Competition

Rules

2020
 IFCPF | Competition Rules | 2020

Introduction
This document states the IFCPF Competition Rules which are applicable in all IFCPF sanctioned
tournaments for CP Football. The IFCPF Competition Rules should be read in conjunction with the
current issue of the IFCPF Modifications to the Laws of the Game.

All matches must be played in accordance with the current IFCPF Modifications to the Laws of the
Game which are available at www.ifcpf.com

Subject to the agreement of the national football association concerned, and provided the principles
of these Laws are maintained, the Laws may be modified in their application for matches for players
of under 15 years of age, for female footballers and for veteran footballers in any or all of the following
ways:

• number of players i.e. use of small-sided formats

• size of the field of play
• size, weight and material of the ball
• width between the goalposts and height of the crossbar from the ground
• duration of the two (2) (equal) halves of the game (and two (2) equal halves of extra time)
• the use of return substitutions
• the use of temporary dismissals (sin bins) for some/all cautions (YCs)

For further guidance please visit www.ifcpf.com

or contact the International Federation of CP Football info@ifcpf.com

2020 Updates
Please note that all updates for 2020 are underlined and marked in yellow in the left-hand margin.

CP Football (Female)
Please note that all additional modifications for the development of CP Football (Female) are
underlined and marked in blue in the left-hand margin.

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 IFCPF | Competition Rules | 2020

01 Participating Members
Teams:
• All competing countries must be members of IFCPF in good standing, including up-to-date
membership paid in full and any other outstanding payments.
• Only one team shall be permitted from any country to participate in any competition.
• All competing countries must have paid the Competition Entry Fee and other associated
costs of entering the competition in full prior to the first day of competition.

02 Replacement
• If any member withdraws or is excluded from the competition, IFCPF shall decide on the
matter at its sole discretion.

03 Eligibility of Players
Age:
• Players must be 15 years of age on 1st January in the tournament year.

Under 19 Competition:
• In Under 19 competition players must be 14 years of age on 1st January in the competition
year and under 19 years of age on 1st January in the competition year.
• In Under 19 competition a team can enter three players under 21 years of age on 1st January
in the competition year.
• During Under 19 competition, teams are only permitted to field a maximum of two (2) over-
aged players at one time. If an over-aged player is dismissed, it is not allowed to replace the
player with another over-aged player.

Gender:
• To support the development of CP Football opportunities for female players, mixed gender
participation is allowed in all IFCPF sanctioned competition at Participation and
Development level.
• At World and Regional level (Paralympic Games, World Championships, World Cup and
Regional Championships) all competition shall be separate for male and female players. The
same rules also apply for Under 19 competition.

Athlete Nationality Policy:

• Please see IFCPF Athlete Nationality Policy, available at www.ifcpf.com

CP Football (Female)
Players must be 14 years of age on 1st January in the tournament year.

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 IFCPF | Competition Rules | 2020

04 Classification
• Players must have an eligible impairment and meet the respective Minimum Impairment
Criteria (MIC) to be eligible for CP Football competition, in accordance with the current IFCPF
Classification Rules and Regulations.
• Each team must field at least one (1) class FT1 player on the field of play at all times during
a match, or the team will play with one (1) less player.
• Each team may have a maximum of one (1) class FT3 player on the field of play at all times
during a match.
• If the class FT3 player is dismissed, it is not allowed to replace a player in the field of play
for a class FT3 player.
• The 4th official (where appointed) shall make checks during substitutions that each team
meets the criteria above. Final and full responsibility is, however, on the team management
to ensure this rule is fully adhered to at all times.

For the latest version of the IFCPF Classification Rules, visit www.ifcpf.com/about-
classification

05 Competition Entry
• At all IFCPF sanctioned tournaments, the tournament officially begins on the first day of
classification. All teams must arrive by the 1st day of the tournament, unless officially
communicated by IFCPF.
• Each participating member shall be responsible for applying for any required visas in good
time from the consulate or embassy of the host country; if necessary, the assistance of the
Local Organising Committee (LOC) and IFCPF is to be sought as early as possible.

Pre-Competition:
• Countries must submit a Medical Diagnostics Form (MDF) to IFCPF (Annex 2 of the IFCPF
Classification Rules and Regulations), upon completing the registration of an Athlete. The
MDF must be received eight (8) weeks prior to the beginning of the Athlete’s first
international classification, that is, players with New (N) status or those in Review (R) or
Review with Fixed Date (RFD) that did not provide the MDF in previous competitions.
MDF forms must be sent to info@ifcpf.com
• Four (4) weeks before the start of an IFCPF sanctioned international tournament, countries
must provide a ‘Final List’ with a maximum of 14 players. Only players on the ‘Final List’
that is approved by IFCPF can take part.
The Final List must be sent to info@ifcpf.com
• After the four (4) week deadline and before the start of a tournament, changes to the Final
List of 14 players are only accepted in exceptional cases and must be approved by the IFCPF
in conjunction with the Local Organising Committee (LOC). Changes must be sent to
info@ifcpf.com and LOC with an explanation of reason(s).

NOTE: IFCPF has removed the need for a ‘long list’ to be submitted eight (8) weeks before the start of
an IFCPF sanctioned competition. For other events there may be additional requirements from the
event organizer.

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 IFCPF | Competition Rules | 2020

In Competition:
• After the start of a tournament no changes will be accepted.
• A team ‘Start List’ must be presented to the Technical Delegate at least 75 minutes before
the start of the match by each of the competing teams.
• In addition to players’ names, a maximum of 5 staff members are allowed to be included
on the team ‘Start List’. Only staff members whose names are stated on the ‘Start List’ are
permitted to be in the Technical Area of the Field of Play from the end of team warm-up
until the final whistle, inclusive of any stoppages in play. Outside of this period, only
accredited team officials may enter the Field of Play area.
• A maximum of five (5) players shall warm up at the same time (with a maximum of one (1)
team official). Both teams shall warm up in the designated area beside their own
respective substitute bench at least 1 meter away from the field of play to allow for proper
assistant referee performance.

