGjA?RGMLQ?AAMPBGLERMRFCDMJJMUGLEK?VGKSKKC?QSPCKCLRQ
-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML#K@JCKAK²
-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML1WK@MJAK²
-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML,?KCAK¥ JCRRCPGLEAKK?VGKSKGLFCGEFR!MSLRPW,?KCAK²JCRRCPGLEAKK?VGKSKGLFCGEFR,?RGML?J$J?EAK²

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IV. Playing Equipment
Subsection 3: Other marks and insignia

14FIFA World Champions Badge

14.1
The Member Association being the reigning champion of the latest edition of
the FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, the FIFA Futsal World
Cup or the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup may display during all Matches of its
respective representative team the FIFA World Champions Badge in the form
designed and exclusively provided by FIFA on the front of its shirt at chest level.
The FIFA World Champions Badge measures 80mm x 55mm, remaining subject
to changes at FIFA’s discretion.

55mm

80mm

14.1
FIFA World Champions Badge

14.2
The display and use of the FIFA World Champions Badge remains subject toprior written approval by FIFA and the detailed instructions on its applicableform as issued and updated by FIFA.
14.3
This art. 14 shall apply analogously to the Club being the reigning champion of
the latest edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, providing that the reigning Club
champion may display the FIFA World Champions Badge on the front of its
shirt during all matches.

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IV. Playing Equipment

15

Winners’ stars

15.1
Member Associations whose rst men’s or women’s representative teams have
won one or more of the previous editions of the FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA
Women’s World Cup™, the FIFA Futsal World Cup or the FIFA Beach Soccer
World Cup may display on the Playing Equipment items used by such rst
men’s or women’s representative teams a ve-pointed star, or other symbol as
instructed by FIFA, per each edition of the FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Women’sWorld Cup™, the FIFA Futsal World Cup or the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
won by such rst men’s or women’s representative teams of the Member
Association. Within the borders of such ve-pointed star or other symbol as
instructed by FIFA, the Member Association may make reference to the yearof the edition of the respective FIFA Event won by the Member Association(e.g. “1994” or “94”).
The number and conguration of the ve-pointed stars, or other symbols as
instructed by FIFA, on the Playing Equipment items shall be specic to eachrelevant rst representative team that has won one or more of the previous
editions of the FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, the FIFA
Futsal World Cup or the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup (e.g. the shirt of the rst
men’s representative team may not display any ve-pointed star concerning
any championships won by the Member Association’s rst women’s team,
the futsal team or the beach soccer team and vice versa). Irrespective thereof,
the number and conguration of the ve-pointed stars, or other symbols as
instructed by FIFA, corresponding to the respective rst representative men’s or
women’s team, may also be displayed on the Playing Equipment items of otherrepresentative teams within the same category, as applicable (e.g. the men’s
youth teams may display a ve-pointed star per edition of the FIFA World
Cup™ won by the rst men’s team; similarly, the women’s youth teams may
display a ve-pointed star per edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ won
by the rst women’s team).

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IV. Playing Equipment
15.2
The ve-pointed star(s) shall be positioned as follows:a) on the front of the shirt at chest level, immediately adjacent to the Ofcial
Member Association Emblem;b) on the front of the shorts immediately adjacent to the Ofcial Member
Association Emblem; and/orc) on the socks.
15.3
This art. 15 shall not apply to Clubs that have won one or more of the previous
editions of the FIFA Club World Cup.

15.1 – 15.2
FIFA World CupTM winners’ starFIFA Women’s World CupTM
winners’ starFIFA Futsal World Cup
winners’ starFIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
winners’ star

16

Recognition of continental championships

16.1
A Member Association being the reigning champions of a continental
competition corresponding to the FIFA Events listed in art. 15 par. 1 above may
display and use during all Matches of a Preliminary Competition an ofcial
badge or further recognition designed by the respective Confederation
subject:(a) to the full compliance with all relevant provisions of these Regulations; and(b) to such ofcial badge or further recognition not containing any
form of commercial statements or advertising for sponsors, products,
Manufacturers, Suppliers or any third parties.

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IV. Playing Equipment
Such ofcial badge or further recognition shall be positioned on the frontof the shirt at chest level or on a sleeve of the shirt, between the Shoulder
Point and the Elbow Point, whereas the Sleeve Free Zone must be respectedirrespective of whether the shirt has long or short sleeves. The size of suchofcial badge or further recognition shall not exceed 80mm x 55mm.
The shirts of the Member Association used for all Matches of Final Competitions
must not display any recognition, sign, badge or further insignia indicating theMember Association’s reigning championship in any continental competition.
16.2
With the sole exception of the winners’ stars referred to in art. 15 abovein connection with the FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™,
the FIFA Futsal World Cup or the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the Playing
Equipment items used by the Member Associations must not display any
form of recognition, sign, badge or further insignia indicating historicalchampionships (i.e. other than the reigning championship) in any footballcompetition.

16.1
Recognition ofcontinental championshipmax. 80mm×55mm

17.1 – 17.2
Matchday customisation
max. 50cm²

Fortaleza
29 JUNE 2014

Fortaleza
29 JUNE 201417.2
Fortaleza
29 JUNE 2014

letteringmax. 2cm
in height

17.1 – 17.2
A shirt may be customised for a particular matchdayand display:- Country Names or National Flags- Match date
- Name of the city where the Match will take place

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IV. Playing Equipment

17

Matchday customisation of shirts

17.1
The shirt for any Match may be customised with the following Match-related
information:a) Country Names or the two National Flags of the opposing teams;b) Match date; and/orc) name of the host city and/or country of the Match.
The Member Association must not display on any Playing Equipment itemthe ofcial name of the relevant FIFA Event or any alteration, abbreviation ortranslation thereof.
17.2
Any such Match-related information must be displayed on the front of theshirt at chest level only. The surface area for such Match-related informationmust not exceed 50cm² and the lettering must not exceed 2cm in height.

18

Ofcial FIFA badges

18.1
All Member Associations must display in the right Sleeve Free Zone the ofcial
badges exclusively provided by the FIFA general secretariat for the relevantFIFA Event.
18.2
At its sole discretion, FIFA may require the display of a second ofcial badge
to be exclusively provided by the FIFA general secretariat (e.g. Fair Play badge;
badge of an ofcial campaign, etc.) in the left Sleeve Free Zone.

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V. Special Equipment
Section 1: Special Equipment for Players

19

General principle

19.1
Except for the specic Special Equipment items set out below, in accordancewith Law 4 of the Laws of the Game, a Player may use Special Equipment
only provided that its sole purpose is to protect him physically and it poses nodanger to him or any other Player. Special Equipment items must be madeof material that is not dangerous to the Player wearing the item or any
other Player and the Match Ofcials. The use of any Special Equipment item
remains subject to inspection and approval by FIFA and/or the Match Ofcials
appointed to the respective Match.
19.2
Special Equipment items worn by outeld players and goalkeepers shall notaffect the clear distinction for all Players, Match Ofcials, spectators and mediaof opposing teams irrespective of the prevailing conditions, such as weather
and light.
19.3
No structural section of, or material used for, Special Equipment or any other
Equipment item listed in arts 35-38 below may be made of reective material
or change Colour or appearance due to any external inuence, includingpressure, light, temperature, water or other liquid.

20

Captain’s armband

20.1
A captain’s armband exclusively provided by FIFA must be used for all Matchesof Final Competitions. FIFA may provide two captain’s armbands in contrasting
Colours or two different types of captain’s armbands.
20.2
For any Matches of a Preliminary Competition and any Preliminary
Olympic Matches, the captain’s armband shall be of one dominant Colour,
or exceptionally composed of the Colours of the National Flag clearly
distinguishable from the Colour used on the sleeves of the shirt of the Player.
The captain’s armband must be an Equipment item separate from the shirt.

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V. Special Equipment
20.3
Captain’s armbands shall remain free of, and shall not produce, in FIFA’s
discretion, the visual effect of an identication of a Member Association
other than a National Flag, a Manufacturer’s Identication, identicationof a Supplier, a sponsor, any Decorative Element or any further elements
such as marks, statements or slogans, except for the word “captain” or an
abbreviation or translation thereof.

21

Goalkeeper gloves

21.1
Goalkeepers may wear gloves of any Colour. The goalkeeper gloves shall be
an Equipment item separate from the shirt. The goalkeepers of the same team
may wear different goalkeeper gloves produced by the same or different
Manufacturers.
21.2
The name, as dened in art. 7 par. 2 above, and/or the number of thegoalkeeper may appear once on each goalkeeper glove.
21.3
Member Associations may display one single identication of the Member
Association on each goalkeeper glove, to be chosen from among:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem;b) Ofcial Member Association Symbol;c) Ofcial Member Association Name;d) National Flag; ore) Country Name.
This identication of the Member Association may be freely positioned on the
goalkeeper gloves and shall be displayed no more than once.
21.4
In relation to identications of the Member Association located on the
goalkeeper gloves, the following measurements must be observed:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem:
max. of 50cm²;b) Ofcial Member Association Symbol:
max. of 50cm²;c) Ofcial Member Association Name:max. of 12cm²;d) National Flag:max. of 25cm²; ande) Country Name:max. of 12cm².
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V. Special Equipment
21.5
Any letters used for the goalkeeper’s name, the Ofcial Member Association
Name or the Country Name must not exceed 2cm in height.
21.6
The terms and conditions of this art. 21 shall not apply to all gloves worn byouteld players and Team Ofcials pursuant to art. 23 below.

21.2 – 21.5
The goalkeeper’s name and/or number
may appear once on each glove. Lettering
for name and number must not exceed 2cm
in height.
-LC+CK@CPQQMAG?RGMLGBCLRGjA?RGMLK?W
be displayed on each glove (both gloves
KSQRBGQNJ?WRFCQ?KCGBCLRGjA?RGMLQ
according to the following maximum
measurements:
21.3 – 21.4
National Flag max. 25cm²

21.2 Goalkeeper‘s name lettering max. 2cm in height

-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML#K@JCKAK¥
-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML1WK@MJAK¥
-DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML,?KCAK¥
JCRRCPGLEAKK?VGKSKGLFCGEFR!MSLRPW,?KCAK¥JCRRCPGLEAK
K?VGKSKGLFCGEFR- National Flag: 25cm²

21.3 – 21.4 Emblem max. 50cm²

21.2 Goalkeeper‘s number lettering max. 2cm in height

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V. Special Equipment

22

Goalkeeper Caps

22.1
All goalkeepers may, irrespective of the prevailing conditions, wear a Cap of
any Colour. The goalkeepers of the same team may wear different Caps.
22.2
Any Cap worn by a goalkeeper inside the Pitch Area must be produced by the
Manufacturer of a Playing Equipment item.
22.3
The name, as dened in art. 7 par. 2 above, and/or the number of thegoalkeeper may appear once on the Cap. The gures used for the goalkeeper’s
number shall not exceed 2cm in height.
22.4
Member Associations may display one single identication of the Member
Association on each Cap, to be chosen from among:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem;b) Ofcial Member Association Symbol;c) Ofcial Member Association Name;d) National Flag; ore) Country Name.
This identication of the Member Association may be freely positioned on the
Cap and shall be displayed no more than once.
22.5
In relation to identications of the Member Association located on the Cap,the following measurements must be observed:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem:
max. of 50cm²;b) Ofcial Member Association Symbol:
max. of 50cm²;c) Ofcial Member Association Name:max. of 12cm²;d) National Flag:max. of 25cm²; ande) Country Name:max. of 12cm².

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V. Special Equipment
22.6
Any letters used for the goalkeeper’s name, the Ofcial Member Association
Name or the Country Name must not exceed 2cm in height.
22.7
The terms and conditions of this art. 22 pars 1 to 6 shall apply analogously to
all Caps worn by outeld players and Team Ofcials.

22.4 – 22.5 Emblem
max. 50cm²

22.4 – 22.5 National Flagmax. 25cm²
22.3 Goalkeeper‘s namemax. 2cm in height

22.3
The goalkeeper’s name and/or number
may appear once on the goalkeeper Cap.
Lettering for name and number must notexceed 2cm in height.
22.4 – 22.6
-LC+CK@CPQQMAG?RGMLGBCLRGjA?RGML
may be displayed on a Cap according to
the following maximum measurements:
 -DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML#K@JCK
50cm²
 -DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML1WK@MJ
50cm²
 -DjAG?J+CK@CPQQMAG?RGML,?KC
12cm²(lettering 2cm maximum in height)- Country Name: 12cm² (lettering 2cm
maximum in height)- National Flag: 25cm²

23

Gloves worn by outeld players and Team Ofcials

23.1
The outeld players and Team Ofcials may wear gloves. The gloves shall be
an Equipment item separate from the shirt. The Colour of any gloves wornby outeld players and Team Ofcials must be either black or of the samegroup of a basic Colour as the sleeve of the shirt. The gloves worn by outeld
players and Team Ofcials must be produced by the Manufacturer of a Playing
Equipment item.
23.2
Neither the name, nor any abbreviation thereof, nor the number of a Player
may be displayed on the gloves of outeld players.

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V. Special Equipment
23.3
Member Associations may display one single identication of the Member
Association on each glove of an outeld player or a Team Ofcial. This
identication of the Member Association may be freely positioned on the
gloves and shall be displayed no more than once. The size of the identicationof the Member Association shall not exceed 12cm².

24

Headband and wristbands

24.1
The Players may wear a headband or wristbands. Neither the name, nor any
abbreviation thereof, nor the number of a Player may be displayed on aheadband or wristband.
24.2
On each headband or wristband, Member Associations may display one single
identication of the Member Association. This identication of the Member
Association may be freely positioned on the headband or wristband and shallbe displayed no more than once. The size of the identication of the Member
Association shall not exceed 12cm².

25

Head covers

25.1
For the use of any form of any type of head covers other than Caps (see art. 22
above), headbands (see art. 24 above) or headgear worn for medical purposes(see art. 26 below), the provisions of Law 4 of the Laws of the Game apply.
Neither the name, nor any abbreviation thereof, nor the number of a Player
may be displayed on any head cover.
25.2
No identication of the Member Association, and no further elements such as
marks, insignia, statements or slogans shall be displayed on head covers.

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V. Special Equipment

26

Special items for medical or performance-related purposes

26.1
Special items worn by Players for medical or performance-related purposes,
such as headgear, face masks, knee and arm protectors, (sun)glasses, splints
and electronic performance or tracking system devices may be approved byFIFA after analysis of the submitted material and subject to Law 4 of the Lawsof the Game.
26.2
Neither the name, nor any abbreviation thereof, nor the number of a Player,
nor any type of identication of the Member Association, nor further elements
such as marks, insignia, statements or slogans shall be displayed on such special
items worn by Players for medical or performance-related purposes.

27

Beach soccer foot bindings and other support bandages

27.1
Beach soccer foot bindings, other support bandages, additional socks or similar
items may be approved by FIFA after analysis of the submitted material andsubject to Law 4 of the Beach Soccer Laws of the Game.
27.2
Beach soccer foot bindings, other support bandages, additional socks or similar
items must not display any type of identications of the Member Association,
the name, or any abbreviation thereof, or the number of a Player and must
not contain any Decorative Elements that are visible whilst worn by a Player.

28

Items worn under Playing Equipment

28.1
Players may use Equipment items worn under the Playing Equipment, such as
underwear, T-shirts, bras, thermal shorts or any sort of cooling apparel. Such
Equipment items worn under the Playing Equipment may be separate from,or permanently attached to, the shirt or shorts. The Colour of any such visible
Equipment items worn under the Playing Equipment must be of the same

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V. Special Equipmentgroup of a basic Colour as the corresponding part (e.g. sleeves or legs) of a
Playing Equipment item. In the event that a Player is wearing a short-sleeveshirt as a Playing Equipment item, a long-sleeve T-shirt worn under the Playing
Equipment must be of the same visual appearance as the long-sleeve shirt
worn by other Players of the same team.
28.2
Unless not visible when worn under the Playing Equipment, no identicationof the Member Association, or further elements such as marks, insignia,
statements or slogans shall be displayed on the Equipment items worn under
the Playing Equipment.
28.3
The terms and conditions of this art. 28 shall not apply to any special items
worn by Players under the Playing Equipment for medical or performancerelated purposes pursuant to art. 26 above.

29

Warm-up bibs

29.1
FIFA may decide to restrict the use of warm-up bibs for any Matches of Final
Competitions. In case of any such restriction, FIFA will exclusively provide
each participating Member Association with a sufcient number of warm-up
bibs in contrasting Colours for the use of the representative team before andduring the Matches as well as for the ofcial training sessions. In the event that
FIFA decides not to restrict the use of warm-up bibs for any Matches of Final
Competitions, the rules of art. 29 par. 2 below shall apply.
29.2
For any Matches of a Preliminary Competition and all Preliminary Olympic
Matches, teams may use warm-up bibs which must be clearly distinguishable,
irrespective of the prevailing conditions, such as weather and light, for all
Players, Match Ofcials, spectators and media from the Colours of the shirts
being used as Playing Equipment by both opposing teams and the MatchOfcials. Member Associations may display on the warm-up bibs any typeof identication of the Member Association listed in art. 10 par. 1 above. The
Member Association is entitled to determine the number of the identicationsof the Member Association displayed, their size and the exact locations of such
identications at its sole discretion.

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V. Special Equipment
Section 2: Special Equipment for individuals present in Pitch Area

30

General principle

30.1
The terms and conditions of arts 30-33 below apply to any Special Equipment
item worn in the Pitch Area by Players, Match Ofcials or Team Ofcials during
the warm-up period and prior to, during (only if a substitute player) and after
the Match.
30.2
In case that, in FIFA’s, the Match Ofcials’ or the Match Commissioner’s
reasonable discretion, no clear distinction and differing visibility can beachieved between the Playing Equipment of the opposing teams, theEquipment of the Match Ofcials and the Special Equipment items worninside the Pitch Area by substitute players or Team Ofcials during a Match,
FIFA, the Match Ofcials or the Match Commissioner are entitled to request
the substitute players and/or Team Ofcials to use warm-up bibs to ensure aclear distinction and differing visibility of the Playing Equipment items and theEquipment of the Match Ofcials from such Special Equipment items.
30.3
FIFA may, from time to time, issue Competition Regulations and/or Mediaand Marketing Regulations governing the Final Competitions and/or the
Preliminary Competitions containing specic rules for Special Equipment to
be used in the Controlled Stadium Area by Players, Match Ofcials and TeamOfcials during the warm-up phase and prior to, during (only if a substitute
player) and after the Match.

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V. Special Equipment

31

Tops

31.1
Players (e.g. during the warm-up period and prior to, during (only if asubstitute player) and after the Match), Match Ofcials and Team Ofcials may
wear tops (e.g. tracksuit jackets, rain jackets, winter jackets, anthem jackets,coats, T-shirts, pre-match shirts, training jerseys, sweatshirts, polo shirts) in the
Pitch Area.
31.2
Member Associations may display on the tops any type of identication of
the Member Association listed in art. 10 par. 1 above. The Member Associationis entitled to determine the number of the identications of the Member
Association displayed, their size and the exact locations of such identicationsat its sole discretion.

32

Bottoms

32.1
Players (e.g. during the warm-up phase prior to, during (only if a substitute
player) and after the Match), Match Ofcials and Team Ofcials may wear
bottoms (e.g. tracksuit bottoms, rainwear bottoms, shorts and winter trousers)in the Pitch Area.
32.2
Member Associations may display on the bottoms any type of identication
listed in art. 10 par. 1 above. The Member Association is entitled to determine
the number of the identications of the Member Association displayed, theirsize and the exact locations of such identications at its sole discretion.

31 – 32+CK@CPQQMAG?RGMLGBCLRGjA?RGML
on tops and bottoms

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V. Special Equipment

33

FIFA Equipment for Match Ofcials

33.1
FIFA will exclusively provide all Match Ofcials with a full set of Equipment
items produced by the ofcial FIFA supplier in different Colours.
33.2
During the warm-up phase and prior to and during all Matches a MatchOfcial is appointed to, the Match Ofcial must wear only Equipment
provided by FIFA. Match Ofcials may not use any Equipment items other thanthose provided by FIFA.
33.3
During the same Match, all Match Ofcials must wear Equipment of the same
Colour.
33.4
FIFA may require all Match Ofcials to display, during all Matches, sleevebadges determined by FIFA (e.g. the Fair Play badge, the Handshake for
Peace badge) or the ofcial badges exclusively provided by the FIFA generalsecretariat for the relevant FIFA Event on the right front side of the shirt and/or
on both sleeves of the shirt. FIFA is entitled to determine the total number andexact locations of these badges at its sole discretion.
In addition thereto, during all Matches the shirts of all Match Ofcials must
display the Match Ofcials’ respective FIFA badge (referee, assistant referee,futsal or beach soccer) on the left front side of the shirt.

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V. Special Equipment

33.4
A FIFA badge may
be required to beworn on the rightsleeve of the shirt.
33.4
A FIFA badge may berequired to be wornon the right pocketof the shirt.

33.4
FIFA referee badges

33.4
The FIFA Fair Playbadge may berequired to be wornon the left sleeve of
the shirt.

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V. Special Equipment
Section 3: Special Equipment for other persons

34

Ball boys and girls, player escorts and ag bearers

34.1
FIFA will exclusively provide the ball boys and girls, player escorts (if any) andag bearers with all Equipment items for all Matches of Final Competitions.
34.2
For all Matches of a Preliminary Competition and all Preliminary Olympic
Matches, the ball boys and girls may wear Special Equipment items consistingof one dominant Colour which must be clearly distinguishable for all Players,
Match Ofcials, spectators and media from the Colours of the Players of the
opposing teams and the referees, irrespective of the prevailing conditions, suchas weather and light.
34.3
FIFA may issue Media and Marketing Regulations governing a Final
Competition and/or a Preliminary Competition containing specic rules forSpecial Equipment to be used in the Pitch Area by ball boys and girls, player
escorts and ag bearers.

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V. Special Equipment
Section 4: Other Equipment items

35

Footballs

35.1
The provisions of Law 2 of the Laws of the Game apply to the use of footballs.
35.2
Footballs may display an unlimited number of Decorative Elements in any
position and of any size.
35.3
Except for Final Competitions, for which FIFA will exclusively provide all
footballs, the footballs used for any Match may display one single type ofidentication of the Member Association to be chosen from among:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem;b) Ofcial Member Association Symbol; orc) Ofcial Member Association Name.
This identication of the Member Association may be freely positioned on the
football and shall be displayed no more than once.
35.4
In relation to identications displayed on footballs, the following
measurements must be observed:a) Ofcial Member Association Emblem:
max. of 50cm²;b) Ofcial Member Association Symbol:
max. of 50cm²; andc) Ofcial Member Association Name:max. of 12cm².
35.5
Any letters used for the Ofcial Member Association Name must not exceed
2cm in height.

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V. Special Equipment

36

Football boots

36.1
The provisions of Law 4 of the Laws of the Game apply to the use of footballboots.
36.2
In the event that, in FIFA’s, the Match Ofcials’ or the Match Commissioner’s
reasonable discretion, no clear distinction and differing visibility can beachieved between the Colour of the surface area of the football boots
covering the ankle and the predominant Colour of the socks of the opponent
team, then FIFA, the Match Ofcials or the Match Commissioner are entitled torequest the Player to cover such surface area covering the ankle with a tape orsimilar material to be temporarily applied of the same group of a basic Colour
as the predominant Colour of the Player’s socks.
36.3
The Players of the same team may wear football boots of different
Manufacturers and of a different visual appearance at their own discretion.

37

Shinguards

37.1
The provisions of Law 4 of the Laws of the Game apply to the use of
shinguards.
37.2
The Players of the same team may wear shinguards of different Manufacturers
and of a different visual appearance at their own discretion.

38

On-eld equipment

38.1
The provisions of Law 1 of the Laws of the Game apply to the use of any
further on-eld equipment, such as goals, goal nets, ag posts and their ags.

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication
Section 1: General terms

39

Types of Manufacturer’s Identication, Technology Labels
and Quality Seals

Forms of registered trademarksa

ADIDAS

LOTTO

NIKE

PUMA

UMBRO

JOMA

NEW
BALANCEUNDER
ARMOUR

UHLSPORT

b
c
d
e

39.1
Member Associations may display the following types of Manufacturer’s
Identication on Equipment items:a) Name (being a “word mark”);b) Logo (being a “design mark”);c) Product line (being a “word mark, design mark or composite word/designmark”);d) Figurative logo (being a “composite word/design mark”); ande) Script (being a “word mark” written in a specic font).
39.2
Member Associations are permitted to display no more than three different
registered trademarks per type of Manufacturer’s Identication as set out inart. 39 par. 1.
39.3
Subject to the specic terms and conditions relating to the respective
Equipment items as set out in arts 40-56 below, Member Associations may also
display Technology Labels and Quality Seals on Equipment items.
39.4
Suppliers are not permitted to display any form of identication or any further
recognisable branding, Technology Label or Quality Seal on any Equipment
items.
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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication

40

General principle

40.1
No Manufacturer’s Identication, Technology Label or Quality Seal shall be
designed or used in a manner limiting the ability of all Players, Match Ofcials,
spectators and media to clearly distinguish the opposing teams irrespective of
the prevailing conditions, such as weather and light.
40.2
Irrespective of the chosen type of Manufacturer’s Identication, Member
Associations must only display trademarks of Manufacturers for which the
Manufacturers have obtained trademark protection. Technology Labels andQuality Seals are not required to be registered trademarks.
40.3
No Manufacturer’s Identication, Technology Label or Quality Seal may interferewith or be tangent to any other identication displayed on the respective
Equipment item, such as a Player’s number or name, the identication of theMember Association or the FIFA World Champions Badge.
40.4
Any type of Manufacturer’s Identication, Technology Label or Quality Seal may
be printed, embroidered or sewn on as a badge. Any type of Manufacturer’s
Identication, Technology Label or Quality Seal shall be attached permanently
to the Playing Equipment. No such Manufacturer’s Identication, Technology
Label or Quality Seal may be attached with Velcro or other temporary means.
40.5
No Manufacturer’s Identication, Technology Label or Quality Seal may bemade of reective material or change Colour or appearance due to any
external inuence, including pressure, light, temperature, water or other liquid.
40.6
Any type of Manufacturer’s Identication may be displayed on any Equipment
item by means of a tonal application on the following items:a) on buttons on the collar opening of a shirt; andb) on fastening items, such as zipper pulls,
provided in any case that such items are designed in a manner so as not tocause injury and not to produce from a distance the visual impression of thedisplay of a Manufacturer’s Identication.
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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication

41

No Manufacturer’s Identications as Decorative Elements

41.1
Decorative Elements may not display any type of Manufacturer’s Identicationor any other registered trademark and may not be directly attributable to a
Manufacturer or a product line of such Manufacturer by any other means andmay not produce the visual effect of a Manufacturer’s Identication.
41.2
In case of a dispute regarding the nature of a representation on an Equipment
item, the FIFA general secretariat, at its discretion, will decide whether the
representation on an Equipment item is to be regarded as a Manufacturer’s
Identication, a Decorative Element or another admissible element.
Upon request, the Member Associations may be required to ask for the
Manufacturer’s comment upon this classication.

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication
Section 2: Manufacturer’s Identication on Playing Equipment items

42

Identications on shirts

42.1
Subject to the restrictions set out in arts 42 and 45 below, Member Associations
may display all types of Manufacturer’s Identications on the front and on thesleeves of the shirt.
42.2
Member Associations may display one type of Manufacturer’s Identication
once at chest level on the front of the shirt. The Member Association is entitledto determine, at its sole discretion, the exact position of this Manufacturer’s
Identication at chest level.
42.3
The Member Associations may additionally display the Manufacturer logo
(being a design mark) in the form of a strip in one of the following positions:a) across the bottom of both sleeves;b) centred down the outer seam of both sleeves (from the collar across the
top of the shoulders down the bottom of the sleeve excluding the Sleeve
Free Zone); orc) centred down the outer seams of the shirt.

42.4 max. 20cm²

43.3 max. 20cm²

44.4 max. 20cm² for one single
Manufacturer logo

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Any Manufacturer logo incorporated into this strip may be displayed once or in
the form of a repeated pattern with a series of Manufacturer logos attached toeach other or with a maximum space of 2cm between the Manufacturer logos.
Any Manufacturer logo incorporated into this strip in one of the positions
described in subsections (b) and (c) of this paragraph above, whether once orin the form of a repeated pattern with a series of Manufacturer logos, mustfrom a front view not produce, in FIFA’s discretion, the visual impression of
the display of an additional Manufacturer’s Identication on the front of theshirt (i.e. in addition to the Manufacturer’s Identication displayed at chestlevel on the front of the shirt as set out in art. 42 par. 2 above). The display of
a Manufacturer logo incorporated into such a strip on a shirt (worn by a Player
standing upright, arms by his side) must only partially be visible from a front
view and fully visible only from:a) a side view if a Manufacturer logo is displayed on the sleeves of the shirt; orb) viewed directly from above if a Manufacturer logo is displayed on theshoulders of the shirt.
42.4
In relation to the Manufacturer’s Identications located on the shirt, thefollowing measurements must be observed:a) Manufacturer’s Identicationon the front of the shirt:max. of 20cm²; andb) Manufacturer logo in the form of a strip: max. of 8cm width.

42.3 – 42.4
max. 8cm in width

42.3 – 42.4
max. 8cm in width

42.3 – 42.4
42.3 – 42.4
42.3 – 42.4
max. 8cm in width max. 8cm in width max. 8cm in width42.2 – 42.3
max. 8cm in width. Strip must be
in a centred position when viewed
from above while worn.

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication
42.5
All types of Manufacturer’s Identication are prohibited in the Collar Zone of
the shirt.
42.6
In addition to the Manufacturer’s Identications and the Quality Seals as set
out in art. 42 par. 7 below, the Member Association may display one single
Technology Label on the shirt. The top edge of the Technology Label must be
positioned no higher than 15cm above the bottom edge of the shirt and thesize of the Technology Label must not exceed 10cm².
42.7
In addition to the Manufacturer’s Identications and the Technology Label as
set out in art. 42 par. 6 above, the Member Association may display up to two
Quality Seals on the shirt. The positioning and measurements of the Quality
Seals shall be as follows:(a) if only one Quality Seal is displayed on the shirt, the top edge of the
Quality Seal must be positioned no higher than 15cm above the bottomedge of the shirt and the size of the Quality Seal must not exceed 10cm²,
whereas the maximum size of the Manufacturer’s Identication integrated
in the Quality Seal shall not exceed 5cm²; or(b) if two Quality Seals are displayed on the shirt, art. 42 par. 7 (a) above shallapply to the rst Quality Seal and a second, smaller Quality Seal, with a size
not exceeding 5cm², may be displayed on the shirt, anywhere other than in
the Collar Zone, chest or sleeves.

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Manufacturer

42.6
Technology Labels

42.7
Quality Seals

max. 10cm²
max. 15cm frombottom of the shirt

max. 10cm²
max. 15cm frombottom of the shirt

Technology Label Examples

Quality Seal Examples

adidas

Nike

Puma

Umbro

New Balance

Under Armour

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication

43

Identications on shorts

43.1
Subject to the restrictions set out in arts 43 and 45 below, Member Associations
may display only once one type of Manufacturer’s Identication on either legof the shorts. The Member Association may determine, at its own discretion,
the position and type of the additional Manufacturer’s Identication on the
shorts.
43.2
The Member Associations may additionally display the Manufacturer logo
(being a design mark) only once on the front or the back of the shorts, or in
the form of a strip on the shorts in one of the following positions:a) across the bottom edge of both legs of the shorts; orb) down the outer seams of both legs of the shorts.
Any Manufacturer logo incorporated into such a strip may only be displayed
once or in the form of a repeated pattern with a series of Manufacturer
logos attached to each other or with a maximum space of 2cm between the
Manufacturer logos.

43.2 – 43.3
max. 8cm in width43.2 – 43.3
Manufacturer logo used asa strip max. 8cm in width.

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication
Any Manufacturer logo incorporated into a strip in the position described insubparagraph (b) of this paragraph above, whether once or in the form ofa repeated pattern with a series of Manufacturer logos, must from a front
view not produce, in FIFA’s discretion, the visual impression of the display ofan additional Manufacturer’s Identication on the front of the shorts (i.e. in
addition to the Manufacturer’s Identication displayed on the front of theshorts as set out in art. 43 par. 1 above). The display of a Manufacturer logo
incorporated into a strip on shorts (worn by a Player standing upright) must be
only partially visible from a front view and fully visible only from a side view.
43.3
In relation to the Manufacturer’s Identications located on the shorts, thefollowing measurements must be observed:a) Manufacturer logo on the shorts:max. of 20cm²; andb) Manufacturer logo in the form of a strip:
max. of 8cm width.
43.4
In addition to the Manufacturer’s Identications and the Quality Seals as set
out in art. 43 par. 5 below, the Member Association may display one single
Technology Label on the shorts. The top edge of the Technology Label must
be positioned either no higher than 5cm above the bottom edge of the shorts
or no lower than 5cm below the bottom of the waistband at the top of theshorts. The size of the Technology Label must not exceed 10cm².
43.5
In addition to the Manufacturer’s Identications and the Technology Labelas set out in art. 43 par. 4 above, the Member Association may display one
Quality Seal on the shorts. The top edge of the Quality Seal must be positioned
either no higher than 5cm above the bottom edge of the shorts or no lower
than 5cm below the top of the shorts. The size of the Quality Seal must notexceed 10cm², whereas the maximum size of the Manufacturer’s Identication
integrated in the Quality Seal shall not exceed 5cm².

44

Identications on socks

44.1
Subject to the restrictions set out in art. 44 pars 1-4, Member Associations may
display up to two types of Manufacturer’s Identications on each sock. The
Manufacturer’s Identications shall be positioned horizontally between theankle and the top edge of each sock.
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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication
44.2
The Manufacturer logo (being a design mark) may additionally be displayed
once on each sock or in the form of a strip across the top edge of each sock.
Any Manufacturer logo incorporated into this strip may only be displayed
once or in the form of a repeated pattern with a series of Manufacturer
logos attached to each other or with a maximum space of 2cm between the
Manufacturer logos.
44.3
The Member Associations may additionally display one type of Manufacturer’s
Identication on the foot part of each sock, positioned beneath the ankle.
Such additional Manufacturer’s Identication shall not be visible whilst the
football boots are worn. The maximum size of such additional Manufacturer’s
Identication shall not exceed 20cm².
44.4
In relation to the Manufacturer’s Identications located on each sock, thefollowing measurements must be observed:a) Manufacturer logo:
max. of 20cm² for one single
Manufacturer logo or a max.
of 10cm² each for two
Manufacturer logos; andb) Manufacturer logo in the form of a strip: max. of 5cm width.
The above measurements are based on a brand-new and unworn sock.

44.1 – 44.2 and 44.4
Manufacturer logo used as a strip
max. 5cm in width

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44.1 – 44.2 and 44.4
Manufacturer logo used as a strip
max. 5cm in width

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44.1 and 44.4
Max. 20cm² of for
one single logo or amax. of 10cm² each for
two Manufacturer logos

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45

Identication by means of special manufacturing
techniques

45.1
The Member Association may choose to display one single type of
Manufacturer’s Identication on the shirt and/or on the shorts in the form of ajacquard weave, embossing, laser etching or tonal print as special manufacturing
techniques. The use of any other special manufacturing technique requires FIFA’s
prior written approval. The size of the Manufacturer’s Identication displayedin the form of a special manufacturing technique shall not exceed 20cm². Thereis no limitation as to the number and positioning of the type of Manufacturer’s
Identication chosen.
45.2
The special manufacturing technique pattern must be incorporated in themain Colour and/or in one of the minor Colours of the Playing Equipment itemin question. The special manufacturing technique pattern must not dominate,contain a contrasting Colour, or affect the distinctiveness of the Playing
Equipment items.

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication
Section 3: Manufacturer’s Identication on Special Equipment items
for Players

46

Captain’s armband, goalkeeper gloves, Caps, gloves wornby outeld players and Team Ofcials, headband andwristbands and head covers

46.1
Member Associations may display only one type of Manufacturer’s
Identication on each of the following Special Equipment items for Players:a) goalkeeper gloves;b) Caps;c) gloves worn by outeld players and Team Ofcials; andd) headband or wristbands.
The Member Association must not display any type of Manufacturer’s
Identication or identication of a Supplier on any form of head cover otherthan a Cap or headband.
46.2
The Member Association may determine, at its own discretion, the positionof the Manufacturer’s Identication on any Special Equipment item listed
in art. 46 par. 1 above. The measurements of the chosen Manufacturer’s
Identication on the respective Special Equipment item must in any case notexceed 20cm².
46.3
Art. 20 par. 3 shall apply in connection with the captain’s armband.

50.1
Technology Labelmax. 10cm²
46.1 – 46.2
max. 20cm²
FINGERSAVE™

50.2 – 50.3
Quality Seal
max. 10cm²

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47

Special items for medical or performance-related purposes,
beach soccer foot bindings and similar items

47.1
Except for one tonal identication of its Manufacturer, which is not visible
whilst the special items are worn by Players for medical or performancerelated purposes, or whilst the beach soccer foot bindings, other support
bandages, additional socks and/or similar items are used, any such special
Equipment items worn by Players shall not display any type of Manufacturer’s
Identication, identication of a Supplier or any further recognisablebranding or identication of the Manufacturer, Supplier or any third party.

48

Items worn under Playing Equipment

48.1
Member Associations may display two types of Manufacturer’s Identications
on underwear, a T-shirt, bra or any sort of cooling apparel, one to be positionedon the front and one on the back of the underwear, T-shirt, bra or any sort ofcooling apparel. The measurements of the chosen Manufacturer’s Identications
on underwear, a T-shirt, bra or any sort of cooling apparel must not exceed
20cm². Any Manufacturer’s Identications displayed on underwear, a T-shirt,
bra or any sort of cooling apparel shall not be visible whilst the item is wornunder a shirt independent of any external inuence, including pressure, light,
temperature, water or other liquid.
48.2
Member Associations may display only one type of Manufacturer’s
Identication on thermal shorts, to be positioned, at the Member Association’s
discretion, on either leg of the thermal shorts. The measurements of thechosen Manufacturer’s Identication on thermal shorts must not exceed 20cm².
In case the thermal shorts are permanently attached to the shorts, the terms
and conditions of art. 43 above shall apply and no additional Manufacturer’s
Identication may be displayed on such thermal shorts.
48.3
The terms and conditions of this article 48 shall not apply to any special items
worn by Players under the Playing Equipment for medical or performancerelated purposes pursuant to art. 47 above.

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication

front
48.1
max. 20cm²

back

50.1
Technology Labelmax. 10cm²

48.1
max. 20cm²

50.1
Technology
Labelmax. 10cm²
48.1
max. 20cm²

48.2
max. 20cm²
50.1
Technology Labelmax. 10cm²

50.1
Technology Labelmax. 10cm²
48.1
max. 20cm²

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication

49

Warm-up bibs

49.1
Subject to FIFA not providing the participating Member Associations withwarm-up bibs in connection with any Matches of Final Competitions, the rulesof art. 49 par. 2 below shall apply with respect to the display of any type of
Manufacturer’s Identication on the warm-up bibs.
49.2
For any Matches of a Preliminary Competition and any Preliminary Olympic
Matches, Member Associations may display two types of Manufacturer’s
Identication on the warm-up bibs, to be positioned, at the Member
Association’s discretion, on the front and back of the warm-up bibs. The
measurements of the chosen Manufacturer’s Identications on the warm-up
bibs must not exceed 100cm².

49.2
max. 100cm²

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication

50

Technology Labels and Quality Seals on Special Equipment
items for Players

50.1
In addition to the Manufacturer’s Identications and the Quality Seals as set
out in art. 50 par. 2 below, the Member Association may display one single
Technology Label on the following Special Equipment items for Players:a) goalkeeper gloves;b) Caps;c) gloves worn by outeld players and Team Ofcials;d) headband or wristbands;e) items worn under Playing Equipment items; andf) beach soccer foot bindings and other support bandages.
The size of the Technology Label shall not exceed 10cm². The Member
Association may determine, at its own discretion, the position of theTechnology Label displayed on the relevant Special Equipment item.
The Member Association must not display any type of Technology Label on any
form of head cover other than a Cap.
50.2
In addition to the Manufacturer’s Identications and the Technology Label as
set out in art. 50 par. 1 above, the Member Association may display up to two
Quality Seals on the following Special Equipment items for Players:a) goalkeeper gloves;b) Caps;c) gloves worn by outeld players;d) headband or wristbands;e) items worn under Playing Equipment items; andf) beach soccer foot bindings and other support bandages.
The Member Association must not display any type of Quality Seal on any formof head cover other than a Cap.

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50.3
The positioning and measurements of these Quality Seals shall be as follows:(a) if only one Quality Seal is displayed on the relevant Special Equipment
item, the Quality Seal may be displayed in a position to be chosen at
the Member Association’s discretion and its size must not exceed 10cm²,
whereas the maximum size of the Manufacturer’s Identication integrated
in the Quality Seal shall not exceed 5cm²; or(b) if two Quality Seals are displayed on the relevant Special Equipment item,
art. 50 par. 3 (a) above shall apply to the rst Quality Seal and a second,smaller Quality Seal, of a size not exceeding 5cm², may be displayed in aposition to be chosen at the Member Association’s discretion.

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication
Section 4: Manufacturer’s Identication on Special Equipment items
for individuals present in Pitch Area

51

Tops

51.1
Subject to the restrictions set out in art. 51 pars 1-5 below, Member Associations
may display a maximum of ve of all types of Manufacturer’s Identications oneach of the tops (e.g. tracksuit jackets, rain jackets, winter jackets, coats, T-shirts,
pre-match shirts, training jerseys, sweatshirts, polo shirts). This includes a
maximum of two bands of Manufacturer logos (being a design mark) displayedin the form of a strip in one of the following positions:a) across the bottom of both sleeves; orb) down the outer seam of both sleeves.
Any Manufacturer logo incorporated into this strip may be displayed once orin the form of a repeated pattern with a series of Manufacturer logos attachedto each other or with a maximum space of 2cm between the Manufacturer
logos.

51 and 52
K?VGKSKMDjTC+?LSD?ARSPCPQ'BCLRGjA?RGMLQK?W@CBGQNJ?WCBMLRMNQ?LB@MRRMKQ

51.3 and 52.2+?LSD?ARSPCP
JMEMSQCB?Q?
QRPGNK?V AKGLUGBRF

51.2+?LSD?ARSPCP'BCLRGjA?RGMLGLRFC!MJJ?P8MLCMD?RMN
KSQR@CACLRPCBK?V AK¥

51 and 52
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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication
51.2
With respect to the Collar Zone of any top, a Manufacturer’s Identication may
only be displayed in a centred position on the back of the top or, if the top
does not have a collar, in a similar position. No Manufacturer’s Identication
may be displayed on the front or sides of the Collar Zone.
51.3
In relation to the Manufacturer’s Identications located on the tops, thefollowing measurements must be observed:a) stand-alone Manufacturer’s Identication:
max. of 20cm²; andb) Manufacturer logo in the form of a strip:
max. of 8cm width.
51.4
In addition to the maximum of ve Manufacturer’s Identications and the
Quality Seals as set out in art. 51 par. 5 below, the Member Association may
display one single Technology Label on the tops. The size of the Technology
Label shall not exceed 10cm². The Member Association may determine, at its
own discretion, the position of the Technology Label displayed on the tops.
51.5
In addition to the maximum of ve Manufacturer’s Identications and theTechnology Label as set out in art. 51 par. 4 above, the Member Association
may display up to two Quality Seals on the tops. The positioning andmeasurements of these Quality Seals shall be as follows:(a) if only one Quality Seal is displayed on the tops, the top edge of the
Quality Seal must be positioned no higher than 15cm above the bottomedge of the top and the size of the Quality Seal must not exceed 10cm²,
whereas the maximum size of the Manufacturer’s Identication integrated
in the Quality Seal shall not exceed 5cm²; or(b) if two Quality Seals are displayed on the tops, art. 51 par. 5 (a) above shallapply to the rst Quality Seal and a second, smaller Quality Seal, of a size
not exceeding 5cm², may be displayed in a position to be chosen at theMember Association’s discretion.

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication

52

Bottoms

52.1
Subject to the restrictions set out in art. 52 pars 1-4, any Member Association
may display a maximum of ve Manufacturer’s Identications from among all
types of Manufacturer’s Identications on each of the bottoms (e.g. tracksuit
bottoms, rainwear bottoms, shorts and winter trousers). This includes a
maximum of two bands of Manufacturer logos (being a design mark)displayed in the form of a strip in one of the following positions:a) across the bottom edge of both legs of the bottoms; orb) down the outer seams of both legs of the bottoms.
Any Manufacturer logo incorporated into this strip may be displayed once orin the form of a repeated pattern with a series of Manufacturer logos attachedto each other or with a maximum space of 2cm between the Manufacturer
logos.
52.2
In relation to the Manufacturer’s Identications located on the bottoms, thefollowing measurements must be observed:a) stand-alone Manufacturer’s Identication:
max. of 20cm²; andb) Manufacturer logo in the form of a strip:
max. of 8cm width.
52.3
In addition to the Manufacturer’s Identications and the Quality Seals as set
out in art. 52 par. 4 below, the Member Association may display one single
Technology Label on the bottoms. The size of the Technology Label shall not
exceed 10cm². The Member Association may determine, at its own discretion,
the position of the Technology Label displayed on the bottoms.

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52.4
In addition to the Manufacturer’s Identications and the Technology Label as
set out in art. 52 par. 3 above, the Member Association may display up to two
Quality Seals on the bottoms. The positioning and measurements of these
Quality Seals shall be as follows:a) if only one Quality Seal is displayed on the bottoms, the top edge of the
Quality Seal must be positioned no higher than 15cm above the bottomedge of the bottoms and the size of the Quality Seal must not exceed
10cm², whereas the maximum size of the Manufacturer’s Identication
integrated in this Quality Seal shall not exceed 5cm²; orb) if two (2) Quality Seals are displayed on the bottoms, art. 52 par. 4 (a)above shall apply to the rst Quality Seal and a second, smaller Quality
Seal, of a size not exceeding 5cm², may be displayed in a position to bechosen at the Member Association’s discretion.

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication
Section 5: Manufacturer’s Identication on Special Equipment items
for other persons

53

Ball boys and girls, player escorts and ag bearers

53.1
For all Matches of a Preliminary Competition and all Preliminary Olympic
Matches, the Special Equipment items worn by ball boys and girls, player
escorts and ag bearers may display Manufacturer’s Identications as set out inarts 51 and 52 above for tops and bottoms.

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication
Section 6: Manufacturer’s Identication on further Special Equipment

54

Footballs

54.1
FIFA will exclusively provide the footballs for all Matches of Final Competitions.
54.2
For all Matches of a Preliminary Competition and all Preliminary Olympic
Matches, one type of Manufacturer’s Identication may be displayed on
footballs. The Member Association may, at its own discretion, determine thenumber of repetitions and the positions of the displayed Manufacturer’s
Identication on the footballs.
The measurements of the chosen Manufacturer’s Identication on the
footballs may differ but must in any case not exceed 50cm² per repetition.
54.3
In addition, the name of the football may be displayed on the football. The
Member Association may determine, at its own discretion, the number ofrepetitions of the name of the football and their positions on the footballs.
The measurements of the name of the football on the footballs may differ but
must in any case not exceed 50cm².
54.4
In addition, Member Associations may display on each football the type ofpitch surface (such as grass, articial turf, indoor, sand) for which the football is
produced or the Manufacturer’s quality guarantees.

54.2 – 54.3
max. 50cm²

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VI. Manufacturer’s Identication

55

Football boots

55.1
Subject to art. 36 par. 2 above, the Manufacturers may, at their own discretion,
determine the type and size of the Manufacturer’s Identications, recognisablebranding and further design elements on football boots worn by Players andMatch Ofcials, including the number of repetitions and the positions on
football boots.

56

On-eld equipment

56.1
For all Matches of a Preliminary Competition and all Preliminary Olympic
Matches, Member Associations may display one Manufacturer’s Identication
on any on-eld equipment items (goals, goal nets, ag posts and their ags)
by the Manufacturer of the respective on-eld equipment item. However, on
goals, the selected type of Manufacturer’s Identication may only be displayedon the back of the goalposts/crossbar.
56.2
The measurements of the chosen Manufacturer’s Identication on the on-eld
equipment must in any case not exceed 12cm².
56.3
The applicable regulation number and the year of manufacture of thegoal frame may also be positioned in conjunction with the Manufacturer’s
Identication on goals in order to full the respective regional standards.

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VII. Sponsor advertising57

Sponsor advertising by teams, Players andTeam Delegation Members

57.1
On all Playing Equipment items used on, or brought into (permanently or
temporarily), the Pitch Area, for all Matches, any form of advertising forsponsors, products, Manufacturers (exceeding the extent of Manufacturer’s
Identications permitted under Chapter VI above), Suppliers or any third
parties, of political, religious, commercial, personal statements, images and/or
other announcements, is strictly prohibited.
For the purpose of the FIFA Club World Cup, the participating Clubs may
engage in sponsor/product advertising in accordance with the regulations
or guidelines to be issued by FIFA for the respective edition of the FIFA ClubWorld Cup.
57.2
On all Special Equipment items or other Equipment items used on, or brought
into (permanently or temporarily), the Pitch Area, any form of advertising forsponsors, products, Manufacturers (exceeding the extent of Manufacturer’s
Identications permitted under Chapter VI above), Suppliers or any third
parties, of political, religious, commercial, personal statements, images and/or
other announcements, is prohibited for alla) Matches of a Final Competition inside the entire Controlled Stadium Area;andb) Preliminary Matches on the eld of play.
57.3
FIFA may issue Competition Regulations and Media and Marketing Regulations
governing a Final Competition and/or a Preliminary Competition containing
specic rules for advertising for sponsors, Manufacturers or third parties
displayed on Special Equipment items used inside the Controlled Stadium Area.

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VII. Sponsor advertising

58

Sponsor advertising by Match Ofcials

58.1
For all Matches, all forms of advertising for sponsors, Manufacturers (exceeding
the extent of Manufacturer’s Identications permitted under Chapter VI
above), Suppliers or third parties, of political, religious, personal statements,
images and/or other announcements, are strictly prohibited on all Equipment
items used by Match Ofcials.

