The Aberdeen Football Festival is an International Festival of Youth Football organised by the Aberdeen

The Aberdeen Football Festival is an International Festival of Youth Football organised by the Aberdeen

Football Festival Trustees under the auspices of the Aberdeenshire & District Football Association.

Rules 2007

Aberdeen International Football Festival

1 The Tournament will be organised by the Aberdeenshire & District

Football Association (ADFA).

2 A Committee appointed by the ADFA, and hereafter referred to as

the 'controlling committee', shall have complete authority in all

matters relating to the control and progress of the Football

Tournament.

3 The winning team in groups A, B and C shall receive a replica cup.

The main trophies will be retained by the Festival Committee and

duly engraved prior to being displayed in the City of Aberdeen

Town House.

4 By entering the Tournament, the teams undertake to accept the

arrangements made by the controlling committee, including the

committee's right to change to pitches of another surface if otherwise

the match would have to be cancelled, or any other reason, and to

accept all the decisions of the controlling committee.

5 The tournament will be organised in three groups:-

Group A - Boys born on or after 1st January 1993. (11-a-side)

Group B - Boys born on or after 1st January 1991. (11-a-side)

Group C - Girls born on or after 1st January 1992. (11-a-side)

(There will be dispensation for a maximum of 4 players per team in

groups A, B & C who may be born on or after 1st August the

preceding year as follows:-

Group A - 1992;

Group B - 1990;

Group C - 1991.)

The group matches will be organised by the Committee depending

on the number of teams in each section and points will be awarded

as follows:- 3 for a win, 1 for a draw.

6 If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the ranking.

A Highest number of points obtained in the group match(s) played among the teams in question.

B superior goal difference from the group match(s) played among the teams in question.

C Superior goal difference from all group matches played

D Higher number of goals scored

E Drawing lots as determined by the Aberdeenshire and District Football Association.

7 If the semi-final and final matches of the Tournament end in a draw

the winners shall be decided by extra time of 10 minutes each way

being played. If the two teams are still level at the end of extra

time, then the match shall be decided by the taking of kicks from the

penalty mark, in accordance with the system laid down by the Laws

of the Game. The 10 minute extra time may be shortened by the

committee if deemed necessary.

If a match is abandoned and therefore cannot be replayed in its entirety the Aberdeenshire and District FA shall decide whether the match result at the time of abandonment is valid or whether a replay shall be organised taking sporting and organisational considerations into account.

8 The matches of the Tournament shall be played in conformity with the

Laws of the Game. Nine substitutes including the goalkeeper may

be nominated, 5 of whom may be used in any 1 match. A player

substituted may take no further part in a match.

9 The duration of play shall be as follows:- Groups A, B and C

qualifying matches - 35 minutes each way. Semi-final and Final

matches - 40 minutes each way. The controlling committee reserves

the right to alter these if deemed necessary.

10 All teams must, on Sunday 15th July, between 2pm and 5pm,

present to the Organising Committee their list of players, with the

dates of birth and proof of date of birth of each player through birth

certificate, passport or player card (photostat copies acceptable),

along with a letter of Confirmation and Authority from their own local

and National Association.

No player can take part in the Tournament until this requirement is

met to the satisfaction of the controlling committee.

11 Each team may register up to twenty players (11-a-side) who can

take part in the Tournament. Players must wear numbers and retain

the same number throughout the festival.

12 In sectional matches when the colour of the two teams' strips may

lead to confusion, one team as determined by the Tournament

Director shall be required to change. In the semi finals and final

matches, in the event of a clash, both teams shall change. Should

this still not solve the clash, the Tournament Director will decide by

the toss of a coin at the daily managers’ meeting who shall change.

In all cases the Tournament Director's decision shall be final.

Should any club have concerns over the need to display sponsors

names or logos they should prior to entering the tournament ensure

that they have the sponsors name or logos on both 1st & 2nd choice

kits.

13 A referee and two Assistant Referees will be appointed to each match along with a Fourth Official at the discretion of the football co-ordinator.

The Referees, Assistant Referees and fourth officials officiating at the matches shall be appointed by the Aberdeenshire and District Football Association, all Referees officiating from out with Scotland must provide the ADFA with a letter from their Association granting approval to referee in the AIFF.

If the Referee or one of his Assistants is prevented from carrying out his duties before or during a match as a result of injury disposition etcetera he shall be replaced by the fourth official.

14 (A) If a player is sent off the field by the referee he shall be

automatically suspended from taking part in his team's next match in

the Tournament.

(B) Depending on the severity of the offence, the case shall be

considered by the controlling committee who shall be entitled to

impose a more severe punishment.

the controlling committee and may well result in the player's

suspension from the remainder of the Tournament.

(D) If a player receives a second caution in the Tournament he shall

be automatically suspended from taking part in his club's next match.

(E) The controlling Committee will not entertain any appeal from a player receiving a caution or from a player being sent off for receiving a second caution.

15 All cases of disciplinary action and reports shall be reported to the

ADFA who in turn shall submit copies of the reports to the Scottish

Football Association.

16 Appeals will be judged by the controlling committee. The decision of

the committee shall be final. All appeals must be made in writing and

lodged with the Tournament Director not later than 60 minutes after

the match has ended. The appeal shall be presented in detail and a

£25 fee shall accompany the appeal. Should the appeal be upheld

the fee will be returned otherwise this fee will be forfeited.

17 All matters not covered by these regulations shall be determined in

accordance with the regulations of the Scottish Football Association.

18 Responsibility and Insurance: Team Leaders are obliged to insure

their players sufficiently e.g. in case of calamities, accidents, theft etc.

The Festival Organising Committee and the Aberdeen International

Football Festival Trust are not responsible for any discomfort,

damages and/or losses concerning the participants, nor for any

expenses incurred by any team due to the cancellation in part or in

whole of this Festival. In case of doctor and/or hospital treatment,

the involved person may require to show his/her insurance papers to

the involved doctor/hospital. Aberdeen International Football Festival

is not responsible for any discomfort, damages and/or losses

concerning the participants/officials or guests, nor for any expenses

incurred by any team due to the cancellation of the Festival because

of extreme bad weather conditions or any other calamity.