The Rules

EU Agencies Football Cup

(version 1.2 - 02.03.2012)

General Rules (for 7-aside football games)

1.       Number of Players: a team will consist of a maximum of 7 eligible players*, one of which being a goalkeeper (6+1).

2.       A “mixed team” shall play the whole game with at least 2 women in order to be eligible for the cup “best mixed team”.

3.       Substitutions: unlimited substitutions can be made but only while the game is not running, e.g.  on the occasion of throw-ins, goal kicks, corner kicks, fouls, injuries, scoring of a goal, halftime break, and with the agreement of the referee.

4.       Duration of the game: games will consist of 30 minutes match divided in 2 halves of 15 minutes each. No break in between! Teams are requested to respect the time schedule and to change fields quickly.

5.       Stoppage of play and time of game: the referee will stop the clock when: (a) the ball travels out of bounds to a distance where it will take time to retrieve it, or to get a new ball ready for play; (b) at the official’s discretion, with any team attempting to waste time. Referees will make sure that 25 minutes are effective playing time.

6.       Off-sides: there are NO off-sides.

7.       Pass-back to goalkeeper: the goalkeeper cannot not handle the ball (block the ball with his/her hands) if it has been intentionally kicked to him/her by a team mate. The same applies for lateral thrown-ins.

8.       Throw-ins: throw-ins are made by use of hands. Players from the opposite team must be, at least, 3 meters away from the throw-in player. A goal made directly from a lateral throw-in will not be allowed if no other payers have touched the ball.  In the latter case, the play will restart with a goalkeeper kick.

9.       Free kicks: ALL free-kicks can be DIRECT if the team taking the free-kick wishes to do so. A goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player and from any side of the pitch. On a free kick, opposing players must be, at least, 5 meters away from the ball.  

10.   Re-start: upon scoring a goal, the team that scores will retreat to the halfway line.  The team suffering the goal will restart the game with a short pass backwards. A goal directly from the re-start will not be allowed if no other payers have touched the ball. 

11.   Penalty Kicks: the ball will be placed where the penalty mark is marked. 

12.   CARDS

                At the referee’s discretion:

- Yellow card infractions:

(a)    Intentional handling of the ball by a field player;

(b)   Fouls (standard rules applicable);

(c)    Foul or abusive language towards the opposing team;

(d)   Excessive playing for time (e.g. kicking the ball away).

-          A red card can be issued for:

(a)    any dangerous intentional foul or very abusive language directed at the referee or opposing team;

(b)   Persistent misconduct following prior warnings;

(c)    In the event that 2 yellow cards are shown to the same player;

(d)    A clear, intentional foul by the last defender to stop a goal opportunity;

(e)   Any red card shown will result in an automatic expulsion of the player and the loss of a player on the team for that game.

13.   Playoff Game Procedure for TIES (not applicable at the 1^st Round): if at the end of regular time the teams are tied then the game will immediately proceed into a penalty shoot-out:

(a)    Each team will be allowed to elect four (4) players to take the proceeding penalty kicks (from the seven present on the field at the conclusion of the game); 

(b)   Any expelled player (red card) cannot be elected to take a penalty kick;

(c)    If teams remain tied at the conclusion of each team’s 4 penalties, the shoot-out will continue with the remaining 3 players left in the team (in case a team has remained with 6 players because a player has been sent off, one player from the bench can integrate the 3 left). All players (also those in the reserve) are eligible to kick penalties.

(d)   If, after all 7 shoot-outs, there is still a tie, a list of 5 players should be reestablished. In this case the list can be integrated by the players not on the field at the conclusion of the game.

(e)   For time reasons there will be no penalty kicking for the matches for place 8-16! In case of a draw, the ranking between the two teams will be decided based on their overall points & scores from all games.

* Eligible player: Not necessarily an EU agency staff member only, but also people working in the EU Agency’s premises (e.g.: seconded national experts, guards, trainees and stagiaires of the EU agencies) and close relatives of the Agency staff (husband/wife, partner, brother/sister). The philosophy behind is that a player should be part of the Agencies community, irrespectively of whether he/she is “real” staff as defined by the EU staff Regulation.  Not eligible: “a good friend” only. 

Fair game !!!

Shake hands after a foul. Who does if we would not?!