59

Sponsor advertising by ball boys and girls, player escortsand ag bearers

59.1
For all Matches, all forms of advertising for sponsors (exceeding the extent
of advertising for sponsors permitted under Law 1 of the Laws of the Game),
Manufacturers (exceeding the extent of Manufacturer’s Identications
permitted under Chapter VI above), Suppliers or third parties, of political,
religious, personal statements, images and/or other announcements, arestrictly prohibited on all Equipment items used or worn by ball boys and girls,
player escorts and ag bearers.

60

Sponsor advertising on on-eld equipment

60.1
The provisions of the section “Interpretation of the Laws of the Game andGuidelines for Referees”, subsection “Commercial advertising” of the Lawsof the Game prohibit all forms of commercial advertising on the eld ofplay, therefore all forms of commercial advertising are prohibited on on-eld
equipment.

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VIII. Approval process
Section 1: General terms

61

Approval requirement

61.1
The Member Association is responsible for full compliance with theseRegulations and further applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and decisions
issued by FIFA in relation to any Equipment items used for Matches.
61.2
In connection with any Equipment items used for a Final Competition, theMember Association must seek the approval of FIFA for any such Equipment
items pursuant to the terms and conditions of arts 63-67 below.
61.3
Notwithstanding the principle that the use of any Equipment item on theeld of play remains subject foremost to the referee’s authority as denedin the Laws of the Game as set out in art. 2 par. 5 above, unless FIFA explicitly
requests the submission by the Member Association of an Equipment item
for inspection and approval, in connection with any Equipment items
used for the Preliminary Matches and all Preliminary Olympic Matches, theMember Association may seek the approval of FIFA for any such Equipment
items. In such cases, the terms and conditions of arts 63-67 below shall apply
accordingly.

62

Match Commissioner

62.1
The Match Commissioner has the responsibility to report to the FIFA generalsecretariat any non-compliance with the terms and conditions of theseRegulations or any other FIFA regulations, circulars, guidelines, directives and/or decisions during a Match held in a FIFA Event or a Preliminary Olympic
Match. If necessary, the Match Commissioner is authorised to conscate
questionable Equipment items in return for a receipt and to submit theEquipment items to the FIFA general secretariat along with a written report.

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VIII. Approval process
Section 2: Final Competition

63

Approval process

63.1
The FIFA general secretariat is responsible for the approval of all Equipment
items used in connection with the Matches held in a Final Competition. All
approvals by the FIFA general secretariat shall be given in writing.
63.2
By no later than the deadline to be dened in the applicable Competition
Regulations or as specically notied by FIFA, each Member Association
participating in the relevant Final Competition must submit to the FIFA generalsecretariat one physical sample of a complete set of all Equipment items (i.e. all
Playing Equipment items and all Special Equipment items), including Ofcial
Equipment and all Reserve Equipment for outeld players and goalkeepers.
All samples of these Playing Equipment items must be submitted to FIFA
displaying a Player’s number and sample Players’ names in compliance witharts 6 and 7 above and in the identical manner as foreseen to be used during
Matches. No approval will be given by the FIFA general secretariat in theabsence of physical samples on the basis of electronic drawings only.
63.3
For each Final Competition, FIFA may organise an Equipment approval day
in order to approve all Equipment items to be used in connection with therelevant Final Competition. On the Equipment approval day, the Member
Associations participating in the Final Competition must provide one sample of
all Equipment items set out in art. 63 par. 2 above for the purpose of approval.
63.4
The approval of Equipment items used in connection with the Matches held
in a Final Competition remains at the sole discretion of the FIFA generalsecretariat, taking into account all relevant provisions of these Regulations
and further applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and decisions of FIFA.
The decision of the FIFA general secretariat will be notied in writing to therespective Member Association seeking the approval.

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VIII. Approval process
63.5
The Member Association is prohibited from using the relevant Equipment
item during any Match held in a Final Competition prior to receipt of thenotication by FIFA of its decision on the requested approval.
63.6
The Member Association must specify on the ofcial entry form for the
relevant Final Competition the Colours of its Playing Equipment, including
the Ofcial Equipment and each set of Reserve Equipment. The Member
Association may indicate on the ofcial entry form Reserve Equipment as
Equipment exclusively used for specic Matches of a Final Competition (e.g.
the potential nal Match). Irrespective of such indication, FIFA, the MatchOfcials or the Match Commissioner are free, in their reasonable discretion,
to determine the Equipment to be used by the Member Association in thespecic Match(es).
63.7FIFA is entitled to determine, at its sole discretion, whether the representative
team of a Member Association must use the Ofcial Equipment, Reserve
Equipment or a combination of Ofcial Equipment and Reserve Equipment
during each Match of a Final Competition.

64

Effect of approval

64.1
Any approval given by the FIFA general secretariat does not affect the Member
Association’s responsibilities and liabilities as set out in these Regulations andshall, subject to art. 64 par. 3 below, have no prejudging effect on any future
approval requests by the same or any other Member Association.
64.2
The Member Associations shall be responsible for using only Equipment items
approved by the FIFA general secretariat during any Matches. In the event
that, following FIFA’s approval, an Equipment item is subsequently modied by
the Member Association, the Manufacturer or any third party in any manner,
FIFA’s original decision to approve the Equipment shall automatically and withimmediate effect be considered null and void and the Member Association
is prohibited from using any such modied Equipment item with immediate
effect.

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VIII. Approval process
64.3
Approved Equipment items may be valid for use in other Final Competitions
during the same calendar year. In such cases, the Member Association must
notify the FIFA general secretariat in writing of its decision to use the approved
Equipment, identifying the specic Final Competition the Member Association
intends to use pre-approved Equipment items for and conrming that all
Equipment items are identical to the approved Equipment items.

65

Process in case of disapproval

65.1
In the event that the FIFA general secretariat withholds the approval of
any Equipment item, the FIFA general secretariat shall provide the Member
Association with a written explanation together with the communication thatthe requested approval has been withheld.
65.2
In the event that the FIFA general secretariat withholds the approval of
any Equipment item used in connection with the Matches held in a Final
Competition, the Member Association may eithera) lodge a complaint against the decision of the FIFA general secretariat
with the FIFA Marketing and TV Committee, which shall make anal decision. Any such complaint shall be submitted by the Member
Association together with a reasoning in writing and within 30 days of
the initial decision of the FIFA general secretariat being notied to theMember Association. In such cases, the FIFA Marketing and TV Committee
will, within 30 days of submission of the complaint, notify the Member
Association in writing of its nal decision with respect to the complaintand shall provide the Member Association with an explanation for its nal
decision; orb) seek the approval of the FIFA general secretariat for a modied Equipment
item by providing FIFA with a sample of the modied Equipment item. In
such cases, the FIFA general secretariat will take a decision on whether themodied Equipment item may be approved pursuant to the terms andconditions of art. 63 above.

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VIII. Approval process
65.3
The terms and conditions of this art. 65 shall not apply if FIFA, the MatchOfcials or the Match Commissioner in connection with a Match request
Players toa) temporarily cover parts of an Equipment item with tape or similar material;
and/orb) combine Playing Equipment items of the Ofcial Equipment with
Playing Equipment items of the Reserve Equipment or additional Reserve
Equipment.

66

Effect of disapproval

66.1
In the event that the FIFA general secretariat withholds the approval of any
Equipment item, the Member Association is prohibited from using the relevant
Equipment item during any Match held in a Final Competition.

67

Preliminary examination

67.1
Member Associations may, directly or represented by their appointed
Manufacturer(s), at any time, submit any Equipment item to the FIFA generalsecretariat for preliminary examination.
67.2
Upon submission of an Equipment item to FIFA, the FIFA general secretariat,
at its sole discretion and taking into account all relevant provisions of theseRegulations and further applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and decisionsof FIFA, shall notify the Member Association, with a copy to the relevant
Manufacturer(s), in writing within 30 days of submission about its preliminary
decision to approve or disapprove the submitted Equipment item. Any response
given by the FIFA general secretariat in the absence of physical samples on thebasis of electronic drawings only shall not be deemed to be a pre-approval or
preliminary decision and shall not create any binding effect for FIFA.

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VIII. Approval process
67.3
A preliminary decision taken in such cases does not release the Member
Association from its obligation to comply with the approval procedure for the
Final Competition pursuant to arts 63 and 65 above. Notwithstanding this,the preliminary decision by the FIFA general secretariat shall be valid for the
Preliminary Competition and the Final Competition of the relevant FIFA Event.

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VIII. Approval process
Section 3: Preliminary Competitions and other Matches

68

Specication requirement

68.1
The Member Association must specify on the ofcial form for any Matches
held in connection with a Preliminary Competition and any Preliminary
Olympic Matches the Colours of its Playing Equipment, including the Ofcial
Equipment and Reserve Equipment.
68.2
The Member Association must only use those Playing Equipment items
specied on the ofcial form during any Matches held in connection with aPreliminary Competition and any Preliminary Olympic Matches.

69

Determination of Playing Equipment

69.1
In the event that, in the opinion of the Match Ofcials or Match Commissioner,
the Playing Equipment of the two opposing teams is not clearly distinguishable
for all Players, Match Ofcials, spectators and media under the prevailingconditions, such as weather and light, the Match Ofcials or MatchCommissioner may instruct the host team to use Ofcial Equipment and thevisiting team to use either its Reserve Equipment or a combination of both. In
exceptional cases, both teams may be asked to wear different Colours.

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IX. Measurement procedure

70

Measurement method

70.1
All mandatory elements of a Playing Equipment item, such as numberingor Players’ names, and the components of such elements, such as the strokeor breathing holes, will be measured once permanently applied to therespective Equipment item. In order to meet the minimum size requirements
for mandatory elements of a Playing Equipment item as set forth in theseRegulations, the Member Associations may consider slightly larger sizes before
application on the respective Playing Equipment items.
70.2
All identications of a Member Association, Manufacturer’s Identications andfurther elements displayed on Equipment items will be measured according
to their smallest and simplest geometric form, such as square, rectangle,
triangle or circle, and the dimensions of this form will be calculated using theapplicable mathematical formula.
70.3
To calculate the surface area of any identication of a Member Association,
Manufacturer’s Identication or further elements displayed on Equipment
items, the widest part of any such identication or element will be measured
from edge to edge. On an exceptional basis, the identications or elements
may be divided into several individual geometric forms.
70.4
The Member Association may submit to FIFA a concrete proposal as to how tomeasure non-standard types of Manufacturer’s Identications, identicationsof the Member Association or further elements. Any such measurement
proposal requires the review and the written approval of the FIFA generalsecretariat.
70.5
The product line (as set out in art. 39 par. 1 (c) above) and gurative logo (asset out in art. 39 par. 1 (d) above) of Manufacturers will be measured as several
individual geometric forms if the distance between the various elements of thetypes of Manufacturer’s Identication exceeds 0.5cm.

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X. Disciplinary procedure71

Disciplinary matters

71.1
Any violations of these Regulations or any other FIFA regulations, circulars,guidelines, directives and/or decisions that do not come under the jurisdictionof another body shall be dealt with by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee inaccordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code and all relevant circulars anddirectives.

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XI. Final provisions

72

No liability

72.1FIFA shall not be liable to a Member Association for any losses, fees, damages,
or any costs whatsoever which may arise as a result of, or in connection with,the requirements contained in these Regulations.

73

Diverging texts

73.1
These Regulations exist in the four ofcial FIFA languages (English, French,
German, Spanish).
73.2
In the case of any discrepancy in the interpretation of the English, French,
Spanish or German texts of these Regulations, the English text will beauthoritative.

74

Inconsistency

74.1
To the extent that the Competition Regulations and/or the Media andMarketing Regulations for the relevant FIFA Event are inconsistent with any
aspect of these Regulations, the Competition Regulations and/or the Mediaand Marketing Regulations for the relevant FIFA Event shall take precedence
over the terms of these Regulations. The relevant terms of these Regulations
shall be deemed amended accordingly.

75

Matters not provided for

75.1
Matters not provided for in these Regulations and cases of force majeure shallbe decided by the FIFA Executive Committee, whose decision is nal.

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XI. Final provisions

76

Adoption and enforcement

76.1
These Regulations were adopted by the Executive Committee on 25 September
2015 and come into force on 1 October 2015.
76.2
These Regulations replace in full the version adopted on 19 March 2010 and inforce since 1 April 2010.

Zurich, September 2015

For the FIFA Executive Committee
Acting President
Issa Hayatou

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Annexe A
List of Equipment items
1. Playing Equipment items
1.1
Shirt or jersey (“shirt” in these Regulations)
1.2
Shorts (or tracksuit trousers for goalkeepers)
1.3
Socks (or stockings) (“socks” in these Regulations)
2. Special Equipment items
2.1
Captain’s armband
2.2
Goalkeeper gloves
2.3
Caps
2.4
Gloves worn by outeld players and Team Ofcials
2.5
Headbands
2.6
Wristbands
2.7
Head covers
2.8
Special items for medical purposes
2.9
Special items for performance-related purposes
2.10 Beach soccer foot bindings and other support bandages
2.11 Underwear
2.12 T-shirts
2.13 Bras
2.14 Thermal shorts
2.15 Cooling apparel2.16 Warm-up bibs
2.17 Sweatshirts
2.18 Polo shirts, including pre-match shirts and training jerseys
2.19 Jackets, including winter jackets, rain jackets, anthem jackets, coats
2.20 Rain gear and ponchos
2.21 Tracksuits (including tops and bottoms, rainwear bottoms, shorts andwinter trousers)
3. Other Equipment items
3.1
Footballs
3.2
Football boots
3.3
Shinguards
3.4
On-eld equipment

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Annexe A

1

3
11
5

4

6

8

8

2

9
10

7
15

14

18

17

13
12
16

19

3
6

20
4

9
12
front

1. Chest level:
numbers must
be placedwithin thechest level

2. Bottoms
of shorts

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back

Collar Zone
(5cm) asBCjLCBGL
BCjLGRGMLQ
Elbow
point

Shirt
1 Collar
2 Elbow point
3 Shoulder point
4 Sleeve
5 Front
6 Back7 Torso
8 Chest9 Sleeve bottom
10 Outer seam
11 Sleeve seam
12 Bottom edge

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Shorts
13 Waistband
14 Left leg
15 Right leg
16 Outer seam
17 Front
18 Bottom edge
Socks
19 Top edge
20 Ankle

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FIFA FORWARD
Development Programme
Regulations
FORWARD 2.0

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FIFA Forward Development Programme Regulations – Forward 2.0
FIFA Forward launched a new era of global football development. FIFA is
further strengthening its investment in development to build a stronger
foundation for the growth of football, aiming at allowing many more young
girls and boys to experience “Living Football”.
FIFA Forward provides the resources and structure to deliver a state-of-the-art
development programme, meaning:•More investment in development for member associations’ footballactivities;•

More impact via tailor-made plans to meet speciﬁc needs;•

More oversight so that all funds are used responsibly.

The single contract of agreed objectives between FIFA and each member
association or confederation remains the focal point in the efﬁcient
implementation of Forward 2.0. This brings together our tailored support
under one roof to ensure that football gets exactly the help it needs as
adapted to local conditions.
We are continuing to upgrade and improve the way our development activities
are monitored, with greater scrutiny of spending and a detailed report on the
results achieved by the usage of the development funds allocated.
FIFA is dedicating more ﬁnancial resources than ever before to footballdevelopment:•

A contribution of up to USD 1,000,000 per year for each member
association for running costs, based on incentives that encourage bestpractice;•

A contribution of up to USD 2,000,000 for the whole 2019-2022 cyclefor each member association for speciﬁc football projects, such as new
facilities and women’s and youth football, based on the contract of agreed
objectives;•

A contribution of USD 12,000,000 per year for each confederation to
support its football activities and projects;•

A contribution of up to USD 1,000,000 per year for each zonal/regional
association for football tournaments for men, youth and women.

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FIFA also gives extra support to members that need it for football equipment
and travel for national teams, and to improve their IT infrastructure as wellas to advance the skills of their staff members through capacity building andknowledge sharing.
Furthermore, we encourage those that do not need all of their funding to
make it available to other member associations, in coordination with FIFA.
We look forward to working with everyone in the global football community
so that the game can reach its full potential everywhere in “Living Football”.

FIFA President
Gianni Infantino

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FIFA Forward Development Programme Regulations – Forward 2.0
PREAMBLE
FIFA’s development programme is one of the priorities of FIFA’s global strategy,
as the mission of “developing football everywhere and for all” justiﬁes FIFA’s
existence as an organisation (one of FIFA’s goals being “to improve the gameof football constantly and promote it globally in the light of its unifying,educational, cultural and humanitarian values, particularly through youthand development programmes” and “to promote the development of
women’s football and the full participation of women at all levels of football
governance”, cf. art. 2 (a) and (f) of the FIFA Statutes).
By adopting this new set of regulations for FIFA’s development programme
at its meeting on 26 October 2018 (based on art. 34 paras 11 and 12, in
conjunction with art. 13 par. 1 (f) of the FIFA Statutes), the Council reafﬁrms,
with both strength and conviction, its commitment to the promotion of
football as a sport that is characterised by greater fairness, solidarity andequality around the world.
These regulations represent a collaboration between FIFA, its member
associations and the confederations in a spirit of partnership focusing on
the future and with a common aim: making football development effective.

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FIFA Forward Development Programme Regulations – Forward 2.0
CONTENTS
Article 1.

Scope of application

6

Article 2.

Objectives

6

Article 3.

Beneciaries

6

Article 4.

Rights of the member associations and the confederations

7

Article 5.

Duties of FIFA

8

Article 6.

Financial conditions under Forward 2.08Article 7.

Procedure

15

Article 8.

Obligations of the member associations and the confederations

19

Article 9.

Procedure and obligations for zonal/regional associations

23

Article 10.

Payments

23

Article 11.

Alignment of funding

24

Article 12.

Taxes and duties

24

Article 13.

Fees and expenses

24

Article 14.

Financial reporting

24

Article 15.

Statutory audit report25

Article 16.

FIFA central audit review

26

Article 17.

Misuse of funds allocated under the Forward Programme
and the ght against fraud

27

Article 18.

Organisation

29

Article 19.

Matters not provided for

31

Article 20.

Jurisdiction

31

Article 21.

Authoritative version

31

Article 22.

Transitional provisions

31

Article 23.

Adoption and period of validity

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1

Scope of application

These regulations deﬁne the ﬁnancial contributions and technical and human
support allocated under the second cycle of the FIFA Forward Development
Programme (hereinafter the Forward Programme) for the four-year cyclefrom 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2022 (hereinafter Forward 2.0), thetype of projects that fall under the Forward Programme and the obligations
incumbent on the parties involved.

2

Objectives

Forward 1.0 was established in May 2016 to provide ﬁnancial, technical andhuman support to all of FIFA’s member associations and the confederationsin their endeavours to develop and foster football at all levels within theirterritories. Forward 2.0 follows the same objectives.
As such, the objectives of the Forward Programme are to enable the member
associations and the confederations to develop, strengthen and ﬁne-tune
football in all its forms, including futsal and beach soccer – from grassroots
to the elite, for girls and boys, women and men – as well as their systemsof governance, management and administration in order to improve theorganisation and professionalism of their operations and thereby become
more efﬁcient, transparent and independent.
The Forward Programme offers tailored support, adapted according to theindividual needs of the member associations and the confederations throughthe identiﬁcation of speciﬁc needs and priorities for the development offootball, established in a contract of agreed objectives (hereinafter contractof agreed objectives) drafted and concluded with FIFA and covering the fouryear cycle from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2022. This contract must be
approved by the Development Committee.

3Beneciaries

1.
The beneﬁciaries of Forward 2.0 are the associations that are admitted as
members of FIFA.

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2.
The other beneﬁciaries are the confederations recognised by FIFA and thezonal/regional associations recognised by their confederation and having legal
status on the date that these regulations came into force.
3.
By way of solidarity, the member associations and confederations may apply to
the FIFA general secretariat for reassignment of all or part of its entitlement to
Forward 2.0 funds to other member associations or confederations. Irrespectiveof the amount intended to be reassigned, the respective application shall beapproved by the Development Committee. Conditions will be deﬁned by theFIFA general secretariat in the respective contract to be signed in every speciﬁccase.
4.
In exceptional circumstances, other football associations, which are non-FIFAmembers and are organising competitions and/or football projects, may also
beneﬁt from Forward 2.0 if so decided on a case-by-case basis and only if so
identiﬁed by the FIFA general secretariat and approved by the Development
Committee. The provisions of these regulations apply mutatis mutandis to any
party in such situation.

4

Rights of the member associations and the confederations

1.
As a result of FIFA having a pyramid structure and an organisation modelthat places solidarity at the heart of its values, the member associations andconfederations beneﬁt from part of the revenues from the FIFA World Cup™.
This is a right and not a privilege. This part of the revenues is reinvested
in football development subject to compliance with these regulations, inparticular art. 8 in the framework of Forward 2.0.
2.
The member associations and the confederations are entitled to have at least
the “essential footballing conditions” in place to develop football in theirterritories and to provide their registered or non-registered players with decent
conditions in which to play football. Forward 2.0 is in line with this philosophy.
3.
The member associations and the confederations are entitled to receive
advice and continuous support from FIFA, particularly in the drafting and
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execution of a contract of agreed objectives drafted by the two parties underForward 2.0.

5Duties of FIFA

1.
FIFA must be attentive and available to assist its member associations and theconfederations, particularly in the implementation of Forward 2.0, in orderto ensure that the Forward Programme responds to the speciﬁc needs andpriorities of each beneﬁciary.
2.
FIFA must be professional, impartial and transparent in its management of
Forward 2.0.
3.
The FIFA general secretariat must reply to any written communication by amember association and/or confederation concerning Forward 2.0 within amaximum of ﬁve working days.
4.
The FIFA Regional Development Ofﬁces must facilitate a direct and proper
communication exchange and assist the member associations in expediting
their applications and responses to the FIFA general secretariat whilst
supporting and assisting the member associations locally in developing footballand implementing their projects.

6

Financial conditions under Forward 2.0

1.
Subject to compliance with these regulations, the funding granted to allmember associations under Forward 2.0 includes a contribution of up to USD
6 million for the four-year 2019-2022 cycle per member association (i.e. anincrease of USD 1 million compared to the previous cycle) for the purpose ofdeveloping, promoting and organising football in general.

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2.
Concretely, each member association shall therefore be entitled to receive:a. Up to USD 1 million per year for operational/running costs; andb. Up to USD 2 million over the four-year 2019-2022 cycle for speciﬁc projects
3.
Regarding the operational/running costs:
a. USD 500,000 shall be paid in January of each year to cover the member
association’s ongoing operational/running costs, including costs for:i. governance, structure and administration;
ii. the national teams;
iii. domestic competitions;iv. permanent administrative and technical staff;
v. ﬁnancial management (audits);
vi. website and other communication platforms;
vii. training for key football stakeholders(administrators, technical staff, volunteers, etc.).
b. Up to USD 500,000 shall be paid in July of each year, provided that themember association:i.

organises men’s competitions (championship, league or cup),
meaning nationwide regular competitions played as follows:
1. over a period of at least six (6) months;
2. involving at least ten (10) teams;
3. with at least 90 matches played.

ii. organises women’s competitions (championship, league or cup),
meaning nationwide regular competitions played as follows:
1. over a period of at least six (6) months;
2. involving at least ten (10) teams;
3. with at least 90 matches played.
iii. has an active men’s “A” national team having played at least four(ofﬁcial or friendly) matches in the relevant year

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iv. has an active women’s “A” national team having played at least four(ofﬁcial or friendly) matches in the relevant yearv.

organises boys’ competitions (championships, leagues or cups) in atleast two age categories (for example U-15 and U-17) as follows:
1. nationwide or regionally;
2. involving at least ten (10) youth teams in each of the age categories;
3. with at least 90 matches played in each age category;
4. played over a period of at least six (6) months.

vi. organises girls’ competitions (championships, leagues or cups) in at least
two age categories (for example U-15 and U-17) as follows:
1. nationwide or regionally;
2. involving at least ten (10) youth teams in each of the age categories;
3. with at least 90 matches played in each age category;
4. played over a period of at least six (6) months.
vii. has active boys’ national teams in at least two age categories having
played at least four (ofﬁcial or friendly) matches in the relevant year ineach of the age categories
viii. has active girls’ national teams in at least two age categories having
played at least four (ofﬁcial or friendly) matches in the relevant year ineach of the age categories
ix. has a functioning and regularly updated IT player registration andcompetition management system (which is provided free of charge byFIFA if needed)x.

has an established programme for the promotion and development ofrefereeing, as follows:
1. an appointed full-time head of refereeing with the relevant
refereeing expertise
2. at least ten (10) refereeing workshops/seminars to be organised by
the member association for its referees in the different categories in
one year
3. also includes women referees

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c. Regarding par. b) above, an amount of up to USD 50,000 will be released
for each of the ten activities that the member association carries out every
year. The member associations shall conﬁrm to FIFA by 31 May of each year
which of the above activities they are carrying out in that year. In cases of
non-fulﬁlled criteria, the respective amount(s) will not be accrued for the
next year or cycle.
4.
Regarding speciﬁc projects:
a. Up to USD 2,000,000 for the four-year 2019-2022 cycle shall be granted for
projects that are tailored according to the speciﬁc needs and priorities ofthe member association as established in the relevant contract of agreed
objectives.
b. In particular, the projects shall be related to the following areas:i.

Football infrastructure (e.g. pitches including lighting systems,
technical centres, training grounds, stadiums, association
headquarters).

ii.

Other projects, provided the member association has at least:
1. One stadium/pitch with the appropriate quality in order to allow
international matches to be played in accordance with FIFA
standards;
2. Suitable association headquarters;
3. A functioning technical centre.

iii.

Other projects may be requested in the following areas:
1. Strategic areas (e.g. strategy and planning, governance andlegal affairs, etc.);
2. Organisational areas (e.g. leadership training, management of
leagues and clubs, marketing and revenue generation, event andcompetition management, ﬁnancial management, managementof facilities, stadiums and security, social responsibility, IT, etc.);
3. Sporting areas (e.g. training of technical directors, training ofcoaches, referees, youth football, women’s football, domestic
competitions, training centres, beach soccer and futsal, etc.).

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5.
If the member association so wishes, all or part of the amount paid to cover its
operational/running costs may be used to fund speciﬁc projects provided forunder art. 6 par. 4, provided that:a. The member association fulﬁlled all of the ten conditions mentioned underart. 6 par. 3b) for obtaining the second instalment of the operational/
running costs in each of the previous four years at least;b. The request is justiﬁed (for example, the project entails costs which arehigher than USD 2 million and constitutes an important legacy for themember association);c. The request is approved by the Development Committee.
6.
If the member association so wishes, all or part of its entitlement for speciﬁc
projects provided for under art. 6 par. 4 may be used to cover its ongoing
operational/running costs provided that:a. The member association has at least one stadium/pitch with theappropriate quality in order to allow international matches to be playedin accordance with FIFA standards, as well as a suitable association
headquarters and a functioning technical centre;
b. The request is justiﬁed (for example, if the size of the country requires
additional costs for organising competitions);c. The request is approved by the Development Committee.
7.
In addition, under Forward 2.0, FIFA provides the following IT tools free ofcharge for the proper organisation and operation of the member associations:a. Connect Platform for the secure and accurate electronic registration of all
football stakeholders;b. Connect ID to prevent a duplicate registration of players;c. ITMS for the conclusion and matching of international transfers;
d. DTMS for the conclusion and matching of domestic transfers.

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In this respect, FIFA may provide assistance in evaluating and operating the IT
systems and tools that the member association is currently using. Beneﬁciaries
shall therefore not use Forward 2.0 funds to purchase or maintain IT tools thatare similar to those already being provided by FIFA (as listed above).
8.
In addition, FIFA will provide experts and organise training in the areasof football development and football administration in order to ﬁrstly, if
necessary, create a development strategy, and secondly to support and guidethe member associations in implementing their development strategy. FIFAand the beneﬁciary member association shall work together to identify the
speciﬁc areas of expertise and guidance required, and to set up an action
plan including the objectives to be pursued in relation to the signed contractof agreed objectives. All costs and fees related to these experts and capacitybuilding activities shall be covered by FIFA. In addition, FIFA shall determine
the type of monitoring required for each expert provided and training activity
organised. FIFA will coordinate the possibility for member associations tosend their staff or ofﬁcials (in the areas of football development or footballadministration) to other member associations or confederations on placement
to enhance their skills, and to beneﬁt from knowledge sharing and goodpractices to be applied in their member association.
9.
In addition, regarding travel and equipment, and for certain member
associations only (subject to compliance with these regulations), Forward 2.0
provides:a. A contribution of up to USD 200,000 per member association per year tocover the cost of travel and accommodation for its national teams when
they play matches abroad. This contribution shall be allocated only to thosemember associations that are identiﬁed as needing the most assistance as
described under point c below.
b. A contribution of up to USD 200,000 for the four-year 2019-2022 cycle
shall be allocated for basic equipment (e.g. full kits for the national teams,
balls, full kits for the boys’ and/or girls’ teams competing in championships,
training equipment including mini-goals, bibs, etc.) for those member
associations that are identiﬁed as needing the most assistance as describedunder point c below.
c. A member association is identiﬁed as needing the most assistance, for the
purpose of the contributions above, provided that their annual revenues
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do not exceed USD 4 million. This ﬁgure shall be reﬂected in the annual
statutory audit report of the previous year, which shall be submitted toFIFA by 30 June of each relevant year. The Development Committee iscompetent to amend this revenue threshold and/or add additional criteria
for both contributions.
d. The above contributions for travel will be released in January every
year, whilst those for equipment will be released in two equal milestone
payments in January 2019 and January 2021 provided that the member
association has fulﬁlled the obligations of point c above. These funds will
not be accrued for the next year or the next cycle.
10.
Subject to compliance with these regulations, the funding granted to
all confederations under Forward 2.0 includes a contribution of USD 48
million over the four-year 2019-2022 cycle for each confederation, aimed
at developing, promoting and organising football in general. The above
contribution will be released in equal bi-annual milestone payments in themonths of January and July of each year. The details of the use of these funds
by the confederations must be recorded in writing and submitted to FIFA on a
yearly basis by 28 February (for the previous year) in order to ensure that thefunds are invested in accordance with the aims described in this paragraph andin line with the requirements of these regulations. The confederations may use
the funds to support their member associations in their football development
initiatives in accordance with their long-term strategies – while mentioning
explicitly that these funds are provided by FIFA – and to strengthen their own
organisation.
11.
Subject to compliance with these regulations, the funding granted underForward 2.0 includes a contribution of up to USD 1,000,000 per year for eachzonal/regional association (recognised by its confederation at the time thatthese regulations came into force and having legal status on the date thatthese regulations came into force). The funds will be released to the relevant
confederations in January of each year in order to organise regional men’s,
women’s and youth competitions (for girls and boys). These funds shall only be
distributed provided that the zonal/regional association organises at least one
women’s, two boys’ and two girls’ competitions (for national teams or clubs)
during the relevant year. Should the zonal/regional association not organise
these competitions during the relevant year, the allocated funds will be reduced
by USD 200,000 for each required competition not organised. The confederationis responsible for the correct use of these funds and the release of payments to

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the zonal/regional association, to the member association hosting a tournament
and/or to the participating teams, as the case may be, and as agreed regionallyon a case-by-case basis for each tournament. The confederation shall report on
the use of these funds to FIFA by 1 February of the following year. These funds
will not be accrued, and unused funds shall be returned to FIFA. FIFA may also
deduct the relevant amount from any future payments to the confederation.

7

Procedure

The member associations, the confederations and any other potential
beneﬁciaries must follow the procedure laid down for Forward 2.0 according
to a well-deﬁned schedule that covers the ﬁve phases mentioned below:
1. Preparation – contract of agreed objectives
With FIFA’s assistance, the member association or confederation shalldetermine the speciﬁc needs and the priorities for football development
after conducting an analysis of the current footballing situation in its
territory. This may include site visits by the FIFA general secretariat in
the territory. These needs and priorities shall be formally established in acontract of agreed objectives drafted with FIFA and covering the four-year
2019-2022 cycle. The contract of agreed objectives for Forward 2.0 shallbe ﬁnalised (i.e. signed by both the member association or confederation
as well as FIFA and approved by the Development Committee) by 30
June 2019 at the latest. After this deadline, no Forward 2.0 funds will be
provided without the contract of agreed objectives being ﬁnalised.
2. Proposals – release of funds
a. Financial support for operational/running costs(as deﬁned in art. 6 par. 3).
Operational/running costs will be released directly to the bank account set
up by the member association speciﬁcally for the Forward Programme in
two payments, in January and July of each year, as follows:• The ﬁrst instalment of USD 500,000 will be released without any priorapplication, request or formal approval in January of each year;• The second instalment will be paid in accordance with the provisions ofart. 6 par. 3b) above. The member association shall submit, by 31 May of
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each year at the latest, all of the necessary information for the releaseof the second instalment to the FIFA general secretariat, as foreseen in
the relevant forms approved by the Development Committee and sent
to them by way of a circular letter.
b. Financial support for speciﬁc projects (as deﬁned in art. 6 par. 4)
The project proposal, including the schedule for its implementation andﬁnancial conditions, shall be drawn up by the member association in
conjunction with FIFA (compulsory submission of the standard form andsupporting documents).
3. Approvala. Financial support for operational/running costs(as deﬁned in art. 6 par. 3b)
The FIFA general secretariat shall examine the information and relevant
documentation, submitted by the member association by 31 May ofeach year, for the release of up to USD 500,000 of operational/runningcosts funding in July in accordance with the criteria and requirements
established in these regulations.
If the FIFA general secretariat deems that the information and relevant
documentation submitted by the member association satisﬁes thecriteria established in art. 6 par. 3b) of these regulations, it shall take thenecessary steps to ensure that the funds are released. The FIFA generalsecretariat may request additional information or documentation.
b. Financial support for speciﬁc projects (as deﬁned in art. 6 par. 4)
The FIFA general secretariat shall examine the proposal and compile areport for the attention of the Development Committee. The committee
shall decide on the approval of projects with budgets of USD 300,000
or higher. The FIFA general secretariat shall decide on the approval of
projects with budgets lower than USD 300,000.
The Development Committee shall receive the abovementioned reportat the latest one week before the date of the meeting at which therelevant proposal will be discussed and decided.

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The Development Committee, or the FIFA general secretariat whenapplicable, shall examine the request by the member associationin order to assess its compliance with the criteria and requirements
established in these regulations and shall deliver a decision of approvalor rejection within the following timeframe following the receipt of themember association’s request:• 60 days for projects with budgets of USD 300,000 or higher;• 30 days for projects with budgets lower than USD 300,000.
The Development Committee may meet as a bureau as often asnecessary in order to ensure that the projects submitted by the member
associations can be assessed – and, if necessary, approved – by the ﬁxed
deadlines.
Any decision by the Development Committee to reject a request must
be communicated with the grounds for the decision so that the member
association can do all that is necessary to become compliant andresubmit its project proposal within a reasonable period of time.
All decisions shall be communicated to the member association
concerned by FIFA’s general secretariat.
Requests for the delivery of essential football equipment (balls, bibs,etc.), the provision of technical experts by FIFA, and the organisation of
capacity-building activities and training courses in the areas of footballand administration do not have to be submitted for the approval of theDevelopment Committee. The FIFA general secretariat shall decide on
the approval of such requests.
4. Execution
a. Financial support for operational/running costs (as deﬁned in art. 6 par. 3)
Following the approval of the request for funding in accordance withart. 7 par. 3a), the FIFA general secretariat shall take the necessary
measures to release the funds.
b. Financial support for speciﬁc projects (as deﬁned in art. 6 par. 4)

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Once a project has been approved by the Development Committee,
or by the FIFA general secretariat as the case may be, a Statement ofApproval (SoA) shall be drafted, within ten (10) days, by the FIFA generalsecretariat outlining the main obligations of the member associationand the agreed project milestones and payments. This SoA shall be
duly counter-signed by the president and/or the general secretary of
the member association within 30 days of its receipt by the member
association in question.
The project shall be implemented by the member association withthe assistance of any other parties concerned (such as companies,
manufacturers, contractors, suppliers and consultants). The FIFA generalsecretariat shall take the necessary measures to release the funds tothe bank account set up by the member association speciﬁcally for the
Forward Programme in accordance with the ﬁnancial conditions deﬁned
in the SoA.
Where, within the framework of Forward 2.0, a member association
uses services provided by parties such as companies, contractors,
manufacturers, suppliers or consultants for an amount of USD 50,000
or higher, the member association concerned must submit the costestimates of at least three such parties or evidence of a competitive
procurement process.
In the event that the contracts with the parties concerned are signed
directly by FIFA (e.g. a project for an artiﬁcial turf pitch):• FIFA shall sign a declaration with all parties concerned, stipulatingthat the parties undertake to indemnify FIFA and to hold FIFAharmless from any complaints, claims, demands for damages andinterest or liability related to the implementation of the project.
• The instalments shall be paid directly by FIFA to the contracting
parties in accordance with the terms of the abovementioned
contracts.
For any contract involving a ﬁnancial obligation for FIFA or for themember association of USD 300,000 or higher, a tender process must be
conducted.
A confederation or any other potential beneﬁciary shall be bound by
the same obligations to conduct a tender process or a cost estimate
process if external third parties are required to perform certain activities.

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5. Monitoringa. Financial support for operational/running costs (as deﬁned in art. 6 par. 3)
The FIFA general secretariat shall oversee the proper use of the funds
and oversee the audit and control process in accordance with arts 14, 15,
16 and 17 of these regulations.
b. Financial support for speciﬁc projects (as deﬁned in art. 6 par. 4)
The FIFA general secretariat shall oversee the proper use of the funds forthe project and ensure that it is monitored. The FIFA general secretariat
shall ensure that the member association takes all of the necessary
actions in order to achieve the objectives established in the contractof agreed objectives. The FIFA general secretariat may, at any time,inspect the progress of the project on site in order to ensure that it is inline with the established objectives and in compliance with the signed
agreements.
The member association shall provide FIFA with periodic reports (reportson the key phases and a ﬁnal report).
At the end of the four-year 2019-2022 cycle, the FIFA general secretariat
shall evaluate the implementation of the established agreed objectives
with the member association concerned, and the member association
shall submit a written report to the Development Committee for
information purposes.

8

Obligations of the member associations and the confederations

1.
Any member association or confederation receiving funding from Forward 2.0
must:
a. fully collaborate at all times with FIFA in relation to the use of the allocatedfunds and the implementation of the project, including, but not limited
to providing FIFA with all of the necessary information and supporting
documentary evidence related to the use of the allocated funds and theimplementation of the project;

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b. have the contract of agreed objectives and the project approved by its
executive committee and inform its general assembly thereof. This must be
noted in the relevant minutes and provided to FIFA;c. designate a competent person to be responsible for monitoring thecontract of agreed objectives and projects to be carried out;
d. open a separate bank account in its own name (i.e. the name of themember association or confederation) with a bank in the country in which
it has its registered headquarters especially for Forward 2.0 funding and forits direct beneﬁt. This bank account may be the same as for Forward 1.0,
the previous cycle ending on 31 December 2018.
Any transfer of Forward 2.0 funds must be made by the FIFA generalsecretariat to the Forward 2.0 account of the beneﬁciary member associationor confederation.
The member associations or confederations must make all payments
related to Forward 2.0 directly from the Forward 2.0 account. Any funds
not used at the end of the period covered by the contractual relationshipshall be kept in the Forward 2.0 account until they are completely used up.
The Forward 2.0 account may under no circumstances have a negativebalance (overdraft) or be pledged. FIFA reserves the right to demand astatement of the Forward 2.0 account at any time;e. have its annual accounts audited by its statutory auditor. The statutory
auditor must (i) be appointed by the general assembly of the member
association or confederation, (ii) audit the accounts approved by the
executive body of the member association or of the confederation inaccordance with the relevant auditing standards, and (iii) submit anaudit report to the general assembly of the member association orconfederation;
f. employ a general secretary as well as a technical and development director;
g. publish a summary of its annual ﬁnancial statements and activity report on
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i.

inform FIFA of any difﬁculty encountered during the preparation andimplementation of the project or established agreed objectives, or in
relation to the use of the allocated funds;j.

indemnify and hold FIFA harmless from any complaint, claim, demandfor damages and interest or liability related to the implementation of the
project or pursuit of the established objectives;k. endeavour, as much as possible, to involve local partners (sponsors, publicauthorities) in the project and/or execution of the contract of agreed
objectives in order to raise, if necessary, the remaining funds required;l.

obtain the authorisation of the competent government authorities toimport the products and materials required for the implementation of the
project and facilitate the administrative steps involved;

m. assist FIFA in monitoring and overseeing the implementation of the project
and the pursuit of the objectives established in the contract of agreed
objectives, as well as the use of the allocated funds, in accordance with thedecision of the Development Committee;
n. promote the projects and the use of the allocated funds in the country or
geographical zone concerned;o. present a ﬁnal report after each project has been fully completed, and at
the end of the four-year cycle in 2022;
p. respect FIFA’s zero-tolerance policy towards any attempt at or act of
corruption whatsoever, in any territorial jurisdiction, including attempts
or acts that are authorised or tolerated by law or cannot be prosecuted in
the country in question. In the event that a football ofﬁcial has obtained
or attempted to obtain gratiﬁcation through a favourable decision taken,
information received, a vote or any other form of beneﬁts for himself/
herself or for any other persons, the member association or confederation
concerned must immediately inform FIFA of this;q. respect all applicable laws, including those relating to the conﬁdentiality
and protection of data and privacy;r.

respect international labour law, in particular legal provisions that prohibit
child labour and forced labour;

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s. ensure that the principles of anti-discrimination, diversity, accessibility andinclusion, and human rights for all are protected and promoted;
t. take measures to protect and safeguard children and minors frompotential abuses and to promote their wellbeing within football;u. avoid any situation giving rise to a conﬂict of interests;
v. avoid the usage of cash;
w. maintain all supporting documentation for all expenditures and payments
made with Forward funds;
x. use the Forward funds exclusively for the purposes allocated;y. request, in the event of any major change concerning a project, theapproval of the Development Committee;
z. establish appropriate procedures, particularly regarding tender processes,
in order to evaluate and select the suppliers and subcontractors on thebasis of their commitment in terms of their social and environmental
responsibilities;
aa. evaluate and reduce the environmental impact of their projects and use
the resources in a responsible manner in order to achieve growth that issustainable and respects the environment;
For infrastructure projects, the following obligations shall also apply:
bb. facilitate contact with companies responsible for the implementation of
the project;cc. provide FIFA with the relevant national land registry certiﬁcate or extract
conﬁrming that the relevant member association is the owner of the land,
the agreements conﬁrming the donation, transfer or other form of freeprovision or use of land to the member association. The transfer or otherform of free provision of land must be made for a minimum period of 20
years;
dd. ensure that the project is used appropriately once it is ready;

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ee. include in its future budget the maintenance costs of said project and of
the activities resulting from it (including the personnel expenses required
to operate the infrastructure in question);ff. purchase insurance providing permanent cover of the project for 100% of
the asset replacement value.
2.
The Development Committee may decide to grant an exception to any ofthese obligations to the extent that such exception can be justiﬁed, where it
does not cause the breach of any legal or moral regulation, and where it serves
the interests of football development.

9

Procedure and obligations for zonal/regional associations

The procedure for zonal/regional associations, their obligations and any otheraspects relating to the granting of funds deﬁned in art. 6 par. 11 of theseregulations shall be deﬁned, in accordance with the requirements of theseregulations, by the Development Committee following consultation with theconfederations concerned.

10

Payments

1.
Payments shall be made in accordance with the conditions foreseen by theseregulations. Exceptions for payments outside the provisions of the current
regulations are possible for justiﬁed reasons only, following a prior decision of
the Development Committee and the Finance Committee.
2.
If a member association or confederation does not use the entirety of the
Forward 2.0 funds that it has received during the period for which they havebeen granted, the remaining balance shall be accrued until 31 December
2024 with the exception of art. 6 paras 3c, 9d and 11. Funds allocated tomember associations and confederations (including funds for zonal/regional
associations) under Forward 1.0, the ﬁrst cycle of the Forward Programme (i.e.
under the FIFA Forward Development Programme Regulations, 2016 edition),
and which have not been used shall be accrued until 31 December 2020.
Travel and equipment funds that are not used in the respective time period, as
foreseen in art. 6 par. 9 of these regulations, will not be accrued.
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11

Alignment of funding

Under these regulations, FIFA is entitled to deduct from any amount allocatedto a member association or confederation the amount owed to FIFA by thatmember association or confederation for any reason.

12

Taxes and duties

The member associations and confederations are responsible for paying any
taxes, duties and other charges that are due as a result of receiving Forward
Programme funds. These taxes, duties or charges must be declared in therequests submitted by the member association or confederation. Payment ofsuch taxes and duties shall be undertaken by the relevant member associationor confederation within the stipulated timeline according to the respective
applicable laws and regulations, and proof of such payment(s) shall be
submitted to the FIFA general secretariat, which remains entitled to request
additional information on the pertinent taxes and duties that apply.

13

Fees and expenses

The member associations and confederations shall be liable for all fees andexpenses – including legal, administrative, banking and exchange costs –incurred through the Forward Programme.

14

Financial reporting

1.
The member associations and confederations must report annually on theuse of all funds allocated by FIFA as part of the Forward Programme, which
they must do in a report to be submitted to FIFA’s general secretariat by 30
June of the year following the year under review in the report. The following
documents must be included in the report:a. All reporting forms using the templates provided by FIFA;b. The latest annual ﬁnancial statements and the corresponding audit reportcompiled by the statutory auditor;
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c. The minutes of the congress or general assembly of the member
association or confederation appointing the statutory auditor, and theminutes of the congress or general assembly at which the statutory auditor
presented the respective reports;
d. Bank statements of the dedicated bank account of the member associationor confederation and the designated signatories;e. Activity report in respect of the usage of the funds, using the templates
provided by FIFA.
2.
Failure to submit the above documentation by 30 June of each year will resultin a restricted release of funds as per art. 17 of these regulations. Furthermore,
appropriate additional measures might also be taken by the Audit andCompliance Committee or by any other relevant body (such as the Ethics
Committee), as the case may be.
3.
The FIFA general secretariat may at any time request reports, any further
information and/or audits regarding the use of the allocated funds as partof Forward 2.0. The member association or confederation is under the
obligation to provide them and to allow access to all relevant documentation.
Furthermore, appropriate additional measures might also be taken by the
Audit and Compliance Committee or any other relevant body (such as the
Ethics Committee), as the case may be. Refusal to cooperate in this respect will
result in the immediate suspension of all funding.

15

Statutory audit report1.
Each member association or confederation that has received funding as partof the Forward Programme must engage the services of a statutory auditor
that has the relevant qualiﬁcations in accordance with local legislation for
conducting audit-related services on all accounts and ﬁnances of the member
associations or confederation, including funds received from FIFA.
2.
Each member association and confederation shall notify the FIFA generalsecretariat every year of the name of its statutory auditor.
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3.
The FIFA general secretariat shall publish, on its website FIFA.com, thenames of the statutory auditors that have been designated by the member
associations and the confederations.
4.
The member association or confederation shall pay any fees arising from thestatutory audit. If the member association does not have the means to coverthese fees, the Forward 2.0 funds that it has been granted – taken from thebudget allocated for operational/running costs – shall be used to cover the costof the audit.

16

FIFA central audit review

1.
For each ﬁnancial year, the FIFA general secretariat shall conduct a FIFA central
audit review of all member associations and confederations that have received
Forward 2.0 funds in the previous year.
2.
The central FIFA programme auditor shall conduct audit-related services on
the development funds provided by FIFA, on the basis of annual instructions
provided by FIFA, between 1 July and 30 August of each year for the funds ofthe previous year. The auditor shall submit a report detailing its conclusions
regarding the audit of each member association and confederation to the FIFA
general secretariat.
3.
The scope of the annual FIFA central audit review shall at least include:a. the requirements in art. 8 of these regulations;b. deviations in the usage of the operational/running costs funding fromthe requirements set up in art. 6 par. 3 above;c. usage of travel and equipment solidarity funding in accordance withart. 6 par. 9 of these regulations.
4.
As part of the FIFA central audit review, the FIFA general secretariat may
request the member association or confederation concerned to provide any
evidence and/or documentation that it deems necessary in relation to funds
provided under these regulations.
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5.
The FIFA general secretariat may also nominate a consultant at the member
association or confederation, who must be granted access to all accounts andother documents that the FIFA general secretariat deems necessary in relation
to funds provided under these regulations.
6.
FIFA will cover the costs related to the central FIFA central audit review.

