Rules

4. GAME RULES:

All matches are played in accordance with the laws of the game enacted by the INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BOARD (IFAB) (current editions).

The number of Players per team, including the goalkeeper, is limited to 11 players and 7 substitutes.

The dimensions of the football field are as follows: Length 105 Metres – Width 68 Metres.

5. TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE:

The organiser will set up a tournament commission which will be responsible for the sporting progress of the tournament and which will have the power to settle disputes, complaints, appeals as well as unforeseen cases. This committee will be made up of the following people:

-A member of the organisation (M. Damien HOUZET President of the COTIF),
-A representative of the refereeing body (TBD),
-A representative of foreign teams (M. Gonçalo SÁ),
-A representative of the French teams (M. Diego COVARRUBIAS),
-A member of the city council (MRS Elisabeth MASSE mayor of Saint-André or M. Pascal THIBAUT Assistant Sports Minister).

If necessary, the tournament commission will report to the national association correspondent and international football bodies (FIFA AND UEFA).

6. REFEREES:

All matches will be officiated by referees affiliated with the FRENCH FEDERATION OF FOOTBALL.
Assistant referees will be appointed by the NORD-PAS DE CALAIS FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
The referee will be responsible for communicating the final result of each match to th tournament committee.

7. AGE CATEGORY

All current authorised players will belong to the following category:

U17: Players born in 2007 and 2008.

8. DURATION OF MATCHES:

The matches will last 2×20 minutes. The final will last 2×25 minutes. The half-time break will last 5 minutes. In the event of a tie, there is no overtime during the qualifying and classification matches. Penalties are taken. Five (5) players are designated.
In the event of a tie at the end of the five (5) penalties, they will continue with new players until a shot is missed, and as a consequence, the other team will win.

9. LIST OF PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES:

Before the first match, the head of each delegation of the participating club will provide the tournament commission with a list indicating the surname and first name of the players, their number and their date of birth.

EIGHTEEN (18) players among the SEVEN (7) substitutes (including goalkeepers) on the list of players may be fielded at any time during the match. A replaced player may play again during the same match. Only 5 changes are authorized per game, in 3 times maximum.

10. TOURNAMENT SYSTEM:
The tournament will be played according to the following game system:

12 teams are engaged and divided into four groups of three teams.

In each group, the teams meet in a qualifying match. The first two winners of each group dispute the quarter-finals. The others play the classification matches.

11. MATCH SCHEDULE:

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024 FROM 9 AM TO 8:15 PM,
SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024 FROM 9 AM TO 5:45 PM,
MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024 FROM 9:30 AM TO 6:15 PM.

12. POINTS SYSTEM:

The following points system will be applied during the tournament:

For the classification in each group, points will be awarded according to the regulations of the French Football Federation:

3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss and 0 points for a disqualification or forfeit.

If two or more teams obtain the same number of points, the following criteria will be applied to determine their ranking or qualification for the next round:

–Best goal difference,

–Most goals scored,

–Direct encounter,

– Discipline (The team with the fewest cards – yellow and red, considering that a red card is more severe than a yellow card. Example: If both teams each have one card, but one has a yellow card and the other a red card, the team with the yellow card will be favored).

-If equal, penalty shootout, as provided for in article 8 paragraph 2.

13. PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT:

Each team will have a main outfit and a reserve outfit with different colours.

The team named second in the program will have to change clothes if the referee believes that the colours of the two teams can’t be clearly distinguished.

Each team is asked to bring their practice balls.

The matches take place on the grass pitches. The warm-up takes place on the synthetic annex pitch.

In the event of force majeure, the matches may be postponed to the synthetic pitch.

14. DISCIPLINARY AREA:

If a player or staff member has been expelled from the field or received a warning, the referee will immediately inform the tournament committee after the match.

In the event of exclusion from the game, the offending player or staff member cannot participate in the next game with their team. The tournament committee will review each situation and decide if the player or staff member in question will be excluded from any further matches.

A player or staff member who receives three yellow cards during the tournament will be suspended for one match.

If a player or staff member behaves unsportingly, the case will be reported to their national association, which will decide on appropriate measures to be taken against the player or staff member.

If a delegation member behaves severely improperly during the tournament, the tournament committee will communicate it in writing to national and international football associations.

Any fraud results in relegation to the last place or outright exclusion from the tournament.

15. COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS:

Complaints and appeals should be directed to the Tournament Committee, which will make a final and binding decision. The commission will not accept any complaints regarding the referee’s decisions on the field.

16. TOURNAMENT APPROVAL:

It is up to the organiser to obtain all necessary national authorizations for the tournament at least two months before the start of the tournament. 

17. MATCH AGENTS:

Only a club or an association can arrange the participation of clubs or associations in tournaments.

18. TROPHY:

A trophy will be awarded to the winning team. The other teams will each receive a reward.

19. INSURANCE:

Each team is responsible for taking out appropriate insurance coverage for its players and delegation members.

The tournament organiser will take out civil liability insurance.

20. COSTS:

The following costs will be borne by the tournament organiser:

-Contribution to travel expenses,
-Contribution to accommodation costs,
-Contribution to catering costs.

Each participating team must also bear all the costs that the tournament organiser has not confirmed to assume in writing.