17

Misuse of funds allocated under the Forward Programme
and the ght against fraud

1.
If, on the basis of the reports prescribed by art. 14 of these regulations, thereport of the FIFA central audit review in accordance with art. 16 par. 2 ofthese regulations, the report of the statutory auditor in accordance with art. 15of these regulations, or any other information it may have received or becomeaware of, the FIFA general secretariat deems that (i) the Forward Programme
funds have not been used in all areas according to the approved proposal, (ii)the transactions involving Forward Programme funds have not been correctly
categorised or documented, and/or (iii) indications of other forms of noncompliance with FIFA rules and regulations or the law have been observed, it
must therefore inform the Audit and Compliance Committee accordingly.
2.
In particular, the requirements for transparency and accountability of theseregulations will be deemed to have been violated if it is so decided by thecompetent bodies but especially in the following cases of:a. violations of the obligations of a member association speciﬁed in art. 8
paras 1d) and e), and art. 14;
b. signiﬁcant violations of art. 8 paras 1v), w), x).
3.
In such circumstances, the Audit and Compliance Committee must take allof the appropriate measures to protect the funds allocated by FIFA underForward 2.0. In particular, the Audit and Compliance Committee may:a. restrict the release of payments to member associations orconfederations;
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b. order the suspension of all new payments and transfers to the member
association or confederation concerned until further notice;c. order the FIFA general secretariat or a third party mandated by theFIFA general secretariat to inspect and audit the member associationor confederation concerned at any time. The member association orconfederation shall provide full access to accounts, any kind of contracts
and all other signiﬁcant documents, such as meeting minutes. Any suchaudits shall be conducted at FIFA’s expense. To avoid any doubt, theaudit rights of FIFA shall be applicable retrospectively from 1 January 2016;
d. order the member association or confederation concerned to repay thereceived amounts to FIFA;e. take all other appropriate measures.
4.
Furthermore, in the event of any suspicion of fraud or any other violationof these regulations, the FIFA Statutes or other applicable regulations, theFIFA general secretariat may transfer the case to the competent judicial bodyof FIFA, which will assess the relevance of the application of other possible
measures. In application of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and/or the FIFA Codeof Ethics, the competent judicial body of FIFA may rule against the member
association or the confederation and/or the responsible individuals at themember association or confederation.
5.
The above restricted release of funds will be in force until the respective
decision of the Audit and Compliance Committee, and at the same time thebeneﬁciary should follow and implement a remedial action plan which will be
drafted and provided to the beneﬁciary by the FIFA general secretariat.
6.
In cases where a suspicion or evidence of the misuse of funds by individuals(either for personal beneﬁt or to an extent that creates unnecessary risk
to the ﬁnancial situation of the beneﬁciary, or to the reputation of the
beneﬁciary, and/or to FIFA) is reported with a reasonable degree of credibility,
the FIFA general secretariat shall immediately, upon receiving such a report,
temporarily interrupt the release of Forward funding payments and advise
the Ethics Committee and the Audit and Compliance Committee accordingly
and await further instructions. If either of these bodies requests a forensic
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audit, this audit should be commissioned within a maximum of 30 days
and concluded within another 60 days after the commission. The Audit andCompliance Committee shall take a decision within one month after receiving
the results of the forensic audit.
7.
In cases of par. 5 above and in cases where the restricted release of funds
persist for more than one year, the Audit and Compliance Committee may
decide to recommend:a. A forensic audit report to be conducted by an independent auditor
appointed by the FIFA general secretariat at the expense of the beneﬁciary;b. To restrict the approval of projects and funds to be released (i.e. by
excluding certain categories of activities or by limiting the amount to bereleased on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis, etc.);c. To deduct a speciﬁc amount – i.e. an amount that was not protected by the
beneﬁciary and led to loss of development funds – from the beneﬁciary’s
entitlement, and/or recommend to the FIFA general secretariat to seek
repayment of such an amount by any legal means;d. To fully suspend the release of ﬁnancial contributions to a beneﬁciary;e. To take all other appropriate measures.

18

Organisation

1. Development Committee
In accordance with art. 42 of the FIFA Statutes and the relevant provisions of
the FIFA Governance Regulations, the Development Committee shall oversee
Forward 2.0 and fulﬁl its rights and duties as they are established in theabovementioned provisions as well as in these regulations.
2. FIFA general secretariat
a. The FIFA general secretariat acts as the secretariat of the Development
Committee. It shall fulﬁl its rights and duties as they are established inthese regulations, and shall also implement the decisions taken by theDevelopment Committee.
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b. The FIFA general secretariat shall publish on FIFA.com a report on
all development activities carried out by each member association,
confederation and zonal/regional association.
c. The FIFA general secretariat shall publish the names of the local suppliers
that have been contracted by FIFA on behalf of the member associations
and/or confederations as part of the Forward Programme.
d. The FIFA general secretariat shall also coordinate with the confederations
in order to ensure a greater effectiveness of development programmes.
3. Statutory auditor
a. The statutory auditor is the external independent auditor that has therelevant qualiﬁcations in accordance with local legislation, designatedby the general assembly of the member association or confederation to
conduct an audit, in accordance with the relevant accounting principles, ofthe accounts that have been approved by the executive committee of themember association or confederation, and to subsequently submit a report
to its general assembly.
b. The statutory audit comprises the review of the accounts of a member
association and confederation by an external independent auditor thathas the relevant qualiﬁcations in accordance with local legislation as is
described in the statutes of the member association or confederation
concerned.
4. FIFA central audit review
The FIFA central auditor, i.e. FIFA’s statutory auditor or another reputable
auditing ﬁrm that has been engaged by the FIFA general secretariat to provide
auditing services, shall inspect the member associations and confederations withregard to their involvement in the programme as is established in art. 16 of theseregulations. The inspection may comprise the application of agreed procedures
or another inspection service implemented in accordance with international
auditing, inspection and ethical standards and Swiss auditing standards.

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19Matters not provided for

The FIFA Council may take the necessary decisions on any matters that are notprovided for in these regulations.

20

Jurisdiction

These regulations shall be governed by Swiss law.

21

Authoritative version

These regulations were drawn up in English and translated into French,
Spanish and German. In the event of any discrepancy in the wording of thedifferent languages, the English text shall be authoritative.

22

Transitional provisions

These regulations cancel and replace the FIFA Forward Development
Programme Regulations, 2016 edition.
1. Any project and/or funding that has already been approved prior to theseregulations coming into force and which utilises only funds allocated in theprevious cycle of the Forward Programme (Forward 1.0) shall be governedby the FIFA Forward Development Programme Regulations, 2016 edition,with the exception of arts 13 to 17, which apply immediately as from whenthese regulations come into force.
2. Contributions and funds allocated under Forward 1.0 that are not used by
31 December 2020, irrespective of whether they have been transferred tothe member association and/or confederation and are not used according
to purpose, shall be returned to FIFA or deducted from the entitlement of
the 2019-2022 cycle.
3. The member associations and confederations must conclude new contractsof agreed objectives by 30 June 2019 at the latest.
4. The member associations and confederations shall be obliged to publish
their statutory audit reports and their activity reports (as established in art.
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8 par. 1g) of these regulations) for the year 2018 onwards by no later than
30 June of the next year.

23

Adoption and period of validity

1. These regulations were approved by the FIFA Council at its meeting inKigali, Rwanda, on 26 October 2018.
2. They apply to the ﬁnancial period ending on 31 December 2022.
3. They come into force with immediate effect.

Kigali, 26 October 2018

For FIFA
President:
Gianni Infantino

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Secretary General:
Fatma Samoura

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FIFA Data Protection Regulations
October 2019 edition

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CONTENTS
Page
1 Preamble
4
2 Definitions
4
3 Scope7
4 Data Processing
8
1. Principles
8
2. Special Categories of Personal Data
9
5 Data Subject’s rights
10
6 Transmission of Personal Data to Third Parties/Data Processingby Third Parties
12
7 Cross-border Disclosure
12
1. Principles
12
2. Lack of an adequate level of data protection abroad
12
8 Entity-internal Processing guidelines
13
1. Responsibilities
13
2. Process Owner
13
3. Data inventory
13
4. Checks by the Process Owner
13
9 Information security requirements
14
10 Data Security Incidents
14
11 Data Protection Officer (DPO)
14
12 Final provisions
15
1. Official languages
15
2. Sanctions
15
3. Entry into force
15

NB: References to natural persons include both genders. For the sake of simplicity, only
the masculine form has been used. All references in the singular are also applicable in
the plural and vice-versa.

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4

FIFA Data Protection Regulations

1

Preamble

FIFA is committed to respecting the individual rights of every person withwhom it interacts, and therefore the protection of Personal Data is of great
importance. These Regulations define Data Processing principles, datatransfers within and between FIFA, its Member Associations and any Entities
to which these Regulations are applicable, the standard for protecting Special
Categories of Personal Data, and the rights of all Data Subjects.
FIFA’s operations include the Processing of various types of Personal Data. With
these Regulations, FIFA pursues the following objectives:••

Establishment of a standard to be applied when Processing Personal Data
Providing preventive safeguards against the infringement of personality
and privacy rights through the inappropriate Processing of Personal Data

These Regulations apply in addition to the Applicable Data Protection
Laws. Compliance with the latter must be achieved, especially where theApplicable Data Protection Laws are stricter than the principles set out in theseRegulations.

2

Definitions

The following definitions (initial capitals) shall apply within these Regulations:Applicable Data Protection Laws
The Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), and, where applicable to a
specific Processing of Personal Data, any other applicable data protection laws,
each as amended from time to time.
Consent
Any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the Data
Subjects’ wishes by which they, by a statement or by a clear affirmation, signify
agreement to the Processing of Personal Data relating to them.

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Data Security Incident
Any event of loss of confidentiality, integrity and availability with the potentialof constituting a risk for FIFA, any other Entity or any Data Subject.
Data Subject
An identified or identifiable natural person about whom data is processed.
An identifiable natural person is one who can be identified or singled out,
directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name,an identification number, location data, an online identifier or one or morefactors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic,
cultural or social identity of that natural person.
Disclosure / to disclose
The transmission of Personal Data or provision of access to Personal Data, e.g.
by making it available for inspection, transferring it or publishing it.
Entity Unit
“Entity” means FIFA, any Member Association, or any of the latter’s
members. “Unit” means any single hierarchical element of an Entity’s internalorganisation.
FADP
The Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection of 19 June 1992 (index no. 235.1), as
amended from time to time.
FDPIC
The Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.
FIFA
Fédération Internationale de Football Association. For the purposes of theseRegulations, the term “FIFA” includes any FIFA Subsidiary Company.
FIFA Subsidiary Company
Any legal person that belongs to FIFA or is under FIFA’s control, whether whollyor partially (with FIFA holding a majority).
Member Association
Any national football association that has been admitted into membership ofFIFA by the FIFA Congress.

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FIFA Data Protection Regulations

Personal Data
Any information relating to a Data Subject.
Process / Processing / to process
Any operation or set of operations which is performed on Personal Data or on
sets of Personal Data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection,
recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration,
retrieval, consultation, use, Disclosure by transmission, dissemination orotherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or
destruction.
Process Owner
Any person who is responsible for a Process in accordance with the hierarchicalorganisation of FIFA, the Member Associations or their members. If the Process
Owner has not been and cannot be determined, the person responsible for the
Entity Unit utilising the Process for its purpose or for facilitating its activities is
considered to be the Process Owner.
Profiling
Any form of automated Processing of Personal Data consisting of the use of
Personal Data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person,in particular to analyse or predict aspects concerning that natural person’s
performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences,interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movement.
Regulations
These FIFA Data Protection Regulations.
Special Categories of Personal Data
Any Personal Data revealing ethnic origin, political opinions, religious orphilosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, and the Processing ofgenetic data or biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying anatural person, data concerning health, or data concerning a natural person’s
sex life or sexual orientation.
Third Party
Any natural or legal person, public body, agency or body other than an Entity
or Data Subject, and persons who, under the direct authority of an Entity, areauthorised to process Personal Data.

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3

Scope

These Regulations apply to all activities of FIFA, without limitation.
These Regulations also apply to all Member Associations and all of theirmembers. In this context, Member Associations are responsible for ensuring thatthey comply with these Regulations as well as for ensuring that their members
comply with these Regulations. However, for Member Associations and theirmembers, these Regulations are only applicable insofar as:•••

they process Personal Data for, on behalf of, or with FIFA;
they exchange or transfer Personal Data with FIFA, or with other Member
Associations or their members, or with third parties on behalf of FIFA;
they use infrastructure provided by FIFA to its Member Associations and theirmembers for the purpose of Processing Personal Data.

These Regulations do not apply to Member Associations and their members in
relation to any Personal Data that they cumulatively process:•••using their own infrastructure;
for their own purposes; andin their own right.

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4

Data Processing

1. Principles
FIFA processes Personal Data in compliance with the following principles.
Personal Data must be:•processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the
Data Subject;

Example: The Processing of Personal Data can be considered lawful, fair andtransparent when the name, surname, gender, date of birth and postal address
are used to identify and send an event ticket to its purchaser, provided that thepurchaser has been made aware of which Personal Data is being used and forwhat purpose.
•collected for specific, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further
processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes. Further
Processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, for scientific or
historical research purposes, or for statistical purposes is considered to becompatible with the initial purposes;

Example: If data for the purchase of an event ticket was collected for the sole
purpose of issuing said ticket and the purchaser has not been made aware of
the further usage of their Personal Data, that Personal Data may not be used
for other purposes, i.e. resale to an official sponsor for marketing purposes.
•

adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the
purposes for which it is processed;

Example: Any Personal Data that is processed has to serve the purpose forwhich it has been collected. No additional Personal Data other than thedata necessary to fulfil the intended purpose may be collected and further
processed.
•

accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date. Every reasonable step must
be taken to ensure that any Personal Data that is inaccurate, considering
the purposes for which it is processed, is erased or rectified without delay;

Example: All Personal Data has to be accurate. Data Subjects can request thecorrection of inaccurate Personal Data. Where possible and appropriate, theProcess Owner can foresee means for the Data Subjects to access, examine andcorrect their Personal Data.
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kept in a form that permits the identification of Data Subjects for nolonger than is necessary for the purposes for which the Personal Data isprocessed. Personal Data may be stored for longer periods insofar as the
Personal Data will be processed solely for archiving purposes in the public
interest, for scientific or historical research purposes, or for statistical
purposes, subject to the implementation of the appropriate technical andorganisational measures required by the Applicable Data Protection Laws
in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the Data Subject;

Example: The Process Owner is responsible for determining, together withother Entity Units if applicable, the maximum storage duration of Personal
Data, and for documenting this decision.
•

processed in a manner that ensures the appropriate security of the Personal
Data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful Processing
and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriatetechnical or organisational measures.

Example: Appropriate organisational measures may include setting up
internal Processes to comply with the Applicable Data Protection Laws, suchas contractually binding volunteers, employees and contractors to the lawful
Processing of data, issuing internal regulations, and carrying out awarenessraising and training exercises.
•

Personal Data is only accessible to people who need it for their activity(“need-to-know” principle);

Example: Restrict access to HR data to the personnel handling data for humanresources (HR Unit).
•

Every Entity shall ensure that all infrastructure used for the Processingof Personal Data is adequately protected with state-of-the-art andcommercially reasonable technical and organisational measures, taking
into consideration the risks that Data Subjects would encounter as a resultof any non-compliant Processing of Personal Data.

2. Special Categories of Personal Data
Special Categories of Personal Data, e.g. data revealing ethnic origin, politicalopinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, genetic
data, biometric data, data concerning health, or data concerning a natural
person’s sex life or sexual orientation, shall be afforded special protection
against unauthorised access.
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10FIFA Data Protection Regulations

All persons Processing Special Categories of Personal Data must be expressly
advised of the importance of treating these Special Categories of Personal
Data as strictly confidential.
Special Categories of Personal Data may only be transferred to Third Parties if
there are legal reasons for doing so or with the express Consent of the Data
Subject.

5

Data Subject’s rights

The Data Subject has the following rights under the Applicable Data
Protection Laws:•

the right to be informed about the collection and use of Personal Data;

Example: Before any Personal Data is collected, the Data Subject must be
informed about which Personal Data is being collected and for what purpose.
The information needs to be easily or publically available, easy to access, andwritten in clear and simple language.
•

the right to access the Personal Data held about him. An access request
must be fulfilled within 30 days. Data Subjects requesting access to theirdata must be able to identify themselves. The means of identificationmust be proportionate to the Personal Data to which the Data Subject
is requesting access. Where feasible, technically appropriate andcommercially reasonable, all Data Subjects should be able to access theirdata through a web interface that provides sufficient means of security andauthentication;

Data Subjects have the right to ask which Personal Data the Entity in questionis Processing and for what purposes. In order to be sure that the person
placing the request really is the Data Subject he is claiming to be, meansof authentication must be in place. Higher authentication measures aremandatory for access to sensitive data. Such measures may include a copy of
an official identification document (government-issued ID, passport, driver’s
licence). In such a case, the transfer of such proof of identification also requires
adequate protection. For access to low-sensitivity data from within a web
application, the login credentials of the Data Subject are sufficient. In this case,
it is recommended that the Data Subjects be granted access to their Personal
Data from within the web application. As a general rule, access to Personal
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Data from within a web application (e.g. a forum, a web shop with client
credentials, etc.) can help to ease the Process of granting access.
•the right to rectification if any Personal Data held about him is inaccurate or
incomplete;

Data Subjects are allowed to change their names, addresses, etc. or any other
Personal Data if the existing data is inaccurate for any reason.
•

the right to be forgotten – i.e. the right to ask that any Personal Data an
Entity holds about him be deleted;

The means for Processing Personal Data must include tools to either irrevocably
delete or anonymise Personal Data. Pseudonymous data is still considered to be
Personal Data.
•the right to restrict (i.e. prevent) the Processing of Personal Data inaccordance with the Applicable Data Protection Laws;

Should a Data Subject seek to make use of legal actions against an Entity, they
can request that the use of their Personal Data be restricted until the lawfulnessof its Processing is confirmed or denied.
•the right to data portability (obtaining a copy of the Personal Data to re-use
with another service or organisation);

Data Subjects have the right to export a copy of their Personal Data in amachine-readable format. Should a web application foresee access to Personal
Data, it may be appropriate to implement an export function for the accesseddata within the access dashboard.
•

the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority
and before the competent courts, in accordance with the Applicable Data
Protection Laws;•

the right to obtain redress and, where appropriate, compensation for abreach of the Applicable Data Protection Laws; and•where the Processing of Personal Data includes automated decision-making
and Profiling, the right to request a human-based reassessment under the
Applicable Data Protection Laws only when automated decision-making
concludes in a decision that is legally binding upon the Data Subject.

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6

Transmission of Personal Data to Third Parties/Data Processingby Third Parties

Personal Data may be transferred to a Third Party provided that the Processing
is carried out in accordance with these Regulations and provided that no legal
or contractual obligation to secrecy prohibits this practice. The transmission of
Personal Data to Third Parties shall be carried out in such a way that the Third
Party processes the data in accordance with the sender’s instructions.

7

Cross-border Disclosure

1. Principles
Cross-border (i.e. outside Switzerland) Disclosure of Personal Data (including
the granting of remote access) is permitted where the legislation in the
country in question guarantees an adequate level of data protection according
to the list published by the FDPIC.
2. Lack of an adequate level of data protection abroad
Personal Data may be disclosed cross-border to countries lacking an adequatelevel of protection if, alternatively:a) these Regulations are complied with;b) sufficient guarantees are agreed with the recipient in the form of acontract or in another legally enforceable form;c) the Data Subjects grant their Consent on an exceptional basis;d) the Processing of Personal Data is closely connected to the conclusion or
performance of a contract and the data consists of the contractual partner’s
Personal Data;e) it is required for the substantiation of claims before courts;f) the Disclosure takes place within the same legal person or company,
provided that the applicable internal data protection guidelines provide anappropriate level of protection.

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Entity-internal Processing guidelines

1. Responsibilities
Every Entity is responsible for putting in place the necessary technical andorganisational measures to guarantee compliance with these Regulations andthe Applicable Data Protection Laws. The Entity shall ensure the training of
its subordinates and their compliance with these Regulations. The Entity shalldocument the nature, purpose and grounds of the Processing it carries out,
the technical and organisational measures put in place in order to comply withthese Regulations, and any other relevant information with respect to theparticular Processing.
2. Process Owner
Every Entity shall implement internal guidelines to identify a Process Owner for
every Processing of Personal Data.
3. Data inventory
Each Entity shall keep an inventory of Processing activities. This inventory shallcontain the following details:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Name and contact information of the person responsible for the Processing
Description of the Processing
Purpose of the Processing
Description of the categories of Data Subjects
Description of the categories of Personal Data
Special Categories of Personal Data
Categories of recipients
Identification of third countries (i.e. jurisdictions/international organisations
outside Switzerland)Categories of recipients in third countries
Safeguards in case of recipients in third countries
Name of sub-processor
Name/version of sub-processor agreement
Data retention periods
Technical and organisational security measures

4. Checks by the Process Owner
The Process Owner shall regularly check the information in the data inventory.

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9

Information security requirements

All Personal Data must be protected against the risk of loss of confidentiality,
integrity and availability. The Entity shall implement all necessary state-ofthe-art and commercially reasonable organisational and technical measures.
The Entity shall implement and enforce internal guidelines with respect toinformation security.

10

Data Security Incidents

Every event of loss of confidentiality, integrity and availability with thepotential of constituting a risk for FIFA, another Entity or a Data Subject is
to be treated as a Data Security Incident. Every Data Security Incident fallingunder the scope of these Regulations must be notified to alert@fifa.org.
Every Entity must ensure the constitution of a dedicated team taking action toeliminate Data Security Incidents. All Entities and Data Owners need to define
clear procedures allowing for an immediate notification of a Data Security
Incident internally and ultimately to FIFA. If another Entity is required to reporta Data Security Incident to a competent authority under the Applicable Data
Protection Laws under which it falls, FIFA shall also be notified accordingly.

11

Data Protection Officer (DPO)

FIFA has appointed a DPO. Data Subjects wishing to make use of any of theirrights for Processing falling under the scope of these Regulations may contact
the DPO by sending an email to dataprotection@fifa.org.
The DPO independently organises, analyses and monitors compliance withdata protection provisions and in particular with these Regulations.

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Final provisions

1. Official languages
If there are any discrepancies in the interpretation of the English, French,
German or Spanish texts of these Regulations, the English text shall beauthoritative.
2. Sanctions
Any infringement of these Regulations may incur sanctions under the
Applicable Data Protection Laws, the FIFA Statutes or any other FIFA
regulations.
3. Entry into force
These Regulations were approved by the FIFA Council on 24 October 2019 andcome into force immediately.

Shanghai, 24 October 2019

For the FIFA Council:
President:
Gianni Infantino

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Secretary General:
Fatma Samoura

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Regulations
Governing the Admissionof Associations to FIFATABLE OF CONTENTS
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CONTENTS

Page

Article3

1

Principle

3
4
7

2
3
4

Application for admission
Contents of application
General77

56FIFA Associations Committee
Support88

7
8

Inspections
Confederations

8
8
9
9

9
10
11
12

Final report
FIFA Executive Committee
Information
Enforcement

English version
Version française
Versión española
Deutsche Fassung

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In accordance with article 10 of the FIFA Statutes and articles 1 and 2 of theRegulations Governing the Application of the Statutes, the FIFA Executive
Committee has issued the following provisions:1

Principle

Any association that is seeking admission to FIFA must put forward an
application that contains detailed information on its organisation, its sporting
infrastructure and its territory.

2

Application for admission

1. Applications may be submitted to the FIFA general secretariat by any meansof communication deemed appropriate, including in electronic form. In any
case, the application must also be made in writing, accompanied by documents
and reports in original.
2. The FIFA general secretariat shall verify the completeness of the application.
If the application is not complete, it shall be returned to the applicant witha deadline for submitting a revised application. The applicant must submit afull application within twelve months of the initial submission to FIFA. If theapplicant fails to do so, the application will be rejected and the applicant may
submit no further applications in the twelve months following the rejection of
the application.
3. Any applications not submitted to the FIFA general secretariat shall bedeemed invalid.
4. Upon receipt of an application, the FIFA general secretariat shall inform theconfederation that is geographically responsible and the FIFA Associations
Committee in writing.

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3

Contents of application

1. The application for admission shall be made in quintuplicate (ve copies)
and must contain reports and documentation on the points listed below. Any
applications that do not meet the provisions of this article shall be regarded asincomplete. All documents and reports must be originals.
a) Documents that show that the applicant represents a country inaccordance with article 10 of the FIFA Statutes.
b) Documents that demonstrate that the applicant organises andsupervises football in its country (art. 10 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes).
c) Documents that reveal that the applicant’s bodies are designated in
independent elections (art. 17 of the FIFA Statutes). Copies of the minutes
taken at the meetings of the applicant’s law-making body in the two years
leading up to the submission of the application shall also be provided.
A list of the names of persons elected to serve on the applicant’s bodies
and the persons who may legally represent the applicant in dealings withFIFA shall also be provided.
d) Documents that outline the internal organisation of the applicant(for example the administration’s organisation, including the organisational
chart, as well as the number of employees with a description of theirduties, etc.).
e) Documents detailing the applicant’s standing as a sports organisation
under the law of the country (state constitution, extracts from relevantlaws, state directives, state subsidies, membership of other sports
organisations in the country, etc.).
f) Documents detailing the administrative infrastructure and internalorganisation of the applicant (headquarters, distribution of property, postal
address, number of functioning telephone and fax lines, e-mail addresses
and websites). The applicant must also ensure that post can be delivered

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on a daily basis and that there is at least one constant, working telephone/
fax number as well as an e-mail address.
g) A report on the political, economic and social structures in theapplicant’s country.
h) A report on the accommodation facilities in possible venues for away
teams, ofcials, supporters, media representatives and other guests fromabroad. This report shall also contain details on the number of beds inhotels of the various categories.
i) A report on the transport network (number of national and international
airports, rail system, bus network, etc.).
j) A report on the sporting infrastructure in the applicant’s country(number of football pitches, type of pitches (natural or articial turf,
concrete, sand, etc.), number of football stadiums with a capacity greaterthan 3,000 (with or without oodlights)).
This report shall also provide details on the:1. Number of football stadiums that could host international matchesin accordance with FIFA regulations.
2. Assessment of the quality standards of such stadiums.
3. Number of football pitches that can host matches in the applicant’s
domestic league championship.
4. Number of football pitches that can host football training sessions.
k) A report on the number of registered, active players (men and women)in each category (professional, amateur, veteran, youth, etc.).
l) A report on the number of clubs registered with the applicant(professional or amateur clubs).

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The report must also provide details on the:1. Number of football clubs with professional players (men andwomen).
2. Number of football clubs with amateur players (men and women).
3. Number of football clubs with youth players(10-20 years of age) (boys and girls).
m) A report on the competitions organised by the applicant, providing
details on the competitions for professional and amateur players in thevarious categories. Precise information shall be supplied on all competitions
involving professional players, particularly regarding nances.
n) A report on the referees registered with the applicant. This reportshall also contain information on the type of basic training and further
education provided for referees.
o) A report on the coaches and instructors registered with the applicant.
This report shall also contain information on the type of basic training andfurther education provided for coaches.
p) A report on the representative teams that could represent theapplicant in ofcial tournaments organised by FIFA and the applicant’sconfederation.
q) A declaration that the applicant’s bodies will comply fully with the
Statutes, regulations, provisions and decisions of FIFA bodies at all times.
r) A declaration pledging to respect the Laws of the Game at all times.
s) Conrmation that all disputes regarding the application procedure shallbe decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) headquartered in
Lausanne (Switzerland).

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7t) Conrmation by the confederation that the applicant is a member of theconfederation.
u) Any other information and documents relevant to evaluate theapplication.
2. Each applicant shall also submit a copy of its valid statutes and regulations.

4

GeneralThe FIFA Associations Committee and the confederation that is geographically
responsible shall process all applications for admission. The FIFA Associations
Committee shall also work in close cooperation with the confederation that isgeographically responsible while the application is being processed. These twobodies shall also discuss the steps, visits and checks that are to be conductedon the applicant while the application is being processed.

5FIFA Associations Committee

The FIFA Associations Committee shall work in close cooperation with the FIFA
general secretariat to verify the completeness of the application. Complete
applications shall be forwarded to the confederation that is geographically
responsible for the applicant.

6

SupportThe FIFA Associations Committee shall provide the applicant with any support it
may require during the application procedure.

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7

Inspections

The FIFA Associations Committee and the confederation may visit the applicant
at any time to conduct inspections. In such circumstances, the applicant shallprovide the necessary support.

8

Confederations

The confederation shall submit a report to FIFA with detailed informationon the workings of the applicant, including conrmation that the applicant
is currently a member of the confederation in accordance with theconfederation’s applicable statutes and regulations.

9

Final report

The confederation’s nal report shall be submitted to the FIFA Associations
Committee for discussion and recommendation. The FIFA Associations
Committee shall then submit its ndings to the FIFA Executive Committee.

10FIFA Executive Committee

The FIFA Executive Committee shall submit the corresponding application foradmission, together with a recommendation that it be accepted or rejected, tothe next FIFA Congress.

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9

Information

FIFA and the confederation may request additional information and documentsfrom the applicant at any point during the application procedure.

12

Enforcement

These regulations were adopted by the FIFA Executive Committee on
21 March 2013 and come into force with immediate effect. The FIFA Executive
Committee may amend them at any time.

For the FIFA Executive Committee

President:
Joseph S. Blatter

Secretary General:
Jérôme Valcke

NB: If there are any discrepancies in the interpretation of the English, French,
Spanish or German text of these regulations, the English text is authoritative.

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FIFA WORLDANTI-DOPINGREGULATIONS[2019COMPETITIONED.]REGULATIONSFIFA World Cup 2022™
Preliminary Competition
Including COVID-19 Regulations

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2 Organisers

ORGANISERS
1. Fédération Internationale de Football Association
President:
Secretary General:
Address:

Telephone:Internet:

Gianni Infantino
Fatma SamouraFIFA-Strasse 20
P.O. Box8044 Zurich
Switzerland+41 (0)43 222 7777
FIFA.com

2. Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions
Chairman:
Deputy chairwoman:

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Aleksander Čeferin
María Sol Muñoz

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Contents
CONTENTS
ArticlePage

GENERAL PROVISIONS
1 FIFA World Cup 2022™
2 Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions
3 Participating member associations
4 Entries for the FIFA World Cup™
5 Withdrawal, unplayed matches and abandoned matches
6 Replacement
7 Eligibility of players
8 Laws of the Game
9 Football technologies
10 Refereeing
11 Disciplinary matters
12 Medical/doping
13 Disputes
14 Protests
15 Yellow and red cards
16 Commercial rights
17 Operational guidelines

4
4
5
5
8
10
13
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
22

PRELIMINARY COMPETITION ORGANISATION
18 Entry form
19 List of players
20 Preliminary draw, format of play and group formation
21 Venues, kick-off times and training sessions
22 Stadium infrastructure and equipment
23 Footballs
24 Team equipment
25 Flags, anthems and competition music
26 Media
27 Financial provisions
28 Ticketing
29 Liability

23
23
23
26
30
32
36
37
38
38
41
43
43

FINAL COMPETITION
30 Final competition

44
44

FINAL PROVISIONS
31 Matters not provided for and force majeure
32 Prevailing set of regulations
33 Languages
34 Copyright
35 No waiver
36 Enforcement

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45
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4 General provisions

GENERAL PROVISIONS
These Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 2022™ Preliminary Competition
have been modified to adopt regulations to address the COVID-19 pandemic(“COVID-19 Regulations”). The COVID-19 Regulations are set out in theboxes below and either supplement or, if expressly indicated, replace theexisting regulations. The COVID-19 Regulations will remain in effect for as
long as FIFA considers them appropriate. Due to the continuously evolving
understanding of COVID-19, including effective and appropriate methods toreduce the risk and severity of infection, FIFA may modify or supplement the
COVID-19 Regulations at any time, including by way of issuing a modified
version of these Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 2022™ PreliminaryCompetition or by issuing a FIFA circular letter or other document intended
to modify or supplement the COVID-19 Regulations.

1

FIFA World Cup 2022™

1.
The FIFA World Cup™ is a FIFA competition embodied in the FIFA regulations.
2.
The FIFA Council has appointed the Organising Committee for FIFA
Competitions to supervise the preliminary competition.
3.
The Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 2022™ Preliminary Competition(hereinafter: the Regulations) regulate the rights, duties and responsibilitiesof all associations taking part in the FIFA World Cup 2022™ preliminarycompetition. The Regulations and all directives, decisions, guidelines andcirculars issued by FIFA shall be binding for all parties participating andinvolved in the preparation, organisation and hosting of FIFA World Cup
2022™ preliminary competition matches.
4.
Any rights associated with the FIFA World Cup 2022™ that are not granted bythese Regulations and/or further regulations, guidelines and decisions as set
forth in art. 3 par. 2 of these Regulations and/or specific agreements to aparticipating member association in the preliminary or final competition, or toa confederation, belong to FIFA.

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5

5.
The FIFA Statutes and all FIFA regulations in force shall apply. Any reference inthese Regulations to the FIFA Statutes and regulations refer to the FIFA Statutes
and regulations valid at the time of application.

2

Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions

1.
The Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions (hereinafter: the FIFA
Organising Committee), appointed by the FIFA Council, is amongst others
responsible for supervising the organisation of the FIFA World Cup 2022™
preliminary competition in accordance with the FIFA Statutes and the FIFA
Governance Regulations.
2.
The FIFA Organising Committee may, if necessary, appoint a bureau and/or a
sub-committee to deal with emergencies. Any decision taken by the bureau
or sub-committee shall come into effect immediately but shall be subject toconfirmation by the plenary committee at its next meeting.
3.
The decisions taken by the FIFA Organising Committee and/or its bureau/sub-committee are final and binding and not subject to appeal.

3

Participating member associations

1.
Each participating member association shall be responsible throughout the
preliminary competition for:a) the conduct of all accreditation-bearing players, coaches, managers, officials,
media officers, representatives and guests of its delegation (hereinafter: Team
Delegation Members), and of any person carrying out duties on its behalf
throughout the preliminary competition;b) ensuring the provision of adequate insurance to cover its Team Delegation
Members and any other persons carrying out duties on its behalf against all risks,
including but not limited to injury, accident, disease and travel in consideration

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3 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players);c) paying for incidental expenses and for any costs incurred by its Team
Delegation Members;d) paying for any costs of extending the stay of any member of its delegation,
the duration of which is determined by FIFA;e) applying for any required visas in good time from the consulate or embassyof the host country; if necessary, the assistance of the host association is tobe sought as early as possible;f) attending media conferences and other official media activities organised
by FIFA and/or by the host association in accordance with the applicable
FIFA regulations and instructions issued by FIFA;g) ensuring that every member of its delegation complies with the FIFA Statutes,
the applicable FIFA regulations, directives, guidelines and circulars anddecisions taken by FIFA bodies, in particular the Council, the FIFA Organising
Committee, the Referees Committee, the Disciplinary Committee, the Ethics
Committee and the Appeal Committee.
h) complying with and implementing (where applicable) the measuresmandated in the FIFA International Match Protocol (“IMP”) and bearing
the resulting costs for the Team Delegation Members and any otherpersons carrying out duties on its behalf.
2.
All Team Delegation Members shall comply with the Laws of the Game andthe FIFA Statutes and all applicable FIFA regulations (including theseRegulations), in particular the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the FIFA Stadium Safety
and Security Regulations, the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, the FIFA Code of
Ethics, the FIFA Media and Marketing Regulations and the FIFA Equipment
Regulations as well as all circulars, directives and decisions of FIFA bodies,
unless these Regulations stipulate otherwise, and all further FIFA guidelinesthat have any significance regarding the FIFA World Cup™.
3.
All Team Delegation Members shall undertake to comply fully with the FIFA
Statutes, the applicable FIFA regulations, directives, guidelines and circulars

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and decisions taken by FIFA bodies, in particular the Council, FIFA Organising
Committee, the Referees Committee, the Ethics Committee, the Disciplinary
Committee and the Appeal Committee.
All Team Delegation Members shall also fully comply with these Regulations(including the COVID-19 Regulations), the IMP and any other
COVID-19-related requirements or instructions issued by FIFA, whether inFIFA circular letters or in any other documents.
4.
All participating member associations shall indemnify, defend and holdFIFA, and all of its officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents, andall other auxiliary persons free and harmless against any and all liabilities,
obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, actions, fines and expenses(including reasonable legal expenses) of whatsoever kind or nature resulting
from, arising out of, or attributable to, any non-compliance with theseRegulations by the participating member associations, their Team Delegation
Members, their affiliates and any third parties contracted to the participating
member associations.
5.
Unless otherwise mentioned in these Regulations, each participating
member association hosting a match in the preliminary competition shall be
responsible, amongst other matters, for:a) guaranteeing, planning and implementing law and order as well as safety
and security in the stadiums and other relevant locations in conjunction
with the relevant authorities. The FIFA Stadium Safety and Security
Regulations shall apply;b) obtaining adequate insurance cover for all risks relating to matchorganisation, including but not limited to public liability insurance. FIFA
shall be expressly identified as a named insured party in all such insurance
policies;c) providing a national stadium in the country concerned for all of the homematch dates on the basis of the provisions of art. 22 paras 1 and 2;d) sending three copies of a DVD recording of each home match by courier tothe FIFA general secretariat within 24 hours of the end of the match.

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accommodation, logistics, match preparation and the match itself arein line with the requirements set by the relevant local authority(ies) andgovernment;f) completing the football-specific risk assessment tool as mandated by the
IMP and submitting it to the confederation in question and FIFA;g) informing the visiting team as well as the entire FIFA delegation and otherstakeholders of any exceptional requirements and restrictions in effect at
the match venue due to the COVID-19 pandemic at least 14 days prior tothe match date as well as any update as they occur following the templatein the IMP “Match Preparation Information Sheet”.

4

Entries for the FIFA World Cup™

1.
The FIFA World Cup™ takes place every four years. As a general rule, every
association affiliated to FIFA may participate in the FIFA World Cup™ with its
representative team.
2.
The FIFA World Cup™ consists of two stages:a) the preliminary competition;b) the final competition.
3.
The representative team of the Organising Association, Qatar, automaticallyqualifies for the final competition.
4.
On entering the preliminary competition, the participating member associations
and their Team Delegation Members automatically undertake to:a) observe and comply with the FIFA Statutes, regulations, directives, circulars,guidelines and decisions as well as national and international laws;b) accept that all the administrative, disciplinary and refereeing matters related
to the competition shall be dealt with by FIFA in compliance with therelevant FIFA regulations;

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General provisionsc) participate with the best possible team in all matches of the competition inwhich their team is scheduled to take part;
REPLACE 4 c) with:c) participate with the best possible team available in all matches of thecompetition in which their team is scheduled to take part;d) accept and fully comply with FIFA’s right to use and/or FIFA’s right to
sub-license the right to use on a non-exclusive basis, in perpetuity andfree of any charge, any of their records, names, photographs and images(including any still and moving representation thereof), which may
appear or be generated in connection with the participation of theTeam Delegation Members of all participating member associations inboth stages of the FIFA World Cup™ in accordance with the relevantterms of the FIFA Media and Marketing Regulations for the PreliminaryCompetition. To the extent that FIFA’s right to use and/or FIFA’s right to sublicense the right to use any of the records, names, photographs and images
may fall in the ownership and/or control of a third party, the participating
member associations and their Team Delegation Members shall ensurethat such third party waives, pledges and unconditionally assigns and/or transfers to FIFA with immediate effect, with full title guarantee inperpetuity and without any restriction, any such rights to ensure FIFA’s
unfettered use as set out above;e) ensure the provision of adequate insurance to cover their Team Delegation
Members and any other persons carrying out duties on their behalf against
all risks, including but not limited to injury, accident, disease and travel inconsideration of the relevant FIFA rules or regulations (if applicable) (cf. inparticular Annexe 1, art. 2 par. 3 of the Regulations on the Status andTransfer of Players);f) observe the principles of fair play.
5.
Entry into the competition is processed online via a dedicated extranet and it isfree of charge.

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5

Withdrawal, unplayed matches and abandoned matches1.
All participating member associations undertake to play all of their matches
until eliminated from the preliminary competition.
2.
Any association that withdraws between the submission of the entry form
and the start of the preliminary competition will be sanctioned with a fineof at least CHF 20,000. Any association that withdraws after the start of thepreliminary competition will be sanctioned with a fine of at least CHF 40,000.
3.
Depending on the circumstances of the withdrawal, the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee may impose sanctions in addition to those provided for in par. 2
above, including the expulsion of the association concerned from subsequentFIFA competitions.
4.
Any match which is not played or which is abandoned – except in cases offorce majeure recognised by FIFA – may lead to the imposition of sanctions
against the relevant associations by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee inaccordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code. In such cases, the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee may also order that the match be replayed.
The COVID-19 pandemic and related circumstances are not, in and ofthemselves, considered cases of force majeure. However, examples ofcircumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic that may be submitted
to FIFA for consideration as cases of force majeure include the following:a) A host association’s country’s national authorities announce just before amatch is scheduled to be played restrictions that prevent the match frombeing staged;b) A visiting team is not permitted to leave the country from which it is due to
fly out as a result of closed borders;c) A visiting team travelling to the country where a match is scheduled to beplayed is refused entry and returned to its country of origin;

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General provisionsd) There is an insufficient number of match officials available to referee thematch.
FIFA has sole discretion to determine cases of force majeure.
5.
Any association that withdraws or whose behaviour is liable for a match not
being played or being abandoned may be ordered by FIFA to reimburse FIFA,
the host association or any other participating member association for any
expenses incurred as a result of its behaviour. In such cases, the association
concerned may also be ordered by FIFA to pay compensation for any damages
incurred by FIFA, the host association or any other participating member
association. The association in question will also forfeit any claim to financial
remuneration from FIFA.
If a participating member association is uncertain as to whether a scheduled
match will take place, it shall inform the confederation in question and FIFA
without delay. FIFA may decide if the match shall take place or if it needs tobe rescheduled or other changes need to be made relating to the scheduled
match.
FIFA shall take into account the participating member associations’circumstances wherever possible when approving any new match details.
Any decisions made by FIFA under this clause with respect to a match arewithout prejudice to any possible disciplinary sanctions.
6.
If an association withdraws or a match cannot be played or is abandoned asa result of force majeure, FIFA shall decide on the matter at its sole discretionand take whatever action is deemed necessary. If a match is not played or isabandoned as a result of force majeure, FIFA may order a replay.
7.
Further to the above provision, in the case of a match being abandoned as aresult of force majeure after it has already kicked off, the following principles
will apply:a) the match shall recommence at the minute at which play was interrupted,
and with the same scoreline;

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REPLACE 7 b) with:b) the recommencement of play must be scheduled so as to comply with the
COVID-19 testing requirements as mandated in the IMP. In general, thematch shall recommence with the same players on the pitch and substitutes
available as when the match was abandoned. However, if a player who
was on the pitch when the match was abandoned cannot participate in therecommenced match based on the result of his COVID-19 test, he may bereplaced with a substitute player from the start list.

c) no additional substitutes may be added to the list of players on the teamsheet;REPLACE 7 c) with:c) The recommencement of play must be scheduled so as to comply with
the COVID-19 testing requirements as mandated in the IMP. In general,
no additional substitutes may be added to the list of players on the teamsheet. However, if a player who was a substitute in the abandoned matchcannot participate in the recommenced match based on the result of his
COVID-19 test, he may be replaced with a player from the provisional list.

d) the teams can make only the number of substitutions to which they werestill entitled when the match was abandoned;e) players sent off during the abandoned match cannot be replaced;f) any sanctions imposed before the match was abandoned remain valid forthe remainder of the match;g) the match shall restart at the place where play was stopped when thematch was abandoned (i.e. with a free kick, throw-in, goal kick, corner kick,penalty kick, etc.). If the match was abandoned while the ball was still in
play, it shall restart with a dropped ball from the position of the ball whenplay was stopped;

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General provisionsh) the kick-off time, date (which shall always first be foreseen for thefollowing day) and location shall be decided by FIFA in consultation withboth the host and visiting associations, the FIFA Match Commissioner, andthe confederation when applicable;i) Any matters requiring a further decision shall be handled by FIFA.
For the preliminary competition, if a match still cannot be played on the third
day after the match was abandoned, the expenses incurred by the visiting
association shall be split between the two associations. FIFA shall take anyother decisions relating to such replay as are deemed necessary.

6

Replacement

If any association withdraws or is excluded from the competition, FIFA shalldecide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemednecessary.

7

Eligibility of players

1.
Each association shall ensure the following when selecting its representative
team for the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup™:a) all players shall hold the nationality of its country and be subject to its
jurisdiction;b) all players shall be eligible for selection in accordance with the FIFA
Statutes, the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes
and other relevant FIFA rules and regulations.
2.
The associations shall be responsible for fielding only eligible players. Failure
to do so shall lead to the consequences stipulated in the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Only players who comply with and pass the testing requirements and timelines
stipulated in the IMP (negative test result) are considered eligible players.

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3.
Protests regarding the eligibility of players shall be decided by the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code(cf. art. 14 par. 3).

8

Laws of the Game1.
All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game in force
and as laid down by The International Football Association Board. In the caseof any discrepancy in the interpretation of the Laws of the Game, the English
version shall be authoritative.
2.
Each match shall last 90 minutes, comprising two periods of 45 minutes, with ahalf-time interval of 15 minutes.
3.
If, in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, extra time is to beplayed as the result of a draw at the end of normal playing time, it shall always
consist of two periods of 15 minutes each, with an interval of five minutes atthe end of normal playing time, but not between the two periods of extratime.
4.
If the score is still level after extra time, penalty kicks shall be taken to determine
the winner in accordance with the procedure described in the Laws of theGame.

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Number of substitutions: in accordance with the temporary amendment
to Law 3 approved by The International Football Association Board, five
substitutions are permitted as follows:
Law 3 – The Players – temporary amendment• During the match, each team:– may use a maximum of five substitutes– has a maximum of three substitution opportunities*– may additionally make substitutions at half-time• Where extra time is played, each team:– may use an additional substitute (whether or not the team has used its
maximum number of substitutes)– has one additional substitution opportunity* (whether or not the teamhas used its maximum number of substitution opportunities)– may additionally make substitutions:- in the period before the start of extra time
- at half-time in extra time
If a team has not used its maximum number of substitutes or substitution
opportunities, the unused substitutions and opportunities may be used in
extra time.
* Where both teams make a substitution at the same time, this will count asa used substitution opportunity for each team.
NB: the use of return substitutes is not an option for senior competitions.

9

Football technologies

1.
FIFA and/or the confederation when applicable may use football technologies
such as goal-line technology (GLT), a video assistant referee (VAR) system orelectronic performance and tracking systems (EPTS), as stipulated in the Lawsof the Game.
2.
A video assistant referee (VAR) may assist the referee to make a decision using
replay footage in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Laws of theGame in force at the time of the preliminary competition and as laid down by
The International Football Association Board.

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10

Refereeing

1. Appointments
In the preliminary competition, on-field match official appointments (as well
as video match official appointments where the use of VAR is implemented)
shall be proposed by the confederations to the FIFA Referees Committee for
ratification.
For each match, the referee and the assistant referees shall be selected fromthe FIFA Refereeing International List in force. The fourth official and thereserve assistant referee (where foreseen) shall be selected from the FIFA
Refereeing International List in force or exceptionally from the Member
Association Top Division List in force. Only qualified FIFA video match officials
shall be selected for those matches where the use of VAR is implemented.
2.
The decisions of the FIFA Referees Committee are final and not subject toappeal.
3.
The referee and other match officials appointed for preliminary competition
matches shall receive from FIFA an official refereeing match kit (including
match official footwear), which they shall wear for all preliminary competition
matches for which they are appointed. Any alterations, additions or changes
to the official refereeing match kit, other than tailoring its size, are strictly
prohibited.
4.
The match officials shall be provided with training facilities by the hostassociation.
5.
If the referee is prevented from carrying out his duties, such referee shall be
replaced by the fourth official. The same applies for either of the assistantreferees if a reserve assistant referee is not appointed.
A minimum of three match officials are needed to referee the match.

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6.
After each match, the referee shall complete and sign the official FIFA reportform (and retain a copy for himself). The referee shall hand it over to the FIFA
Match Commissioner at the stadium immediately after the match. On thereport form, the referee shall note in as much detail as possible all occurrences,such as misconduct of players leading to caution or expulsion, unsporting
behaviour by supporters and/or by officials or any other person acting on
behalf of an association at the match and any other incident happening
before, during and after the match.

11

Disciplinary matters1.
Disciplinary incidents are dealt with in compliance with the FIFA Disciplinary Codein force and all relevant circulars and directives, with which the participating
member associations undertake to comply.
2.
In addition, the players agree in particular to:a) respect the spirit of fair play, non-violence and the authority of the matchofficials;b) behave accordingly;c) refrain from doping as defined by the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations as wellas to accept all other relevant FIFA regulations, circulars and directives.
3.
The participating member associations and their Team Delegation Members
shall comply with the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Disciplinary Code and theFIFA Code of Ethics, in particular in matters regarding the fight against
discrimination, racism and match-fixing activities.
4.
Any violations of these Regulations or of any other FIFA regulations, circulars,guidelines, directives and/or decisions that do not come under the jurisdictionof another body shall be dealt with by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee inaccordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

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12

Medical/doping

1.
Each participating member association shall include a medical doctor in itsdelegation for each match.
a) In addition, the host association shall appoint a medical response
coordinator in accordance with the requirements of the IMP.
b) In addition, each participating member association shall appoint a leadhygiene implementation officer and a team medical liaison officer inaccordance with the requirements of the IMP.
2.
In order to detect heart issues or risk factors that may lead to sudden cardiac
arrest during matches in the preliminary competition, and to protect players’
health, each participating member association shall ensure that its players
undergo a pre-competition medical assessment prior to the start of thepreliminary competition.
3.
Doping is strictly prohibited. The FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, the FIFA
Disciplinary Code and all other relevant FIFA regulations, circulars and directives
shall apply to the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup 2022™.
4.
Every player may be subject to in-competition testing at the matches in which
he competes and to out-of-competition testing at any time and place.
5.
Extreme weather conditions may warrant cooling and/or drinks breaks to be
implemented during the course of a match in accordance with the protocols
established by the FIFA Medical Committee and/or documented in the FIFA
Football Emergency Medicine Manual. Such breaks would be considered on amatch-by-match basis. Responsibility for implementing and controlling coolingbreaks resides with the referee.
6.
A player who experiences a suspected concussion during a match must
undergo an examination by the team doctor in accordance with the protocols

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documented in the FIFA Football Emergency Medicine Manual. The referee
may temporarily suspend play for up to three minutes whenever an incident ofsuspected concussion occurs. The referee may only allow the player to continue
playing with the authorisation of the team doctor, who has evaluated theplayer and concluded that the player is not exhibiting signs or symptoms ofconcussion. The team doctor will have the final decision based on a clinicalexamination and subject to express prohibition against returning a player toplay if a concussion is suspected.
FIFA recommends that teams follow the return to play protocol set forth in
SCAT5 for any player who has suffered a concussion. SCAT5 recognises thatthe time frame for return to play may vary, including based on player age andhistory, and that doctors must use their clinical judgment in making decisions
with respect to return to play. FIFA requires that before any player who suffersa concussion can return to play, the team doctor must certify that (a) suchplayer has passed each of the steps set out in SCAT5, and that (b) such player isfit for competition.
7.
Proof of a negative test conducted no earlier than 72 hours before accessing
the match stadium and in accordance with the provisions of the IMP must
be provided in order for a Team Delegation Member to enter the matchstadium and remain on the premises during matchday.

13

Disputes

1.
All disputes in connection with the FIFA World Cup™ preliminary competition
shall be promptly settled by negotiation.
2.
In compliance with the FIFA Statutes, participating member associations,players and officials may not take disputes to an ordinary court of law but tothe exclusive jurisdiction of FIFA.
3.
The participating member associations, players and officials acknowledge
and accept that, once all internal channels have been exhausted at FIFA, theirsole recourse shall be to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne,

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Switzerland, unless excluded or the decision is declared as final and binding
and not subject to appeal. Any arbitration proceedings at CAS shall begoverned by the CAS Code of Sports-related Arbitration.

14

Protests

1.
For the purpose of these Regulations, protests are objections of any kind
related to events or matters that have a direct effect on matches organised in
the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup 2022™, including but notlimited to the state of and markings on the pitch, accessory match equipment,eligibility of players, stadium installations and footballs.
2.
Unless otherwise stipulated in this article, protests shall be submitted in writing
to the FIFA Match Commissioner within two hours of the match in question
and followed up with a full written report, including a copy of the original
protest, to be sent by email to the FIFA general secretariat within 24 hours of
the end of the match, otherwise they shall be disregarded.
3.
Protests regarding the eligibility of players selected for matches in the
preliminary competition shall be submitted in writing to the FIFA MatchCommissioner within two hours of the match in question and followed up
with a full written report, including a copy of the original protest, to be sent by
email to the FIFA general secretariat within 24 hours of the end of the match,otherwise they will be disregarded.
4.
Protests regarding the state of the pitch, its surroundings, markings oraccessory items (e.g. goals, flagposts or footballs) shall be made in writing to
the referee before the start of the match by the head of delegation of theteam lodging the protest. If the pitch’s playing surface becomes unplayable
during a match, the captain of the protesting team shall immediately lodge aprotest with the referee in the presence of the captain of the opposing team.
The protests shall be confirmed in writing to the FIFA Match Commissioner by
the head of the team delegation no later than two hours after the match.
5.
Protests against any incidents that occur during the course of a match shall bemade to the referee by the team captain immediately after the disputed incident
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and before play has resumed, in the presence of the captain of the opposing
team. The protest shall be confirmed in writing to the FIFA Match Commissioner
by the head of the team delegation no later than two hours after the match.
6.
No protests may be made about the referee’s decisions regarding facts
connected with play. Such decisions are final and not subject to appeal, unlessotherwise stipulated in the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The same applies for any
potential issue concerning the use of goal-line technology (GLT) and the video
assistant referee (VAR) system.
7.
If an unfounded or irresponsible protest is lodged, the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee may impose a fine.
8.
If any of the formal conditions of a protest as set out in these Regulations
are not met, such protest shall be disregarded by the competent body.
Notwithstanding the above, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee remains
competent to prosecute any disciplinary infringement ex officio, as establishedin the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
9.
FIFA shall pass decisions on any protests lodged, subject to the exceptions
stipulated in these Regulations, the FIFA Statutes or any other FIFA regulations.

15

Yellow and red cards

1.
Single yellow cards and pending suspensions as a consequence of cautions
received in different matches in the preliminary competition of the FIFA World
Cup 2022™ are not carried over to the final competition. Pending match
suspensions imposed as a result of a direct or an indirect red card in matches in
the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ are carried over tothe final competition.
2.
If a player receives two cautions in two different matches, he will be
automatically suspended from his team’s subsequent match.

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3.
If a player is sent off as a result of a direct or an indirect red card, he will be
automatically suspended from his team’s subsequent match. In addition,
further sanctions may be imposed in the case of a direct red card.
4.
Any suspension that cannot be served during this competition will be carriedover to the representative team’s next official match.

16

Commercial rights

1.
FIFA is the original owner of all of the rights emanating from the final
competition of the FIFA World Cup™, from the preliminary competition of
the FIFA World Cup™ as a collective whole, as well as from any other related
events coming under its jurisdiction, without any restrictions as to content,
time, place and law. These rights include, among others, all kinds of financial
rights, audiovisual and radio recording, reproduction and broadcasting rights,
multimedia rights, marketing and promotional rights and incorporeal rights(such as those pertaining to emblems) as well as rights arising under copyright
law whether currently existing or created in the future, subject to any
provision as set forth in specific regulations.
2.
FIFA has issued Media and Marketing Regulations for the PreliminaryCompetition and shall issue, at a later date, Media and Marketing Regulations
for the Final Competition specifying these commercial and intellectual property
rights. All FIFA members must comply with the Media and Marketing Regulations
for the Preliminary Competition and with the Media and Marketing Regulations
for the Final Competition, and they must ensure that their members, officials,
players, delegates and other affiliates also comply with these regulations.

17

Operational guidelines

Subject to FIFA’s approval, the confederations are authorised to issue
implementation rules and operational guidelines.

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Preliminary competition organisation

PRELIMINARY COMPETITION ORGANISATION

18

Entry form

Subject to any other decision by the FIFA Council, the associations shall complete
and submit the official FIFA entry form for the preliminary competition via a
dedicated extranet online registration in accordance with the deadline stipulated
in the relevant FIFA circular. Only the entry forms that are duly registered withFIFA by the stipulated deadline shall be valid and taken into consideration.

19

List of players

1.
Each association entering the preliminary competition shall provide FIFA withas extensive and realistic a provisional list as possible of prospective players forthe preliminary competition no later than 30 days before its first qualifying
match. This list shall show each player’s last name, first name(s), current club,date of birth and passport number as well as the head coach’s last name, firstname(s), date of birth and nationality.
2.
This list is not binding. Further players may be added, showing the same
information, at any time but no later than the day before the qualifying matchin question.
3.
The only document considered to be valid proof of a player’s identity andnationality shall be a permanent international passport that explicitly, andin Latin characters, states the player’s first name(s) and surname(s), as wellas his day, month and year of birth. Identity cards or other local supporting
official documents shall not be accepted as a valid means of identification. The
participating member associations shall present each player’s valid permanentinternational passport for the country of the participating member association
to the FIFA Match Commissioner on the day before the match. A player
without a valid permanent international passport shall not be entitled to play.
4.
A total of 23 players shall be named on the start list (11 players and 12 substitutes). The 11 first-named players must start the match, and the other 12 are

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designated as substitutes. The numbers on the players’ shirts must correspondwith the numbers indicated on the start list (numbers 1-23 only). All goalkeepers and the captain must be identified as such. Three players must be goalkeepers, with the number 1 shirt reserved for one of them.
REPLACE 4 with:
The start list must contain a minimum of 14 and a maximum of 23 players,
one of which must be a goalkeeper. If there are fewer than 14 players
available, FIFA will consider the matter and may make exceptions on acase-by-case basis. The 11 first-named players must start the match, and theremaining players on the start list are designated as substitutes. The numberson the players’ shirts must correspond with the numbers indicated on thestart list. All goalkeepers and the captain must be identified as such. At
least one player must be a goalkeeper, up to a maximum of three, with thenumber 1 shirt reserved for one of them.
5.
Both teams must return their start list to the referee at least 85 minutes before
kick-off. They shall provide the referee with two copies of their start list. The
opposing team can request one of these copies.
6.
After the start lists have been completed, signed by the team administrator
and returned to the referee, and if the match has not yet kicked off, thefollowing instructions apply:a) If any of the first 11 players (starting players) named on the start list are notable to start the match for any reason, they may be replaced by any of the
12 substitutes. The replaced player(s) may no longer take part in the match,and the quota of substitute players shall be reduced accordingly. During
the match, three players may still be replaced.
REPLACE 6 a) with:
If any of the first 11 players (starting players) named on the start list are notable to start the match for any reason, they may be replaced by any of theavailable substitutes. The replaced player(s) may no longer take part in thematch, and the quota of substitute players shall be reduced accordingly.
During the match, up to five players may still be replaced.

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for any reason, the player(s) concerned may not be replaced on the bench
by an additional player, which means that the quota of substitutes shall be
reduced accordingly. During the match, three players may still be replaced.
REPLACE 6 b) with:
If any of the substitutes named on the start list are not able to be fielded forany reason, the player(s) concerned may not be replaced on the bench by anadditional player, which means that the quota of substitutes shall be reduced
accordingly. During the match, up to five players may still be replaced.
7.
Although no longer eligible to play as a substitute, any injured or ill player
who was removed from the start list may be seated on the substitutes’ bench,and if so, would then also be eligible for doping control selection.
8.
One additional substitute may be used when a match goes into extra time(regardless of whether the team has already used the full quota of permitted
substitutes).
9.
No more than 23 people (11 officials and 12 substitutes) shall be allowed tosit on the substitutes’ bench. The names of these officials must be indicatedon the “Officials on the Substitutes’ Bench” form to be provided to the FIFA
Match Commissioner. A suspended player or official will not be allowed to siton the substitutes’ bench.
REPLACE 9 with:
No more than 23 people (11 officials and 12 substitutes) shall be allowed tosit on the substitutes’ bench. The names of these officials must be indicatedon the “Officials on the Substitutes’ Bench” form to be provided to theFIFA Match Commissioner and must include, as a minimum, the head coach,medical doctor and team administrator. A suspended player or official will
not be allowed to sit on the substitutes’ bench.
10.
Small, hand-held electronic or communication devices are permitted in thetechnical area if used for coaching/tactical purposes or for player welfare, in
accordance with the Laws of the Game.

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20

Preliminary draw, format of play and group formation

1.
The FIFA Organising Committee, based on the confederations’ needs andproposals, decides on the format of play and match calendar as well as thegroup formation of the preliminary competition. It forms groups and/or subgroups for the preliminary competition by seeding and drawing lots whilst
taking sports and geographic factors into consideration, as far as possible.
Any seeding based on team performance for each confederation’s preliminarycompetition shall be based on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. The decisionsof the FIFA Organising Committee are final and not subject to appeal. The
preliminary draw details for each region will be confirmed and communicatedby FIFA and the confederation concerned in due course.
2.
In the event of any withdrawals, the FIFA Organising Committee may change
the groups in accordance with the provisions of par. 1 above.
3.
The preliminary competition may begin on the first official international
match date after the preliminary draw of each confederation according to theinternational match calendar. FIFA shall examine any needs for an earlier startof the preliminary competition on a case-by-case basis.
4.
The matches shall be played in accordance with one of the following threeformats:a) in groups composed of several teams on a home-and-away basis, withthree points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a defeat(league format);b) one home and one away match per team (knockout format);c) by way of exception and only with the permission of the FIFA Organising
Committee, in the form of a tournament in one of the countries of theparticipating member associations or on neutral territory;
If a match played as part of a tournament is abandoned due to a teamhaving an insufficient number of players available:• The tournament should proceed as scheduled whenever possible;• FIFA will decide on the matter.
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Committee, playoff matches may be played in the form of one single
match (cup system) in one of the countries of the participating member
associations or on neutral territory.
Once the format has been confirmed and the preliminary qualificationcompetition has started, any change of format must be approved by the FIFA
Organising Committee. The ranking in each group is determined as stated in
the paragraphs below.
5.
When matches are played in accordance with format a) or b) above, homematches may not be played in another country without the express permissionof the FIFA Organising Committee.
6.
In the league format, the ranking in each group is determined as follows:a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;b) goal difference in all group matches;c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.
If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, theirrankings shall be determined as follows:d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between theteams concerned;e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams
concerned;f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams
concerned;g) the goals scored away from home count double between the teams
concerned (if the tie is only between two teams);

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28 Preliminary competition organisationh) fair play points system in which the number of yellow and red cards in allgroup matches is considered according to the following deductions:– first yellow card:– second yellow card/indirect red card:– direct red card:– yellow card and direct red card:

minus 1 point
minus 3 points
minus 4 points
minus 5 pointsi) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.
7.
In the event of a tournament being played in one of the countries of theparticipating member associations or on neutral territory in accordance withthe provisions of art. 20 par. 4c) above, if two or more teams are equal after
the completion of the group stage in accordance with the criteria statedin article 20 paras 6a) to 6f) above, the final rankings will be determinedby art. 20 paras 6h) and 6i).
8.
Should the best second- or third-placed team within a group stage qualify forthe next stage or for the final competition, the criteria to decide such best
second- or third-placed team shall depend on the competition format and shallrequire the approval of FIFA following proposals from the confederations.
9.
Should the competition format proposed by a confederation include a
combined qualification path via another continental competition, in particular
for the completion of the last segment of the preliminary competition, FIFA’s
prior approval will be required in all such cases. This is also valid for thecontinental playoffs that may be played in a format of one single match.

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10.
In the knockout format, both teams shall play one home and one away match
each, the sequence of which shall be determined by lots drawn by FIFA. The
team having scored most goals over the two games shall qualify for the next
round. If both teams score the same number of goals over the two matches, thegoals scored away shall be counted as double. If the same number of goals isscored away or if both matches end without any goals being scored, extra timeof two periods of 15 minutes each shall be played at the end of the second leg.
The extra time is an integral part of the second-leg match. Thus, if no goals arescored in extra time, kicks from the penalty mark shall be taken to determine
the winner, in accordance with the procedure described in the Laws of theGame. If both teams score the same number of goals in extra time, the visiting
team is declared the winner on the basis of away goals counting double.
11.
In the event of playoff matches being played in one single match in accordancewith the provisions of art. 20 par. 4d) above, if a match is level at the end of
normal playing time, extra time shall be played. Extra time shall consist of two
periods of 15 minutes, with an interval of five minutes at the end of normal
playing time, but not between the two periods of extra time. The players shallremain on the pitch between full-time and extra time, as well as between thetwo periods of extra time. If the score is still level at the end of extra time, kicks
from the penalty mark shall be taken to determine the winner, in accordancewith the procedure described in the Laws of the Game.
12.
The dates of the matches shall be set by the associations concerned and/or by
the confederation in compliance with the international match calendar andsubject to the approval of the FIFA Organising Committee. The FIFA generalsecretariat shall be informed in accordance with the deadline stipulated in
the relevant FIFA decision. If the associations cannot agree on the dates of thematches, the FIFA Organising Committee shall make the final decision. The FIFA
Organising Committee shall ensure that matches in the same group are played
simultaneously when the situation demands this for sporting reasons.

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21

Venues, kick-off times and training sessions

1.
The venues of matches shall be set by the host association and/or by theconfederation, as applicable, and the matches may only be played in stadiumsthat have been inspected and approved by the confederation concerned.
The opponents and the FIFA general secretariat shall be notified by the hostassociation and/or by the confederation, as applicable, at least three months
before the match in question is due to be played. In principle, the venue is tobe located no further than 150km away from the nearest international airport,
which shall not exceed a maximum two-hour drive. The airport should offer
landing possibilities for charter flights in the event that the visiting association
opts to charter its delegation’s flight directly to this airport. If associations
cannot agree on match venues, the FIFA Organising Committee shall make thefinal decision.
REPLACE 1 with:
The venues of matches shall be set by the host association and/or by theconfederation, as applicable, and the matches may only be played instadiums that have been inspected and approved by the confederation
concerned. The opponents and the FIFA general secretariat shall be notified
by the host association and/or by the confederation, as applicable, at least
eight weeks before the match in question is due to be played. In principle,
the venue is to be located no further than 150km away from the nearest
international airport, which shall not exceed a maximum two-hour drive. The
airport should offer landing possibilities for charter flights in the event thatthe visiting association opts to charter its delegation’s flight directly to this
airport. If associations cannot agree on match venues, the FIFA Organising
Committee shall make the final decision.
2.
The venue of the match shall have sufficient high-standard hotels toaccommodate the home team, the visiting team and the FIFA delegation inaccordance with art. 27 par. 3d).
The venue of the match must be able to accommodate the amendments
needed in order to implement the requirements of the IMP.

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3.
The host association shall inform its opponents and the FIFA general secretariatof the kick-off time at least 60 days before the match in question is due to beplayed. If the host association requests a change, the written approval of thevisiting team must be obtained at least 30 days before the match. After thisdeadline, only FIFA may approve a late change of kick-off time based onwell-founded and documented reasons.
4.
The associations shall arrange for their representative teams to arrive at thevenue no later than the evening before the date on which the match is due
to be played. FIFA and the host association shall be informed of the travel
itinerary of the visiting association at least one week in advance, and thevisiting association shall have made provisions for obtaining visas, if applicable,in accordance with art. 3 par. 1e).
Participating member associations must ensure that provisions for COVID-19
testing are in place in accordance with IMP requirements and that suchprovisions take into consideration their arrangements when travelling to andfrom the match venue, as well as the capability of the appointed laboratory
to deliver test results as required by the IMP.
5.
On the day before the match and weather permitting, the visiting team isentitled to have one training session of 60 minutes on the pitch where thematch is due to take place. Prior to the visiting team’s arrival in the hostcountry, the exact time and duration of the training session shall be mutuallyagreed, and then confirmed in writing by the host association. In the event ofsevere adverse weather conditions, the FIFA Match Commissioner may cancel
the training session. In this case, the visiting team shall be allowed to inspect
the pitch while wearing training shoes. Should both teams wish to train at thesame time, the visiting team shall be given priority.
6.
If the host association considers the pitch unfit for play, they shall immediately
inform FIFA and the confederation concerned as well as the visiting associationand the match officials before their departure for the match in question. If thehost association fails to inform these parties accordingly, it shall be obliged
to pay all of the expenses incurred for the travel, board and lodging of theparties involved.

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7.
If there is any doubt regarding the condition of the pitch after the visiting
association has already left to play the match, the referee shall decide whether
the pitch is playable or not. If the referee declares the pitch unplayable, theprocedure to be followed is described in art. 5 par. 7.
8.
The matches may be played in daylight or under floodlight. Matches played
at night may be played only in stadiums where the floodlighting installations
meet the minimum lighting requirements laid down by FIFA, i.e. that thewhole pitch shall be evenly lit, with a recommended lighting level of at least
1,200 lux. An emergency power generator shall also be available which, in theevent of a power failure, guarantees at least two-thirds of the aforementioned
intensity of light for the whole pitch. FIFA, in its sole discretion, may grant
exceptions to these lighting requirements in specific circumstances where it
determines that such exceptions are warranted.
9.
All matches in the preliminary competition shall be identified, promoted andadvertised as qualifying matches in accordance with the relevant FIFA Mediaand Marketing Regulations and branding guidelines for the preliminarycompetition.

22

Stadium infrastructure and equipment

1.
Each association organising matches in the preliminary competition shallensure that the stadiums and facilities in which the matches take place
fulfil the requirements described in the Football Stadiums: Technical
Recommendations and Requirements publication and comply with the safety
and security standards and other FIFA regulations, guidelines and instructions
for international matches. The fields of play, accessory equipment and facilities
shall be in optimum condition and comply with the Laws of the Game andall other relevant regulations. Each stadium shall have spare goals, nets andcorner flags located in close proximity to the field of play for contingency
purposes. An emergency generator shall also be available and fully operational
at each stadium for contingency purposes.

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2.
Periodic safety checks for the benefit of spectators, players and officials
shall be carried out on the stadiums selected for matches in the preliminarycompetition by the authorities responsible. If requested, the associations
shall provide FIFA and the confederation with a copy of the relevant safety
certificate, which shall not be more than one year old.
REPLACE 2 with:
The host association shall put in place comprehensive COVID-19 preventative
measures as described in the IMP and in accordance with the directives issued
by the competent authorities. Additional safety checks for the benefit ofspectators, players and officials shall be carried out at the stadiums selected
for matches in the preliminary competition by the authorities responsible.
If requested, the host association shall provide FIFA and the confederation
with a copy of the relevant stadium safety certificate, which shall not be
more than one year old.
3.
Only stadiums that have been inspected and approved by the relevant
confederation may be selected for the preliminary competition of the FIFA
World Cup 2022™. Should a stadium no longer comply with FIFA standards,
FIFA may, in consultation with the confederation, reject the selection of thestadium concerned. Brand-new stadiums are to be inspected prior to use; theapplication for the final inspection and subsequent use of the facilities shallbe filed with the confederation as stipulated by the latter. Refurbished orrenovated stadiums are to be inspected prior to use; the application for the
final inspection and the subsequent use of the facilities shall be filed with theconfederation as stipulated by the latter.

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4.
As a general rule, matches may only be played in all-seater stadiums. If only
stadiums with both seating and standing areas are available, the standing
space shall remain vacant. With regard to the spectator areas, the FIFA Stadium
Safety and Security Regulations apply to the preliminary competition matches.
REPLACE 4 with:
The ability to admit spectators to a match is subject to the applicabledirectives, restrictions and regulations issued by the relevant government
authorities in the host country. If spectators are allowed at a match, allrelevant directives, restrictions and regulations issued by such authorities
must be followed at all times, subject to the following:a) Matches may only be played in all-seater stadiums;b) If only stadiums with both seating and standing areas are available, thestanding space shall remain vacant; andc) The FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations apply to the spectatorareas.
5.
If the host association has a stadium with certified goal-line technology andwishes to use the technology for a preliminary competition match, bothcompeting teams must sign FIFA’s consent form for the technology to be used.
The following process must be respected:–

The host association must send the aforementioned consent form to thevisiting team for approval to use goal-line technology during the match inquestion; this is subject to the installation being certified (valid on the dayof the match) as described on www.FIFA.com/quality;–

The completed consent form shall be submitted to FIFA for information;–

The entire process must be completed at least seven days before the matchis scheduled to take place.

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6.
If a stadium has a retractable roof, the FIFA Match Commissioner, in
consultation with the referee and the two teams’ officials, shall decide before
the match whether the roof shall be open or closed during the match. Thisdecision must be announced at the match coordination meeting, although
it may subsequently be modified prior to kick-off in the event of sudden andsignificant weather condition changes. If the match starts with the roof closed,
it shall remain closed for the entire match. If the match starts with the roof
open and there is a serious deterioration in the weather conditions, the FIFA
Match Commissioner and the referee have the authority to order its closure
during the match, provided that the safety and security of all spectators, players
and other stakeholders remain fully guaranteed by the host association. In suchan event, the roof shall remain closed until the end of the match.
7.
Matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces, or on an integrated
combination of artificial and natural materials (hybrid system). Where artificial
surfaces are used, the surface must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality
Programme for Football Turf or the International Match Standard, unlessspecial dispensation is given by FIFA. In this case, the visiting team is entitled tohave two practice sessions before the match, if requested.
8.
Each stadium shall have sufficient space for warm-ups during the match,
ideally behind the goals. A maximum of six (6) players shall warm up at thesame time (with a maximum of two (2) officials). Only the goalkeeper may
warm up with a ball. If there is not sufficient space behind the goals, bothteams shall warm up in the designated area beside the substitutes’ bench ofteam B, behind assistant referee no. 1. In this case, only a maximum of three(3) players and one (1) official per team may warm up at the same time andwithout any balls.
REPLACE 8 with:Space for warm-ups during the match must be considered carefully, andeach team shall use its designated warm-up area. Depending on thestadium’s layout, designated warm-up areas may be allocated behind eachteam’s substitutes’ bench. In such cases, only a maximum of three players andone official per team may warm up at the same time and without any balls.

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9.
Clocks in the stadium showing the length of time played may run during thematch, provided that they are stopped at the end of normal playing time ineach half, i.e. after 45 and 90 minutes respectively. This stipulation shall also
apply if extra time is played (i.e. after 15 minutes of each half). The half-time
interval shall be 15 minutes.
10.
At the end of the two periods of normal playing time (i.e. 45 and 90 minutes),
the referee shall indicate to the fourth official, either orally or by gesturingwith his hands, the number of minutes that he has decided to allow for time
lost. This also applies to the two periods of 15 minutes of extra time.
11.
Panels or electronic display boards, numbered on both sides for clarity, shall be
used to indicate the substitution of players and the number of minutes to beallowed for time lost.
12.
The use of giant screens must be in compliance with the relevant FIFA
instructions.
13.
Smoking is not permitted in the technical area or in the vicinity of the field ofplay or within competition areas such as the dressing rooms.

23

Footballs

1.
The footballs used in the preliminary competition shall be supplied by the hostassociation. The visiting team shall be supplied with a sufficient quantity of thesame football for its practice session(s) at the match stadium.
2.
The footballs used in the preliminary competition shall conform with theprovisions of the Laws of the Game and the FIFA Equipment Regulations. They
shall bear one of the following three designations: the official “FIFA QUALITY
PRO” logo, the official “FIFA QUALITY” logo or the “INTERNATIONAL
MATCHBALL STANDARD (IMS)” logo.

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Team equipment

1.
The participating member associations shall comply with the FIFA Equipment
Regulations in force. The display of political, religious or personal messages
or slogans in any language or form by players and officials on their playing orteam kits, equipment (including kit bags, beverage containers, medical bags,etc.) or body is prohibited. The similar display of commercial messages andslogans in any language or form by players and officials is not allowed for theduration of their time at any official activity organised by FIFA (including in thestadiums for official matches and training sessions, as well as during official
press conferences and mixed-zone activities).
2.
Each team shall inform FIFA of two different and contrasting colours (onepredominantly dark and one predominantly light) for its official and reserve
team kits (shirt, shorts and socks). In addition, each team shall select threecontrasting colours for the goalkeepers. These three goalkeeper kits must be
distinctly different and contrasting from each other as well as different andcontrasting from the official and reserve team kits. This information shall besent to FIFA on the team colour form. Only these colours may be worn at thematches.
3.
Each team shall supply a set of goalkeeper shirts without names or numbers.
These shirts will only be used in those special circumstances in which an
outfield player must take the position of goalkeeper during a match. This extra
set of goalkeeper shirts must be provided in the same three colours as theregular goalkeeper shirts.
4.
In principle, each team shall wear its official team kit as declared on the teamcolour form. If the two teams’ colours might cause confusion, the host teamshall be entitled to wear its official team kit and the visiting team shall use its
reserve team kit or, if necessary, a combination of the official and the reserve
team kits.

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5.
Each player shall wear a number between 1 and 23 on the front and backof his team shirt and on his playing shorts. The colour of the numbers must
contrast clearly with the main colour of the shirts and shorts (light on dark or
vice versa) and be legible from a distance for spectators in the stadium andtelevision viewers in accordance with the FIFA Equipment Regulations. It is
not compulsory for the name of the player to appear on his shirt during thepreliminary competition.
6.
FIFA shall supply a sufficient number of players’ sleeve badges with the official
competition logo of the FIFA World Cup 2022™, which shall be affixed on
the right-hand sleeve of each shirt, and any other badge as stipulated by FIFA
before the preliminary competition, which shall be affixed on the left-handsleeve. FIFA shall issue the participating member associations with guidelines
for the use of official terminology and graphics, which will also contain
instructions for the use of the players’ sleeve badges.

25

Flags, anthems and competition music

FIFA and the confederation concerned will determine the exact ceremonial
elements to be put in place at each preliminary competition match. FIFA andthe confederations shall issue the participating member associations withguidelines for the implementation of these elements.

26

Media

Amendments to media provisions may be necessary in accordance withthe requirements of the confederation, the guidelines in the IMP or the
directives issued by the competent local authority.
1.
Each association shall appoint a dedicated media officer to facilitate
cooperation between the associations, FIFA and the media in accordance withthese Regulations. The association media officer shall be able to speak at least
one of the official FIFA languages (English, French, German or Spanish) as
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required standards. The association media officer shall coordinate all media
arrangements, including pre-match and post-match press conferences andinterviews.
2.
The associations’ media officers shall coordinate media accreditation requests
and ensure that all accreditation requests come from bona fide media
representatives. Priority shall be given to media representatives from thecountries of the two teams playing. Space permitting, access shall be given tointernational media representatives from any country.
In close cooperation with the relevant host association, FIFA is entitled toestablish the terms and conditions applicable to the accreditation provided tomedia representatives at all matches.
3.
Each association shall arrange a pre-match media activity on the day before
each match. These activities shall ideally be official press conferences, but
for matches with less media interest, they may also be a mixed-zone activity
or single interview. In principle, such media activities shall be staged in thestadium in which the match is to be played, unless an alternative location isagreed in advance. As a minimum, each media activity shall be attended by
the head coach of the team and, ideally, a player. The host association shall be
responsible for providing the necessary technical infrastructure and services
at pre-match media activities in the match stadium, including interpreting
services.
The two associations’ media officers shall be responsible for coordinating theactivities and informing the media accordingly about all pre-match media
activities.
4.
Both associations shall make their training sessions open to the media for atleast 15 minutes on the day before the match. In principle, the official training
sessions shall take place in the stadium where the match will take place. Media
representatives shall be able to follow the training sessions from the positions
that they will occupy during the match.

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5.
An adequate number of covered seats shall be made available for the writtenpress in a separate and secure area that is centrally located in the main or
opposite stand, with a clear and unobstructed view of the whole pitch andwith sufficient technical installations (e.g. power and internet connection)
provided.
A working area with desks, power supply and cabled or Wi-Fi internet
connections shall also be provided for media representatives. The internet
connections for media representatives shall be dedicated networks andprovided free of charge.
6.
Interviews shall not be permitted during the match on the field of playitself or in its immediate vicinity. Interviews with coaches and players shallbe allowed upon their arrival at the stadium, subject to their agreement.
Post-match interviews (“flash” interviews) shall be conducted after the matchin a designated area located between the pitch and the players’ dressing
rooms. Associations shall make their head coach and at least two key players
available for interviews.
7.
Both teams shall make their head coach available for comments after thematch in an official post-match press conference at the stadium.
After the match, a mixed zone shall be set up between the dressing rooms
and the team transport area in order to offer media representatives theopportunity to conduct interviews with players and coaches. All players fromboth teams who are listed on the official start list are obliged to pass throughthe mixed zone in order to conduct interviews with the media.
8.
Media representatives are forbidden from entering the team and referee
dressing rooms before, during and after the match. However, one of the hostbroadcaster’s cameras may enter the dressing rooms before the match at atime agreed in advance with the associations in order to film the players’ shirts
and equipment. This filming shall be completed well before the arrival of theplayers.

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9.
No media representatives shall be allowed to enter the field of play before,
during or after the match, with the exception of one hand-held camera crew
covering the team line-ups at the start of the match and up to two of the hostbroadcaster’s cameras filming after the end of the match. The same shall apply
to the tunnel and dressing-room area, with the exception of cameras for flash
interviews, team arrivals and players in the tunnel prior to taking to the pitch(before the match) and at the start of the second half.
In terms of the mass media, only a limited number of photographers,
camera operators and production staff of the broadcasters – equipped withappropriate pitch-access accreditation – shall be allowed to work in the area
between the boundaries of the pitch and the spectators.

27

Financial provisions

1.
All revenue from the exploitation of the commercial rights (advertising, TV andradio broadcasts, film and videos) for the preliminary competition matches
belongs to the host association and, with the income from ticket sales, form
the gross receipts. The owners of the rights are obliged to provide FIFA, uponrequest and free of charge, with 15 minutes of action footage per match.
FIFA shall use this footage free of charge for promotional purposes in the
preliminary competition and in football worldwide. FIFA is also entitled to use
the footage for its own electronic data carriers or any such carriers producedon FIFA’s behalf, and for its own multimedia database.
2.
The levies due to the confederation in accordance with the confederation’s
statutes and regulations shall be deducted from the gross receipts.
3.
The participating member associations shall settle all other costs among
themselves. FIFA recommends the following provisions:a) the visiting association shall pay for its delegation’s own international
travel costs to the venue or to the nearest international airport, as well asboard, lodging costs and incidental expenses;

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42 Preliminary competition organisationb) the host association shall pay for domestic transport costs for the entire
official delegation of the visiting team depending on flight connections(cf. art. 21 par. 1);c) the host association shall pay for board and lodging in a high-standard
hotel as well as domestic transport in the host country for the matchofficials, the FIFA Match Commissioner, the referee assessor and any otherFIFA officials (e.g. security officer, media officer, etc.);d) the teams shall not be permitted to stay at the same hotel as each other orat the hotel chosen for the FIFA delegation.
e) all costs related to COVID-19 testing and documentation requested shall beborne by the association or team in question.
f) all costs related to the COVID-19 preventative measures required at thematch stadium shall be borne by the host association.
4.
If the financial outcome of a match is insufficient to cover the expenses
mentioned under par. 2 above, the host association shall bear the deficit.
5.
FIFA shall bear the cost of:a) international travel and daily allowances for the FIFA delegation members,
match officials included, as determined by FIFA.
b) COVID-19 testing of the FIFA delegation members, including matchofficials.
6.
Any disputes arising from financial provisions shall be resolved amongst
the associations concerned but may be submitted to the FIFA Organising
Committee for a final decision to be taken.

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28

Ticketing1.
The host association is responsible for ticketing and shall manage the ticketing
operations in a manner that meets all applicable security and safety standards. It
shall set aside an appropriate number – to be determined by mutual agreement
and in writing – of complimentary and purchasable tickets for the visiting
association. At least five representatives from the visiting association shall beseated in the VIP box. The visiting association shall inform the host associationno later than 15 days before the match, and in writing, of the total number oftickets that will be unused and thus returned upon arrival at the venue.
2.
The host association shall, upon request and free of charge, provide FIFA withten VIP box tickets and up to 40 category 1 tickets for each match. Such tickets
shall be provided no later than 30 days prior to each match.
3.
FIFA reserves the right to require certain terms and conditions to be includedin the terms and conditions which apply to preliminary competition matchtickets.

29

Liability

With the sole exception of preliminary competition matches hosted and stagedby, or under the auspices of, FIFA at a neutral venue as decided by FIFA and not
being considered a preliminary competition home match of either of the twoparticipating associations, the host association of a preliminary competition
match shall be exclusively responsible for the organisation of its home matches
and shall discharge FIFA from all responsibility and relinquish any claim against
FIFA and the members of its delegation for any damages resulting from any
claims relating to such match.

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FINAL COMPETITION

30

Final competition

Further provisions governing the modalities and specific details relating to thefinal competition will be adopted by the FIFA Council at a later stage.

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FINAL PROVISIONS

31

Matters not provided for and force majeure

Matters not provided for in these Regulations or any cases of force majeure
shall be decided by FIFA.

32

Prevailing set of regulations

In the case of any discrepancy between these Regulations and any competition
regulations issued by a confederation, the text of these Regulations shallprevail.

33

Languages

In the case of any discrepancy in the interpretation of the English, French,
Spanish or German texts of these Regulations, the English text shall beauthoritative.

34

Copyright

The copyright of the match schedule drawn up in accordance with theprovisions of these Regulations shall be the property of FIFA.

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35

No waiverAny waiver by FIFA of any breach of these Regulations (including of any
document referred to in these Regulations) shall not operate as, or beconstrued to be, a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any
breach of any other provision or a waiver of any right arising out of theseRegulations or any other document. Any such waiver shall only be valid if
given in writing. Failure by FIFA to insist upon strict adherence to any provisionof these Regulations, or any document referred to in these Regulations, on
one or more occasions shall not be considered to be a waiver of, or deprive
FIFA of the right to subsequently insist upon strict adherence to, that provisionor any other provision of these Regulations, or any document referred to inthese Regulations.

36

Enforcement

These regulations were approved by the FIFA Council at its meeting in Miamion 15 March 2019 and come into force with immediate effect.
Temporary amendments were approved by the Bureau of the FIFA Council as aresult of the COVID-19 pandemic on XX September 2020 and come into force
immediately. They will be periodically reviewed and removed accordingly.

Zurich, September 2020

For FIFA

President:
Gianni Infantino

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ARTICLE 42 OF
REGULATIONSTHE FIFA DISCIPLINARY[2019 ED.] CODE AND ARTICLE 38BIS OF THE FIFA CODE OF ETHICS–LEGAL AID AND
PRO BONO COUNSELTO THE MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS OF FIFA
Circular no. 1691
Zurich, 2 September 2019
SG/cshArticle 42 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and article 38bis of the FIFA Code of Ethics – legal aid
and pro bono counsel
Dear Sir or Madam,
During its meeting in Paris on 3 June this year, the FIFA Council approved the 2019 edition of the FIFA
Disciplinary Code (FDC) and some amendments to the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE), which both included
the implementation of legal aid and pro bono counsel for individuals facing financial difficulties.
The purpose of this circular letter is to explain the concepts of legal aid and pro bono counsel, as set out
in article 42 FDC and article 38bis FCE, in order to enable you to deal with any queries you may receive.
Legal aid
FIFA is committed to guaranteeing the rights of individuals who lack the financial means to defend
themselves properly in proceedings before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, the FIFA Appeal Committee
and the Ethics Committee. Article 42 FDC and article 38bis FCE provide for three types of legal aid:

Releasing the applicant from his/her obligation to pay the costs of the relevant proceedings;

Appointing a pro bono counsel to assist the individual; and

Paying reasonable travel and accommodation costs of the applicant, if needed (as well as thoseof any witnesses, experts and pro bono counsel).

For the avoidance of doubt, legal aid is not available to member associations, clubs or other entities thatare not natural persons.
Pro bono counsel
FIFA is currently in the process of compiling this list and aims to ensure that only independent lawyers
with appropriate experience and expertise in football/sports law are selected.
Bearing this in mind, FIFA is now looking for pro bono counsel, who must fulfil the following criteria
and submit their application (letter of motivation and CV) to disciplinary@fifa.org by 30.09.2019 at thelatest:- Active sports lawyer in a company and/or law firm, certifying at least 7 years dealing with sports
law matters,- 3-5 years of experience with sports organisations,- 3-5 years of experience in sports arbitration proceedings,

Fédération Internationale de Football Association
FIFA-Strasse 20 P.O. Box 8044 Zurich Switzerland T: +41 (0)43 222 7777
LEGAL AID AND
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PRO BONO COUNSEL-

Fluency in two of FIFA’s official languages would be an asset, i.e. English, Spanish, French and/or
German.

All pro bono counsel will be required to act in accordance with the highest standards of integrity andhonesty at all times in the performance of their duties.
A pro bono counsel will receive no remuneration for his/her work. However, FIFA may decide to
reimburse reasonable travel and accommodation costs.
Application process
An applicant may apply for legal aid and pro bono counsel by sending an email to FIFA at
disciplinary@fifa.org, explaining the need for his/her application. In addition, the applicant must provide
all necessary information to establish his/her financial situation.
The FIFA secretariat of the Disciplinary Committee or Ethics Committee, respectively, will decide on
applications at its sole discretion. The request will not be granted if it is clear that the applicant has
sufficient financial means.
The decision of FIFA is final and without appeal. The applicant may, however, request that his/her
application be reconsidered should his/her financial situation deteriorate significantly after the initial
review.
Legal aid and pro bono counsel may be requested by a defendant as soon as a case is opened against
him/her. Although legal aid and pro bono counsel may be requested at any time during the proceedings,
applicants are encouraged to submit their applications for legal aid and pro bono counsel as soon as
possible.
Additional information and queries
Information on FIFA’s legal aid system and the list of pro bono counsel will be published on legal.fifa.com
in due course.
In the meantime, should you have any queries on this subject, please contact Carlos Schneider, Head ofDisciplinary and Head of the Secretariat of the Investigatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committees, at
carlos.schneider@fifa.org.
Yours faithfully,FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE
DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Alasdair Bell
Deputy Secretary General (Administration)

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TO THE MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS OF FIFA
Circular no. 1635
Zurich, 8 June 2018
SG/MAV/kop

International transfer of players

Dear Sir or Madam,
We refer to the administrative procedure governing the international transfer of players, withparticular reference to refugees and “protected persons” as well as to art. 8.2 par. 1 of Annexe 3 tothe Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (hereinafter: the Regulations) concerning thetimely upload of mandatory documents in the International Transfer Matching System (ITMS), in
particular the proof signed by the player and his/her former club that there is no third-party ownership(TPO) of the player’s economic rights.
Refugees and “protected persons”
We wish to remind you that, as a matter of principle, all transfers of players (minors or players over
the age of 18) moving internationally for humanitarian reasons, i.e. in situations where the player
has had to flee the country of his/her nationality for specific humanitarian reasons related to his/herlife or freedom being threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, belonging to a particularsocial group or belief in a particular political opinion and who cannot therefore be expected to return
to it, international clearance in the form of an international transfer certificate (ITC) must be obtained
from the association of his/her former club.
In such circumstances, it must however not only be guaranteed that the association intending toregister the player for one of its affiliated clubs adheres to the relevant provisions governing theadministrative procedure for the international transfer of players (cf. particularly art. 9 par. 1 inconjunction with Annexe 3, Annexe 3a and art. 2 par. 2 of the Regulations), but also that the
government authorities in the country of the player’s nationality and former club are not able topotentially find out his/her whereabouts due to the ITC proceedings, which could otherwise possibly
jeopardise his/her safety as well as the safety of his/her family.

F é d é ra t i o n In t er n at i o n a l e d e F o o tb a l l As s o c i a t i o nFIFA-Strasse 20 P.O. Box 8044 Zurich Switzerland T: +41 (0)43-222 7777 www.FIFA.com

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As an exception to the strict application of the pertinent provisions of the Regulations, the associationof the club for which the player concerned intends to be registered must therefore directly requestthat the Players’ Status Department of FIFA (FIFA PSD) intervene (via PDF file(s) attached to an
email sent to psdfifa@fifa.org) rather than requesting the ITC from the association of theplayer’s nationality and former club. Together with the request for intervention, the new
association must provide the pertinent documentary evidence to corroborate that the player involved
has indeed been granted the status of a person in need of protection by the competent authoritiesof the country of arrival.
Upon receipt of such documentary evidence, the FIFA PSD will be able to commence its intervention
and contact the alleged former association, which would normally be involved in the proceedings
concerning the issue of the ITC. The FIFA PSD will ask it whether the player in question has indeed
been registered with it for one of its clubs, without disclosing at which association and for whichclub the player is intending to be registered. Should the FIFA PSD not receive any reply from theformer association, it will have no alternative but to assume that the player in question has neverbeen registered with it.
If there is no reply (see the above paragraph) or a negative answer (confirmation that no records ofthe player’s registration exist) from the former association during these proceedings, the association
intending to register the player may, on confirmation by the FIFA PSD, proceed to register the player
without the ITC being issued by the former association or a decision being taken by the single judgeof the Players' Status Committee on the possible registration of the player for his/her new club,provided that all other registration prerequisites stipulated in the Regulations are duly adhered to.
Should, however, the former association inform the FIFA PSD that the player has been previously
registered with one of its affiliated clubs and provide the relevant documentary evidence, the FIFA
PSD will proceed to submit the matter to the single judge of the Players’ Status Committee forconsideration and a formal decision regarding the authorisation of the player’s registration for his/her
new club, obviously also without disclosing the whereabouts of the player.
This approach applies to all female and male refugees or “protected persons”, regardless of whether
they are registered as professionals or amateurs, within the scope of 11-a-side football or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the above, and for the sake of completeness, we would like to add that should theplayer concerned have terminated his/her football activity at the former club more than 30 months
prior to the request of his/her registration with a new club at a new association, he/she is no longer
considered to be registered with the association of his/her nationality and former club (cf. art. 4 of
the Regulations). His/her envisaged registration for the new club would, in that case, not require theissue of an ITC (first registration of the player).
Finally, we would like to point out that, in order to avoid possible safety issues for minors and theirfamilies, if an association submits an application for a minor moving for humanitarian reasons prior
to his/her international transfer (if he/she was previously registered with the association of his/hernationality or any other association) via ITMS, the former association will not have access to theinformation contained therein, it will not be invited to provide comments and it will not be notifiedof the Players’ Status Sub-Committee’s decision (cf. “FIFA TMS 7.7 – Release notes” of 23 February2017).
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We would also draw your attention to art. 8.2 par. 1 of Annexe 3 to the Regulations, according towhich all data allowing the new association to request the ITC shall be entered into TMS, confirmed
and matched by the club wishing to register the player during one of the registration periods
established by that association. Moreover, in accordance with the aforementioned provision, whenentering the relevant data, the new club must upload the relevant mandatory documents, dependingon the selected instruction type.
In accordance with the aforementioned provision, proof signed by the player and his/her former clubthat there is no third-party ownership (TPO) of the player’s economic rights is a mandatory documentthat must be duly uploaded by the new club in all types of transfer instructions. If the new club is
not able to obtain this “proof of no TPO” document from the former club, it must at least upload
evidence in the relevant transfer instruction that it has made its best efforts to obtain this “proof of
no TPO” document from the former club (cf. TMS monthly newsletter no. 111 of 15 November2017).
With a view to avoiding any possible misunderstandings concerning this matter, we would like to
add that the pertinent documentary evidence of the best efforts made by the new club to obtain this“proof of no TPO” document from the former club must be uploaded in the transfer instruction inquestion within the relevant registration period established by the association concerned.
*****
In order to guarantee the proper process and prevent any potential issues relating to the respective
registration proceedings, we would ask you to take due note of these clarifications and inform youraffiliated clubs accordingly.
Please do not hesitate to contact the FIFA PSD if you have any questions in connection with theabove.
We thank you for taking note.
Yours faithfully,FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE
DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Fatma Samoura
Secretary Generalcc:FIFA Council
Players’ Status Committee
Confederations
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Statutes form the backbone of an Association, regulating its activities andhow it is organised. Moreover, an Association must take care to ensure that its
statutes fully comply with the provisions of the FIFA Statutes.
For these very reasons, FIFA decided to compile standard statutes in 2001
and launched a wide-ranging policy of modernisation of the statutes of its
members in order to improve the governance of football in each country as
well as to strengthen the principles contained in the FIFA Statutes.
By virtue of the new FIFA Statutes, which came into force on 1 January 2004,
containing a variety of new articles, content and principles, the FIFA Standard
Statutes had to be revised as well to make sure that members incorporate thisnew content into their own statutes.
In this context FIFA has started to analyse the current statutes of its members
to identify potential discrepancies. The result of this evaluation and our priorexperiences with the application of the old FIFA Standard Statutes have helped
us to improve this document and to make it more user-friendly and give it aclearer structure.
The Standard Statutes contain all the provisions that are intrinsic to any
constitutive texts worthy of such description. We are therefore calling upon the
Associations to examine these statutes meticulously and incorporate all of thearticles and principles covered into their own statutes – for their own benet
and for the Good of the Game.

Joseph S. Blatter
President

Jérôme Valcke
Secretary General

Zurich, January 2010

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CONTENTS

Page

Article3

WHY STANDARD STATUTES ARE NEEDED?

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CONTENTS

6STANDARD STATUTES

7

DEFINITIONS

9

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1-8

14

II. MEMBERSHIP
9-17

22

III. HONORARY PRESIDENT AND HONORARY MEMBER
18

23
24
34
39
42
43
51
53

IV. ORGANISATION
19–67
A. Congress
B. Executive Committee
C. President
D. Emergency Committee
E. Standing Committees
F. General Secretariat
G. Judicial Bodies

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Article58

V. FINANCE
68–74

61

VI. COMPETITIONS AND RIGHTS IN COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS
75–78

63

VII. INTERNATIONAL MATCHES AND COMPETITIONS
79–81

64

VIII. FINAL PROVISIONS
82–84

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STANDARD STATUTES

Preliminary remarks
1. The following language conventions are used in the interpretation of thesestatutes:– “X” replaces the name, abbreviation or acronym of the Association, tobe selected by the latter.
– A number of terms or expressions, to be selected by the Association, arerepresented by just one of the said terms or expressions. Thus:• “Congress” means ”congress”, “general assembly”, “delegates’
meeting” or any other designation, to be selected by the
Association;• “Executive Committee” means “executive committee”, “executiveofce”, “federal ofce”, or any other designation, to be selectedby the Association;• “League” means “league”, “regional association” or any othersection or subdivision subordinate to the Association, to be selectedby the latter.
2. The majorities used in the Standard Statutes are recommendations. An
Association may decide whether an absolute majority (50% + 1) or a majorityof two-thirds or three-quarters is required to take a valid decision or in anelection.

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The terms given below denote the following:... [Abbreviation or acronym of the Association]: full name of the Association
FIFA: Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
Association: a football Association recognised by and a Member of FIFA.
League: an organisation subordinate to an Association.
Regional Association: an organisation subordinate to an Association.
Confederation: a group of Associations recognised by FIFA and belonging to
the same continent (or similar geographic area).
Club: Member of a football Association (that is itself a Member of FIFA).
Ofcials: all board members, committee members, coaches, referees andattendants as well as other people responsible for technical, medical andadministrative matters at FIFA, a Confederation, Association, League or Club.
Player: a football player registered with an Association.
Congress: the supreme body of X.
Executive Committee: the executive body of X.
Member: a legal or natural person that has been admitted into membership of
X by the Congress.
Association Football: the game controlled by FIFA and organised inaccordance with the Laws of the Game.
IFAB: the International Football Association Board.
Ordinary Courts: state courts which hear public and private legal disputes.

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DEFINITIONS

Arbitration Tribunal: private court of justice acting instead of an Ordinary
Court.
CAS (TAS): Court of Arbitration for Sport (Tribunal Arbitral du Sport) in
Lausanne (Switzerland).
NB: References to natural persons include both genders. The singular caseapplies to the plural and vice-versa.

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9

Name, headquarters, legal form

This article shall govern the name, the headquarters and legal form of the
Association. Likewise, the Association shall dene its afliation and thecorresponding obligations. Furthermore, the Association may dene its ag,
emblem, logo or abbreviation and protect them legally by registering themwith the relevant national and international intellectual property protection
bodies.
1. X is a private organisation of an associative nature [precise legal form to be
specied by the Association, as required by the law in force in the country],in compliance with the legislation of … [name of the country in which the
Association has its headquarters] [add as required: “and registered in …
[name of the town or city in which the Association has its headquarters]”]. It is
formed for an unlimited period.
2. The headquarters are in … [insert the name of the town or city,
address].
3. X is a Member of FIFA and of … [abbreviation or acronym of the relevant
Confederation].
4. The ag of X is … [to be completed by the Association].
5. The emblem of X is … [to be completed by the Association].
6. The logo of X is … [to be completed by the Association].
7. The abbreviation of X is … [to be completed by the Association].
8. The ag, emblem, logo and abbreviation are legally registered with …
[relevant national and international intellectual property protection bodies].

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Objectives

This article shall govern the objectives of the Association.
The objectives of X are:a) to improve the game of football constantly and promote, regulate
and control it throughout the territory of X in the light of fair play andits unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values, particularly
through youth and development programmes;b) to organise competitions in Association Football in all its forms at anational level, by dening precisely, as required, the areas of authority
conceded to the various Leagues of which it is composed;c) to draw up regulations and provisions and ensure their enforcement;d) to protect the interests of its Members;e) to respect and prevent any infringement of the statutes, regulations,directives and decisions of FIFA, of … [abbreviation or acronym of therelevant Confederation] and X as well as the Laws of the Game and toensure that these are also respected by its Members;f) to prevent all methods or practices which might jeopardise the integrityof matches or competitions or give rise to abuse of Association Football;g) to control and supervise all friendly football matches of all forms played
throughout the territory of X;

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11h) to manage international sporting relations connected with Association
Football in all its forms;i) to host competitions at international and other levels;j) … [possible additional objectives to be specied by the Association].

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Neutrality and non-discrimination

Political and religious neutrality as well as the ght against racism and thepunishment of any kind of discrimination is of great concern to FIFA.
1. X is neutral in matters of politics and religion.
2. Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group ofpeople on account of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion, politics or any
other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.

4

Promoting friendly relations

An Association may include a clause regarding the promotion of friendly
relations amongst its Members and all parties involved in the game of football.
An Association can thus provide the necessary institutional means to resolve
any disputes that may arise between its Members, particularly due to violationof the Laws of the Game and the regulations of the Association.
1. X shall promote friendly relations between its Members, Clubs, Ofcials andPlayers and in society for humanitarian objectives.
2. Every person and organisation involved in the game of football is obliged toobserve the Statutes, regulations and the principles of fair play as well as theprinciples of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship.
3. X shall provide the necessary institutional means to resolve any internal
dispute that may arise between Members, Clubs, Ofcials and Players of X.

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Players

1. The status of Players and the provisions for their transfer shall be regulatedby the Executive Committee of X in accordance with the current FIFA
Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players.
2. Players shall be registered in accordance with the regulations of X.

6

Laws of the GameX and each of its Members play Association Football in compliance with theLaws of the Game issued by IFAB. Only IFAB may lay down and alter the Lawsof the Game.

7

Conduct of bodies and Ofcials

The bodies and Ofcials of X must observe the Statutes, regulations, directives,
decisions and the Code of Ethics of FIFA, of … [abbreviation or acronym of therelevant Confederation, if applicable] and of X [if applicable] in their activities.

8Ofcial languages

1. The ofcial language(s) of X shall be … [to be completed by the Association].
Ofcial documents and texts shall be written in this/these language(s). [In the eventof any divergence between the interpretation of texts in different languages, thetext written in ... [insert the relevant language], shall be regarded as authoritative.]
2. The ofcial language(s) at the Congress shall be … [to be selected by the
Association].

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II. MEMBERSHIP

This chapter shall govern the rights and obligations of the Members of the
Association as well as rules regarding the admission, suspension, expulsion
and resignation of Members of the Association. As a rule, the Clubs are
Members of an Association, but it is also possible that the Leagues, Regional
Associations, other groups linked to football and individuals may become
a Member of the Association provided that their membership has been
approved by the Congress. The Clubs may be indirect Members of the
Association through their membership of a League or Regional Associationthat is a direct Member of the Association. An Association may set up
different categories of Members, but it is important that every Member ofthe same category has the same rights and obligations. An Association shallcompose its own catalogue of membership conditions. Only the Congress as
the supreme body of the Association shall decide whether to admit, suspend
or expel a Member.

9Admission, suspension and expulsion

1. The Congress shall decide whether to admit, suspend or expel a Member.
2. Admission may be granted if the applicant fulls the requirements of X.
3. Membership is terminated by resignation or expulsion. Loss of membership
does not relieve the Member from its nancial obligations towards X or otherMembers of X, but leads to cancellation of all rights in relation to X.

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Admission

1. The Members of X are:a) Clubs;b) Regional Associations;c) Leagues;d) Player groups;e) referees’ groups;f) coaches’ groups;g) … [to be completed by the Association].
2. Any legal or natural person wishing to become a Member of X shall apply in
writing to the general secretariat of X.
3. The application must be accompanied by the following mandatory items:a) a copy of its legally valid statutes and regulations;b) a declaration that it will always comply with the Statutes, regulations
and decisions of X, FIFA and ... [abbreviation or acronym of the relevant
Confederation] and ensure that these are also respected by its own
Members, Clubs, Ofcials and Players;c) a declaration that it will comply with the Laws of the Game in force;d) a declaration that it recognises the Arbitration Court of X [if applicable]
and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, as specied inthese Statutes;

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II. MEMBERSHIPe) a declaration that it is located and registered [if legally required] in the
territory of X;f) a declaration that it will play all ofcial home matches in the territory of X;g) a declaration to the effect that the legal composition of the applicant
guarantees that it can make decisions independently of any external entity;h) a list of Ofcials, specifying those who are authorised signatories withthe right to enter into legally binding agreements with third parties;i) a declaration that it undertakes to organise or participate in friendly
matches only with the prior consent of X;j) a copy of the minutes of its last congress or constitutional meeting;k) … [an Association may add further items].
4. This article shall not affect the status of existing Members.

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Request and procedure for application

1. The procedure for admission shall be regulated by special regulations
approved by the Executive Committee of X.
2. The Executive Committee shall request the Congress either to admit or not
to admit an applicant. The applicant may state the reasons for its application to
the Congress.
3. The new Member shall acquire membership rights and duties as soon as
it has been admitted. Its delegates are eligible to vote and be elected withimmediate effect.

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Members’ rights

1. The Members of X have the following rights:a) to take part in the Congress of X, to know its agenda in advance, tobe called to the Congress within the prescribed time and to exercise theirvoting rights;b) to draw up proposals for inclusion in the agenda of the Congress;c) to nominate candidates for all bodies of X to be elected;d) to be informed of the affairs of X through the ofcial bodies of X;e) to take part in competitions [if applicable] and/or other sports activities
organised by X;f) to exercise all other rights arising from the Statutes and regulations of X.
2. The exercise of these rights is subject to other provisions in these Statutes
and the applicable regulations.

13

Members’ obligations

1. The Members of X have the following obligations:a) to comply fully with the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions ofFIFA, ... [abbreviation or acronym of the relevant Confederation] and X at
all times and to ensure that these are also respected by its members;b) to ensure the election of its decision-making bodies;

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II. MEMBERSHIPc) to take part in competitions [if applicable] and other sports activities
organised by X;d) to pay their membership subscriptions;e) to respect the Laws of the Game as laid down by IFAB and to ensurethat these are also respected by its members through a statutory provision;f) to adopt a statutory clause specifying that any dispute requiring
arbitration involving itself or one of its members and relating to the
Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA, ... [abbreviation oracronym of the relevant Confederation], X or the League(s) shall comesolely under the jurisdiction of the appropriate Arbitration Tribunal of FIFA,… [abbreviation or acronym of the relevant Confederation] or X and thatany recourse to Ordinary Courts is prohibited;g) to communicate to X any amendment of its statutes and regulations
as well as the list of its Ofcials or persons who are authorised signatories
with the right to enter into legally binding agreements with third parties;h) not to maintain any relations of a sporting nature with entities that are
not recognised or with Members that have been suspended or expelled;i) to observe the principles of loyalty, integrity and good sporting
behaviour as an expression of fair play through a statutory provision;j) to observe the mandatory items specied under article 10 paragraph 3
for the duration of their afliation;k) to administer a register of members which shall regularly be updated;

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19l) to comply fully with all other duties arising from the Statutes andother regulations of FIFA, ... [abbreviation or acronym of the relevant
Confederation] and X.
2. Violation of the above-mentioned obligations by any Member may lead tosanctions provided for in these Statutes.

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Suspension

1. The Congress is responsible for suspending a Member. The Executive
Committee may, however, suspend a Member that seriously and repeatedly
violates its obligations as a Member with immediate effect. The suspension
shall last until the next Congress, unless the Executive Committee has lifted itin the meantime.
2. A suspension shall be conrmed at the next Congress by … [number ofvotes to be completed by the Association, e.g. three-quarter majority] of thevotes taken. If it is not conrmed, the suspension is automatically lifted.
3. A suspended Member shall lose its membership rights. Other Members may
not entertain sporting contact with a suspended Member. The Disciplinary
Committee may impose further sanctions.
4. Members that do not participate in the sports activities of X for … [numberof years to be completed by Association] consecutive years shall be suspended
from voting at the Congress and their representatives shall not be elected or
appointed until they have fullled their obligations in this respect.

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Expulsion

1. The Congress may expel a Member if:a) it fails to full its nancial obligations towards X;b) it seriously violates the Statutes, regulations, directives or decisions ofFIFA, … [abbreviation or acronym of the relevant Confederation] and X;c) … [further reasons which may be completed by the Association].
2. The presence of an absolute majority (50% + 1) of Members entitled to voteat the Congress is necessary for an expulsion to be valid, and the motion for
expulsion must be adopted by a three-quarter majority of the valid votes cast.

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Resignation

1. A Member may resign from X with effect from the end of … [to becompleted by the Association, e.g. a calendar year]. Notice of resignationmust reach the general secretariat no later than … [to be completed by the
Association, e.g. six months before the end of the calendar year].
2. The resignation is not valid until the Member wishing to resign has fullledits nancial obligations towards X and the other Members of X.

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Status of Clubs, Leagues, Regional
Associations and other groups of Clubs

1. Clubs, Leagues, Regional Associations or any other groups of Clubs afliatedto X shall be subordinate to and recognised by X. These Statutes dene thescope of authority and the rights and duties of these Clubs and groups. Theirstatutes and regulations must be approved by the Executive Committee of X.
2. The afliated Clubs and groups of X shall take all decisions on any mattersregarding their membership independently of any external body. This obligation
applies regardless of their corporate structure.
3. In any case, no natural or legal person (including holding companies andsubsidiaries) shall exercise control over more than one Club or group whenever
the integrity of any match or competition could be jeopardised.

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III. HONORARY PRESIDENT AND HONORARY MEMBERAn Association may bestow the title of honorary president or honorary
member.

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Honorary president and honorary member

1. The Congress may bestow the title of honorary president or honorary
member upon any persons for meritorious service to football.
2. The Executive Committee shall make these nominations.
3. The honorary president or honorary member may take part in the Congress.
They may join the debates but are not entitled to vote.

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Bodies (of the Association)

The bodies are the most important parts of an Association. It cannot exist or
act without them. Only the bodies, or persons who are authorised by them,
can act with legally binding force for the Association. Therefore, an Association
has to dene a legislative body, an executive body, an administrative bodyand judicial bodies. The competences of this bodies shall be well-dened anddifferentiated and not overlapping. An Association shall ensure the separationof powers and respect the principles of corporate governance (e.g. checks andbalances). Using the FIFA Statutes as a reference, these bodies are referred to
below as the Congress, Executive Committee, standing committees, generalsecretariat, Disciplinary Committee and Appeal Committee. In FIFA’s view, it is
not necessary to install further bodies such as additional regional congresses orregional executive committees.
1. The Congress is the supreme and legislative body.
2. The Executive Committee is the executive body.
3. Standing and ad-hoc committees shall advise and assist the Executive
Committee in fullling its duties. Their duties, composition and function aredened in these Statutes and/or special regulations drawn up by the Executive
Committee.
4. The general secretariat is the administrative body.
5. The judicial bodies are the Disciplinary Committee and the Appeal
Committee.
6. The bodies of X shall be either elected or appointed by X itself without any
external inuence and in accordance with the procedures described in these
Statutes.

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IV. ORGANISATION

A. CONGRESSThis chapter shall govern the composition, function and duties of the Congressas the supreme and legislative body of the Association. FIFA recommends thatan Ordinary Congress be held on an annual basis. The Executive Committee
may convene an Extraordinary Congress at any time. As a general rule, every
Member (or where applicable, each Member of the same category) shall havean equal number of delegates and votes. The requisite majorities and the dates
on which any decision passed by the Congress takes effect shall be dened in
the Statutes of X.

20

Denition and composition of the Congress

1. The Congress is the meeting at which all of the Members of X regularly
convene. It represents the supreme and legislative authority of X. Only aCongress that is regularly convened has the authority to make decisions.
2. A Congress may be an Ordinary or Extraordinary Congress.
3. The President shall conduct the Congress business in compliance with thestanding orders of the Congress.
4. The Congress may appoint observers who take part in the Congress without
the right to debate or to vote.
5. The honorary presidents or honorary members may take part in theCongress. They may join the debates but are not entitled to vote.

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Delegates and votes

1. The Congress is composed of … [number to be completed by the
Association] delegates. The number of delegates is allocated as follows:a) for each Club … [number to be completed by the Association]delegates;b) for each Regional Association … [number to be completed by the
Association] delegates;c) for each League … [number to be completed by the Association]delegates;d) ... [to be completed by the Association].
2. Delegates must belong to the Member that they represent and be appointed
or elected by the appropriate body of that Member. They must also be able toproduce evidence of this upon request.
3. Each delegate of the same category of Member has an equal number ofvotes in the Congress. Only the delegates present are entitled to vote. Voting
by proxy or by letter is not permitted.
4. The Executive Committee and the General Secretary shall take part in theCongress without voting rights. During their terms of ofce, members of the
Executive Committee may not be appointed as delegates for their association.

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Areas of authority

The Congress has the following authority:a) adopting or amending the Statutes, regulations governing theapplication of the Statutes and the standing orders of the Congress;b) appointing … [number to be completed by the Association] Members
to check the minutes and approving the minutes of the last meeting;c) electing the President and the vice-presidents and members of the
Executive Committee;d) appointing the scrutineers;e) approving the nancial statements;f) approving the budget;g) approving the President’s activity report;h) appointing the independent auditors upon the proposal of the
Executive Committee;i) xing the membership subscriptions;j) deciding, upon the nomination of the Executive Committee, whether tobestow the title of honorary president or honorary member;k) admitting, suspending or expelling a Member;l) revoking the mandate of one or a number of members of a body of X;m) dissolving X;

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27n) passing decisions at the request of a Member in accordance with these
Statutes;o) … [an association may add further items].

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Quorum of the Congress

1. Decisions passed by the Congress shall only be valid if the absolute majority(50% +1) of the Members who are entitled to vote are represented.
2. If a quorum is not achieved, a second Congress shall take place 24 hours[or another period dened by the Association] after the rst, with the same
agenda.
3. A quorum is not required for the second meeting unless any item on theagenda proposes the amendment of the Statutes of X, the election of the
President and election of the vice-presidents and members of the Executive
Committee, the dismissal of one or a number of members of a body of X, theexpulsion of a Member of X or the dissolution of X.

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Decisions of the Congress

1. Unless otherwise stipulated in the Statutes, a simple majority of theMembers entitled to vote is sufcient for a vote to be valid. The number ofvalid votes counted shall decide the majority. Spoiled or blank voting slips or
any other forms of abstentions are disregarded in calculating the majority.
2. A decision that requires a vote shall be reached by a show of hands or bymeans of an electronic count. If a show of hands does not result in a clear
majority in favour of a motion, the vote shall be taken by calling the roll inalphabetical order.

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Elections

1. Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.
2. For a person to be elected, an absolute majority (50% + 1) of the votes
recorded and valid is necessary in the rst ballot. In the second and any otherrequisite ballot, a simple majority of the votes recorded is sufcient.
3. If there are more than two candidates for one available position, thecandidate that obtains the lowest number of votes is eliminated as from thesecond ballot until only two candidates are left.

26

Ordinary Congress

1. The Ordinary Congress shall be held every year.
2. The Executive Committee shall x the place and date. The Members shall benotied in writing at least … [to be completed by the Association, e.g. threemonths] in advance.
3. The formal convocation shall be made in writing at least one month before
the date of the Congress. This convocation shall contain the agenda, thePresident’s activity report, the nancial statements and the auditors’ report andany other relevant documents.

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Ordinary Congress agenda

1. The General Secretary shall draw up the agenda based on proposals fromthe Executive Committee and the Members. Any proposal that a Member
wishes to submit to the Congress shall be sent to the general secretariat
in writing, with a brief explanation, at least … [to be completed by the
Association, e.g. two months] before the date of the Congress.
2. The Congress agenda shall include the following mandatory items:a) a declaration that the Congress has been convened and composed incompliance with the Statutes of X;b) approval of the agenda;c) an address by the President;d) appointment of Members to check the minutes;e) appointment of scrutineers;f) suspension or expulsion of Members (if applicable);g) approval of the minutes of the preceding Congress;h) President’s activity report (containing the activities since the lastCongress);i) presentation of the consolidated and revised balance sheet and theprot and loss statement;j) approval of the nancial statements;k) approval of the budget;

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IV. ORGANISATIONl) admission for membership (if applicable);m) votes on proposals for amendments to the Statutes, the regulations
governing the application of the Statutes and the standing orders of theCongress (if applicable);n) discussion of proposals submitted by the Members and the Executive
Committee;o) appointment of independent auditors (if applicable) upon the proposalof the Executive Committee;p) dismissal of a person or a body (if applicable);q) election of the President, vice-presidents and members of the Executive
Committee (if applicable);r) any further items proposed by the Members or the Executive Committeeof X.
3. The agenda of an Ordinary Congress may be altered, provided … [number
to be selected by the Association, e.g. three-quarters] of the Members present
at the Congress and eligible to vote agree to such a motion.
4. The Congress shall not make a decision on any point not included in theagenda.

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31

Extraordinary Congress

1. The Executive Committee may convene an Extraordinary Congress at anytime.
2. The Executive Committee shall convene an Extraordinary Congress if …
[number to be completed by the Association, e.g. one-fth] of the Membersof X make such a request in writing. The request shall specify the items for theagenda. An Extraordinary Congress shall be held within three months of receiptof the request. If an Extraordinary Congress is not convened, the Members
who requested it may convene the Congress themselves. As a last resort, theMembers may request assistance from FIFA.
3. The Members shall be notied of the place, date and agenda at least …
[to be completed by the Association, e.g. one month] before the date of an
Extraordinary Congress.
4. When an Extraordinary Congress is convened on the initiative of the
Executive Committee, it must draw up the agenda. When an Extraordinary
Congress is convened upon the request of Members, the agenda must containthe points raised by those Members.
5. The agenda of an Extraordinary Congress may not be altered.

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Amendments to the Statutes, [regulations
governing the application of the Statutes andthe standing orders of the Congress]

1. The Congress is responsible for amending the Statutes, [if applicable, theregulations governing the application of the Statutes and the standing ordersof the Congress].
2. Any proposals for an amendment to the Statutes must be submitted inwriting with a brief explanation to the general secretariat by a Member or by
the Executive Committee. A proposal submitted by a Member is valid, provided
it has been supported in writing by at least … [number to be completed by the
Association] other Members.
3. For a vote on an amendment to the Statutes to be valid, an absolutemajority (50% +1) of the Members eligible to vote must be present.
4. A proposal for an amendment to the Statutes shall be adopted only if …
[number to be completed by the Association, three-quarters of the Memberspresent is recommended] of the Members present and eligible to vote agree toit.
5. Any proposal to amend the regulations governing the application of the
Statutes and the standing orders of the Congress must be submitted in writing
with a brief explanation to the general secretariat by a Member or by the
Executive Committee.
6. A proposal for an amendment to the regulations governing the applicationof the Statutes and the standing orders of the Congress shall be adopted only
if a simple majority of the Members present and eligible to vote agree to it.

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33

Minutes

The General Secretary shall be responsible for recording the minutes at theCongress. The minutes shall be checked by those Members designated andnally approved at the next Congress.

31

Effective dates of decisions

Decisions passed by the Congress shall come into effect for the Members …
[number of days to be completed by the Association, e.g. 60] days after theclose of the Congress, unless the Congress xes another date for a decision totake effect.

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B. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
These articles shall govern the composition and powers of the Executive
Committee.

32

Composition

1. The Executive Committee consists of … [number to be completed by the
Association] members:• 1 President• … [number to be completed by the Association] vice-presidents• … [number to be completed by the Association] members
2. The President, the vice-presidents and the members of the Executive
Committee shall be elected by the Congress. Every candidate in the election of
Executive Committee members must be proposed by at least one Member.
3. The mandate of the President, vice-presidents and members of the Executive
Committee is for four years. They may be re-elected.
4. The members of the Executive Committee shall be no older than … [ageto be completed by the Association] and no younger than … [age to becompleted by the Association]. They shall have already been active in football,must not have been previously found guilty of a criminal offence and haveresidency within the territory of X.
5. Candidatures must be sent to the general secretariat of X. The ofcial list of
candidates must be passed to the Members of X along with the agenda for theCongress at which the Executive Committee will be elected.

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6. A member of the Executive Committee may not at the same time be amember of a judicial body of X.
7. If a position should become vacant, the Executive Committee shall ll that
position until the next Ordinary Congress, when a replacement will be elected
for the remaining term of mandate.

33

Meetings

1. The Executive Committee shall meet at least … [to be completed by the
Association, e.g. twice a year] a year.
2. The President shall convene the Executive Committee meetings. If … [to becompleted by the Association, e.g. 50% of the Executive Committee members]
request a meeting, the President shall convene it within 21 days.
3. The President shall compile the agenda. Each member of the Executive
Committee is entitled to propose items for inclusion in the agenda. The
members of the Executive Committee must submit the points they wish to be
included in the agenda for the meeting to the general secretariat at least 14
days [or another period to be xed by the Association] before the meeting. The
agenda must be sent out to the members of the Executive Committee at least
seven [or another period to be xed by the Association] before the meeting.
4. The General Secretary shall take part in the meetings of the Executive
Committee in a consultative role.
5. The meetings of the Executive Committee shall not be held in public. The
Executive Committee may, however, invite third parties to attend. Those third
parties shall not have voting rights, and may only express an opinion with thepermission of the Executive Committee.

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Powers of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee:a) shall pass decisions on all cases that do not come within the sphere of
responsibility of the Congress or are not reserved for other bodies by law
or under these Statutes;b) shall prepare and convene the Ordinary and Extraordinary Congress of X;c) shall appoint the chairmen, deputy chairmen and members of thestanding committees;d) shall appoint the chairmen, deputy chairmen and members of the
judicial bodies;e) may decide to set up ad-hoc committees if necessary at any time;f) shall compile the regulations for the organisation of standing
committees and ad-hoc committees;g) shall appoint or dismiss the General Secretary on the proposal of the
President. The General Secretary shall attend the meetings of all thecommittees ex ofcio;h) shall propose the independent auditors to the Congress;i) shall decide the place and dates of and the number of teams
participating in the competitions of X;j) shall appoint the coaches for the representative teams and othertechnical staff;k) shall approve regulations stipulating how X shall be organised internally;

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37l) shall ensure that the Statutes are applied and adopt the executive
arrangements required for their application;m) may dismiss a person or body or suspend a Member of X provisionally
until the next Congress;n) may delegate tasks arising out of its area of authority to other bodies of
X or third parties.

35

Decisions

1. The Executive Committee shall not engage in valid debate unless … [anumber to be xed by the Association, that must constitute a majority] of its
members are present.
2. The Executive Committee shall reach decisions by a simple majority of themembers present. In the event of a tied vote, the President shall have thecasting vote. Voting by proxy or by letter is not permitted.
3. Any member of the Executive Committee must withdraw from the debate
and from taking a decision if there is any risk or possibility of a conict ofinterests.
4. The decisions taken shall be recorded in the minutes.
5. The decisions taken by the Executive Committee shall come into effectimmediately, unless the Executive Committee decides otherwise.

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Dismissal of a person or body

1. The Congress may dismiss a person or body. The Executive Committee mayplace the dismissal of a person or body on the agenda for the Congress. The
Executive Committee may also dismiss a person or body provisionally. Any
Executive Committee member may submit a proposal to place such a motion
for dismissal on the agenda of the Executive Committee or Congress.
2. The motion for dismissal must be justied. It will be sent to the Members of
X along with the agenda.
3. The person or body in question has the right to speak in his or its own
defence.
4. If the motion for dismissal is upheld, the Congress or Executive Committee
shall reach a decision by means of secret ballot. For the motion to be passed, amajority of two-thirds of the valid votes is required.
5. The person or body dismissed (provisionally) must be relieved of his or its
functions with immediate effect.

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C. PRESIDENT
This article governs the duties, powers and election of the President of X as alegal representative.

37

President

1. The President represents X legally.
2. He is primarily responsible for:a) implementing the decisions passed by the Congress and the Executive
Committee through the general secretariat;b) ensuring the effective functioning of the bodies of X in order that they
achieve the objectives described in these Statutes;c) supervising the work of the general secretariat;d) relations between X and its Members, FIFA, ... [abbreviation or acronymof the relevant Confederation], political bodies and other organisations.
3. Only the President may propose the appointment or dismissal of the General
Secretary.
4. The President shall preside over the Congress, the Executive Committee andEmergency Committee meetings and those committees of which he has been
appointed chairman.
5. The President shall have an ordinary vote on the Executive Committee and,
whenever votes are equal, shall have a casting vote.

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6. If the President is absent or unavailable, the longest serving vice-president
available shall deputise.
7. Any additional powers of the President shall be contained in the internalorganisation regulations of X.

38

Candidates for the ofce of the President

1. The President shall be elected by the Congress for a period of four years. His
mandate shall begin after the end of the Congress which has elected him. A
President may be re-elected.
2. For the election of the President, … [number of votes to be completed by
the Association, two-thirds of the votes is recommended] of the votes recorded
and valid are necessary in the rst ballot. In the second and any other requisite
ballot, an absolute majority of the votes recorded (50% + 1) is sufcient. If
there are more than two candidates, the candidate that obtains the lowest
number of votes is eliminated as from the second ballot until only two
candidates are left.
3. Only Members of X may propose candidates for the ofce of President.
Members shall notify the general secretariat in writing of the name ofa candidate for the presidency of X at least … [to be completed by the
Association, e.g. 2 months] month(s) before the date of the Congress.
4. The general secretariat shall notify the Members of the names of the
proposed candidates at least … [to be completed by the Association, e.g. 1
month] month(s) before the date of the Congress.
5. If the President is permanently or temporarily prevented from performing hisofcial function, the longest serving vice-president shall represent him until thenext Congress. This Congress shall elect a new President, if necessary.

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Representation and signature

The President represents X legally and is entitled to sign for X. The Executive
Committee may set up internal organisation regulations regarding the joint
signature of ofcers, in particular, in case of the President’s absence andconcerning all important business of X.

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D. EMERGENCY COMMITTEEAn Association may set up an Emergency Committee competent for all mattersrequiring immediate settlement between two meetings of the Executive
Committee.

40

Emergency Committee

1. The Emergency Committee shall deal with all matters requiring immediate
settlement between two meetings of the Executive Committee. The Committee
shall consist of the President of X and … [number to be completed by the
Association, e.g. 5] members chosen from amongst the Association’s Members
and appointed by the Executive Committee for a period of … [to be completed
by the Association, e.g. 4 years].
2. The President shall convene the Emergency Committee meetings. If ameeting cannot be convened within an appropriate period of time, decisions
may be passed through other means of communication. Such decisions shallhave immediate legal effect. The President shall notify the Executive Committee
immediately of the decisions passed by the Emergency Committee.
3. All decisions taken by the Emergency Committee shall be ratied by the
Executive Committee at its next meeting.
4. If the President is unable to attend a meeting, the longest serving vicepresident available shall deputise.

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E. STANDING COMMITTEES
These articles shall govern the composition, function and duties of the standing
committees. The Association may constitute as many committees as necessary.

41

Standing Committees

1. The standing committees of X are:a) Finance Committee;b) Internal Audit Committee;c) Organising Committee for X competitions;d) Technical and Development Committee;e) Referees’ Committee;f) Legal Committee;g) Women’s Football Committee;h) Youth Football Committee;i) Futsal Committee;j) Sports Medical Committee;k) Players’ Status Committee;l) Committee for Ethics and Fair Play;m) Media Committee;

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IV. ORGANISATIONn) Football Committee;o) Strategic Studies Committee;p) Marketing and Television Advisory Board;q) … [to be completed by the Association].
2. The chairmen and deputy chairmen of the standing committees shall bemembers of the Executive Committee with the exception of those for theInternal Audit Committee, who may not belong to the Executive Committee.
The members of each standing committee shall be appointed by the Executive
Committee on the proposal of the Members of X or the President of X. The
chairmen, deputy chairmen and the members of the standing committees shallbe designated for a term of ofce of four years.
3. Each chairman shall represent his committee and conduct business incompliance with the relevant organisation regulations drawn up by the
Executive Committee.
4. Each chairman shall x the dates of meetings in collaboration with the
General Secretary, ensure that all tasks are carried out and report back to the
Executive Committee.
5. Each committee may propose amendments to its regulations to the
Executive Committee.

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45

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee shall monitor the nancial management and advise
the Executive Committee on nancial matters and asset management. It shallanalyse the budget of X and the nancial statements prepared by the General
Secretary and submit them to the Executive Committee for approval. It shallconsist of a chairman, a deputy chairman and … [number to be completed by
the Association] members.

43Internal Audit Committee

The Internal Audit Committee shall ensure the completeness and reliability ofthe nancial accounting and review the external auditors’ report at the requestof the Executive Committee. It shall consist of a chairman, a deputy chairman
and … [number to be completed by the Association] members.

44

Organising Committee for X competitions

The Organising Committee for X competitions shall organise the competitionsof X in compliance with the provisions of these Statutes and the regulations
applicable to X competitions. It shall consist of a chairman, a deputy chairman
and … [number to be completed by the Association] members.

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Technical and Development Committee

The Technical and Development Committee shall primarily analyse the basic
aspects of football training and technical development. It shall consist ofa chairman, a deputy chairman and … [number to be completed by the
Association] members.

46

Referees’ Committee

The Referees’ Committee shall implement the Laws of the Game. It shallappoint the referees for matches in competitions organised by X, organiserefereeing matters within X in collaboration with the administration of X andmonitor the education and training of referees. It shall consist of a chairman,a deputy chairman and … [number to be completed by the Association]members.

47

Legal Committee

The Legal Committee shall analyse basic legal issues relating to football and theevolution of the Statutes and regulations of X and its Members. It shall consistof a chairman, a deputy chairman and … [number to be completed by the
Association] members.

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47

Women’s Football Committee

The Committee for Women’s Football shall organise women’s footballcompetitions and deal with all matters relating to women’s football. It shallconsist of a chairman, a deputy chairman and … [number to be completed by
the Association] members.

49

Youth Football Committee

The Committee for Youth Football shall organise youth football competitions
and deal with all matters relating to youth football. It shall consist of achairman, a deputy chairman and … [number to be completed by the
Association] members.

50

Futsal Committee

The Futsal Committee shall organise futsal competitions and deal with allmatters relating to futsal. It shall consist of a chairman, a deputy chairman and… [number to be completed by the Association] members.

51

Sports Medical Committee

The Sports Medical Committee shall deal with all medical aspects of football.
It shall consist of a chairman, a deputy chairman and … [number to becompleted by the Association] members.

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Players’ Status Committee

1. The Players’ Status Committee shall set up and monitor compliance withtransfer regulations in accordance with the FIFA Regulations for the Status andTransfer of Players and determine the status of Players for various competitionsof X. The Executive Committee may draw up special regulations governing
the Players’ Status Committee’s powers of jurisdiction. The Players’ Status
Committee shall consist of a chairman, a deputy chairman and … [number tobe completed by the Association] members.
2. Players’ status disputes involving X, its Members, Players, Ofcials and matchand players’ agents shall be settled by an Arbitration Tribunal in accordancewith these Statutes.

53

Committee for Ethics and Fair PlayThe Committee for Ethics and Fair Play shall deal with everything relating to
ethics in football and the promotion of fair play. It shall consist of a chairman,a deputy chairman and … [number to be completed by the Association]members.

54

Media Committee

The Media Committee shall deal with the working conditions for the media
at X events and maintain relations with media organisations. It shall consistof a chairman, a deputy chairman and … [number to be completed by the
Association] members.

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49

Football Committee

The Football Committee shall deal with general issues in football but primarily
with its structure as well as relations between Clubs, Leagues, Members, …
[acronym of appropriate Confederation] and FIFA. It shall consist of a chairman,a deputy chairman and … [number to be completed by the Association]members.

56

Strategic Studies Committee

The Strategic Studies Committee shall deal with global strategies for footballand its political, economic and social status. It shall consist of a chairman,a deputy chairman and … [number to be completed by the Association]members.

57

Marketing and Television Advisory Board

The Marketing and Television Advisory Board shall advise the Executive
Committee with regard to drafting and implementing contracts between X andits marketing/television partners and analyse marketing and television strategies
that have been devised. It shall consist of a chairman, a deputy chairman and… [number to be completed by the Association] members.

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Ad-hoc committees

The Executive Committee may, if necessary, create ad-hoc committees
for special duties and a limited period of time. The Executive Committee
shall appoint a chairman, a deputy chairman and the members. The duties
and function are dened in special regulations drawn up by the Executive
Committee. An ad-hoc committee shall report directly to the Executive
Committee.

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F. GENERAL SECRETARIAT
This section shall govern the duties and the work of the general secretariat as
the administrative body and the General Secretary as the chief executive of thesecretariat. He shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.

59

General secretariat

The general secretariat shall carry out all the administrative work of X under
the direction of the General Secretary. The members of the general secretariat
are bound by the internal organisational regulations of X and shall full the
given tasks in the best manner.

60

General Secretary

1. The General Secretary is the chief executive of the general secretariat.
2. He shall be appointed on the basis of an agreement governed by private law
and shall have the necessary professional qualications.
3. He shall be responsible for:a) implementing decisions passed by the Congress and Executive
Committee in compliance with the President’s directives;b) attending the Congress and meetings of the Executive Committee,
Emergency Committee and the standing and ad-hoc committees;c) organising the Congress and meetings of the Executive Committee andother bodies;

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IV. ORGANISATIONd) compiling the minutes for the meetings of the Congress, Executive
Committee, Emergency Committee and standing and ad-hoc committees;e) managing and keeping the accounts of X properly;f) the correspondence of X;g) relations with the Members, committees, FIFA and … [acronym of
appropriate Confederation];h) organising the general secretariat;i) the appointment and dismissal of staff working in the generalsecretariat;j) proposing managerial staff to the President.
4. The General Secretary may not be a Congress delegate or a member of any
body of X.

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G. JUDICIAL BODIESThis section shall govern the composition and duties of the judicial bodies. FIFA
recommends the constitution of two judicial bodies: a Disciplinary Committee
and an Appeal Committee. The Disciplinary Committee shall deal with any
internal violation of the regulations of FIFA, … [abbreviation or acronym of therelevant Confederation] and X (e.g. Statutes, Disciplinary Code, Laws of theGame, regulations). An appeal may be lodged before the Appeal Committee of
X against any decision passed by the Disciplinary Committee.

61

Judicial bodies

1. The judicial bodies of X are:a) the Disciplinary Committee;b) the Appeal Committee.
2. The responsibilities and functions of these bodies shall be stipulated in the
Disciplinary Code of X, which shall comply with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
3. The decision-making powers of other committees remain unaffected.
4. The members of the judicial bodies may not belong to any other body of X
at the same time.

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Disciplinary Committee

1. The Disciplinary Committee shall consist of a chairman, deputy chairman
and the number of members deemed necessary. The chairman and the deputy
chairman shall have legal qualications.
2. The function of this body shall be governed by the Disciplinary Code ofX. The committee shall pass decisions only when at least three members arepresent. In certain cases, the chairman may rule alone in accordance with theDisciplinary Code of X.
3. The committee may pronounce the sanctions described in these Statutes andthe Disciplinary Code of X on Members, Ofcials, Players, Clubs and match andplayers’ agents.
4. These provisions are subject to the disciplinary powers of the Congress
and the Executive Committee with regard to the suspension and expulsion ofMembers.

63

Appeal Committee

1. The Appeal Committee shall consist of a chairman, deputy chairman and thenumber of members deemed necessary. The chairman and deputy chairman
shall have legal qualications.
2. The function of this body shall be governed by the Disciplinary Code ofX. The committee shall pass decisions only when at least three members arepresent. In certain cases, the chairman may rule alone in accordance with theDisciplinary Code of X.
3. The Appeal Committee is responsible for hearing appeals against decisions
from the Disciplinary Committee that are not declared nal.

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64

Disciplinary measures

To ensure uniformity, the Associations are requested to adopt the disciplinary
measures described in the FIFA Statutes.
The disciplinary measures are primarily:
1. for natural and legal persons:a) a warning;b) a reprimand;c) a ne;d) the return of awards.
2. for natural persons:a) a caution;b) an expulsion;c) a match suspension;d) a ban from the dressing rooms and/or the substitutes’ bench;e) a ban from entering a stadium;f) a ban on taking part in any football-related activity.

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IV. ORGANISATION

3. for legal persons:a) a transfer ban;b) playing a match without spectators;c) playing a match on neutral territory;d) a ban on playing in a particular stadium;e) annulment of the result of the match;f) expulsion;g) a forfeit;h) deduction of points;i) relegation to a lower division.

65

Arbitration

The Association may set up an Arbitration Tribunal, which deals with all internal
disputes between the Association, its Members, Players, Ofcials and matchand players’ agents that do not fall under the jurisdiction of its judicial bodies.
X shall create an Arbitration Tribunal, which shall deal with all internal national
disputes between X, its Members, Players, Ofcials and match and players’
agents that do no fall under the jurisdiction of its judicial bodies. The Executive
Committee shall draw up special regulations regarding the composition,
jurisdiction and procedural rules of this Arbitration Tribunal.

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66

57

Jurisdiction

1. X, its Members, Players, Ofcials and match and player’s agents will not takeany dispute to Ordinary Courts unless specically provided for in these Statutes
and FIFA regulations. Any disagreement shall be submitted to the jurisdiction ofFIFA, … [abbreviation or acronym of the relevant Confederation] or X.
2. X shall have jurisdiction on internal national disputes, i.e. disputes between
parties belonging to X. FIFA shall have jurisdiction on international disputes,
i.e. disputes between parties belonging to different Associations and/or
Confederations.

67

Court of Arbitration for Sport

1. In accordance with Articles 59 and 60 of the FIFA Statutes, any appeal
against a nal and binding FIFA decision shall be heard by the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. CAS shall not, however,hear appeals on violations of the Laws of the Game, suspensions of up to four
matches or up to three months, or decisions passed by an independent andduly constituted Arbitration Tribunal of an Association or Confederation.
2. X shall ensure its full compliance and that of its Members, Players, Ofcials
and match and players’ agents with any nal decision passed by a FIFA body or
CAS.

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V. FINANCE

This section shall govern nancial provisions such as the nancial period,
revenue, expenses, auditors, membership subscriptions, settlement and levies.

68

Financial period

1. The nancial period of X shall be … [to be completed by the Association,e.g. one year] year and shall begin on … [to be completed by the Association,e.g. 1 January] and end on … [to be completed by the Association, e.g. 31
December].
2. The revenue and expenses of X shall be managed so that they balance out
over the nancial period. X’s major duties in the future shall be guaranteed
through the creation of reserves.
3. The General Secretary is responsible for drawing up the annual consolidated
accounts of X with its subsidiaries as at … [to be completed by the Association,e.g. 31 December].

69

Revenue

The revenue of X arises specically from:a) Members’ annual subscriptions;b) receipts generated by the marketing of rights to which X is entitled;c) nes imposed by the authorised bodies;d) other subscriptions and receipts in keeping with the objectives pursued
by X.

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70

59

Expenses

X bears:a) the expenses stipulated in the budget;b) other expenses approved by the Congress and expenses that the
Executive Committee is entitled to incur within the scope of its authority;c) all other expenses in keeping with the objectives pursued by X.

71

Independent auditors

The independent auditors appointed by the Congress shall audit the accounts
approved by the Finance Committee in accordance with the appropriate
principles of accounting and present a report to the Congress. The auditors
shall be appointed for a period of … [to be completed by the Association]. This
mandate may be renewed.

72

Membership subscriptions

1. Membership subscriptions are due on … [to be completed by the
Association]. The annual subscription for new Members for the year in question
shall be paid within 30 days of the close of the Congress at which they areadmitted.
2. The Congress shall x the amount of the annual subscription every … [to becompleted by the Association] years on the recommendation of the Executive
Committee. It shall be the same for every Member and amount to no morethan … [to be completed by the Association].

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V. FINANCE

73

Settlement

X may debit any Member’s assets to settle claims.

74

Levies

X may demand that a levy be paid by its Members for matches.

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VI. COMPETITIONS AND RIGHTS IN COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS

75

61

Competitions

1. X organises and coordinates the following ofcial competitions held within
its territory:… [to be completed by the Association, e.g. championship, cup]
2. The Executive Committee may delegate to X’s subordinate Leagues theauthority to organise competitions. The competitions organised by the Leagues
shall not interfere with those competitions organised by X. Competitionsorganised by X shall take priority.
3. The Executive Committee may issue special regulations to this end.

76

Club licensing

The Executive Committee of X will set up regulations regarding a club licensing
system governing the participation of Clubs in competitions of X.

77

Rights

1. X and its Members are the original owners of all of the rights emanatingfrom competitions and other events coming under their respective jurisdiction,
without any restrictions as to content, time, place and law. These rights
include, among others, every kind of nancial rights, audiovisual and radio
recording, reproduction and broadcasting rights, multimedia rights, marketingand promotional rights and incorporeal rights such as emblems and rights
arising under copyright law.

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VI. COMPETITIONS AND RIGHTS IN COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS

2. The Executive Committee shall decide how and to what extent theserights are utilised and draw up special regulations to this end. The Executive
Committee shall alone decide whether these rights shall be utilised exclusively,
or jointly with a third party or entirely through a third party.

78

Authorisation

X and its Members are exclusively responsible for authorising the distributionof image and sound and other data carriers of football matches and events
coming under their respective jurisdiction, without any restrictions as tocontent, time, place and technical and legal aspects.

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VII. INTERNATIONAL MATCHES AND COMPETITIONS

79

63

International matches and competitions

1. The authority for organising international matches and competitions
between Association teams and between Leagues and/or Club teams lies
solely with FIFA. No match or competition shall take place without the priorpermission of the FIFA Executive Committee. In addition, permission fromthe relevant Confederation may be required in accordance with the FIFA
regulations.
2. X is bound to comply with the international match calendar compiled by
FIFA.

80

Contacts

X shall not play matches or make sporting contacts with Associations that are
not members of FIFA or with provisional members of a Confederation without
the approval of FIFA.

81

Approval

Clubs, Leagues or any other group of Clubs that are afliated to X cannot
belong to another Association or participate in competitions on the territory of
another Association without the authorisation of X and the other Associationand of FIFA, except in exceptional circumstances.

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VIII. FINAL PROVISIONSThis section governs provisions such as unforeseen contingencies, force
majeure, the dissolution of X and the enforcement of the Statutes of X.

82

Unforeseen contingencies and force majeure

The Executive Committee shall have the nal decision on any matters notprovided for in the Statutes or in cases of force majeure.

83

Dissolution

1. Any decision relating to the dissolution of X requires a majority of twothirds [or any other majority as stipulated in the applicable national legislation]of all of the Members of X, which must be obtained at a Congress speciallyconvened for the purpose.
2. If X is disbanded, its assets shall be transferred to … [to be completed by the
Association]. It shall hold these assets in trust as “bonus pater familiae” until
X is re-established. The nal Congress may, however, choose another recipient
for the assets on the basis of a two-thirds majority [or any other majority as
stipulated in the applicable national legislation].

84

Enforcement

These Statutes were adopted at the Congress in … [to be completed by the
Association] on … [to be completed by the Association] and will come into
force on … [to be completed by the Association].

02.10 egl 500 MAV/ffr/lsc

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Standard
Electoral CodeEnglish edition – 9

Edition française

2 – 39

Edición española

4 – 59

Deutsche Ausgabe

6 – 79

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ContEntS

Chapter

ArticlePage

STANDARD ELECTORAL CODEA.

PREAMBLE (PRELIMINARY REMARKS)

4

B.

GENERAL REMARKS

5

Scope of application52

Principles, obligations and rights of parties, government interference 5C.

D.

ELECTORAL COMMITTEE

7

3

Basic principles

7

4Election

75Composition

8

6

Duties9

7

Convoking the Committee and quorum

08

Decisions

0

CANDIDATURES



9



Criteria

0 Submission of candidatures Examination of candidatures2 Appeal procedure3 Distribution of the final official list

2

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Chapter
E.

F.

G.

ArticlePage

VOTING PROCEDURE

34 Deadline for convoking an elective general assembly3

5 Duties of the Committee

3

6 Ballot papers

37 Urn48 Polling booths

49 Vote

5

COUNT

6

20 General principles, decisions in the event of dispute62 Invalid ballot papers

6

22 Spelling mistakes

7

23 Count and declaration of results

7

24 Declaration of final results

825 Verification of procedure8

26 Enforcement

8

FINAL PROVISIONS

9

Violations, rights of FIFA, archiving of documents, omissions

9

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A. prEAmblE (prEliminAry rEmArkS)

Organising elections in an association necessitates a long and complex procedure
that, among other components, includes:a) complete understanding of the statutes and internal regulationsof the association;b) the invitation for candidatures;c) the examination of candidatures;d) appeals;e) the publication of the official list of candidates;f) the organisation in technical and logistical terms of elections(organisation of the elective general assembly, list of voters, ballot
papers, voting urn, count of votes, minutes etc.);g) the circulation of general information about the election among
the members, government bodies, representatives of the media
etc.
It is therefore necessary for each association to perfect this procedure so as toensure that its elections are transparent and democratic. In specific terms, thismeans:a) scrupulously adhering to the statutes and regulations of FIFA,
this code and the statutory requirements and regulations of therelevant member association and confederation where the latterdo not contradict the former;b) avoiding any conflicts of interests that could discredit the impartialityof the elections;c) anticipating the organisation of elections and planning the relevant
action.
The principles of this Standard Electoral Code were approved by the FIFA Congressin Zurich on 30 and 3 May 2007. The Standard Electoral Code shall serve asa guide for the electoral code that every FIFA member association is required
to draw up. It was approved in its current completed form by the FIFA
Executive Committee at its meeting on 29 and 30 October 2007 and comes into
force immediately.
N.B. Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders. Any termin the singular applies to the plural and vice-versa.
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ArticleArticle1

Scope of application

.

This code is applicable to presidential elections as well as thosefor members of the executive body (e.g. federal council, executive
committee, federal bureau), the general assembly (if appropriate),
the judicial bodies, the electoral committee and the election appeal
committee.

2.

This electoral code is also applicable to elections to all bodies that are
subordinate to the association (e.g. leagues, regional associations,and affiliated members) and whose regulations and procedures arecontrolled exclusively by the association.

2

principles, obligations and rights of parties,
government interference.

The democratic principles of segregation of powers, transparency andpublicising of the electoral processes of the member association must
be observed without exception.

2.

Government interference of any kind in the electoral process orcomposition of the elective body (general assembly or congress) of
the association is not permitted. Consequently, government rules onelections shall not apply to the elected internal bodies of theassociation and the electoral rules of the association shall not require
the approval of any government body. Furthermore:a) the association shall adapt and approve the electoral rules of its
elected internal bodies in accordance with this code and other FIFA
regulations;b) at the very least, the electoral codes of the FIFA member associations
shall include the following information: the number of members
and elections, if appropriate, of the general assembly; deadlines,
requirements, regulations and the announcement of the final listsof candidates; the voting procedure, ballot papers, urns, pollingbooths and the announcement of the results; verification of theprocedure and appeals.
5

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ED.]ED.]b. GEnErAl rEmArkSc) the association shall inform FIFA of the commencement of theelections to its elected internal bodies, the announcement of
the elections and its electoral rules at one month’s notice. It shall
likewise inform FIFA of the duration of the elections and of themandates. The association is likewise obliged to immediately
inform FIFA of any government interference in the electoral
process.
d) unless this code states otherwise, the elected internal bodies of
the association shall continue to exercise their functions until thecompletion of the electoral process.

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C. ElECtorAl CommittEE

Article3basic principles.

The electoral committee (hereafter the Committee) organises andsupervises the election process and takes all decisions relating to theelection.

2.

The members of the Committee must under no circumstances bemembers of the executive body.

3.

The members of the Committee shall be bona fide members of theassociation.

4.

The members of the Committee must immediately decline to give an
opinion and withdraw from the matter in progress if they are:a) a candidate for an elected post;b) a relative, whether by birth or marriage, of one of the candidates
for an elected post;c) a government official of any kind.

Article5.

In the event that a member does not fulfil the above requirements,
the member in question shall immediately leave his position and be
replaced by a substitute.

4Election.

The Committee is elected, in accordance with the provisions of
this code, by the general assembly or the body that represents
it between congresses for a term of four years at the final ordinary
general assembly before the elective general assembly of the executive
body. The general assembly or the body that represents it between
congresses also elects three substitute members of the electoralFor simplification and efficiency, we strongly recommend that the electoral committee is also
assigned the duties and responsibilities that some associations still assign to the electoral bureau
appointed on the day of the elective general assembly.

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C. ElECtorAl CommittEEcommittee as well as the three members of the election appeal
committee and two substitute members of the appeal committee.

Article2.

The members of the Committee are not permitted to serve for two
consecutive terms.

3.

The ordinary general assembly at which the Committee is elected shalltake place at least six months before the elective general assembly at
which the executive body is elected.2

5

Composition

.

The Committee shall be composed of a minimum of seven and amaximum of nine members and must be formed within theassociation.

2.

The Committee comprises:a) a chairman;b) a deputy chairman;c) between one and five members.

3.

The general secretary of the association serves as the secretary to theelectoral committee. He takes part in the activities of the Committee ina consultative capacity, is responsible for the related logistical mattersand takes care of administrative matters.

4.

The Committee appoints the chairman and deputy chairman fromamong its members.

2

Election by the general assembly makes it possible to ensure greater transparency andimpartiality. The nomination of the electoral committee by the president or the executive body
would make the process less democratic because it is possible that the president and/or individual
members of the executive body may later stand as candidates for elected posts.
Moreover, it is important that the deadline of a minimum of six months before the elective general
assembly is not inordinately long, so that the members of the association are already in a position
to know whether or not they are going to submit their candidature for an elected post.

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Article5.

In the event that one or more members of the Committee stand as
candidates for an elected post or are unable to carry out their duties,
they shall resign from the Committee. Any member who resigns shallbe replaced by a substitute.

6.

The members of the Committee shall officially declare their candidature for elected posts in such a way as to allow the replacement
process described above to be carried out harmoniously and without
any time pressure that would be prejudicial to the elections of theexecutive body.

7.

The Committee may be assisted by members of the general secretariat
at any time provided that they are not standing as candidates forelected posts.

6

Duties.

The Committee is responsible for all tasks relating to the organisation,
running and supervision of the elective general assembly. In particular,
it is responsible for:a) strictly enforcing the association’s statutes and regulations;b) strictly enforcing the statutes, directives and regulations of FIFAand the regulations of the association and confederation where
they do not contradict FIFA regulations;c) strictly enforcing the electoral code;d) strictly enforcing the statutory deadlines for elections;e) distributing information to the members of the general assembly
as well as to government bodies, the media and the public;f) managing relations with government bodies (where necessary);g) the candidature procedure (launch, distribution of information,
evaluation, publication of official list etc.);h) organising, in administrative and technical terms, the elective
general assembly;i) drawing up the list of voters in accordance with the association’s
statutory provisions;
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C. ElECtorAl CommittEEj) verifying the identity of the voters under the supervision of thebailiff appointed for this purpose;k) the voting procedure (cf. article 5);l) all other tasks necessary to ensure the smooth running of theelectoral process.

ArticleArticle2.

Logistical matters shall be taken care of by the association.

7

Convoking the Committee and quorum.

Only if the Committee is convoked validly by its chairman is it entitledto deliberate and pass decisions.

2.

A quorum is constituted by the absolute majority of the members of
the Committee.

8

Decisions

All of the Committee’s decisions must be passed by an absolute majorityof the valid votes cast. If a vote is tied, the chairman of the Committee
shall have the casting vote. Decisions are recorded in minutes signedby the chairman and the secretary of the Committee. Appeals against
the Committee’s decisions may be lodged only with the election
appeal committee of the association, to the exclusion of the possibilityof appealing said decisions before any other body, particularly agovernment body.

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D. CAnDiDAtUrES

Article9

Criteria

The eligibility criteria are defined by this code and the statutes of theassociation and must comply with the statutes and regulations of FIFA.

Article10 Submission of candidatures
Candidatures shall be sent by recorded post or delivered in exchange
for confirmation of receipt to the general secretariat of the association
at least XXX days3 before the general assembly is held.

ArticleArticle11 Examination of candidatures.

The candidatures shall be examined by the electoral committee within
XXX days of the deadline for their submission.

2.

The candidates shall be informed of the decision of the Committee’s
examination within the same period of XXX days.

3.

The list of candidates shall be published.

12 Appeal procedure.

The election appeal committee is constituted of three members andtwo substitutes elected by the general assembly at the same time as
the members of the Committee. One of these members shall havelegal training.

2.

Any appeal, with its reasons, shall be sent by registered post ordelivered in exchange for confirmation of receipt to the generalsecretariat of the association within XXX days of receipt of theCommittee’s decision.

3

The deadline shall be identical to that stipulated in the association’s statutes and sufficiently
long to allow for the optimum organisation of the general assembly.


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D. CAnDiDAtUrES

Article3.

Appeals shall be considered by the election appeal committee within
XXX days of their receipt by the general secretariat.

4.

The decisions of the election appeal committee are final and may not
be monitored by any government body.

13 Distribution of the final official list
The final official list of candidates shall be sent to all the membersof the general assembly and, where necessary, to the relevant
government bodies no less than XXX days before the elective general
assembly is held. It shall also be published in the press.

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E. VotinG proCEDUrE

Article14 Deadline for convoking an elective general assembly
An elective general assembly shall be convoked the requisite numberof days before it takes place as stipulated in the association’s
statutes. Notification shall be addressed to all the members of thegeneral assembly and, where necessary, to the relevant government
bodies. The elective general assembly shall be announced throughthe media.

Article15 Duties of the Committee
The duties of the Committee are as follows:a) to monitor the voting procedure during the elective general
assembly using the electoral register that it has compiled;b) to count the votes;c) to take any decision that is necessary regarding the validity orinvalidity of ballot papers;d) in general, to pass a definitive decision on any matters relating to
the voting procedure during the elective general assembly;e) to draft official minutes of the election and distribute them to themembers and, where necessary, to government authorities;f) to declare the official results;g) to organise a media conference, where necessary.

Article16 ballot papers
.

The association’s general secretariat shall produce the ballot papers
under the supervision and charge of the Committee. The ballot papers
shall be printed clearly and legibly.

2.

The ballot papers shall be of a different colour for each round of theelection.
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E. VotinG proCEDUrE

ArticleArticle17 Urn.

Before the start of the voting procedure, the urn – which shall betransparent where possible – shall be opened and presented to themembers of the general assembly. It shall then be closed and placedin a visible position near to the members of the Committee.

2.

During the vote, the urn shall be monitored by one of the membersof the Committee.

18 polling booths
Polling booths shall be erected near to the urn and the polling station
so that the members of the general assembly who are entitled to vote
may complete their ballot paper in secret.

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Article19 Vote.

The chairman of the Committee shall explain in detail the voting
procedure (urn, ballot papers, valid and invalid ballot papers, count,required majorities, results etc.) and cite any relevant statutory or
legislative provisions.

2.

The chairman of the Committee calls in turn each member of thegeneral assembly who has the right to vote and invites him to moveto the front of the hall where the election is taking place.

3.

Once called, the member moves to the front of the hall and, after
signing, he receives his ballot paper.

4.

The member then completes his ballot paper in the polling booth
designated for this purpose.

5.

The member in question deposits his ballot paper in the urn, signs theelectoral register and then returns to his seat.

6.

The counting procedure begins as soon as all of the members with theright to vote have deposited their ballot papers in the urn. A memberof the Committee opens the urn and tips out the ballot papers. The
count then commences.

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F. CoUnt

ArticleArticle20 General principles, decisions in the event of dispute.

Only the members of the Committee may take part in the count. All
operations (opening the urn, counting the ballot papers, counting thevotes etc.) shall be carried out in a way that can be followed clearly by
the members of the general assembly.

2.

In the event of a dispute regarding the validity or invalidity of a ballot
paper, the validity or invalidity of a vote, the drafting of the minutes,
the declaration of the results or any other matter relating to the counting procedure, the Committee’s decision shall be final.

21 invalid ballot papers
.

The following are considered invalid:a) ballot papers that do not bear the official distinctive marks definedby the Committee;b) ballot papers that bear any words other than the names of thecandidates;c) ballot papers that are illegible or have been defaced;d) ballot papers that bear identifying marks.

2.

The chairman of the Committee shall write on the back of any invalid
ballot paper (in red) the reasons for its invalidity and confirm with asignature.

3.

In the event of disputes regarding the validity or invalidity of a ballot
paper, the validity or invalidity of a vote, the drafting of the minutes,
the declaration of the results or any other matter relating to the counting procedure, the Committee’s decision shall be final.

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Article22 Spelling mistakes
Spelling mistakes shall result in the invalidity of a vote only if theymean that it is not possible to identify with certainty any of the official
candidates.

Article23 Count and declaration of results.

Once the urn has been opened, the members of the Committee shallcount out loud the number of ballot papers and verify their validity.
If the number of ballot papers is equal to or less than the number ofballot papers issued, the ballot is valid. If it exceeds the number ofballot papers issued, the ballot shall be declared void and recommence
immediately in accordance with the procedure described above.

2.

After the number of ballot papers has been verified, the members of
the Committee shall proceed to count the number of votes cast foreach different candidate.

3.

Once the count has been completed and verified, the chairman shallofficially declare the results to the members of the general assembly.

4.

If a second (or subsequent) round of voting is required, the voting
procedure shall be repeated in accordance with the above articles.
The members of the general assembly are also to be informed of thestatutory provisions that apply for the second (and subsequent) roundsof voting (e.g. any changes to the majority required, elimination ofcandidates).

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F. CoUnt

ArticleArticle24 Declaration of final results.

After each round of the election, the chairman of the Committee shalldeclare the results officially to the members of the general assembly.
The minutes are to be drafted and signed by all the members of theCommittee.

2.

The final minutes shall be distributed to the members of the general
assembly and, where necessary, to government bodies. They shall beentered in the record of the deliberations of the general assembly.

25 Verification of procedure
A notary or other person of equivalent legal status recognised by the
courts shall attend the general assembly and draw up minutes. He
is specifically responsible for verifying the identity of the voters andensuring compliance with the voting procedure.

Article26 Enforcement
This electoral code was approved by the relevant legislative body whenit convened in XXX on XXX and comes into force immediately.

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G. FinAl proViSionS

Violations, rights of FiFA, archiving of documents, omissions
.

Failure by the association to apply the principles of this code shall beconsidered a serious violation of the provisions of article 3 of theFIFA Statutes and shall lead to the consequences described in article
4 of the FIFA Statutes or the disciplinary measures provided for underarticle 55 of the FIFA Statutes.

2.

FIFA has the right to intervene in the electoral processes of the association at any time to monitor its integrity and check that this code andthe statutes and regulations of FIFA are being applied.

3.

FIFA may likewise suspend or invalidate the electoral processes and/or
appoint a provisional administration for the association, as the casemay be.

4.

The Committee shall hand over all the official documents relating to
the elections to the association’s general secretariat, which is responsible for passing them on to the relevant bodies, where required, andfor archiving them.

5.

All matters relating to the administrative and technical organisation of
the elective general assembly that are not covered by this code shallbe ruled upon by the Committee.

6.

All matters relating to the running of the elections not covered by thiscode shall be ruled upon by the Committee.

7.

The members of the Committee shall observe the utmost impartiality
when carrying out their duties.
Zurich, 29 October 2007
FOR THE FIFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President:
Joseph S. Blatter

General Secretary:
Jérôme Valcke
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National Dispute Resolution
Chamber (NDRC)
Standard Regulations

English edition1 – 19

Edition française

21 – 39

Edición española

41 – 59

Deutsche Ausgabe

61 – 79
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CONTENTS

Chapter

ArticlePage

NATIONAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION CHAMBER (NDRC) STANDARD REGULATIONS
A.

B.

C.

D.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

5

1 – Jurisdiction of the NDRC

5

2 – Applicable law

5

AUTHORITIES

6

3 – Composition

6

4 – Jurisdiction

6

5 – Seat6

6 – Incompatibility

7

7 – Language of the proceedings

7

8 – Obligation to secrecy

7

9 – Objections7

10 – Decisions on objections

8

PARTIES9

11 – Nature of parties

9

12 – Fundamental procedural rights

9

13 – Representation

9

DOCUMENTS AND TIME LIMITS

10

14 – Form of proceedings

1015 – Service of documents

10

16 – Observance of time limits

10

17 – Calculation of time limits

10

18 – Extension and resetting of time limits

11

19 – Statements

11

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Chapter
E.

F.

G.

ArticlePage

TAKING OF EVIDENCE AND PLEADINGS

13

20 – Hearing for inquiry and judgment, minutes

13

21 – Evidence

13

22 – Obligation on the parties to cooperate

14

23 – Obligation to attend

14

24 – Hearing of witnesses

14

25 – Expert reports

15

26 – Production of evidence

15

27 – Closure of the inquiry

15

28 – Pleadings

16

JUDGMENT

17

29 – Deliberations

17

30 – Form and content of decisions17

31 – Notification of decisions

17

32 – Procedural costs

18

33 – Publication18

34 – Appeal

18

FINAL PROVISIONS

19

35 – Disclaimer of responsibility

19

36 – Adoption and enforcement

19

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PREAMBLE

The pyramid of world football is based on two essential elements of our sport – theplayers who display their skills on the field and the clubs that gather them in teams,
enabling associations and leagues to organise competitions.
In professional football, the relationship between clubs and players is basedon employment contracts and, like in the rest of society, that relationship may
generate disputes.
In 2001, in its aspiration to provide for a swift and effective dispute assessment
and resolution system, FIFA created the Dispute Resolution Chamber, an arbitration
tribunal based on the principle of equal representation of clubs (employers) andplayers (employees), to offer players and clubs a faster and cheaper mechanism
to resolve employment-related disputes of an international dimension. Thismechanism does not affect the constitutional right to settle labour disputes before
other recognised bodies but it does offer a structure that is football-oriented andmore aware of the realities of modern football.
The experience gained within the scope of the chamber’s work since its
establishment in 2002 has been very positive and the jurisprudence created has
contributed towards increasing legal certainty.
Currently, only a limited number of member associations have a national dispute
resolution chamber or a body structured along similar lines that fulfils the criteriaof article 22 paragraph b) of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
This means that the vast majority of international employment-related disputes
fall within the jurisdiction of the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber and that the
majority of “national” cases may not find appropriate solutions.
In order to modernise social relations within football between clubs and players
and between employers and employees, and in order to shift responsibilities fromFIFA to its member associations, the FIFA Task Force “For the Good of the Game”
and in particular the Working Group for Political Matters have drafted theseStandard National Dispute Resolution Chamber Regulations for creating national
dispute resolution chambers along the lines of the principles of the FIFA Dispute
Resolution Chamber and, in particular, the principle of equal representation ofplayers and clubs.
The principles in these regulations were approved by the FIFA Congress in Zurich on
30 and 31 May 2007.
The regulations were then approved by the FIFA Executive Committee at its meetingin Zurich on 29 October 2007 for enforcement from 1 January 2008.
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A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article1

Jurisdiction of the NDRCThe national dispute resolution chamber (NDRC) is competent to handle
disputes between clubs and players regarding employment andcontractual stability as well as those concerning training compensationand solidarity contributions between clubs belonging to the same
association.

Article2

Applicable law

In the exercise of its jurisdiction the NDRC shall apply the
association’s statutes and regulations, in particular those adopted
on the basis of the FIFA Statutes and regulations. Where the association
has not yet fulfilled its obligations in this domain, the FIFA Statutes
and regulations shall apply by analogy. The NDRC shall also take into
account all agreements, laws, particularly with regard to labour law,and/or collective bargaining agreements that exist at national level, as
well as the specificity of sport.

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B. AUTHORITIESArticle3

Composition

1.

The NDRC shall be composed of the following members, who shallserve a four-year renewable mandate:a) a chairman and a deputy chairman chosen by consensus by theplayer and club representatives from a list of at least five persons
drawn up by the association’s executive committee;b) between three and ten player representatives who are elected
or appointed either on the proposal of the players’ associations
affiliated to FIFPro, or, where no such associations exist, on thebasis of a selection process agreed by FIFA and FIFPro;c) between three and ten club representatives who are elected or
appointed on the proposal of the clubs or leagues.

ArticleArticle2.

The chairman and deputy chairman of the NDRC shall be qualified
lawyers.

3.

The NDRC may not have more than one member from the same club.

4.

The NDRC shall sit with a minimum of three members, including
the chairman or the deputy chairman. In all cases the panel shallbe composed of an equal number of club and player representatives.

4

Jurisdiction

1.

The NDRC shall examine ex officio whether it has jurisdiction.

2.

Should the NDRC deem itself legally incompetent, it shall refer the caseex officio and without delay to the authority it deems competent andinform the parties immediately.

5

Seat

In principle, the meetings and deliberations of the NDRC shall takeplace at the seat of the association.
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Article6

Incompatibility

The members of the NDRC may not be members of an executive bodyof the association.

Article7

Language of the proceedings

The proceedings shall be held in one of the official languages of theassociation.

Article8

Obligation to secrecy

The members of the NDRC are bound to official secrecy regarding
all facts that come to their knowledge during the exercise of theirduties. In particular, they shall refrain from divulging the contents ofdeliberations.

Article9

Objections

1.

Where the circumstances give rise to legitimate doubt as to the
independence of a member of the NDRC, said member shallimmediately withdraw. This is particularly the case where:a) he is an interested party to the dispute, either directly or indirectly,
be it personally or as a representative of a legal entity;b) his club is involved or there is a family tie (i.e. he is the spouseor direct relative or relative by marriage of a party or its
representative), dependent relationship, close friendship or
personal enmity with one of the parties or its representative.

2.

Any member who finds himself obliged to withdraw shall immediately
inform the chairman of the NDRC.

3.

An objection may be made to a member of the NDRC by theparties where there is justified doubt as to his impartiality and/or
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B. AUTHORITIES

independence. Any party who wishes to object to a member shallsubmit a written statement to the NDRC within five days of its
becoming aware of the grounds for the objection, failing which
it shall forfeit said right. The petition shall contain a precise accountof its grounds and cite the relevant evidence.

Article10 Decisions on objections
1.

If a member of the NDRC contests an objection, the NDRC shall reacha decision in his absence.

2.

If an objection is upheld during proceedings, any stages of theproceedings in which the member objected to has taken part shall bedeemed invalid.

3.

In accordance with article 34 of these regulations, appeals may belodged against decisions on objections at the time of the decision on
the substance of the case.

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C. PARTIES

Article11 Nature of parties
The parties are the clubs and players who belong to the association.

Article12 Fundamental procedural rights
The parties’ fundamental procedural rights shall be guaranteed, inparticular, the right to equal treatment and the right to be heard(especially the right to explain one’s actions, examine the file, haveevidence taken and participate in the taking of evidence and obtain asubstantiated decision).

Article13 Representation
The parties may appoint professional representatives of their choice.
The decision-making body may require the representatives to establish
their credentials through a written power of attorney.

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D. DOCUMENTS AND TIME LIMITS

Article14 Form of proceedings
Proceedings shall be conducted in writing. E-mail is not admissible.

Article15 Service of documents
Documents shall be served at the address given by the parties. They
may also be served on the parties’ representatives. They shall also be
served in such a way as to obtain proof of receipt.

ArticleArticle16 Observance of time limits
1.

The parties shall make their submissions within the time limits set by
the regulations or the NDRC. The time limit shall be deemed to havebeen observed where the submission is made by midnight on the dayof the deadline and is verified by an acknowledgement of receipt by
the association’s secretariat or postmark.

2.

It is incumbent upon the sender to obtain proof that the time limit has
been observed.

3.

As a general rule, the time limits set by the NDRC may be no shorter
than ten days and no longer than 20 days. In urgent cases, the time
limits may be reduced to 24 hours.

4.

Where these regulations do not stipulate the consequences of failure
to observe a time limit, these shall be determined by the NDRC.

17 Calculation of time limits
1.

Mandatory time limits commence the day after the parties havereceived the relevant notification. Non-working days and public
holidays in the place where the addressee is domiciled are includedin the time limits.

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2.

ArticleArticleThe time limit shall expire at midnight on the last day. If the last dayof the time limit is a non-working day or public holiday in the place
where the addressee is domiciled, the time limit shall expire on thenext working day.

18 Extension and resetting of time limits
1.

The mandatory time limits established in these regulations may not be
extended.

2.

Those time limits left to the NDRC’s discretion by these regulations
may be extended for valid reasons if a substantiated request is madebefore they expire. A request for an extension may not be made morethan once.

3.

Where a party or a representative has been prevented from observing
time limits for reasons beyond his control, the time limits may bereset upon receipt of a substantiated request within three days of theoccurrence of the impediment.

19 Statements
1.

The parties shall draw up their statements in an official language ofthe association and also indicate:a) the surname, first name, capacity and address of the claimant or
his representative;b) a concise account of the facts;c) their conclusions;d) their legal basis;e) any evidence they may possess (original documents relating to
the dispute, the name and address of other natural or legal
persons involved in the dispute in different respects, etc.) andtheir proposals for evidence;f) the value of the dispute, particularly if the dispute concerns
property.
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D. DOCUMENTS AND TIME LIMITS2.

The statements shall be dated, signed and submitted in duplicate.

3.

The NDRC shall then confirm to the claimant that it has received thestatement, which is first of all entered on a register that is signed andinitialled by the chairman of the NDRC.

4.

Any statements that are incomplete, not drafted in an official
language, unsigned or signed by an unauthorised representative
shall be returned to their sender. A short time limit in which tocomplete the file shall be set by the NDRC, failing which the claim
shall not be taken into account.

5.

If there are no grounds on which to deem the claim inadmissible,
it shall be forwarded to the other party or interested parties, who
are invited to indicate their position or respond within the time
limits allowed. In the absence of a response or statement of position
within these time limits, a decision shall be passed on the basis of
the documents available. A second exchange of correspondence isonly possible in certain cases to be decided by the NDRC.

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E. TAKING OF EVIDENCE AND PLEADINGS

ArticleArticle20 Hearing for inquiry and judgment, minutes
1.

The NDRC may summon the parties to appear at a hearing for inquiry
and judgment, unless it considers the dispute to be ready for judgment.

2.

Once a hearing has been arranged, the chairman shall appoint a
person responsible for taking the minutes, which shall be signed by
the chairman, the parties and, where appropriate, the witnesses andexperts. An external secretary subject to the same obligations as themembers of the decision-making body, particularly regarding the levelof secrecy, may be called upon to take the minutes.

21 Evidence
1.

The NDRC shall examine the evidence using the following methods:a) questioning the parties;b) hearing witnesses;c) evaluating expert reports;d) examining evidence produced;e) any other method it deems relevant.

2.

The NDRC shall assess the evidence as it sees fit. It shall reach a decisionon the basis of its own private convictions.

3.

The burden of proof is on the party making the allegation.

4.

The NDRC may also take into account evidence other than that submitted
by the parties, where it deems necessary.

5.

Where the taking of evidence leads to costs incurred by testimonies
or expert reports, the expense shall be borne by the claimant.

6.

The NDRC may, ex officio or at the request of one of the parties, refuse
to take evidence that it does not consider relevant, which bears no
relation to the facts asserted or which would otherwise unnecessarily
delay the proceedings.

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E. TAKING OF EVIDENCE AND PLEADINGS

ArticleArticle22 Obligation on the parties to cooperate
1.

The parties are obliged to actively cooperate in the establishment offacts.

2.

Where the parties demonstrate a lack of care, the chairman of the
NDRC may, after issuing them with a warning, impose a fine on themof no more than [to be determined by the association].

3.

Where the parties do not cooperate, the NDRC shall reach a decision
based on the documents in its possession.

23 Obligation to attend
1.

All persons subject to the statutes and regulations of the association
are obliged to respond to summonses from the NDRC, whatever the
grounds may be.

2.

Only the following persons may decline a summons:a) the party’s spouse and any direct relative or relative by marriage;b) any person linked to the case by professional or official secrecy.

Article24 Hearing of witnesses
1.

The NDRC shall firstly verify the witnesses’ identity. It shall also warn
them of the consequences of bearing false testimony.

2.

The NDRC itself shall conduct the hearing of witnesses. It shall give theparties the option of requesting witnesses to clarify or complete their
testimonies once it has decided on the admissibility of the questions
proposed.

3.

After their hearing, the witnesses shall read their testimonies and sign
them.

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Article25 Expert reports
1.

Where specialist knowledge is required to verify or assess certain facts,
the NDRC may refer to an expert. The expert shall then draw up a
written report within the time limit set by the NDRC. He may also give
testimony at a hearing.

2.

The NDRC may, ex officio or at the request of any party:a) request further information from the expert;b) commission a new opinion from another expert if the first reportis incomplete, obscure or contradictory.

3.

ArticleArticleThe provisions on objections also apply by analogy to experts.

26 Production of evidence
1.

Any party or third party subject to the statutes and regulations of
the association of may be compelled by the NDRC to produce any
evidence in its possession that is of interest to the dispute.

2.

The parties have the right to examine the evidence, unless interests
in it are of such importance as to require it to be kept secret. Anyevidence which a party has been refused leave to examine may
only be asserted against said party if the NDRC has informed theparty of the evidence’s essential contents and offered it the possibility
to comment on said contents.

27 Closure of the inquiry
Once the evidence has been taken, the NDRC shall pronounce theinquiry closed. From that moment forth, no new facts or evidence may
be submitted by the parties.

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E. TAKING OF EVIDENCE AND PLEADINGS

Article28 Pleadings
A party attending oral proceedings may plead his cause, following
which the chairman of the hearing shall pronounce the closure of theproceedings.

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F. JUDGMENT

Article29 Deliberations
The NDRC shall reach a decision in camera by simple majority. The
chairman of the meeting and the other members present have one
vote each. All those present are obliged to vote. If the votes are equal,
the chairman shall have the casting vote. The decision may also betaken by correspondence.

Article30 Form and content of decisions
The NDRC shall deliver a decision in writing that states the following:a) the date on which the decision was passed;b) the names of the members of the chamber;c) the names of the parties and any representatives they may have;d) the parties’ conclusions;e) the findings of fact and of law;f) the proposed decision, including any allocation of costs;g) the signature of the presiding NDRC chairman;h) an indication of the legal remedies available (stating the form of
the appeal, the authority and the time limit).

Article31 Notification of decisions
1.

After it has reached its decision, the NDRC shall communicate it in
writing to the association secretariat, who shall immediately notify theparties or their representatives in writing.

2.

In urgent cases, the NDRC may notify the parties of the conclusions of
the decision only and communicate the grounds within a subsequent
time limit of 20 days.

3.

The parties shall be deemed to have received the decision from themoment it reaches them by post or fax. Notification of the decision
to the parties’ representatives shall also be deemed valid.
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F. JUDGEMENT

Article32 Procedural costs
Proceedings before the NDRC are free of charge. They shall notincur any procedural costs except where provided for under article 21
paragraph 5.

Article33 Publication
Any decisions of general interest may be published by the association in
a form to be determined by the NDRC once the identity of the parties
involved has been concealed.

Article34 Appeal
1.

As a last resort, the NDRC’s decisions may be the subject of an appeal
before the national arbitration body recognised by the associationin accordance with FIFA directives, or, where such a body does notexist and during a transitional period, before any arbitration bodyrecognised by FIFA, subject to agreement with FIFPro.

2.

The 21-day time limit for appeals shall begin on the day the decision
is received in full.

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G. FINAL PROVISIONS

Article35 Disclaimer of responsibility
With the exception of serious misconduct, the members of the NDRC
and its secretariat shall not be held personally responsible for theiractions and omissions in connection with proceedings.

Article36 Adoption and enforcement
1.

These regulations have been adopted by [the statutorily competentbody of the association].

2.

These regulations shall come into force on XX.XX.XXXX [to becompleted by the association] and shall apply to any proceedings
lodged from said date.

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PROTECTION
OF MINORS
Guide to submittinga Minor Application

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PROTECTION OF MINORS - GUIDE TO SUBMITTING A MINOR APPLICATIONINDEXMinor Application Guide...........................................................

3

Minor Application Process.........................................................

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FAQs............................................................................................

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Reference materials...................................................................

35

Contact.......................................................................................

37

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2 MINORS

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PROTECTION OF MINORS - GUIDE TO SUBMITTING A MINOR APPLICATIONINTRODUCTION TO THE MINOR APPLICATION GUIDE

According to art. 19 par. 4 a) of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players(RSTP), every international transfer according to art. 19 par. 2 of the RSTP and every firstregistration according to art. 19 par. 3 of the RSTP, as well as every first registration of aforeign minor player1 who has lived continuously for at least the last five years in the country
in which he/she wishes to be registered, is subject to the approval of the sub-committee
appointed by the Players’ Status Committee (the sub-committee) if the concerned minor
player is at least 10 years old.
In this context, the relevant procedure for applying to the sub-committee for a firstregistration or an international transfer of a minor is contained in Annexe 2 to the RSTP2. In
accordance with art. 1 par. 1 of Annexe 2 to the RSTP, such applications must be submitted
and managed through the Transfer Matching System (TMS).
Art. 5 par. 2 of Annexe 2 to the RSTP provides a general list of documents that have to besubmitted in support of the application.
Against this background and in order to have a more comprehensive overview of thespecificities surrounding each exception, the following “Minor Application Guide”
provides an overview and outlines the relevant documents to be included in the application
depending on the various individual circumstances surrounding the international move ofa minor player.
In this regard, it is to be noted that in accordance with art. 7 of Annexe 2 to the RSTP, if
a document is not available in one of the four official languages of FIFA, the association
shall also submit either a translation of the document in one of the four official languagesof FIFA, or official confirmation from the association concerned summarising the pertinent
facts of each document in one of the four official languages of FIFA.
Finally, please note that whereas the FIFA administration is responsible for the investigationof the facts of each case, only the competent bodies of FIFA, in casu, the sub-committee,
can render a decision based on the specific circumstances of each application. Therefore,
the Minor Application Guide is meant merely to serve as a guideline for the administrative
application process.

1.
2.

A minor is defined as a player who has not yet reached the age of 18 (cf. definition number 11 in the RSTP).
An overview of the complete procedure can be found on page 12.

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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Both player's
parents deceased

Both player's
parents are stillalive

Parental authority
awarded to athird person(legal guardian)by a national
authority*

Parental authority
taken away fromthe player's
parents andawarded to a third
person (legal
guardian) by anational authority*

The player resided
with one parent
and now moves
internationally to a
new country tojoin the othercustody-holding
parentParent not moving deceased

The player moves internationally to join his/her legal
guardian who already resides in the new country

The player follows his/her appointed legal
guardian that is moving to the new country for
another reason not linked to football

The player follows his/her appointed legal guardianthat is moving to the new country for employment

The player joins his/her appointed legal guardian
who already resides in the new country

The player follows his/her appointed legal guardian
who moves to the new country for another reason
not linked to football

The player follows his/her appointed legal guardian
who moves to the new country for employment

The player's custody-holding parent has always
resided in the country to which the player moves

The player's custody-holding parent resides in the
new country for another reason not linked tofootball

The player's custody-holding parent resides in the
new country for employment

The player follows his living parent that is moving
to the new country for another reason not linked tofootball

The player follows his living parent that is moving
to the new country for employment

The player follows his custody-holding parent that ismoving to the new country for another reason notlinked to football

The player follows his custody-holding parent that ismoving to the new country for employment

The player's parents' new country of residence is thecountry where the player intends to be registered

The player follows his/her parents thatare moving to the new country for
another reason not linked to football

Parent not moving still alive

The player's parents' new country of residence is thecountry where the player intends to be registered

Decision of the relevant
national authority taking
away the parental authority
from the player's parents
and appointing a third
person as the player's legal
guardianStatement of the new
association explaining thespeciﬁc circumstances8

Request for approval ofﬁrst registration orinternational transfer

Proof of residence of theplayer's parent(s)6

Proof of identity andnationality of the player's
parent(s)5Proof of identity andnationality of the player5

Proof of birth (birthcertiﬁcate) of the player4

Other documents corroborating
the reason invoked3

Work permit of the player's
parent(s)Employment contract ofthe player's parent(s)2

Employment contract of theplayer1 and Work permit of
the player1

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5

This documentation is required only in the case of the registration of a professional player. In such a case, the contract provided must contain all essential elements (including start and end date, remuneration, signatures, etc.), as well as its annexes.
Instead of an employment contract, an employment certificate (confirming the employment, position and date of contract) or a company registry (in case of self employment) can also be provided.
Explanatory statement from the player’s parent(s) as to the reason for the move, along with documents corroborating the reason invoked.
Proof of birth must contain the player’s birth date and filiation.
Such as government-issued ID card or passport.
Proof of residence must have been recently issued and indicate the residence start date in the new country.
Such as Divorce decree (where applicable) or authorisation of the player’s non-moving parent allowing the player to reside in the new country with the (moving) parent.
To be uploaded in place of the documents normally provided under the categories “Employment contract – player’s parent(s)/other documents corroborating the reason invoked” and “Work permit – player’s parents”.

* In such case, the documentation referring to the player’s parents should relate to the player’s legal guardian.

International
move of neitherof the player's
biologicalparents

International
move of one ofthe player's
biologicalparents

International
move of both ofthe player's
biological parents

The player follows his/her parents thatare moving to the new country for
employment

Circumstances"The parents of the player moved for reasons not linked to football"Exception:
Art. 19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP

Documentation corroboratingthat the player’s parent
moving to or residing in the
new country has custody ofthe player7

Documents to be submitted
Death certiﬁcate of theplayer's parent(s)MINOR APPLICATION GUIDEPROTECTION OF MINORS - GUIDE TO SUBMITTING A MINOR APPLICATIONFIFA GUIDEANTI-DOPINGTO SUBMITTINGREGULATIONSA MINOR[2019
APPLICATIONED.]

Decision from the relevant
national authority appointing athird person as the player's
legal guardian following thedeath of his/her parents

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7.

5.
6.

2.
3.
4.

1.

Documents to be submitted
Request for approval of ﬁrst
registration or international transfer7
Status of new club6

Proof of residence of the player's
parent(s)5Proof of refugee status of theplayer's parent(s)4Proof of identity and nationality ofthe player's parent(s)3

Proof of identity and nationality ofthe player3

Proof of birth (birth certiﬁcate) of
the player2

Employment contract of the player1
and Work permit of the player1

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6

This documentation is required only in the case of the registration of a professional player. In such a case, the contract provided must contain all essential elements (including start and end date, remuneration, signatures, etc.), as wellas its annexes.
Proof of birth must contain the player’s date of birth and filiation.
Such as government-issued ID card or passport.
A copy of the decision taken by the relevant national authority that grants the player’s parent(s) the status of refugee(s) or “protected person(s)”, or alternatively, an official confirmation from the relevant national authority thatthe player’s parent(s) have been admitted to the procedure for being granted the right of asylum, as well as a copy of the temporary residence permit of the player’s parents in the host country. The FIFA administration and the
sub-committee understand that said documents may contain privileged and/or sensitive data. Therefore, they will be treated as strictly confidential and will only be used within the scope of the minor application. In particular, they will
not be disclosed, under any circumstance, in full or in part, to third parties not involved in the decision-making process related to the minor application in question.
Proof of residence must have been recently issued and indicate the residence start date in the new country.
A declaration issued by the football association of the minor player’s host country indicating whether the club with which the player wishes to be registered is professional or purely amateur (club without a professional team andwithout legal, financial or de facto links to a professional club).
Such request should, where possible, be accompanied by confirmation as to whether the player is currently registered or has ever been registered with a club at the association of his/her home country (or any other country) and, if
so, the date when he/she played the last official match for that club. In case of doubts as to the registration with a club in the country of the player’s nationality and possible former club, confirmation issued by the FIFA Players’ Status
Department whether the player has indeed been registered with that club is required.

* Cf. FAQs, question 13.

The player is moving internationally to the new country with one or both of his/her parents
who cannot be expected to return to their country of origin or their previous country ofresidence given that their lives or freedom would be threatened on account of race, religion,
nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

Circumstances"The player is moving for humanitarian reasons with his/her parents"

Exception:
Art. 19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP*MINOR APPLICATION GUIDEPROTECTION OF MINORS - GUIDE TO SUBMITTING A MINOR APPLICATIONFIFA GUIDEANTI-DOPINGTO SUBMITTINGREGULATIONSA MINOR[2019
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6.

5.

2.
3.
4.

1.

The player moves
from one EU/EEA
country to another
EU/EEA country

The player has the nationality of an EU/EEA
member state

The player does not have the nationality of an
EU/EEA member state and has been previously
registered with a club within the territory of
the EU/EEA in accordance with the RSTP

The player holds the nationality of an EU/EEA
member state

Request for approval of ﬁrst
registration or international transfer
Parental autorisation

Documentation of academic
education4

Proof of identity and nationalityof the player3

Proof of birth (birth certiﬁcate)of the player2

Employment contract of theplayer1

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7• for male players, the club’s training category in accordance with art. 4 pars 1 and 2 of Annexe 4 to the RSTP regarding training compensation; for female and/or futsal players, a statement from the association concerned (alongwith any relevant documentary evidence) confirming that the applicant club is deemed to be in “line with the highest national standards” of women’s football and/or futsal education in that country;• the player’s weekly football training schedule (including the day and duration of each training session);• a statement of the club wishing to register the player that specifies the team of the club that the player will be joining.

This documentation is required only in the case of the registration of a professional player. In such a case, the contract provided must contain all essential elements (including start and end date, remuneration, signatures, etc.), as
well as its annexes.
Proof of birth must contain the player’s date of birth and filiation.
Such as government-issued ID card or passport.
The documentation of academic education must include a signed and stamped statement issued by the relevant academic provider that confirms the player’s enrolment, the qualification the player will receive upon completion of thecourse, the player’s expected date of graduation, and a signed weekly academic schedule of the player that clearly indicates the days on which each class meets and the duration of each class.
Such as a signed and stamped confirmation issued by the club wishing to register the player that states that the club will provide the player with accommodation and indicates the address of said accommodation as well as the nameof the person responsible for the player.
Proof of adequate football education and/or training in line with the highest national standards requires the submission of the following documentation and information:

Playeris agedbetween
16 and 18

The player moves froma country outside theterritory of the EU/EEA
to an EU/EEA country

Circumstances"The player is over 16 and is moving within
the territory of the EU/EEA"

Exception:
Art. 19 par. 2 b) of the RSTP
Documentation ofaccomodation/care5

Documents to be submitted

Documentation of football
education6

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6.

2.
3.
4.
5.

1.

The distance fromthe closest common
border of theneighbouringassociation to the
club's headquarters is
not more than 50km

and

The player
resides with acustody-holding
parent

The player
resides withboth biologicalparents

The player's
parent is notmovinginternationallyThe player's
parents are notmovinginternationallyThe player's parent has recently moved
within the country of residence to thecurrent address

The player's parent has been residing at thecurrent address for a considerable period oftime

The player's parent has always resided at thecurrent address

The player's parents have recently moved
within their country of residence to theircurrent address

The player's parents have been residing at theircurrent address for a considerable period of time

The player's parents have always resided at theircurrent address

Proof of consent of
releasing association

Proof of Distance: 50
km rule5

Proof of residence ofthe player4

Documents to be submitted
Documentation corroborating that the player’s parent
moving to or residing in the
new country has custody ofthe player6
Proof of residence of theplayer's parent(s)4Proof of identity andnationality of the player3

Proof of birth (birthcertiﬁcate) of the player2

Employment contract ofthe player1

8This documentation is required only in the case of the registration of a professional player. In such a case, the contract provided must contain all essential elements (including start and end date, remuneration, signatures, etc.),
as well as its annexes.
Proof of birth must contain the player’s date of birth and filiation.
Such as government-issued ID card or passport.
Proof of residence must have been recently issued and indicate the residence start date at the current address.
The distance between the player’s domicile and the club’s headquarters, measured in terms of the “route travelled”, must not be more than 100km. Moreover, the distance between the player’s domicile/club’s headquarters
and the closest common border, measured in point-to-point distance (aka “as the crow flies”), must not be more than 50km. In this regard, a screenshot/snapshot of Google Maps showing the aforementioned can be provided.
Such as Divorce decree (where applicable) or authorisation of the other parent.

The distance
between theplayer's domicile
and the club's
headquarters is
not more than
100km

The distance fromthe player's domicile
to the closest
common border ofthe neighbouringassociation is not
more than 50km

Circumstances"Both player and club are within 50km of their common border and the
distance between the two is less than 100km"

Exception:
Art. 19 par. 2 c) of the RSTP
Request for approval ofﬁrst registration orinternational transfer

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10.

9.

5.
6.
7.
8.

2.
3.
4.

1.

Request for approval of ﬁrst
registration or international transfer10
Status of player with former club9
Status of new club8

Proof of custody5

Proof of refugee status of theplayer4

Proof of identity and nationalityof the player3

Proof of birth (birth certiﬁcate)of the player2

Employment contract of the player1
and Work permit of the player11

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9

This documentation is required only in the case of the registration of a professional player. In such a case, the contract provided must contain all essential elements (including start and end date, remuneration, signatures, etc.), as wellas its annexes.
Proof of birth must contain the player’s date of birth and filiation.
Such as government-issued ID card or passport.
A copy of the decision taken by the relevant national authority that grants the player the status of refugee or “protected person”, or alternatively, an official confirmation from the relevant national authority that the minor player has
been admitted to the procedure for being granted the right of asylum, as well as a copy of his/her temporary residence permit in the host country. The FIFA administration and the sub-committee understand that said documents may
contain privileged and/or sensitive data. Therefore, they will be treated as strictly confidential and will only be used within the scope of the minor application. In particular, they will not be disclosed, under any circumstance, in full orin part, to third parties not involved in the decision-making process related to the minor application in question.
A copy of the decision of the competent national authority regarding the current legal custody of the minor player.
A declaration of consent issued by the party that has custody of the minor player consenting to the player’s registration with the club of the host country’s football association.
A declaration regarding the current situation and whereabouts of the player’s biological parents that is provided by the minor player, or the association of the player’s host country, or any other competent authority.
A declaration issued by the football association of the minor player’s host country indicating whether the club with which the player wishes to be registered is professional or purely amateur (club without a professional team andwithout legal, financial or de facto links to a professional club).
A declaration issued by the minor player indicating whether he/she has ever been registered for a club in his/her home country (or any other country) and, if so, whether the player was previously registered as an amateur or aprofessional; this documentation is required only in the case of an international transfer.
Such request should, where possible, be accompanied by confirmation as to whether the player is currently registered or has ever been registered with a club at the association of his home country (or any other country) and, if so, thedate when he played the last official match for that club. In case of doubts as to the registration with a club in the country of the player’s nationality and possible former club, confirmation issued by the FIFA Players’ Status Department
whether the player has indeed been registered with that club is required.

The player is moving internationally to the new country without his/her parents and cannot be
expected to return to his/her country of origin or his/her previous country given that his/her lifeor freedom would be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of aparticular social group or political opinion.

Circumstances"The player is moving for humanitarian reasons
without his/her parents"

Exception:
Art. 19 par. 2 d) of the RSTP

Authorisation of custody holder6

Documents to be submitted

Parental situation7

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10.
11.

7.
8.
9.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

The duration of the player's academic study abroad programme is longer
than a year, but there is less than a year of the programme remaining

The duration of the player's academic study abroad programme is longer
than a year, but the player is turning 18 in less than a year

Request for approval of ﬁrst registration orinternational transfer
Parental authorisation11

Authorisation of host parents10

Documentation of academic education6
Conﬁrmation of player's return5

Registration form for exchange programme4Documentation of exchange programme3

Proof of identity and nationality of the player's
parent(s)2

Proof of identity and nationality of the player2

Proof of birth (birth certiﬁcate) of the player1

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10

Proof of birth must contain the player’s date of birth and filiation.
Such as government-issued ID card or passport.
Official information about the exchange programme (name, purpose, funding, duration, etc.) provided by the organisers of the exchange programme.
A copy of the registration form for the relevant exchange programme signed by the minor player and/or his parents.
Confirmation, issued and signed by the organisers of the exchange programme or the minor player’s parents, that the minor player will return to his/her home country upon completion of the programme.
Confirmation, issued and signed by the minor player’s academic institution (school/college) in his/her host country, that indicates the dates of the envisaged duration of the relevant studies and includes a detailed timetable of theplayer’s classes.
Confirmation of the player’s participation in the relevant exchange programme, issued by the minor player’s academic institution in his/her home country.
Specific details concerning the supervision and accommodation of the minor player during the exchange programme that include, in particular, the exact name and address of the player’s host parents.
A declaration issued by the football association of the minor player’s host country indicating whether the club with which the player wishes to be registered is professional or purely amateur (club without professional team and without
legal, financial or de facto links to a professional club), as well as the exact start and end dates of the envisaged registration of the player.
A declaration of consent issued by the minor player’s host parents consenting to the player’s registration with the club of the host country’s football association.
A declaration of consent issued by the minor player’s own parents consenting to the player’s registration with the club of the host country’s football association.

The player's new club has purely
amateur status(club without a professionalteam and without legal, ﬁnancial
or de facto links to aprofessional club)

The duration of the player's academic study abroad programme and theduration of the player's envisaged registration is less than a year

Circumstances"The player is an exchange student undertaking an academic
programme abroad"

Exception:
Art. 19 par. 2 e) of the RSTP
Conﬁrmation of player’s participation fromacademic institution in home country7

Documents to be submitted

Documentation of accommodation/care8

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Status of new club and duration of registration9

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2.
3.
4.

1.

Request for approval of ﬁrst
registration

Proof of birth (birth certiﬁcate)of the player2

Employment contract of theplayer1

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11This documentation is required only in the case of the registration of a professional player. In such a case, the contract provided must contain all essential elements (including start and end date, remuneration, signatures, etc.), as wellas its annexes.
Proof of birth must contain the player’s date of birth and filiation.
Such as government-issued ID card or passport.
Proof of residence must have been recently issued and indicate the player’s residence start date at the current address. Alternatively, the association can submit the player’s school records duly signed and recently issued by the relevant
academic institution, provided that said records clearly indicate that the player has been enrolled without interruption over the last five years at said institution.

Player has lived continuously for the last ﬁve years in the country of intended registration prior
to the request

Circumstances"Player is registering for the ﬁrst time and has lived continuously
for the last ﬁve years in the country of intended registration prior to this request"

Exception:
Art. 19 pars 3 and 4 of the RSTP
Proof of identity and nationalityof the player3

Documents to
to be
be submitted
submitted
Documents

Proof of residence of the player4

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1.
Creation and submission of an
application by the new association

2.
Approval by the former
association (counter approval)

3.
Review by the FIFA administration

4.
Decision by the sub-committee

5.
Terms of the decision of
the sub-committee

6.
Grounds of the decision of
the sub-committee

7.
Appeal to the Court of
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1.

Creation and submission of an application by the new association

After having gathered all the mandatory documents from the player, his/her parent(s) and/or
the affiliated club, the new association will be responsible for creating the minor applicationand entering all the relevant information in TMS (cf. art. 5 of Annexe 2 to the RSTP).
For each minor application, the new association must upload the mandatory documents
in PDF format (the overview of the relevant documents to be uploaded depending on thevarious individual circumstances surrounding the international move of a minor player canbe found in the Minor Application Guide – cf. pages 5 to 11).
2.

Approval by the former association (counter approval)

If a request for approval of an international transfer (except when humanitarian reasons
are invoked) is submitted, the former association will be given access to the documents in
TMS. It will then have seven days to (i) submit a statement through TMS in relation to theminor application and (ii) either approve or dispute said application (cf. art. 6 pars 1 and 2of Annexe 2 to the RSTP).
If there is no response from the former association within seven days, the minor application
will automatically be transmitted to FIFA via TMS for review and decision.
3.

Review by the FIFA administration

Upon receipt by the FIFA administration, the minor application is assigned to a case handler
who will be responsible for reviewing the information and the documentation submitted.
During the review, the FIFA administration may request additional information and/or documentation via TMS to the parties involved in order to supplement the minor
application initially submitted. The party concerned must submit its response, along withthe requested information and/or documentation, via TMS within the deadline given.
Once the review is complete, the FIFA administration makes a proposal which is submitted– together with the minor application – to the member(s) of the sub-committee fordecision. It should be noted that the proposal made by the FIFA administration to
the member(s) of the sub-committee is merely a (non-binding) recommendation.
4.

Decision by the sub-committee

Upon receipt of the minor application, the member(s) of the sub-committee analyse(s) thecase and submit(s) its decision in TMS.
5.

Terms of the decision of the sub-committee

Once the member(s) of the sub-committee submit(s) the decision in TMS, the terms of thedecision will be legally (and automatically) notified to the association(s) concerned via TMS(cf. art. 9 pars 1 and 2 of Annexe 2 to the RSTP).

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The terms of the decision will state whether the application is “Accepted”, “Rejected” or“Not admissible”.
If the minor application is accepted, the parties concerned can complete the relevant steps
leading to the player’s transfer or first registration.
6.

Grounds of the decision of the sub-committee

The association(s) concerned has/have ten days from the date of notification of the termsof the decision to request the grounds of the decision. Failure to do so will result in thedecision becoming final and binding (cf. art. 9 par. 2 of Annexe 2 to the RSTP).
If an association requests the grounds of the decision, the motivated decision will be notified
to the association(s) in full, written form via TMS.
7.

Appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport

According to art. 58 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes, the sub-committee’s decision may be
appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of the notificationof the grounds of the decision.

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ED.]

FAQs

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PROTECTION OF MINORS - GUIDE TO SUBMITTING A MINOR APPLICATIONINTRODUCTION TO THE FAQs

Over the years, several questions have been raised about the minor application process(cf. art. 19 par. 4 of the RSTP in conjunction with Annexe 2). Some of them, which havebeen frequently asked, have been compiled in this section in order to provide practicaladvice while clarifying various aspects and situations that the FIFA administration has comeacross from the minor applications it has received in the past.
The questions are grouped from general to specific questions relating to each of the
exceptions of art. 19 of the RSTP.
Finally, please note that the FAQs are meant merely to serve as guidelines for theadministrative process of minor applications in the TMS, but can by no means influence
any decision to be taken by the sub-committee.

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I. GENERAL QUESTIONS
1.

When does an international transfer or a first registration of a minor
player occur?

If a minor player has never been registered at an association for the purpose of playingorganised football1 in his/her life and wants to be registered (for the first time) with a club
affiliated to a member association, his/her registration constitutes a first registration.
If a minor player is registered at an association and now wants to be registered with a new
club affiliated to another association, his/her registration with his/her new club constitutes
an international transfer, i.e. said move would be subject to an International Transfer
Certificate (ITC) as per art. 9 of the RSTP.
2.

Is the first registration of a national minor player subject to thesub-committee’s approval?

According to art. 19 par. 3 of the RSTP, the provisions of art. 19 (including those related tothe mandatory prior approval of the sub-committee) also apply to any player who (i) has
never previously been registered with a club, (ii) is not a national of the country in which
he/she wishes to be registered for the first time, and (iii) has not lived continuously for thelast five years in said country.
As such, the first registration of a minor player holding the nationality of the country where
he/she wishes to be registered is not subject to the sub-committee’s approval.
In this regard, it has to be noted that it is the responsibility of the association wishing toregister the player to act with due diligence when investigating whether the player waspreviously registered or not.
3.

Is the international transfer of a national minor player subject to the subcommittee’s approval?

Where an international transfer of a minor player occurs, i.e. when the issuance of an ITC
is needed2, the prior approval of the sub-committee is always required regardless of theminor player’s nationality, that is to say, also in cases where the minor player is a nationalof the country where he/she wishes to be registered.
4.

What is the situation for a minor player who stopped playing football andsubsequently wants to be (re-)registered?

In this particular situation, professionals who end their careers upon expiry of their contracts
and amateurs who terminate their activity remain registered at the association of their lastclub for a period of 30 months (cf. art. 4 of the RSTP).
As such, if a minor player was previously registered at an association, but subsequently
stopped playing, the date of his/her last appearance for his previous club in an official match
would have to be taken into account in order to determine whether his/her registration with1.
2.

Cf. definition number 6 in the RSTP.
Cf. also question 1 supra.

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his/her new club constitutes a potential (international) transfer (if his/her last appearance
for his/her previous club in an official match occurred less than 30 months prior to theenvisaged registration) or a first registration (if his/her last appearance for his previous clubin an official match occurred more than 30 months prior to the envisaged registration).
5.

What is the standard of proof used by the sub-committee to evaluate
whether one of the exceptions is fulfilled?

In accordance with the jurisprudence of the sub-committee, the member association
applying for the registration of a foreign minor player on the basis of one of the exceptionsof art. 19 par. 2 of the RSTP must prove “beyond reasonable doubt”3 that the requirementsof said exception are met.
6.

How old can the documents submitted in the context of a minor
application be?

As a general rule, the sub-committee considers that, where possible, the documents
provided should have been issued recently.
In particular, according to constant jurisprudence of the sub-committee, most of the
documents submitted (particularly the relevant proof of residence) should have been issued:

7.

(i)

less than six months prior to the submission of the minor application in TMS
by the relevant member association, in case the minor application is submitted
on behalf of a purely amateur club (cf. art. 2 of the RSTP); or(ii)

less than three months prior to the submission of the minor application in
TMS by the relevant member association, in case the minor application is
submitted on behalf of a professional club.

Are the decisions rendered by the sub-committee published?

In accordance with art. 20 of the Rules Governing the Procedures of the Players’ Status
Committee and the Dispute Resolution Chamber, the FIFA administration may publish
decisions issued by the Players’ Status Committee or the Dispute Resolution Chamber. This
provision also applies to the decisions rendered by the sub-committee.
Nevertheless, in order to safeguard the privacy and/or safety of the parties involved, while
keeping in mind the confidentiality of the information and documentation provided in thecontext of a minor application (cf. question 8 infra), the FIFA administration would only
publish anonymised and/or redacted versions of the decisions passed by the sub-committee.
The decisions are published on legal.fifa.com.

3.

CAS 2013/A/3140 A. v. Atlético Madrid & RFEF & FIFA, CAS 2015/A/4312 John Kenneth Hilton v. FIFA and CAS
2017/A/5244 Oscar Bobb & Associação Juvenil Escola de Futebol Hernâni Gonçalves v. FIFA.

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8.

What about data protection regarding the documentation to be provided in
TMS within the context of a minor application?

The information provided in TMS and contained in the system is strictly confidential.
This is all the more important for the FIFA administration and the sub-committee regarding
documents and information related to minors and/or their parents.
The FIFA administration and the sub-committee understand that said documents may
contain privileged and/or sensitive data. Therefore, they are treated with strict confidentiality
and are only used within the scope of the minor application. In particular, this information
will not, under any circumstance, be disclosed, either in full or in part, to third parties not
involved in the decision-making process related to the minor application in question (suchthird parties may include the authorities of the player’s former country and the player’s
country of origin, in cases where humanitarian reasons are invoked – cf. also answer toquestion 14 infra).

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II. ART. 19 PAR. 2 A) OF THE RSTP - GENERAL
9.

What reasons – other than work-related reasons – are covered by the scopeof this exception?

Although work is recognised as the most common reason leading a family to move fromone country to another, the sub-committee recognises other reasons as the basis for a
move, including:–better education of the player and/or his parents;–

better living conditions;–

return to the country of origin;–family reunion/reunification;–

investment;–

medical reasons; and–retirement.

The above-mentioned list is obviously not exhaustive and serves merely as a guideline forthe type of reasons that have been invoked in the context of minor applications submitted
to the sub-committee in the past.
In relation to the above, in order to ease the process, associations may submit an explanatory
statement from the player’s parents regarding the reason that led them to move to the newcountry, along with the relevant documentary evidence supporting said statement, such as:–

school certificates indicating the date of the player’s enrolment (if the moveoccurred for educational reasons);–

proof of residence from relatives (if applicable) living in the country where theplayer’s parents moved (if the move occurred for family reunion or if the player’s
parents return to their country of origin);–

medical certificates in support of the medical reason invoked, if applicable;–

proof of investment made in the new country indicating in particular,
the reasons for said investment and the date when it was made.

For the sake of completeness, it needs to be clarified that, regardless of the reason invoked,
these applications were only accepted by the sub-committee in situations where it was
clear that the player’s parents moved to the new country for the reason invoked and not
for the player’s football career.
10. Under which circumstances would a player moving with only one parent
be accepted?
In accordance with the jurisprudence of the sub-committee, the player’s move with only
one parent has been accepted in the following circumstances:

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PROTECTION OF MINORS - GUIDE TO SUBMITTING A MINOR APPLICATION(i)the player joins a parent who is already living abroad and who has shared (orfull) custody of the player (the consent of the other parent is needed in caseof shared custody);(ii)

the player joins a parent who is already living abroad following the death ofthe other parent;(iii)

the player joins a parent who is already living abroad after a national court
awards full custody of the player to that parent; and(iv)

the player moves abroad with a custody-holding parent for reasons not linked
to football (the consent of the other parent and/or proof of custody is needed insuch cases).

The above-mentioned list is obviously not exhaustive and serves merely as a guideline forthe type of reasons that have been invoked before the sub-committee in the past.
11. Under which circumstances would a player moving without his/her parents
be accepted?
Within the context of the exception outlined in art. 19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP, thesub-committee has recognised, only in very limited circumstances, the possibility for a player
to move to a new country without his/her parents.
In particular, the sub-committee has accepted applications in the following very strictcircumstances:(i)

The player’s legal guardianship has been withdrawn from the player’s parents
by a national court and been awarded to a third person or a relative;(ii)

The player’s legal guardianship has been withdrawn from the custody-holding
parent by a national court and been awarded to a third person or a relative; and(iii)

The player’s parents passed away, as a consequence of which the player’s legal
guardianship was assigned to a third person or a relative.

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III. ART. 19 PAR. 2 A) OF THE RSTP – SPECIFIC SITUATIONS
12. Can an application potentially be accepted if the player’s parents are moving
to the new country because of one of the player’s parents’ football career?
This question has been raised on many occasions in situations where one of the player’s
parents (i) is a (professional) football player, a football coach or working within the footballindustry, and (ii) moved with his/her family to a new country as a result of a professional
opportunity.
Although literally speaking, in such cases the move of the player’s parents is “linked tofootball”, the sub-committee clarified on several occasions that (i) the provision of art. 19
par. 2 a) is aimed at preventing parents’ moves motivated by the player’s football career,and (ii) said exception could be applicable to situations where the move was motivated by
one of the player’s parents’ football career.
13. The player’s parents have not left their country of residence while the minor
player was registered with a club abroad. The player now wants to be registeredagain with a club in his parents’ country of residence. How should such cases
be processed?
This situation refers to cases where:(i)the minor player was previously registered abroad on the basis of art. 19 par. 2b), or art. 19 par. 2 d) of the RSTP and now wants to be registered (again) in
the country where his/her parents are residing; or(ii)

the minor player was previously registered abroad on the basis of art. 19 par.
2 c) of the RSTP, while still residing with his/her parents in their country ofresidence, and now wants to be registered (again) in the country where his/her parents are residing.

According to the strict wording of the RSTP, the aforementioned circumstances do not fallwithin the scope of the exception of art. 19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP which, as a general rule,
requires the relocation of the player’s parents. Nevertheless, it is deemed that a situation
where the player has always lived or is living again with his/her parents in their country ofresidence, without them moving, is in line with the ratio legis of art. 19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP.
As such, it has been clarified that the member association wishing to register a minor
player under these circumstances must submit an application on the basis of the exception
outlined in art. 19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP.
In such cases, the member association should provide – in addition to the documentation
already listed in the Minor Application Guide (cf. page 5) – an explanatory statement alongwith evidence that the player’s parent(s) has/have been continuously residing in the country
where the player wishes now to play while he/she was previously registered abroad. Said
documentation would have to be uploaded in TMS under the category “Other”.

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14. Is the reason “The minor player is moving for humanitarian reasons accompanied
by his/her parents“ in TMS an additional exception to those listed under art. 19
par. 2 of the RSTP?
No.
The above-mentioned reason is not an additional exception to the general principle outlined
in art. 19 par. 1 of the RSTP, but rather a situation that would, in principle, fall under art.
19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP.
However, applications based on the reason “The minor player is moving for humanitarianreasons accompanied by his/her parents“ require a specific (and distinct) procedure in orderto ensure the appropriate protection of the minor player and his/her family.
As a matter of fact, in accordance with FIFA circular no. 1635, if an association submits
an application prior to the international transfer of a minor moving for humanitarianreasons (if he/she was previously registered at the association of his/her nationality or any
other association) via TMS, the former association will not have access to the information
contained therein, it will not be invited to provide comments and it will not be notified of
the sub-committee’s decision.

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IV. ART. 19 PAR. 2 B) OF THE RSTP
15. Is the exception applicable to first registrations of players?
Although a first registration of a minor does not strictly speaking fall within the scope ofart. 19 par. 2 b) of the RSTP, which requires a transfer within the European Union (EU) or
the European Economic Area (EEA), a player who was not previously registered and has thenationality of an EU or EEA country will also benefit from the principle of free movement
within the EU on the basis of said exception.
According to the well-established jurisprudence of the sub-committee, this exception isapplicable to first registrations in situations where a minor player who has the nationalityof an EU or EEA country wishes to be registered for the first time in an EU/EEA country.4
16. How does the exception apply to international transfers?
The international transfer of a player from an EU/EEA country to another EU/EEA country– regardless of the player’s nationality – strictly speaking always falls within the scope ofart. 19 par. 2 b) of the RSTP, which concerns transfers taking place within the territory of
the EU or EEA.
According to the now extensive jurisprudence of the sub-committee, confirmed by the
Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS),5 in the interests of maintaining the principle of equal
treatment, the international transfer from outside the EU/EEA to the EU/EEA of a minor
player who has the nationality of an EU/EEA member state should be treated the same as atransfer within the EU/EEA of a minor player who is a national of an EU/EEA member state,and, as such, benefit from the provisions in art. 19 par. 2 b) of the RSTP.
For the sake of good order, if the country of a member association has a bilateral agreementon the free movement of workers with the EU and/or the EEA, said member association
could potentially also benefit from the exception in art. 19 par. 2 b). The association
concerned must provide a copy of the relevant law/the applicable provisions of the law
granting it such right.
17. With respect to art. 19 par. 2 b) i. of the RSTP, how can it be demonstrated/established that the football education provided is “in line with the highest
national standards”?
In accordance with the relevant jurisprudence of the sub-committee, football education
and/or training “in line with the highest national standards” is, as a general rule, establishedon the basis of the financial investment of each club concerned in training young players.
With regard to men’s football, the assessment of whether a club provides an adequate
football education and/or training “in line with the highest national standards” is mainly
made taking into consideration the association’s annual classification of clubs into training
categories I to IV (cf. art. 4 of Annexe 4 to the RSTP and FIFA circular no. 1726).
With regard to women’s football as well as futsal, as such classification does not exist, a
4.
5.

The approval of the sub-committee prior to the first registration of the minor player is, however, only required if the latter does nothave the nationality of the EU/EEA country where he/she wishes to be registered for the first time (see also question 2 supra).
CAS 2012/A/2862 FC Girondins de Bordeaux v. FIFA and CAS 2016/A/4903 Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield v. The FA & Manchester City & FIFA.

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statement from the association concerned confirming that the applicant club is in “linewith the highest national standards” of women’s football education / futsal education inthat country (along with any relevant documentary evidence in support of said statement)
must be provided in lieu of the training category.

18. With respect to art. 19 par. 2 b) i. of the RSTP, is there a minimum amount offootball education and/or training to be provided per week by the player’s club?
To date, the sub-committee has not established a minimum requirement.
The relevant assessment is made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account various
criteria, such as the team with which the player is training, and the type and frequency of
training provided.
19. With respect to art. 19 par. 2 b) ii. of the RSTP, how many hours of academic
education are considered sufficient?
According to the well-established jurisprudence of the sub-committee, and as a matter ofprinciple, an academic load of eight hours per week has been considered the minimum
requirement in order to allow a player to pursue a career other than football should he/shecease his/her playing career. This assessment is however conducted on a case-by-case basis
due to the various existing academic courses and subjects.
20. With respect to art. 19 par. 2 b) ii. of the RSTP, are distance learning and/or
online classes accepted by the sub-committee?
Yes.
Distance learning and/or online classes have been accepted by the sub-committee in cases
where:(i)the academic institution providing distance learning and/or online classes
confirms the player’s enrolment in the relevant academic course;(ii)

said academic course is considered to enable the player to pursue anothercareer should he/she cease to play football;(iii) the academic load meets, at the very least, the requirements set out above(cf. question 19 supra); and(iv) the player’s new club appoints a mentor to the player in charge of ensuringthat the latter duly attends his/her distance learning courses/online classes.
Having said that, it needs to be emphasised that, in any event, such situations are analysed
on a case-by-case basis by the sub-committee taking into account the nature of theacademic course in which the player is enrolled.

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21. With respect to art. 19 par. 2 b) ii. of the RSTP, is a minor player still required
to go to school in situations where, in the new country where he/she wishes
to be registered, minors from 16 to 18 are no longer obliged to follow an
academic education?
Yes.
The RSTP establish provisions for the minor player to follow either an academic course at
a school, or undertake vocational education and/or training in addition to his/her footballtraining that will allow him/her to pursue a career other than football should he/she cease
to play professional football.
In accordance with the jurisprudence of the sub-committee, the member association
applying for the registration of the minor player needs to provide evidence that theeducational pathway the player is engaged in will allow him/her to pursue another careershould he/she cease to play football.
22. With respect to art. 19 par. 2 b) ii. of the RSTP, is a minor player still required
to follow an academic course if (i) he/she has already graduated from highschool or from the relevant course he/she was following in his/her former
country, or (ii) he/she has already completed mandatory education in his/herhome country?
In accordance with the spirit of the RSTP and the jurisprudence of the sub-committee, theplayer will be required to follow an academic course, vocational education and/or training(cf. questions 19, 20 and 21 supra) that would allow him/her to pursue a career other thanfootball.

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V. ART. 19 PAR. 2 C) OF THE RSTP
23. What is considered to be “the player’s domicile”?
In accordance with the relevant jurisprudence of the sub-committee, the player’s domicile(or home) is always considered to be the main address where the player’s parent(s) reside.
In other words, any secondary residence of the player’s parent(s) or the place of residenceof a relative/third person cannot be considered “the player’s domicile”.
The sub-committee has always held that such interpretation is necessary in order to uphold
the ratio legis of the provisions concerning the protection of minors.
24. Can the club’s training facilities be considered “the club’s headquarters”?
As a general rule, the distance requirements are measured from and to the club’s
headquarters, i.e. where the club has its registered seat.
Having said that, on some occasions, the sub-committee considered that the club’s training
facilities or the club’s stadium could be taken into account for the purpose of the relevant
calculations, provided that the relevant distance requirements are complied with.
25. How are the distance requirements calculated?
Art. 19 par. 2 c) of the RSTP clearly sets out the following cumulative requirements:(i)the distance between the player’s home and the common border must notexceed 50km;(ii)

similarly, the distance between the club’s headquarters and the common
border must not exceed 50km; and(iii) the total distance between the player’s home and the club’s headquarters
must not be more than 100km.
However, the RSTP do not expressly state how the aforementioned distance should be
calculated.
In this regard, and in accordance with the relevant jurisprudence of the sub-committee, thedistance requirements are calculated as follows:(i)

The calculation of the 50km distance between the player’s home and the(closest) common border is based on the straight, point-to-point distance (aka“as the crow flies”) between the two respective locations;(ii)

The calculation of the 50km distance between the club’s headquarters andthe (closest) common border is based on the straight, point-to-point distance(aka “as the crow flies”) between the two respective locations;(iii) The calculation of the 100km distance between the player’s home and the
club’s headquarters is based on the distance of the “route of travel” between
the two respective locations.

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Such calculations can be made with various websites (such as Google Maps). The relevant
printouts can be provided as supporting evidence.
Please find below a few calculation examples:
Situation 1
The player lives in city Y of country A.
The player wants to be registered with club X located inneighbouring country B.

Country A
Country B

Player
City YThe player’s address in city Y is located 23km (point-to-point
distance) from the (closest) common border between country
A and country B.

23 km
37 km

Club X
11 km

Club X’s seat is located 11km (point-to-point distance) from the(closest) common border between country A and country B.
The “route travel” between the player’s address and the club’sseat is 37km.

Assessment
The distance requirements of art. 19 par. 2 c) are cumulatively met.

Situation 2
The player lives in city Y of country A.
The player wants to be registered with club X located in theneighbouring country B.

Country A
Country B

Player
City Y

54 km

The player’s address in city Y is located 54km (point to point
distance) from the (closest) common border between country
A and country B.

70 km
Club X
15 km

Club X’s seat is located 15km (point to point distance) from the(closest) common border between country A and country B.
The “route travel” between the player’s address and the club’sseat is 70km.

Assessment
The distance requirements of art. 19 par. 2 c) are not cumulatively met since the player’s address is locatedmore than 50 km from the (closest) common border.

BorderRoad from Player’s address to Club x’s seat

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Such calculations can be made with various websites (such as Google Maps). The relevant
printouts can be provided as supporting evidence.
Please find below a few calculation examples:
Situation 3
The player lives in city Y of country A.
The player wants to be registered with club X located inneighbouring country B.

Country B

Country A

Club X
90 km
61 km

23 km

The player’s address in city Y is located 23km (point-to-point
distance) from the (closest) common border between country
A and country B.
Club X’s seat is located 61km (point-to-point distance) from the(closest) common border between country A and country B.
The “route travel” between the player’s address and the club’sseat is 90km.

Player
City Y

Assessment
The distance requirements of art. 19 par. 2 c) are not cumulatively met since the club’s seat is locatedmore than 50km from the (closest) common border.

Situation 4
The player lives in city Y of country A.

104 km41 km

Player
City YThe player wants to be registered with club X located inneighbouring country B.

Country B

Country A

Club X

The player’s address in city Y is located 41km (point-to-point
distance) from the (closest) common border between country
A and country B.

48 km

Club X’s seat is located 48km (point-to-point distance) from the(closest) common border between country A and country B.
The “route travel” between the player’s address and the club’sseat is 104km.

Assessment
The distance requirements of art. 19 par. 2 c) are not cumulatively met since the “route travel” from theplayer’s address to the club’s seat is more than 100km.

BorderRoad from Player’s address to Club x’s seat

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VI. ART. 19 PAR. 2 C) OF THE RSTP – SPECIFIC SITUATIONS
26. The player’s parent(s) moved to a new country for reasons not linked to footballand the player wishes to be registered with a club located in a neighbouring
country of the new country of residence of his/her parent(s). How should sucha case be processed?
The member association wishing to submit an application on the basis of such circumstances
must apply the exception outlined in art. 19 par. 2 c) of the RSTP.
In the case of an international transfer, it will have to select in TMS the association where
the player was previously registered as the player’s former association (and not the country
where the player (now) resides with his/her parent(s).
In such cases, the new association will have to provide – together with the documentation
already listed in the Minor Application Guide (cf. page 8) – the relevant proof that the moveof one or both of the player’s parents to their new country of residence was not motivatedby the player’s football career, namely an explanatory statement from the player’s parent(s)as to the reason for the move, along with documents corroborating the reason invoked.
Said documentation would have to be uploaded in TMS under the category “Other”.
In line with the jurisprudence of the sub-committee, and although the member association
would request the sub-committee’s approval on the basis of the exception outlined in art.
19 par. 2 c) of the RSTP, the requirements of both art. 19 par. 2 c) and art. 19 par. 2 a) of
the RSTP must be cumulatively fulfilled.
Please find below a practical example:
Situation

Application to be submitted

The player was registered for a club in country A
and moved with his/her parents to country B forreasons not linked to football.

The member association of country C
will have to request the approval of the
sub-committee prior to the request of
the International Transfer Certificate of
the player from country A, on the basisof the exception outlined in art. 19 par.
2 c) of the RSTP and will have to provide:

The player’s parents take up residence in city Z ofcountry B.
The player wishes to be registered with a club
located in city X of country C.
The player and his/her parents’ address in city Z is
located less than 50km from the (closest) common
border between countries B and C, and less than
100km from the seat of the club where the player
intends to be registered in country C. In addition,
the club in city X is located less than 50km from the(closest) common border between countries B and C.

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Application Guide (page 8); and(ii) documentary evidence demonstrating

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PROTECTION OF MINORS

that the player’s parents’ move tocountry B was not motivated by theplayer’s football career (to be uploaded
under the category “Other”).

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VII. ART. 19 PAR. 2 D) OF THE RSTP
27. Is the decision from a national authority granting the player the status ofrefugee or “protected person” always needed for the minor application?
If the player has been granted refugee status, i.e. he/she has a residence permit unequivocallystating that he/she is a refugee, a decision from the national authorities granting him/her
said status is, in principle, not needed. A copy of the player’s residence permit is in this case,in principle, sufficient.
If the player has been granted any status other than refugee status, the member association
concerned must provide:(i)a copy of the decision taken by the relevant national authorities confirmingthat the player is “a protected person” that left his/her country in order toprotect his/her life or freedom that was at threat in his/her former country or
country of origin; or(ii)

official documentation regarding the player’s immigration status in the newcountry that would corroborate that he/she is “a protected person” that left his/her country in order to protect his/her life or freedom that was at threat in his/her
former country or country of origin (e.g. residence permit, along with a copy of
the applicable law on the basis of which the player was granted said permit, etc.).

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PROTECTION OF MINORS - GUIDE TO SUBMITTING A MINOR APPLICATIONVIII.
OF THTERSTP
VIII. ART. ART.
19 PAR.
2 E) OFTHE RSTP
28. Does the sub-committee recognise exchange programmes privately organisedby the player’s family and that does not involve an exchange programmeorganiser and/or the player’s previous school?
The sub-committee has accepted such applications on limited occasions, provided that allother requirements of the exception were also met.
29. Is a minor player obliged to follow an academic education abroad if he/she has
already graduated from high school or from the relevant course he/she wasfollowing in his/her former country?
In accordance with the wording of art. 19 par. 2 e) of the RSTP, said exception is applicable toa player (i) who is a student, and (ii) who moves without his/her parents to another country
temporarily (iii) for academic reasons in order to undertake an exchange programme.
As such, the sub-committee has so far considered that the academic education of the player
has to be the primary reason of his/her move. In other words, it needs to be establishedthat the player will be enrolled in an academic course abroad in order to be able to possibly
benefit from the exception in question.

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IX. ART. 19 PAR. 3 AND 4 A) OF THE RSTP
30. How are the five years of continuous residence calculated?
The sub-committee has always held that the member association applying for the registrationof a foreign minor player on the basis of art. 19 par. 3 of the RSTP must prove that theplayer has lived without interruption in the country of intended registration for the last five
years.
The five years are counted (back) from the date on which the minor application is submitted
in TMS by the association wishing to register the minor player.
31. What if a minor player has been residing for a considerable amount of time in
the new country of intended registration but less than 5 years?
Although a case-by-case assessment is conducted by the sub-committee, the requirements
regarding the player’s continuous residence in the country of intended registration for thelast five years are very strictly applied.
As such, if a member association cannot provide evidence that the player has been
continuously residing for the last five years in its country, it must look into the otherexceptions and apply on the basis of the one that corresponds most closely to the player’s
situation (e.g. art. 19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP, if the player’s parents also moved to the countryof intended registration and if their move was not linked to the player’s football career,etc.), along with submitting the relevant documentation listed in the Minor Application
Guide for said exception.

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PROTECTION OF MINORS - GUIDE TO SUBMITTING A MINOR APPLICATIONREFERENCE MATERIALSFIFA Circulars
•
•
•
•
•

no. 1726 - Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players – categorisation of clubs,
registration periods and eligibility
no. 1709 – Amendments to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players
no. 1635 – International transfer of players
no. 1587 – International transfer of professional minor players
no. 1576 – Limited minor exemption

CAS Awards•

CAS 2019/A/6301 Chelsea Football Club Limited v. FIFA•CAS 2017/A/5244 Oscar Bobb & Associação Juvenil Escola de Futebol Hernâni Gonçalves v. FIFA•CAS 2016/A/4903 Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield v. The FA & Manchester City & FIFA•CAS 2016/A/4805 Atlético Madrid v. FIFA•CAS 2016/A/4785 Real Madrid v. FIFA•CAS 2015/A/4312 John Kenneth Hilton v. FIFA•CAS 2015/A/4178 Zohran Ludovic Bassong & RSC Anderlecht v. FIFA•CAS 2014/A/3793 Barcelona v. FIFA•CAS 2014/A/3611 Real Madrid FC v. FIFA•CAS 2013/A/3140 A. v. Atlético Madrid & RFEF & FIFA•CAS 2012/A/2862 FC Girondins de Bordeaux v. FIFA•CAS 2011/A/2494 FC Girondins de Bordeaux v. FIFA•CAS 2011/A/2354 E. v. FIFA•CAS 2008/A/1485 FC Midtjylland v. FIFA•CAS 2005/A/955 & 956 Cadiz & Acuña Caballero v. FIFATABLE OF CONTENTS
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PROTECTION OF MINORS - GUIDE TO SUBMITTING A MINOR APPLICATIONCONTACTFIFA is fully committed to answering any questions or enquiries concerning the content
of this document and/or any regulatory matters regarding the protection of minors thatmember associations, clubs, players and their families, and football stakeholders around theworld may have.
As such, please feel free to contact us at any time at: legal@fifa.org.

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Guide toSubmitting a
Request for
Eligibility or
Change of
Association
JANUARY 2021 EDITIONTABLE OF CONTENTS
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Introduction .................................................................

3

Process ..........................................................................

4

Documents required ....................................................

8

General documents required for all typesof request ..................................................................................

9

Specific documents required dependingon the legal basis invoked ........................................................

10

Article 7 paragraph 1 d) ii) ..........................................................

10

Article 8 ........................................................................................

11

Article 9 paragraph 2 a)................................................................

12

Article 9 paragraph 2 b)................................................................

13

Article 9 paragraph 2 c)................................................................

15

Article 9 paragraph 2 d)................................................................

16

Article 9 paragraph 2 e)................................................................

18

Article 9 paragraph 5....................................................................

19

Contact .........................................................................

20

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FIFA ANTI-DOPINGGUIDETO SUBMITTINGREGULATIONSA REQUEST[2019FOR ELIGIBILITYED.]
OR CHANGE OF ASSOCIATIONGUIDE TO SUBMITTING A REQUEST FOR ELIGIBILITY OR CHANGE OF ASSOCIATIONINTRODUCTION

According to the Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes (RGAS), a request
for eligibility or change of association must be submitted to the Players’ Status Committee(PSC):• For players that have acquired a new nationality and moved to the relevant territory
between the age of 10 and 18 (art. 7 par. 2 of the RGAS);• For stateless individuals (art. 8 par. 2 of the RGAS);• For players that wish to change association after having already participated in an
official competition at any level in any kind of football for another association (art.
9 par. 2 of the RGAS); and• For players that were previously granted a change of association and that wish tochange back to their former association (art. 9 par. 6 of the RGAS).
Against this background, the guide outlines:(i) the administrative process applicable to these requests; and(ii) the relevant documents to be submitted, subject to the type of application.
While the FIFA general secretariat is responsible for managing the case file, only the PSC
is competent to render a decision based on the specific circumstances of each application.
Therefore, the guide is meant merely to support the administrative process of the requests.

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1.
Submission of a request by the
new association

2.
Review by the FIFA general secretariat

3.
Decision by the Players’ Status Committee

4.
Terms of the decision of the Players’
Status Committee

5.
Grounds of the decision of thePlayers’ Status Committee

6.
Appeal to the Court of Arbitrationfor Sport

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1.

Submission of a request by the new association
After having gathered all the mandatory documents from the player, the new association
will be responsible for submitting, on behalf of the player, the request to the Players’
Status Committee (cf. art. 7 par. 2 or art. 8 par. 2 of the Regulations Governing theApplication of the Statutes (September 2020 edition, the RGAS) for eligibility requests
and art. 9 pars 4 or 5 of the RGAS for change of association requests
The request must be sent to the email address psdfifa@fifa.org
i.

state the relevant provision used as the basis for the request; andii. contain all the necessary documents to support the request and/or
corroborate that the circumstances of the exception invoked are met.
For the sake of completeness, it is to be noted that a player who has filed a request fora change of association is not eligible to participate for any representative team until
the request has been decided upon (art. 9 par. 7 of the RGAS).
2.

Review by the FIFA general secretariat
Upon receipt by the FIFA general secretariat, the request is assigned to a case handler
who will be responsible for reviewing the information and the documentation
submitted.
During the review, the FIFA general secretariat may request additional information and/or documentation in order to supplement the initial request. The association must thensubmit its response, along with the requested information and/or documentation byemail at its earliest convenience.
Once the review is complete, the FIFA general secretariat makes a proposal which is
submitted to the member(s) of the Players’ Status Committee for decision. It should be
noted that the proposal made by the FIFA general secretariat to the member(s) of thePlayers’ Status Committee is merely a (non-binding) recommendation.

3.

Decision by the Players’ Status Committee
Upon receipt of the request, one or more members of the Players’ Status Committee
analyse the case and inform the FIFA general secretariat of their decision.

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4.

Terms of the decision of the Players’ Status Committee
Once the FIFA general secretariat has been informed of the decision of the member(s)of the Players’ Status Committee, the terms of the decision will be legally notified tothe association(s) concerned by email.
The terms of the decision will state whether the request is “accepted”, “rejected” or“not admissible”.
If the request is accepted, the player will be permitted to play for their new association
with immediate effect.
It should, however, be noted that, in case of a change of association, the player is
not permitted to play for their new association in any competition in which they havealready played for their previous association (art. 9 par. 3 of the RGAS).

5.

Grounds of the decision of the Players’ Status Committee
The association(s) concerned has/have ten days from the date of notification of theterms of the decision to request the grounds of the decision. Failure to do so will resultin the decision becoming final and binding.
If an association requests the grounds of the decision, the motivated decision will be
notified to the association(s) in full, written form by email.

6.

Appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
According to art. 58 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes (September 2020 edition), the decisionof the Players’ Status Committee may be appealed before the Court of Arbitration forSport (CAS) within 21 days of the notification of the grounds of the decision.

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OR CHANGE OF ASSOCIATIONGUIDE TO SUBMITTING A REQUEST FOR ELIGIBILITY OR CHANGE OF ASSOCIATIONGENERAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ALL TYPES OF REQUESTFormal request from the new association, duly indicating the legal basis
invoked in support of its request.

Statement from the player (co-signed by their parent(s) or legal guardian if
the player is a minor) confirming their will to be eligible to play for the new
association.
For requests for a change of association, the statement must specify thatthe player understands that a request for a change of association can only
be made once (cf. art. 9 par. 1 of the Regulations Governing the Applicationof the Statutes (September 2020 edition)

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Cumulative requirements

Example of documentary evidence

The player holds the nationality of
the country of the new association.

Copy of the player’s valid passport (issued by the authorities of the countryof the new association), duly indicating the player’s nationality and theperiod of validity of the passport.

The player acquired the nationality of the country of the new association over the course of theirlife.

The player never participated in amatch in an official competition at
any level in any kind of football
for another member association.
The player moved between theage of 10 and 18 to the territory of
the relevant association.

The player has lived on the territoryof the relevant association for atleast five years.

Copy of the player’s valid passport (issued by the authorities of the countryof the new association), duly indicating the player’s nationality and theperiod of validity of the passport.
and/orStatement from the competent government authority and/or citizenshipcertificate, duly indicating the exact date on which the player acquired thenationality of the country of the new association.
Official document, issued by the association(s) for which the player would
currently be eligible to play on the basis of their nationality, confirmingthat the player was never fielded in a match in an official competition at
any level in any kind of football for said association(s)*.
Passport stamps, visas, flight tickets, official documentation from a competent government authority, residence certificate, etc.
Note: the documentation must clearly indicate the date on which the move occurred.

Official documentation issued by the competent government authority indicating for how long and/or since when the player has lived on the territory of the relevant association, residence certificates, player’s school records
duly issued by the relevant academic institution, etc.
Note: the documentation must clearly demonstrate that the player has lived on the
territory of the relevant association for at least five years.

The player’s move to the territoryof the relevant association was not
for the purpose of participating
for its representative team.

Statement from the player and/or their parent(s) explaining the reason(s)for the move, supported by documentary evidence, such as:- employment contracts or employment certificates (if the move occurred for professional reasons);- school certificates indicating the date of the player’s enrolment (if themove occurred for educational reasons);- proof of residence of relatives (if applicable) living in the country towhich the player’s parents moved (if the move occurred for family reunion or if the player’s parents returned to their country of origin);- official document indicating their status as a refugee or protected
person in the new country or relevant decision granting such status (ifthe move occurred for humanitarian reasons).
Note: The above-mentioned list is not exhaustive and is merely a guideline for thetype of reasons that have been invoked in requests submitted to the Players’ Status
Committee in the past.

* In cases involving refugee players, the FIFA general secretariat and FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee understand that such document may be difficult
to obtain by the relevant association without disclosing the whereabouts of the player. In such situations and upon request, the FIFA general secretariat will contact the player’s former association directly in order to obtain such document without disclosing the player’s whereabouts.

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Cumulative requirements
The player does not hold any nationality.

Due to the national law of thecountry of their domicile, the player will never be granted the nationality of such country.

The player has lived on the territory of the relevant association for
at least five years.

Example of documentary evidence
Copy of the player’s proof of identity, residence permit or legitimation card.
Proof of the stateless status of the player.

Copy of the relevant law and/or official confirmation from the competent government authority.
Note: the documentation must clearly demonstrate that due to the national law of the country of their domicile, the player will never be granted the nationality of that country.

Official documentation issued by the competent government authority, indicating
for how long and/or since when the player has lived on the territory of the relevant
association, residence certificates, player’s school records duly issued by the relevant academic institution, etc.
Note: the documentation must clearly demonstrate that the player has lived on the territoryof the relevant association for at least five years.

Statement from the player and/or their parents explaining the reason(s) for the
move, supported by documentary evidence, such as:

The player’s move to the territoryof the relevant association was
not for the purpose of participating for its representative team.

- employment contracts or employment certificates (if the move occurred for
professional reasons);- school certificates indicating the date of the player’s enrolment (if the moveoccurred for educational reasons);- proof of residence of relatives (if applicable) living in the country to which
the player’s parents moved (if the move occurred for family reunion or if theplayer’s parents returned to their country of origin);- official document indicating their status as a refugee or protected personin the new country or relevant decision granting such status (if the move occurred for humanitarian reasons).
Note: The above-mentioned list is not exhaustive and is merely a guideline for the type of
reasons that have been invoked in requests submitted to the Players’ Status Committee inthe past.

* In cases involving refugee players, the FIFA general secretariat and FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee understand that such document may be difficult
to obtain by the relevant association without disclosing the whereabouts of the player. In such situations and upon request, the FIFA general secretariat will contact the player’s former association directly in order to obtain such document without disclosing the player’s whereabouts.

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Cumulative requirements

Example of documentary evidence

The player holds the nationalityof the country of the new association.

Copy of the player’s valid passport (issued by the authorities of the country of the
new association), duly indicating the player’s nationality and the period of validityof the passport.

The player was fielded in a matchin an official competition at any
level (with the exception of “A”
international level) in any kind of
football for their current association.

Official statement issued by the player’s current association (i) explicitly confirmingthat the player has never played any match (either in full or in part) in an official
competition at “A” international level for their current association, and (ii) containing a list of all the matches (at any level in any kind of football) in which the player
in question played for its representative teams*, duly indicating for each match:- the date of the match;- the age category;- the type (i.e. official or unofficial) and the name of the competition;- the kind of football (e.g. 11-a-side, futsal or beach soccer).

At the time of being fielded fortheir first match in an official competition in any kind of football for
their current association, the player already held the nationality of
the association which they wish to
represent.

Copy of the passport (issued by the authorities of the country of the new association), indicating the player’s nationality, the validity of the passport on the day ofthe match, and the period of validity of the passport.
orStatement from the competent government authority and/or citizenship certificate
confirming since when the player holds the nationality of the country of the new
association.

* In cases involving refugee players, the FIFA general secretariat and FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee understand that such document may be difficult
to obtain by the relevant association without disclosing the whereabouts of the player. In such situations and upon request, the FIFA general secretariat will contact the player’s former association directly in order to obtain such document without disclosing the player’s whereabouts.

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Cumulative requirements

Example of documentary evidence

The player holds the nationalityof the country of the new association.

Copy of the player’s valid passport (issued by the authorities of the country of the
new association), duly indicating the player’s nationality and the period of validityof the passport.

The player was fielded in a matchin an official competition at any
level (with the exception of “A”
international level) in any kind of
football for their current association.

Official statement issued by the player’s current association containing a list of all
the matches (at any level in any kind of football) in which the player in question
played for its representative teams*, duly indicating for each match:- the date of the match;- the age category and/or level of the representative team (e.g. youth team or“A” level);At the time of being fielded fortheir last match in an official competition in any kind of football for
their current association, they had
not turned 21 years old.
At the time of being fielded fortheir first match in an official competition in any kind of football for
their current association, they did
not hold the nationality of the association which they wish to represent.

- the type (i.e. official or unofficial) and the name of the competition;- the kind of football (e.g. 11-a-side, futsal or beach soccer).

Statement from the competent government authority and/or citizenship certificate, duly indicating the exact date on which the player obtained the nationalityof the country of the new association or a copy of the player’s passport (issued by
the authorities of the country of the new association), duly indicating the player’s
nationality and the period of validity of the passport.

The player meets one of the following requirements:• The player was born on the
territory of the relevant association.

Copy of the player’s passport or birth certificate, duly indicating their place of birth.

---------------------- or --------------------• The player’s biological motheror biological father was bornon the territory of the relevant
association.

Copy of the player’s biological mother’s or father’s passport or birth certificate,
duly indicating her or his place of birth.
andDocumentation corroborating the player’s filiation with their biological mother orfather (such has the player’s birth certificate).

---------------------- or --------------------• The player’s grandmother or
grandfather was born on the
territory of the relevant association.

Copy of the player’s grandmother’s or grandfather’s passport or birth certificate,
duly indicating her or his place of birth.
andDocumentation corroborating the player’s filiation with their grandmother or
grandfather (such has their birth certificate and/or their parent’s birth certificate).

---------------------- or --------------------* In cases involving refugee players, the FIFA general secretariat and FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee understand that such document may be difficult
to obtain by the relevant association without disclosing the whereabouts of the player. In such situations and upon request, the FIFA general secretariat will contact the player’s former association directly in order to obtain such document without disclosing the player’s whereabouts.

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Cumulative requirements

Example of documentary evidence
Passport stamps, visas, flight tickets, official documentation from a competent government authority, residence certificate, etc.

• The player began living on the
territory of the relevant association before the age of 10 andhas lived on said territory atleast three years.

andOfficial documentation issued by the competent government authority, indicating
for how long and/or since when the player has lived on the territory of the relevant
association, residence certificates, player’s school records duly issued by the relevant academic institution, etc.
Note: the documentation must clearly (i) indicate the date on which the move occurred, and(ii) demonstrate that the player has lived on the territory of the relevant association for atleast three years.

---------------------- or ---------------------

Passport stamps, visas, flight tickets, official documentation from a competent government authority, residence certificate, etc.
andOfficial documentation issued by the competent government authority indicating
for how long and/or since when the player has lived on the territory of the relevant
association, residence certificates, player’s school records duly issued by the relevant academic institution, etc.

• The player began living on the
territory of the relevant association between the age of 10
and 18, has lived on said territory at least five years and candemonstrate that the move tothe territory of the association
was not for the purpose of participating for its representative
teams.

Note: the documentation must clearly (i) indicate the date on which the move occurred, and(ii) demonstrate that the player has lived on the territory of the relevant association for atleast five years.

Statement from the player and/or their parent(s) explaining the reason(s) for the
move, supported by documentary evidence, such as:- employment contracts or employment certificates (if the move occurred for
professional reasons);- school certificates indicating the date of the player’s enrolment (if the moveoccurred for educational reasons);- proof of residence of relatives (if applicable) living in the country to which
the player’s parents moved (if the move occurred for family reunion or if theplayer’s parents returned to their country of origin);- official document indicating their status as a refugee or protected personin the new country or relevant decision granting such status (if the move occurred for humanitarian reasons).
Note: The above-mentioned list is not exhaustive and is merely a guideline for the type of
reasons that have been invoked in requests submitted to the Players’ Status Committee inthe past.

---------------------- or --------------------Passport stamps, visas, flight tickets, official documentation from a competent government authority, residence certificate, etc.
• The player began living on the
territory of the relevant association from the age of 18 andhas lived on said territory atleast five years.

andOfficial documentation issued by the competent government authority, indicating
for how long and/or since when the player has lived on the territory of the relevant
association, residence certificates, player’s school records duly issued by the relevant academic institution, etc.
Note: the documentation must clearly (i) indicate the date on which the move occurred, and(ii) demonstrate that the player has lived on the territory of the relevant association for atleast five years.

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Cumulative requirements

Example of documentary evidence

The player holds the nationalityof the country of the new association.

Copy of the player’s valid passport (issued by the authorities of the country of the
new association), duly indicating the player’s nationality and the period of validityof the passport.

The player was fielded in a matchin an official competition at “A”
international level in any kind of
football for their current association.
At the time of being fielded fortheir last match in an official competition in any kind of football for
their current association, they had
not turned 21 years old.

The player was fielded in no morethan three matches at “A” international level in any kind of football for their current association,
whether in an official competition
or non-official competition.

Official statement issued by the player’s current association containing a list of all
the matches (at any level in any kind of football) in which the player in question
played for its representative teams*, duly indicating for each match:- the date of the match;- the age category and/or level of the representative team (e.g. youth team or“A” level);- the type (i.e. official or unofficial) and the name of the competition;- the kind of football (e.g. 11-a-side, futsal or beach soccer).

At least three years have passed
since being fielded for their lastmatch at “A” international levelin any kind of football for theircurrent association, whether in an
official competition or non-official
competition.
The player has never participatedin any kind of football at “A” international level in the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup or a
final tournament of a confederation competition.
At the time of being fielded fortheir first match in an official competition (at any level) in any kindof football for their current association, they held the nationality of
the association which they wish to
represent.

Copy of the player’s passport (issued by the authorities of the country of the new
association) valid on the day of the match, duly indicating the player’s nationality,
and the period of validity of the passport.
orStatement from the competent government authority and/or citizenship certificate
confirming since when the player holds the nationality of the country of the new
association.

* In cases involving refugee players, the FIFA general secretariat and FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee understand that such document may be difficult
to obtain by the relevant association without disclosing the whereabouts of the player. In such situations and upon request, the FIFA general secretariat will contact the player’s former association directly in order to obtain such document without disclosing the player’s whereabouts.

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Cumulative requirements

Example of documentary evidence

The player holds the nationalityof the country of the new association.

Copy of the player’s valid passport (issued by the authorities of the country of the
new association), duly indicating the player’s nationality and the period of validityof the passport.

The new association was admitted
to FIFA membership after the player was fielded in their first matchin an official competition (at any
level) in any kind of football for
their current association.

Proof of FIFA membership or application process, such as an official statementfrom FIFA and/or media release.

The player was never fielded in amatch in an official competition(at any level) in any kind of football for their current association
after the association which They
wish to represent was admitted toFIFA membership.

Official statement issued by the player’s current association containing a list of all
the matches (at any level in any kind of football) in which the player in question
played for its representative teams*, duly indicating for each match:- the date of the match;- the age category and/or level of the representative team (e.g. youth team or“A” level);- the type (i.e. official or unofficial) and the name of the competition;- the kind of football (e.g. 11-a-side, futsal or beach soccer).

At the time of being fielded fortheir first match in an official competition (at any level) in any kindof football for their current association, the player:
a. held the nationality of theassociation which they wish to
represent; orb. obtained the nationalityof the association which theywish to represent as soon asreasonably practicable after
the country was recognisedby the majority of members of
the United Nations.

Copy of the passport (issued by the authorities of the country of the new association), duly indicating the player’s nationality, the passport’s validity on the day ofthe match, and the period of validity of the passport.
orStatement from the competent government authority and/or citizenship certificate
confirming since when the player holds the nationality of the country of the new
association.

The player meets one of the following requirements:• The player was born on the
territory of the relevant association.

Copy of the player’s passport or birth certificate, duly indicating their place of birth.

---------------------- or --------------------• The player’s biological motheror biological father was bornon the territory of the relevant
association.

Copy of the player’s biological mother’s or father’s passport or birth certificate, duly
indicating her or his place of birth.
andDocumentation corroborating the player’s filiation with their biological mother orfather (such has the player’s birth certificate).

---------------------- or --------------------* In cases involving refugee players, the FIFA general secretariat and FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee understand that such document may be difficult
to obtain by the relevant association without disclosing the whereabouts of the player. In such situations and upon request, the FIFA general secretariat will contact the player’s former association directly in order to obtain such document without disclosing the player’s whereabouts.
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Cumulative requirements• The player’s grandmother or
grandfather was born on the
territory of the relevant association.

Example of documentary evidence
Copy of the player’s grandmother’s or grandfather’s passport or birth certificate,
duly indicating her or his place of birth.
andDocumentation corroborating the player’s filiation with their grandmother or grandfather (such has the player’s birth certificate and/or their parent’s birth certificate).

---------------------- or --------------------Passport stamps, visas, flight tickets, official documentation from a competent government authority, residence certificate, etc.
andThe player began living on the territory of the relevant association
before the age of 10 and has lived
on said territory at least three
years.

Official documentation issued by the competent government authority, indicating
for how long and/or since when the player has lived on the territory of the relevant
association, residence certificates, player’s school records duly issued by the relevant
academic institution, etc.
Note: the documentation must clearly (i) indicate the date on which the move occurred, and(ii) demonstrate that the player has lived on the territory of the relevant association for at least
three years.

---------------------- or --------------------Passport stamps, visas, flight tickets, official documentation from a competent
government authority, residence certificate, etc.
andOfficial documentation issued by the competent government authority, indicating
for how long and/or since when the player has lived on the territory of the relevant
association, residence certificates, player’s school records duly issued by the relevant academic institution, etc.

The player began living on the territory of the relevant association
between the age of 10 and 18, has
lived on said territory at least five
years and can demonstrate thatthe move to the territory of theassociation was not for the purpose of participating for its representative teams.

Note: the documentation must clearly (i) indicate the date on which the move occurred, and(ii) demonstrate that the player has lived on the territory of the relevant association for atleast five years.

Statement from the player and/or their parent(s) explaining the reason(s) for the
move, supported by documentary evidence, such as:- employment contracts or employment certificates (if the move occurred for
professional reasons);- school certificates indicating the date of the player’s enrolment (if the moveoccurred for educational reasons);- proof of residence of relatives (if applicable) living in the country to which
the player’s parents moved (if the move occurred for family reunion or if theplayer’s parents returned to their country of origin);- official document indicating their status as a refugee or protected personin the new country or relevant decision granting such status (if the move occurred for humanitarian reasons).
Note: The above-mentioned list is not exhaustive and is merely a guideline for the type of
reasons that have been invoked in requests submitted to the Players’ Status Committee inthe past.

---------------------- or --------------------Passport stamps, visas, flight tickets, official documentation from a competent
government authority, residence certificate, etc.
The player began living on the
territory of the relevant association from the age of 18 and has
lived on said territory at least five
years.

andOfficial documentation issued by the competent government authority, indicating
for how long and/or since when the player has lived on the territory of the relevant
association, residence certificates, player’s school records duly issued by the relevant academic institution, etc.
Note: the documentation must clearly (i) indicate the date on which the move occurred, and(ii) demonstrate that the player has lived on the territory of the relevant association for atleast five years.

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Cumulative requirements

Example of documentary evidence

The player holds the nationalityof the country of the new association.

Copy of the player’s valid passport (issued by the authorities of the country of the
new association), duly indicating the player’s nationality and the period of validityof the passport.

The player was fielded in a matchin an official competition at “A”
international level in any kind of
football for their current association.

Official statement issued by the player’s current association containing a list of all
the matches (at “A” international level) in which the player in question played for
its representative teams*, duly indicating for each match:- the date of the match;- the type (i.e. official or unofficial) and the name of the competition;- the kind of football (e.g. 11-a-side, futsal or beach soccer).

The player permanently loses theirnationality without their consent
or against their will due to a decision by a government authority.

Copy of the relevant decision taken by the government authority.
orStatement from the relevant national and/or government authority.

* In cases involving refugee players, the FIFA general secretariat and FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee understand that such document may be difficult
to obtain by the relevant association without disclosing the whereabouts of the player. In such situations and upon request, the FIFA general secretariat will contact the player’s former association directly in order to obtain such document without disclosing the player’s whereabouts.

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Cumulative requirements

Example of documentary evidence

The player was granted a changeof association.

Copy of the decision rendered by the Players’ Status Committee granting suchchange.

The player was not fielded in amatch in any (official or unofficial)competition in any kind of footballby the new association.

Official confirmation issued by the player’s new association confirming that theplayer was never fielded in a match in an official competition at any level in any
kind of football for said association*.

Copy of the player’s valid passport (issued by the authorities of the country of the
new association), duly indicating the player’s nationality and the period of validityof the passport.
andThe player continues to hold thenationality of the country of theformer association.

Statement from the competent government authority and/or citizenship certificate
confirming since when the player holds the nationality of the country of the former
association.
or
Copies of all the player’s passports (issued by the authorities of the country of theformer association) since he was granted a change of association.

* In cases involving refugee players, the FIFA general secretariat and FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee understand that such document may be difficult
to obtain by the relevant association without disclosing the whereabouts of the player. In such situations and upon request, the FIFA general secretariat will contact the player’s former association directly in order to obtain such document without disclosing the player’s whereabouts.

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OR CHANGE OF ASSOCIATIONGUIDE TO SUBMITTING A REQUEST FOR ELIGIBILITY OR CHANGE OF ASSOCIATIONCONTACTFIFA is fully committed to answering any questions or enquiries concerning the content of thisdocument and/or any regulatory matters regarding the eligibility to play for representative
teams.
As such, please feel free to contact us at any time at: legal@fifa.org.

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Table ofContents

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Introduction

01

Expiring agreements and new agreements

03

Agreements that cannot be performed as
the parties originally anticipated

06

Registration periods (“transfer windows”)

08

Other regulatory matters

10

Point of Contact

14

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Introduction

The COVID-19
outbreak
The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted
everyday activities around the worldand been declared a pandemic by theWorld Health Organization. Football
too has been affected, with footballactivity suspended in almost every
country or territory in the world.
This is an unprecedented situation for
football. There has not been a similar
shutdown of organised football sinceWorld War II.

This has naturally led to several regulatory and legal issues for FIFA member
associations (MAs) and their stakeholders. In this context, FIFA has received numerous
enquiries and requests, the majority related to the FIFA Regulations on the Status andTransfer of Players (RSTP).
As world football’s governing body, FIFA has a responsibility and mandate to provide
appropriate guidance and recommendations to MAs and their stakeholders to both
mitigate the consequences of disruptions caused by COVID-19 and ensure that any
response is harmonised in the common interest.
As a threshold issue, FIFA is not in a position to instruct MAs or make a determination
on when football should recommence in each country or territory. That decision must
be made by each MA on the advice of its relevant national public health authorities.
Health should always be the guiding principle for FIFA, its MAs, and stakeholders
when rendering decisions in this particular context.

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On 18 March 2020, the Bureau of the FIFA Council (the Bureau) established a working
group in response to COVID-19 to examine, inter alia, the need for amendments to or
temporary dispensations from the RSTP to protect contracts for both players and clubs
and for adjustments to player registration periods.1 The Bureau recognised that thedisruption to football caused by COVID-19 was a case of force majeure.
Article 27 of the RSTP states that cases of force majeure shall be decided by the FIFA
Council, whose decisions are final. The COVID-19 situation is, per se, a case of force
majeure for FIFA and football.
Following the mandate of the Bureau, the working group, chaired by Vittorio
Montagliani, chairman of the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee and composed ofrepresentatives from the FIFA administration, confederations, MAs, the European
Club Association (ECA), FIFPRO and the World Leagues Forum, held meetings via
videoconference on 26 March and 2 April 2020.
Among many different issues analysed during these meetings, there were three corematters that the working group considered relevant to address:(i)

expiring agreements (i.e. agreements terminating at the end of thecurrent season) and new agreements (i.e. those already signed and due
to commence at the start of the next season);(ii)

agreements that cannot be performed as the parties originally
anticipated as a result of COVID-19; and(iii)

the appropriate timing for registration periods (“transfer windows”).

The following guidelines represent the outcome of various discussions among themembers of the working group about the above-mentioned matters and wereadopted unanimously.
The principles set out in points 1 and 2 of this document are to be considered as
general (non-binding) interpretative guidelines to the RSTP.
FIFA expects the necessary level of cooperation and compliance with this documentfrom the MAs and other football stakeholders.
This is version 1.0 of this official FIFA document. FIFA, in consultation with the MAs
and the relevant stakeholders, may update the guidelines contained in thisdocument, where appropriate, over the course of this pandemic.

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Expiring agreements andnew agreements
Employment agreements and transfer agreements in football are generally tied to
the registration periods (colloquially known as “transfer windows”) which are set byeach MA within its jurisdiction in accordance with the RSTP.
This makes sense from a sporting perspective, as the opening of the first registration
period generally coincides with the first day of the new season.
The definitions section of the RSTP defines a “season” as “the period starting withthe first official match of the relevant national league championship and ending withthe last official match of the relevant national league championship”.
Notwithstanding this, MAs are required to input dates for a “season” in the FIFA
Transfer Matching System (TMS) which cover a full calendar year. The majority of theleagues that are most affected by COVID-19 have input their season start date as 1
July and season end date as 30 June.
Article 6 paragraph 1 of the RSTP mandates that players may only be registeredduring one of the two annual registration periods fixed by the relevant MA.
Given the postponement or suspension of MA and league competitions, and theoverwhelming desire of MAs and leagues for those competitions to be completed, it
is very likely that those competitions will take place after the original end date of theseason (input in TMS). This will naturally cause the original start date of the next
season to be impacted. Issues thus arise where:(i)employment agreements are due to expire at the original end date of
the season;(ii)

loan transfer agreements (and related employment agreements) are
due to expire at the original end date of the season;(iii)(permanent and loan) transfer agreements (and related employment
agreements) are due to commence at the original start date of the next
season; andTABLE OF CONTENTS
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FIFA COVID-19:
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Article 18 paragraph 2 of the RSTP states: “The minimum length of a contract shall befrom its effective date until the end of the season, while the maximum length of acontract shall be five years.”
Article 18 paragraph 3 of the RSTP provides that “[a] professional shall only be free toconclude a contract with another club if his contract with his present club has expired
or is due to expire within six months”.
The general principle established in article 18 paragraph 2 of the RSTP – contracts end
at the end of the season – in combination with the need to ensure the integrity offootball competitions, must be the primary factors when determining the contractualand registration status of players and coaches following the recommencement of MA
and league competitions.

PROPOSED GUIDING PRINCIPLES
It is acknowledged that, as a general rule, employment agreements shall be governedby national law and the contractual autonomy of the parties. Having said this, andconsistent with article 18 paragraph 2 of the RSTP, it is proposed that:(i)Where an agreement is due to expire at the original end date of aseason, such expiry be extended until the new end date of the season.

(ii)

Where an agreement is due to commence at the original start date of a
new season, such commencement be delayed until the new start dateof a new season.

(iii)

In the event of overlapping seasons and/or registration periods, andunless all parties agree otherwise, priority be given to the former club
to complete their season with their original squad, in order tosafeguard the integrity of a domestic league, MA competition andcontinental competition.

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The above shall apply to international transfer agreements by analogy. Furthermore,
for international transfer agreements (whether a permanent transfer or loantransfer):(iv) Notwithstanding the recommended amendment to agreement dates,

any payment that contractually falls due prior to the newcommencement date of an agreement should be delayed until the newstart date of a new season or its first registration period.

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Agreements that cannot be
performed as the parties
originally anticipated
It is clear that the COVID-19 outbreak might lead to situations whereby agreements
cannot be performed worldwide as the parties originally anticipated. The obligations
placed on the parties will potentially be made impossible: players and coaches will be
unable to work, and clubs will be unable to provide work.
Ultimately, national employment and/or insolvency laws (or collective bargaining
agreements (CBAs), where in force) will answer immediate questions regarding theviability of a football employment agreement that can no longer be performed.
What must be avoided is football stakeholders receiving drastically different
treatment or resolution on a global basis despite being in similar circumstances,whether from national courts, employment tribunals, or the FIFA judicial bodies.
It is incumbent on FIFA to recommend guiding principles which find a fair solution forclubs and employees, while protecting jobs as much as possible.

PROPOSED GUIDING PRINCIPLESIn order to guarantee some form of salary payment to players and coaches, avoid
litigation, protect contractual stability, and ensure clubs do not go bankrupt, whileconsidering the financial impact of COVID-19 on clubs, it is proposed that:(i)Clubs and employees (players and coaches) be strongly encouraged towork together to find appropriate collective agreements on a club or
league basis regarding employment conditions for any period where
the competition is suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Such agreements should address, without limitation: remuneration(where applicable salary deferrals and/or limitation, protection
mechanisms, etc.) and other benefits, government aid programmes,
conditions during contract extensions, etc.

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mechanisms, etc.) and other benefits, government aid programmes,
conditions during contract extensions, etc.
Where the relevant social partners exist, agreement should be reachedwithin CBA structures or another collective agreement mechanism.
(ii)

Unilateral decisions to vary agreements will only be recognised where
they are made in accordance with national law or are permissible within
CBA structures or another collective agreement mechanism.

(iii)

Where:
a. clubs and employees cannot reach an agreement, andb. national law does not address the situation or collective agreementswith a players’ union are not an option or not applicable,
Unilateral decisions to vary terms and conditions of contracts will only
be recognised by FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) or Players’
Status Committee (PSC) where they were made in good faith, arereasonable and proportionate.
When assessing whether a decision is reasonable, the DRC or the PSC
may consider, without limitation:
a. whether the club had attempted to reach a mutual agreementwith its employee(s);b. the economic situation of the club;c. the proportionality of any contract amendment;d. the net income of the employee after contract amendment;
e. whether the decision applied to the entire squad or only specificemployees.
(iv) Alternatively, all agreements between clubs and employees should be“suspended” during any suspension of competitions (i.e. suspension of
football activities), provided proper insurance coverage is maintained,
and adequate alternative income support arrangements can be foundfor employees during the period in question.

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Registration periods(“transfer windows”)
Article 6 paragraph 1 of the RSTP mandates that players may only be registeredduring one of the two annual registration periods fixed by the relevant MA(colloquially known as “transfer windows”).
Article 6 paragraph 2 read together with article 5.1 paragraph 1 of Annexe 3 to the
RSTP govern how associations must fix registration periods and request to amend,
extend, or cancel registration periods. For ease of reference, they are included in full
below:

5

6

Obligationsof the associations

Associations must use TMS in
connection with internationaltransfers of players.
5.1. Master data
1.The start and end dates of bothregistration periods and of theseason, if applicable for male andfemale players separately, as well asof possible registration periods forcompetitions in which only amateurs
participate (cf. article 6 par. 4 of theseregulations), shall be entered in TMS
at least 12 months before they comeinto force. Under exceptional
circumstances, associations may
amend or modify their registration
period dates up until they commence.
Once the registration period has
begun, no alteration of dates will bepossible. The registration periods
shall always comply with the terms ofarticle 6 paragraph 2.

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Registration
periods

2. The first registration period
shall begin after the completionof the season and shall normallyend before the new season starts.
This period may not exceed 12
weeks. The second registration
period shall normally occur in the
middle of the season and may notexceed four weeks. The tworegistration periods for theseason shall be entered into TMS
at least 12 months before theycome into force (cf. Annexe 3,
article 5.1 paragraph 1). FIFA shalldetermine the dates for any
association that fails tocommunicate them on time.

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The second sentence of article 5.1 paragraph 1 of Annexe 3 provides that prior to aregistration period commencing, associations may amend or modify the dates under“exceptional circumstances”. The COVID-19 outbreak is clearly an exceptional
circumstance.

PROPOSED GUIDING PRINCIPLES
In view of the current situation, on a case-by-case basis following analysis by the FIFA
administration while bearing in mind global coordination, it is proposed that:(i)all requests for an extension of the current season finishing date beapproved;(ii)

all requests to extend or amend registration periods that have alreadycommenced be approved, provided that their duration complies withthe maximum limit (i.e. 16 weeks) established in the RSTP;(iii)

all requests to amend or postpone registration periods that have notcommenced be approved, provided that their duration complies withthe maximum limit (i.e. 16 weeks) established in the RSTP;(iv) MAs be permitted to amend season dates and/or registration periods,

either within TMS or by otherwise notifying FIFA; and(v)

as an exception to article 6 paragraph 1 of the RSTP, a professional
whose contract has expired or been terminated as a result of COVID-19
has the right to be registered by an association outside a registration
period, regardless of the date of expiry or termination.

Because decisions on registration periods will ultimately depend on the sporting
calendar of the different national competitions (which, at the moment, remains
uncertain), this issue will be monitored and assessed by FIFA on an ongoing basis.

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Other regulatory matters
Aside from the core matters dealt with by the specific guidelines set out above, theworking group identified other additional regulatory issues which will require adecision from FIFA.
At this stage, FIFA would like to communicate the following on the main topics
below.

Release of players to association teams
Article 70 of the FIFA Statutes provides that “[t]he Council shallcompile an international match calendar that shall be binding upon
the confederations,the confederations,member associations and leagues, after conferring with theconfederations”.
Articles 1 (men’s football), 1bis (women’s football), and 1ter (futsal) of Annexe 1 to
the RSTP oblige clubs to release players to association teams and players to accept
call-ups to association teams for international matches held within designatedinternational windows in the international match calendar.
On 13 March 2020, the Bureau decided2 that the rules which normally oblige clubs torelease players to association teams will not apply for international windows in Marchand April. The core decision was that:(i)Clubs are not obliged to release their registered players to association
teams.

(ii)

If a club agrees to release a registered player to an association team, theplayer may decline the call-up.

(iii)

Any such decisions shall not be subject to disciplinary measures.

TABLE OF CONTENTS² FIFA
no. 1712 dated 13 March 2020.
FIFA circular
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deadline due to COVID-19, the association and/or the player shall not
be subject to any future restrictions or disciplinary measures.
(v)

The following international windows are subject to this decision:a. 23-31 March 2020 (men’s international match calendar),b. 6-15 April 2020 (women’s international match calendar),c. 6-15 April 2020 (futsal international match calendar).

On 6 April 2020, the same decision was rendered by the Bureau regarding the next
international window in June 2020 (1-9 June 2020, men’s international match
calendar – 1-10 June 2020, women’s international match calendar).

Loans
On 25 September 2019, the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee
submitted to the FIFA Council amendments to the RSTP regarding
internationalloans.
international loans.
These amendments
were supposed to enter into force on 1 July
2020.3On 27 March 2020, the Bureau considered postponing the entry into force of thesenew provisions until the current situation within the international football market isclarified. A final decision was made that, for the time being, the amendments
regarding loans will not enter into force.

Enforcement of decisions rendered by the DRC, the PSC or
the Disciplinary Committee in the context of RSTP matters
Although FIFA is fully aware of the potential financial difficulties ofsome clubs flowing
some from the obligation to comply with financial decisions renderedby the DRC, the PSC or the Disciplinary Committee, no exceptions will be granted inthis regard.
In this context, decisions passed by the above-mentioned judicial bodies must be
respected by MAs, clubs, players and coaches without exception. FIFA will continue toapply article 15 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code in the event of failure to respect thesedecisions.

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Requests to FIFA, the DRC and the PSC for extensions of deadlines
In general, requests for extensions of a deadline are dealt with on acase-by-case basis. Specific requests related to COVID-19 should in
principle be accepted.
current regulatory maximum extension is ten days (article
principleThebe accepted.
16 of the Rules Governing the Procedures of the Players’ Status Committee and the
Dispute Resolution Chamber), regardless of the type of request.
Given the very exceptional circumstances, it has been decided that the maximum
deadline be extended to 15 days, at the prior request of the respective party. This strikes
a balance between the rights of the party requesting the extension and those of thecounterparty, who may not be affected or delayed by COVID-19 issues.

Contract offer via registered post
According to article 6 paragraph 3 of Annexe 4 to the RSTP:“If the former club does not offer the player a contract, no training compensation ispayable unless the former club can justify that it is entitled to such compensation. The
former club must offer the player a contract in writing via registered post at least 60
days before the expiry of his current contract. Such an offer shall furthermore be atleast of an equivalent value to the current contract. This provision is without
prejudice to the right to training compensation of the player’s previous club(s).”Given the current circumstances and in cases where club representatives are unable tophysically use postal services due to administrative measures adopted by therespective government, it would be sufficient for the former club to make the offer
by email, provided that the former club obtains confirmation from the player – via
any credible means – that he has received a copy of the offer.

Regulatory deadline to publish annual intermediary data
Article 6 paragraph 3 of the FIFA Regulations on Working with
Intermediaries provides:“Associations shall make publicly available at the end of March of every calendar year,
for example on their official website, the names of all intermediaries they haveregistered as well as the single transactions in which they were involved. In addition,
associations shall also publish the total amount of all remunerations or payments
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actually made to intermediaries by their registered players and by each of theiraffiliated clubs. The figures to be published are the consolidated total figure for all
players and the individual clubs’ consolidated total figure.”
Due to the current circumstances, it has been decided that the deadline to publish
such data be extended to 30 June 2020.

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Point of contact
FIFA is fully committed to assisting MAs and football stakeholders around the world
during this special period.
In this context, FIFA is willing to open a direct line of contact for any questions or
enquiries you may have about the impact of this document on your respective daily
operations.
Please, feel free to contact us at any time regarding any regulatory matters at:legal@fifa.org or visit our dedicated webpage for more information about FIFA’s
initiatives and programmes in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak https://www.fifa.com/what-we-do/covid-19/

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COVID-19: Football Regulatory Issues
FAQs (Version 1.0)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
10 June 2020

Football Regulatory Issues
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Table of contents

Preamble ...............................................................................................................................................................................
2

Table of contents

Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................................
3
1. ...............................................................................................................................................................................................
Expiring agreements and new agreements .............................................................................................................
4
2. ...............................................................................................................................................................................................
Agreements that cannot be performed as originally anticipated....................................................................
703

3. ...............................................................................................................................................................................................
Preamble
Registration periods (”transfer windows”) ................................................................................................................
11
4. ...............................................................................................................................................................................................
Other regulatory or legal matters ................................................................................................................................
Introduction
16

04

5. ...............................................................................................................................................................................................
New matters .........................................................................................................................................................................
19
FAQs: Expiring agreements and05

new agreements

08

FAQs: Agreements that cannot be
performed as originally anticipated

11

FAQs: Registration periods(“transfer windows”)

15

FAQs: Other regulatory or legal matters

18

New matters

23

Point of contact

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Preamble
The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted everyday activities around the world and been declareda pandemic by the World Health Organization, resulting in the suspension of football inalmost every country or territory in the world.
On 7 April 2020, FIFA announced several decisions that had been made by the Bureau of theFIFA Council (Bureau) in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak. This included the publication ofversion 1.0 of the COVID-19: Football Regulatory Issues document (CFRI Document).
That document summarised the negotiations and agreement between FIFA and representativesof its core stakeholders – member associations (MAs), confederations, the European Club
Association (ECA), FIFPRO, and the World Leagues Forum (WLF) – on a range of regulatory
and legal issues impacted by COVID-19.
In short, the Bureau:(i)

recommended guiding principles for expiring agreements (i.e. agreements terminating
at the end of the current season) and new agreements (i.e. those already signed anddue to commence at the start of the next season);(ii)

recommended guiding principles for agreements that cannot be performed as theparties originally anticipated as a result of COVID-19;(iii)

made temporary amendments to the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer ofPlayers (RSTP) regarding registration periods (“transfer windows”) and mandated
the FIFA administration to formalise any changes for MAs; and(iv)

made several further decisions and temporary amendments to the RSTP and otherFIFA regulations as a result of COVID-19.

From 8 April 2020 to 7 May 2020, the FIFA administration conducted 13 workshops withrepresentatives from its MAs and confederations, members of the WLF, and members of
the ECA, which involved more than 350 participants from around the world. The FIFA
administration has also actively responded to any electronic queries received regarding theregulatory and legal impact of COVID-19.
This active consultation process led to the identification of frequently asked questions (FAQs)
as well as several new regulatory and legal issues for consideration.
This document was discussed and agreed between FIFA and its core stakeholders during a
consultation process held between 15 May 2020 and 5 June 2020. It provides clarity on themost relevant questions raised during the consultation process and identifies solutions for
new regulatory matters. The amendments to FIFA regulations set out in this document wereapproved by the Bureau on 11 June 2020.

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Introduction(1)

Did the Bureau of the FIFA Council declare a “force majeure” situation in any
territory? Can this declaration be relied upon by MAs, clubs, or employees?

Article 27 of the RSTP allows the FIFA Council to decide “…matters not provided for and incases of force majeure”.
In this context, on 6 April 2020, the Bureau made several decisions regarding regulatory andlegal issues as a result of COVID-19. In order to temporarily amend the RSTP, the Bureau relied
upon article 27 as its source of power, determining that the COVID-19 outbreak was a matter
not provided for and a force majeure situation for FIFA and football generally.
The Bureau did not determine that the COVID-19 outbreak was a force majeure situation inany specific country or territory, or that any specific employment or transfer agreement was
impacted by the concept of force majeure.
For clarity: clubs or employees cannot rely on the Bureau decision to assert a force majeuresituation (or its equivalent).
Whether or not a force majeure situation (or its equivalent) exists in the country or territoryof an MA is a matter of law and fact, which must be addressed on a case-by-case basis
vis-à-vis the relevant laws that are applicable to any specific employment or transfer agreement.

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FAQs: Expiring agreements
and new agreements
General introduction
FIFA understands and recognises that it is not a party to the employment agreements between
clubs and their employees (in particular, players and coaches), or the transfer agreements
between two clubs (and a player, if applicable). FIFA has no authority – pursuant to any
national law, FIFA regulation, or national football regulation – to unilaterally amend the terms
and conditions of such agreements.
As a matter of principle, existing employment agreements shall be governed by the nationallaw referred to in the agreement and/or an existing collective bargaining agreement (CBA),and the contractual autonomy of the parties.
FIFA strongly believes that for football to collectively move forward from the impact of the
COVID-19 outbreak, its recommendations regarding the extension of expiring agreements
and delay of new agreements should be respected by all parties.
FIFA strongly urges all parties to negotiate any extensions or delays in good faith and on
terms that are equitable and reasonable.
(2)

What type of national law is being referred to in this section?

The CFRI Document refers, in principle, to national employment law.
The parties to an agreement should always take heed of the choice of law which has been
made in any agreement; this may differ from the national law in the territory where the clubis domiciled.
(3)

A player has an existing agreement with a club in association A that expires
on 30 June. The player has, as is permitted in the last six months of his
current agreement, signed a new agreement with a club in association B
that commences on 1 July. If the season in association A is extended (e.g.
until the end of August), is it permitted for the new contract to commence
in association B on 1 July?

FIFA strongly recommends that priority be given to the former club to complete its domestic
season with its original squad, in order to safeguard the integrity of its competition(s). In thisrespect, the parties are strongly encouraged to extend the existing agreement and delay thecommencement of the new agreement in accordance with the choice of law(s) made in therelevant agreements.
However, the parties may indeed choose to enforce the new agreement.
NOTE: if the new agreement is enforced, depending on the specific situation, there is arisk that the player may not be registered for a significant period of time, as the relevant
registration period may have been amended or postponed due to COVID-19, and therefore
may not be open and/or the player may not be eligible to participate in matches.
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(4)

A player and a club conclude a new agreement that commences on the original start date of the season in that MA. As a result of COVID-19, the startdate of the season is delayed (e.g. by two months). Can the club unilaterally
delay the commencement of the new agreement?

FIFA strongly recommends that the player and new club delay the commencement of the
new agreement until the new start date of the next season.
Unless the national law referred to in the new agreement provides otherwise, the parties will
not be permitted to unilaterally amend the commencement date of the new agreement.
NOTE: if the original commencement date of the new agreement is enforced, dependingon the specific situation, there is a risk that the player may not be registered for a significant
period of time, as the relevant registration period may have been amended due to COVID-19,
and therefore may not be open and/or the player may not be eligible to participate in matches.
(5)

An existing employment agreement contains an adjustment to the
remuneration of the employee on a future date (e.g. the original start dateof the next season). When should that adjustment occur if the start date of
the next season is postponed?

FIFA recommends that parties to existing employment agreements align such clauses with the
new start date of the next season.
However, if the parties fail to align such clauses, the existing employment agreement shallbe enforced.
(6)

How should parties formally proceed if they follow the FIFA guidelines andagree to extend an existing agreement or delay the commencement of a
new agreement?

Notwithstanding that the national law referred to in an agreement may have different
requirements, the FIFA judicial bodies will generally recognise any amendment to anagreement that is made in writing with the signature of all parties.
Parties should be cognisant as to whether the extension or delay of an agreement requires
the insertion of any relevant transfer instruction in the FIFA Transfer Matching System(FIFA TMS) (e.g. a loan extension).
(7)

For existing loan agreements (and related employment agreements) due toexpire at the original end date of the current season, FIFA recommends thatpriority shall be given to the engaging club (where the player is on loan) tocomplete its domestic season with its original squad. How does this workin practice?

FIFA strongly recommends that priority be given to the former club to complete its domestic
season with its original squad, in order to safeguard the integrity of its competition(s). This
includes, inter alia, the extension of existing loan agreements (and employment agreements)
where relevant.
As a matter of principle, existing:

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COVID-19 FOOTBALL REGULATORY ISSUES – FAQs(i)employment agreements shall be governed by the national law referred to in theagreement and/or a CBA, and the contractual autonomy of the parties;(ii)

loan agreements shall be governed by the national law referred to in the agreement
and/or national football regulations (if a domestic loan) or FIFA regulations (if aninternational loan), and the contractual autonomy of the parties.

If the relevant agreements are not extended, then the loan of the player registration willterminate as originally anticipated in the loan agreement.
NOTE: if a loan is not extended and the player returns to the releasing club, depending on thespecific situation, there is a risk that the player may not be registered for a significant periodof time, as the relevant registration period may have been amended due to COVID-19, andtherefore may not be open and/or the player may not be eligible to participate in matches.
(8)

Can an MA or league unilaterally amend (e.g. through regulations) an
employment agreement between a club and employee (player or coach)?

No.
The FIFA judicial bodies shall only recognise any such regulations where they are permitted
by national law and have been collectively agreed among social partners (e.g. players’ union,coach association).
(9)

Can a club or an employee decide not to negotiate an extension of an (expiring) existing agreement, if the end date of the current season is extended?

FIFA strongly recommends that clubs complete their domestic season with their originalsquad, in order to safeguard the integrity of their competition(s).
However, clubs and employees may decide not to negotiate extensions for (expiring) existing
agreements.
NOTE: if the parties decide not to negotiate extensions of (expiring) existing agreements,
depending on the specific situation, there is a risk that: (i) a club will be required to complete
the domestic season with a reduced squad (subject to national football regulations); or (ii)a player may not be registered for a significant period of time, as the relevant registration
period(s) may have been amended due to COVID-19, and therefore may not be open and/or
the player may not be eligible to participate in matches.
(10)

The transfer of a player has been agreed and shall occur at the start of thenext season. As a result of COVID-19, the financial resources of the new club
have been significantly reduced. Will the new club be entitled to reduce ordelay payment of the transfer fee or salary it respectively agreed to pay tothe former club and the player?

No, unless the parties agree otherwise.

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FAQs: Agreements thatcannot be performed asoriginally anticipatedGeneral introduction
FIFA understands and recognises that it is not a party to the employment agreements between
clubs and their employees (in particular, players and coaches), or the transfer agreements
between two clubs (and the player, if applicable). FIFA has no authority – pursuant to any
national law, FIFA regulation, or national football regulation – to unilaterally amend the key
terms and conditions of such agreements.
As a matter of principle, existing employment agreements shall be governed by the nationallaw referred to in the agreement and/or an existing CBA, and the contractual autonomy ofthe parties.
Notwithstanding this, FIFA has recommended guiding principles on how clubs and theiremployees (players and coaches) should amend their employment relationship (whereappropriate) during any period when a competition is suspended.
The guiding principles are listed in the preferred order in which FIFA believes clubs andemployees should address variations to an employment agreement during any period whena competition is suspended. FIFA strongly recommends that clubs and employees make theirbest efforts to find collective agreements before following any other guiding principle.
The guiding principles should be read in conjunction with the principles of non-discriminationand equal treatment. Employees (players or coaches) should be treated as equally as possible
when considering variations to employment agreements.
(i)

Clubs and employees (players and coaches) should first undertake good-faith efforts
to negotiate collective agreements on a league basis (i.e. between an MA or league
and the local social partners) or a club basis (i.e. between an individual club and its
employees (players and coaches)) where the suspension of a competition requires
the amendment of existing employment agreements.

(ii)

The FIFA judicial bodies will only recognise a unilateral variation to an employment
agreement where such variation complies with the national law referred to in theagreement, a CBA, or another collective agreement mechanism.

(iii)

Where:
a. clubs and employees cannot reach an agreement; andb. national law does not address the situation or collective agreements with a players’
union are not an option or not applicable,
unilateral decisions to vary terms and conditions of contracts will only be recognisedby the FIFA judicial bodies where they were made in good faith, and are reasonable
and proportionate.

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(iv)

Alternatively, all agreements between clubs and employees should be “suspended”
during any suspension of competitions (i.e. suspension of football activities), provided
proper insurance coverage is maintained, and adequate alternative income support
arrangements can be found for employees during the period in question.

(11)

What type of national law is being referred to in this section?

The CFRI Document refers, in principle, to national employment law.
The parties to an agreement should always take heed of the choice of law which has been
made in any agreement; this may differ from the national law in the territory where the clubis domiciled.
(12)

The FIFA guiding principles in this section only refer to employment
agreements between clubs and employees (players and coaches). Do theyalso apply to employment agreements between MAs and national-teamcoaching staff?

Although not expressly stated, the guiding principles apply and are adaptable to theemployment relationship between MAs and national-team coaching staff.
Where the guiding principles refer to clubs, this may also be read as MAs. They will be appliedby the FIFA judicial bodies in the same manner.
(13)

Is it possible for an MA or league to issue non-mandatory guidelines for its
stakeholders regarding matters to be undertaken when a competition issuspended?

FIFA encourages MAs or leagues, where required, to assist their stakeholders by issuingnon-mandatory guidelines at national level which accord with the guiding principles
established in the CFRI Document. Where the relevant social partners (e.g. a players’ union,coach association) exist, the MA should engage those partners in good-faith negotiations
prior to the issuance of any national guidelines.
MAs and leagues, particularly with respect to the third guiding principle in this section,
are reminded that a determination of what is “reasonable and proportionate” must be
undertaken on a club-by-club basis (i.e. a subjective basis), as opposed to a league basis (i.e.
an objective, universal basis).
(l)(I)

Collective agreements(14)

When FIFA refers to “employees (players and coaches)”, does it mean that acollective agreement should be reached with players and coaches together,or can a club enter into a collective agreement with its players and a separate
collective agreement with its coaches?

A club may negotiate a collective agreement specifically with its players and a distinct collective
agreement specifically with its coaches.
If the relevant social partners (e.g. players’ union, coach association) exist within that MA,
clubs should engage those partners in negotiations with their employees.

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Clubs and employees are reminded to respect the principles of non-discrimination and equal
treatment when negotiating collective agreements.
(II)
(ll)

Unilateral decisions to vary contracts pursuant to national law, a CBA, or
another collective agreement mechanism(15)

If a dispute arises before a FIFA judicial body as a result of a unilateralvariation to an employment agreement, what evidence is required to provethat such variation was in accordance with national law, a CBA, or anothercollective agreement mechanism?

In accordance with article 12 paragraph 3 of the Rules Governing the Procedures of thePlayers’ Status Committee and the Dispute Resolution Chamber (Rules), any party claiming aright on the basis of an alleged fact shall carry the burden of proof.
As an example, a party should provide independent legal advice from a qualified legal
practitioner in the relevant jurisdiction which confirms that the unilateral variation was a valid
exercise of the national law referred to in the agreement, CBA, or other collective agreement
mechanism.
(16)

The FIFA guiding principles in this section only refer to unilateral variations
to existing employment agreements. Do they also apply to unilateral
terminations of existing employment agreements?

No, the RSTP shall apply in the assessment of disputes that arise before the FIFA judicial
bodies concerning unilateral terminations.
If a unilateral termination has occurred following a unilateral variation made as a result of
COVID-19 (e.g. a club unilaterally reduces the employee’s salary and the employee terminates
the agreement), the FIFA judicial bodies will:(i)

examine the validity of the unilateral variation vis-à-vis the relevant FIFA guiding
principles; and(ii)

after determining whether the unilateral variation was valid or invalid, assess theunilateral termination vis-à-vis the RSTP.

(lll)
(III)

Unilateral decisions to vary contracts where national law does not address
the situation and a collective agreement is not an option or not applicable(17)

Are the criteria to determine whether a unilateral variation is “reasonable
and proportionate” exhaustive?

No, they are not exhaustive.

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COVID-19 FOOTBALL REGULATORY ISSUES – FAQs

FAQs: Registration periods(”transfer windows”)
General introduction
The decisions of the Bureau set out in the CFRI Document regarding registration periods areto be considered temporary amendments to the relevant sections of the RSTP.
The Bureau also provided a direct mandate to the FIFA administration to assess, on acase-by-case basis, any requests from MAs to amend their season dates (current and next)
and registration periods.
(18)

What is the process for an MA to request an amendment to its season dates
and/or registration periods?

Official correspondence referred to in this answer should be emailed to FIFA at:
psdfifa@fifa.org.
Should an MA wish to amend season dates and/or registration periods which have alreadybeen declared in FIFA TMS, they are requested to undertake the following procedure:First letter:
MAs send an official letter to inform FIFA that they wish to postpone or amend season dates
and/or (a) registration period(s), as soon as they are aware that the season dates will require
amendment and/or registration period(s) will not be utilised as first intended.
Second letter:
MAs send an official letter to FIFA to specify their request with new dates, after thecompetent body of the MA has confirmed the start date of the new season and/or thedate of recommencement (and completion) of the current season. The request letter should
contain:(i)the amended or new dates of any registration period(s);(ii)

the amended dates of the current season (and new season if applicable)(iii)

the season (as determined by the MA) to which any amended or new registration
period(s) should be assigned;(iv)

if the proposed total number of weeks exceeds the maximum cumulative number(i.e. 16 weeks) for registration periods as provided by the RSTP, the reason(s) why
FIFA should grant an exception; and(v)

a copy of the decision of the competent body of the MA confirming the change tothe season dates. If applicable, both the original-language decision and a translation

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into an official FIFA language should be provided.
(19)

Is there a deadline for an MA to request an amendment to its season dates
and/or registration periods?

No. However, a reasonable period of time (at least ten days prior to the original date) is
required to assess requests and make the necessary technical change within FIFA TMS.
MAs are requested to follow the two-letter procedure described above. This will allow theFIFA administration to make technical changes within FIFA TMS which will help avoid issues
at a later stage.
(20)

What is the maximum duration of the combined registration periods?

Article 6 paragraph 2 of the RSTP provides that the maximum duration of the ”first registration
period” is 12 weeks and the maximum duration of the ”second registration period” is fourweeks.
The maximum duration of the combined registration periods is thus 16 weeks per MA.
(21)

What if all or part of an open registration period was directly impacted by
COVID-19?

If all or part of an open registration period was directly impacted by COVID-19, the particulartime period which was directly impacted may be deemed void and reassigned to new dates
during the same season.
An MA may lodge a request for this reassignment exception, with reasons and evidence, by
providing submissions to: psdfifa@fifa.org.
A decision shall be made by the FIFA administration taking into consideration, inter alia:(i)any government order impacting on the football season (received from the MA);(ii)

data regarding domestic transfers (received from the MA); and(iii)

data regarding international transfers in FIFA TMS.

(22)

Can the first registration period exceed the 12 weeks set out in the RSTP?

No. In all cases, the “first registration period” shall have a maximum duration of 12 weeks.
(23)

If the time between seasons is shortened as a result of COVID-19, and it is
not possible for an MA to allocate 12 weeks for the first registration period,
can the MA utilise the ”lost” time in its second registration period?

In principle, no. MAs will only be able to reallocate “lost” time on the basis of the “reassignment
exception” described above.
MAs that find themselves in this specific scenario are encouraged to utilise the “overlap
exception” set out in the “New matters” section below.

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(24)

In what circumstances will an MA be permitted to hold more than two
registration periods during a season?

Subject to the approval of the FIFA administration, MAs will be able to hold a maximum of
three registration periods during a season, in the following very limited circumstances:(i)an MA has been granted a reassignment exception (as described above). In suchcase, the MA may choose to reassign the impacted days to a new time period (i.e.
a third registration window) or combine them with an existing registration period;(ii)

an MA has yet to open the “first registration period” and wishes to split it into
two parts (not exceeding a cumulative total of 12 weeks). In principle, this may berequested by MAs following a dual-year calendar (e.g. 2020/21 season), and allows
for certainty in player registration matters prior to the commencement of the newdomestic season;(iii)

an MA has yet to open the “second registration period” and wishes to split it into
two parts (not exceeding a cumulative total of four weeks). In principle, this may
be requested by MAs following a single-year calendar (e.g. 2020 season) where thestart of the domestic season has been interrupted by COVID-19. The first part of
the “second registration period” will take place prior to the resumption of football
within the MA, and the second part of the “second registration period” will takeplace in the middle of the domestic season.

Any such requests must be made in accordance with the two-letter procedure describedabove.
(25)

How will we know the changes MAs have made to their season dates and/or registration period(s)?

Changes will be published and updated on a regular basis on the FIFA legal website:
legal.fifa.com.
(26)

The Bureau decided that “as an exception to article 6 paragraph 1 of the
RSTP, a professional whose contract has expired or been terminated as aresult of COVID-19 has the right to be registered by an association outsidea registration period, regardless of the date of expiry or termination.” Howdoes this work in practice?

The phrase “as a result of COVID-19” refers to a situation where COVID-19 causes:(i)the expiration of an employment agreement. This refers to cases where:(a) an employment agreement end date is (e.g.) “at the end of the season” with nospecific reference to any date, and the season has been prematurely completed
or cancelled (e.g. through government intervention or MA or league decision)prior to the completion of its match schedule. The player and the new club may
utilise the exception; or(b) where the end date of a season is extended as a result of COVID-19, an existing
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that agreement has expired. The player and the new club may utilise the exception;(c) where the end date of a season is extended as a result of COVID-19, the loanof a player is extended until the new end date of the season, and that loan has
expired. The player and the parent club may utilise the exception.
(ii)

the termination of an employment agreement. This refers to cases where:(a) a party unilaterally terminates the employment agreement as a result of
COVID-19. In the event of a unilateral termination which is not directly related
to the pandemic, a professional may only be registered by an MA in accordancewith the RSTP (i.e. in principle during an open registration period, subject to the
exceptions in article 6);(b) a player is on loan, the season has been prematurely completed or cancelled(e.g. through government intervention or MA or league decision) prior to thecompletion of its match schedule, and this causes the termination of the loan
(and therefore the employment agreement) between the player and the engaging
club. The player and the parent club may utilise the exception.

For international transfers, certain types of International Transfer Certificate requests in FIFA
TMS by an MA outside of a registration period will trigger a validation exception which will
be processed by the FIFA administration. In such cases, parties are required to upload proof
that the previous employment agreement expired or was terminated as a result of COVID-19.
Each request will be assessed on a prima facie case-by-case basis by the FIFA administration.
As occurs with the normal article 6 paragraph 1 exception, registration is distinct from
eligibility to be fielded in matches. It is the responsibility of each MA or league to ensure thatthe sporting integrity of its domestic competitions is preserved. National football regulations
should be applied uniformly. Any attempt to circumvent them should be disciplined
appropriately.
In order to preserve the integrity of domestic competitions which are due to be completed(i.e. in the 2019/20 season), FIFA strongly recommends that priority be given to the former
club to complete its domestic season with its original squad.
FIFA will be strictly monitoring the application of this principle at national level in all cases.
NOTE: the primary purpose of the COVID-19 exception is to provide additional employment
opportunities to players whose employment is directly impacted by the pandemic.

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FAQs: Other regulatory or
legal matters(27)

Article 6 paragraph 3 of Annexe 4 to the RSTP stipulates that a contract offer
should be made “at least 60 days before the expiry of [a player’s] current
contract”. What happens if the end date of the current season is extended?

The end date of the season is irrelevant. The offer must be made in accordance with the end
date of the employment agreement (if applicable).
(28)

Will FIFA continue to execute decisions passed by the FIFA judicial bodies,irrespective of the potential financial impact of COVID-19?

Yes. In this respect, no exceptions will be granted.
FIFA will continue to apply (where applicable) article 15 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (Code)or article 24bis of the RSTP in the event of failure to respect the decision of a FIFA body.
(29)

When will the new rules regarding international loans be implemented?1

At this stage, a definitive date has not been set.
It is anticipated that stakeholders will be informed at least six months prior to theirimplementation.
(30)

Will there be a delay to the entry into force of the new rules regarding
the prohibition on bridge transfers and the application of the solidarity
mechanism at national level?

No. These new rules have not been postponed and respectively have entered or will enter
into force as described in FIFA circular no. 1709 (1 March 2020 – bridge transfers; 1 July 2020
– solidarity mechanism at national level).
(31)

Will the period during which competitions are suspended be included in thecalculation of training rewards?

1. On 28 February 2020, the Players’ Status Committee approved amendments to the RSTP regarding international loans
and the principles to regulate domestic loans. These amendments had been negotiated and approved by the Task Force
Transfer System, and endorsed by the Football Stakeholders Committee.
On 27 March 2020, the Bureau, noting the approval of the Players’ Status Committee, decided to delay the implementationof the amendments given the impact of COVID-19 on the international transfer system.

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Yes. These periods will still be considered when calculating training rewards that may fall due.

(32)

If a season is extended beyond the original end date, how will the “season”
be calculated for the purposes of training compensation and the solidarity
mechanism?

FIFA utilises the season dates input by MAs in FIFA TMS to calculate training-reward
entitlements when such disputes come before the FIFA judicial bodies.
The length of a season (for this purpose) is a full year (e.g. start date is 1 July 2019 and end
date is 30 June 2020).
If the length of a season recorded in FIFA TMS is longer or shorter than a full year as a resultof COVID-19, this will still be considered the “season” for the purposes of calculating a
training reward. This may include seasons which are longer or shorter than 12 months. The
calculation shall be adjusted accordingly.
The only exception is the very unlikely scenario described below:(i)an international transfer has been agreed prior to the impact of COVID-19 on footballactivity in the territory of the releasing club;(ii)

based on the original season dates input in FIFA TMS, the international transfer
would not have triggered the payment of training compensation (i.e. the registrationof the player would have occurred in the season of their 24th birthday);(iii)

regardless of the new season dates input in FIFA TMS, no training compensation will
be payable by the engaging club.

The FIFA administration is available to assist clubs in determining the length of the relevant
season(s) affected by COVID-19 for the calculation of training rewards: psdfifa@fifa.org.
(33)

Can a dispute with an “international dimension” be submitted to the FIFA
judicial bodies where a national dispute resolution chamber has been closed
or made non-accessible by an MA?

MAs should maintain access for all parties (particularly domestic players and coaches) to anational dispute resolution chamber that has been established at national level within theframework of an MA or a CBA. It is unacceptable that employees be unable to exercise theirlegal rights.
The RSTP provide that FIFA is competent to hear employment-related disputes of an“international dimension” between:(i)a club and a player: article 22 (b); and(ii)

a club and a coach, or an MA and a coach: article 22 (c),unless an independent arbitration tribunal has been established at national level, inter alia,

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within the framework of the MA and/or a CBA.
In the absence of an operative independent arbitration tribunal established at national levelwithin the framework of an MA or a CBA, employment-related disputes of an international
dimension fall within the scope of article 22 of the RSTP.
(34)

Have the deadlines set in FIFA circular no. 1679 (implementation of theelectronic player passport) been postponed due to COVID-19?

No. As set out in FIFA circular no. 1679, as from 1 July 2020, it is mandatory for MAs to
implement an electronic player registration system and an electronic domestic transfer
system, and to have integrated those systems with FIFA Connect ID.
These requirements ensure, inter alia, the proper functioning of the FIFA Clearing House. The
FIFA Clearing House remains on track to be operational as from 1 January 2021.
Only clubs affiliated to MAs that have fulfilled these obligations will be entitled to receive
training rewards as from 1 January 2021. This will be reflected in the future regulations
governing the FIFA Clearing House.

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New matters
Following the consultation period from 8 April 2020 to 7 May 2020, which involved 13
workshops with MAs and stakeholder groups, the following regulatory matters wereidentified for further discussion and agreement by the working group.
(1)

Registration and eligibility

Article 5 paragraph 4 of the RSTP states (emphasis added):“Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during one season.
During this period, the player is only eligible to play official matches for two
clubs. As an exception to this rule, a player moving between two clubs belonging to
MAs with overlapping seasons (i.e. start of the season in summer/autumn as opposed
to winter/spring) may be eligible to play in official matches for a third club during therelevant season, provided he has fully complied with his contractual obligations towards
his previous clubs. Equally, the provisions relating to the registration periods (article 6) as
well as to the minimum length of a contract (article 18 paragraph 2) must be respected.”
Several MAs have expressed concern, as a result of the postponement of the current season
and delayed commencement of the next season, that a player may inadvertently breacharticle 5 paragraph 4 of the RSTP when they transfer to a club affiliated to a different MA.
Decision:
In order to avoid any concerns, players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs
and shall be eligible to play official matches for a maximum of three clubs during the same
season, limited to:(i)for MAs following a dual-year calendar: the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons; and(ii)

for MAs following a single-year calendar: the 2020 season.

(2)

Commencement of the first registration period before the completion of thecurrent season

Article 6 paragraph 2 of the RSTP states that “[t]he first registration period shall begin after
the completion of the season and shall normally end before the new season starts”.
Several MAs (which follow a dual-year calendar) have requested that the “first registration
period” for the 2020/21 season begin before the completion of the 2019/20 season, as therealignment of their football calendar has resulted in a short break between seasons (in somecases, as little as three weeks).

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Decision:
It has already been agreed that priority must be given to former clubs to complete theirseason with their original squad, in order to safeguard the integrity of competitions.
In order to respect this principle, provide flexibility, and allow MAs to properly plan theirfootball calendar, such requests will in principle be approved as an “overlap exception”,
subject to the following conditions:(i)the “first registration period” for the 2020/21 season may overlap with the final
rounds of the 2019/20 season for a maximum of four weeks;(ii)during the portion of the “first registration period” for the 2020/21 season which
overlaps with the final rounds of the 2019/20 season:a. the transfer of a player between clubs is permitted. The player shall only be
eligible to participate in domestic competitions for their new club in the 2020/21
season;b. the engagement of an out-of-contract player is permitted. The player shall only
be eligible to participate in domestic competitions for their new club in the2020/21 season.

The word “season” refers to the dates input by each MA within FIFA TMS.
(3)

Clubs that participate in leagues affiliated to other MAs

Currently, approximately 35 clubs globally participate in leagues affiliated to an MA which
does not have jurisdiction over football matters in the country or territory where they are
domiciled (e.g. Welsh clubs participating in competitions affiliated to The Football Association(England); Canadian clubs participating in competitions affiliated to the US Soccer Federation).
In the course of a normal football season, the MA to which such clubs are affiliated will alignits registration periods (“transfer windows”) and season dates with those of the MA whichis responsible for the competitions. This is undertaken in order not to prejudice its affiliatedclubs participating in those competitions.
However, the COVID-19 outbreak may lead to the scenario where football can recommenceon the territory of one MA, but is unable to recommence for various reasons on the territoryof the other MA. This may have significant implications for competitions and clubs in the MA
to which the clubs are affiliated.
Decision:
For sporting, integrity, and technological reasons, it is not possible to provide an exception to
those approximately 35 clubs and permit them to be subject to the registration period of the
MA in whose competition(s) they participate, as opposed to the MA to which they are affiliated.

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Upon receipt of a request by a relevant MA to amend season dates and/or any registration
period(s), the FIFA administration will notify potentially impacted MAs if a corresponding
request is not received.
MAs are encouraged to hold open and frank dialogue about the (re)commencement offootball activities and any amendment to their registration periods.
(4)

Purely domestic registration period to complete the 2019/20 season

Some MAs and clubs (which follow a dual-year calendar) have expressed concern that if
several players at the same club with expiring agreements refuse to extend their contracts
until the new end date of the 2019/20 season, that club will not have an adequate numberof registered players to complete the season.
To alleviate this risk, it has been suggested, as an exception to article 6 paragraph 1 of the
RSTP, that MAs be permitted to open a purely domestic registration period (i.e. transfers
are permitted between clubs affiliated to the same MA; out-of-contract players may beengaged if the former club was affiliated to the same MA) for a limited period prior to therecommencement of the 2019/20 season.
Decision:
It has already been agreed that priority must be given to former clubs to complete theirseason with their original squad, in order to safeguard the integrity of competitions.
In this respect, it is recommended that if a club faces a shortfall in registered players tocomplete the 2019/20 season, which is caused by failure to extend existing employment
agreements:(i)clubs be permitted to register their contracted youth or academy players to fill any
such shortfall; and(ii)national football regulations be amended to allow such registration, if not alreadypermitted.

(5)Serving disciplinary suspensions for a specific period of time

In accordance with article 6 paragraph 2 of the Code, a natural person may, inter alia, be:(i)suspended for a specific number of matches or for a specific period;(ii)banned from dressing rooms and/or the substitutes’ bench;(iii)

banned from taking part in any football-related activity.

These sporting sanctions may be issued for a specific period of time.

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By way of example, the minimum ban for “forgery and falsification” is six matches or a
specific period of “no less than 12 months” (cf. article 21 paragraph 1 of the Code).
For sporting sanctions which have been issued for a specific long-term period of time, aquestion of fairness has arisen whereby individuals may serve their sanction during the current
period, when football-related activity has ceased for a significant amount of time.
Decision:
FIFA does not have the regulatory authority to extend or amend sanctions issued in
disciplinary cases; in particular, it does not have the regulatory authority to pause a sanction
and recommence it at a later stage.
(6)

Matters relating to intermediaries

MAs, leagues, clubs, players, and coaches have raised several questions regarding intermediary
representation agreements, given:(i)the likelihood of employee (player and coach) remuneration being reduced, the link
between intermediary commission and employee remuneration, and the impact on
the amount of intermediary commission to be paid; and(ii)

the impact of amended season dates on the length of agreements.

Decision:
Representation agreements signed prior to the COVID-19 outbreakMAs, clubs, players, coaches, and intermediaries are strongly encouraged to work together
to find a mutual agreement regarding the impact of COVID-19 on their representationagreement. In this respect, it is recommended that:(i)(if permitted by national football regulations) where a representation agreement isdue to expire at the original end date of the current season, such expiry be extended
until the new end date of the current season;(ii)

where an intermediary commission is calculated on the basis of the remuneration
earned by the employee, that amount should be recalculated to consider any
reduction or deferral of the remuneration that may have taken place;(iii)

where an intermediary commission is calculated on the basis of the transfer fee paidby the new club, that amount should be recalculated to consider any reduction ordeferral of the transfer fee that may have taken place.

Representation agreements signed during or after the COVID-19 outbreakMAs, clubs, players, coaches, and intermediaries, when signing representation agreements
in anticipation of the upcoming registration periods, are strongly encouraged to include thecommission benchmarks currently provided in article 7 paragraph 3 of the FIFA Regulations
on Working with Intermediaries and those principles set by the FIFA Council at its meeting in
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October 2019.
(7)

Procedural costs before the FIFA dispute resolution bodies

Article 17 of the Rules requires an advance of costs to be paid for proceedings before thePlayers’ Status Committee, as well as certain proceedings before the Dispute Resolution
Chamber in relation to disputes involving training rewards. The advance is calculated on thebasis of article 17 paragraph 3 of the Rules.
Article 18 of the Rules provides that costs in the maximum amount of CHF 25,000 are
levied in connection with such proceedings before the Players’ Status Committee or Dispute
Resolution Chamber.
Decision:
In order to provide financial relief to parties involved in disputes before FIFA:(i)for any claim lodged between 10 June 2020 and 31 December 2020 (both inclusive),
there will be no requirement to pay an advance of costs and no procedural costs shallbe ordered; and(ii)

for any claim lodged prior to 10 June 2020 which has yet to be decided, the maximum
amount of the procedural costs shall be equivalent to any advance of costs paid.

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Point of contact
FIFA is fully committed to assisting MAs and football stakeholders around the world during
this special period.
In this context, FIFA is willing to open a direct line of contact for any questions or enquiries
you may have about the impact of this document on your respective daily operations.
Please feel free to contact us at any time regarding any regulatory matters at legal@fifa.org
or visit our dedicated webpage for more information about FIFA’s initiatives and programmes
in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak: https://www.fifa.com/what-we-do/covid-19/.

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