06 Competition Format and Scoring

• IFCPF, in conjunction with the LOC, will determine the details of each tournament
considering factors such as the number of teams competing and the format to be used.
• The tournament format may be decided by the drawing of lots or using a ranking system.
IFCPF reserves the right to take into account the geographical location of participating
teams. The final decision will be the responsibility of IFCPF.

Tournaments will be held on a group system with the following:

• Group matches: Each team playing one match against each other in the same group, with
points to be awarded as follows:
o Win = 3 points;
o Draw = 1 point;
o Loss = 0 points.

• The ranking in each group is determined as follows:

o Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
o Goal difference in all group matches;
o Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.

• If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will
be determined as follows:
o Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams
concerned;
o Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
o Greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;
o Drawing of lots by the IFCPF Technical Delegate and Local Organising Committee;

• In all tournaments, a maximum of 10 goals scored will be allowed to be counted for the
purposes of ‘goal difference’ including: ‘goals scored’ and ‘goals against’ in any single match.
However, the final result in any single match shall be recorded with all goals scored.
o In the event that both teams amass more than ten 10 goals each in the same match,
and the result is a draw, both teams will be awarded 10 goals after the match is finished,
no matter the final result.

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 IFCPF | Competition Rules | 2020

o In the event that both teams amass more than 10 goals each in the same match, the
winning team will be awarded 1 goal extra after the match is finished, no matter the
final result. Therefore, a score of 11 – 10 to the winning team.

07 Extra Time
• In matches where the tournament structure requires a winning team; if the score between
teams is level after the final whistle, two (2) periods of ten (10) minutes extra time will be
played.
• Teams may continue to make substitutions during Extra Time.
• If a match goes into extra time, each team may use up to four (4) stoppages in play,
provided that at least one (1) of these stoppages occurs in extra time. Each team may use
up to six (6) substitutes, provided that at least one (1) of these substitutes is used in extra
time.
• In the event of a tie after extra time, a penalty kick competition following IFAB Laws of the
Game will determine the winning team, with 3 penalty kicks taken from the penalty mark.
• If, after both teams have taken 3 penalty kicks, the scores are level, penalty kicks continue
until one team has scored a goal more than the other from the same number of penalty
kicks.

08 Disciplinary Matters
• Any player who receives two (2) cautions (yellow cards) within a stage of the competition,
will automatically miss their team’s next match. Stages will be clearly communicated in the
first Technical Meeting. Any player who receives a direct red card during the tournament will
automatically miss at least their team’s next match.
• Where communicated in the first Technical Meeting, all cautions shall be cleared at the end
of the group stages although any outstanding suspensions shall carry over into the next
stage of the competition.
• The Disciplinary Committee shall be formed of:
o One (1) Match Officials representative (whom was not the match referee)
o One (1) Local Organising Committee representative
o One (1) IFCPF Technical Delegate representative

• The committee members will have no significant relationship with the affected party, will
have had no involvement with the decision being appealed, and will be free from any other
actual or perceived bias or conflict.
• The Discipline Committee has the power to levy further suspensions in cases of excessive
misconduct, before and after the match.

Timeline:
• A representative from each nation shall collect copies of match record sheets 60 minutes
after the final whistle. This shall be available from the tournament admin office at the venue.
• The Disciplinary Committee will communicate any disciplinary action to teams, where
possible by midnight on the day of the match, or as early as possible on the following day.

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 IFCPF | Competition Rules | 2020

Unserved suspensions:
• Match suspensions not served during the competition in which they were awarded (i.e. due
to elimination or in the last match in the competition) shall be carried over to the
representative team’s next official match in an IFCPF sanctioned event.

09 Appeals
Nations have the right to appeal over any disciplinary sanction issued or technical protest.

Any appeal should be submitted to the IFCPF Technical Delegate or Local Organising Committee along
with the appeal fee of 100 EUROS. Only in the case of an appeal on the basis of mistaken identity, this
fee will be returned if the appeal is successful.

Timeline:
• Teams must communicate their wish to appeal within 1 hour of receiving the notification of
disciplinary action.
• An appeal must be received by the IFCPF Technical Delegate and Local Organising
Committee within 24 hours of the team receiving the notification of disciplinary action.
• Once received, where possible appeals will be heard by 12:00 midday on the following day
• The outcome will be communicated immediately after the decision has been made. The
decision made will be final.
• The Appeals Committee shall be formed of:
o One (1) Match Officials representative (whom was not the match referee and
different from that of the Discipline Committee)
o One (1) Local Organising Committee representative (different from that of the
Discipline Committee)
o One (1) IFCPF Technical Delegate representative (different from that of the Discipline
Committee)

• The committee members will have no significant relationship with the affected party, will
have had no involvement with the decision being appealed, and will be free from any other
actual or perceived bias or conflict.
• Indisputable evidence is required for an official’s decision to be overturned. Video footage
shall be accepted to support an appeal and should be submitted to the Appeals Committee
with the appeal. Any evidence received after the appeal has been made will not be accepted.
• The Appeals Committee will deal with discipline and technical protests not covered under
the above rules.

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 IFCPF | Competition Rules | 2020

10 Team Kit and Sponsorship

Nations shall only wear kit Manufacturer Identification (MI), Product Technology Identification (PTI)
and national association badges in all IFCPF sanctioned competitions.

Team Uniforms:
• Manufacturer Identification (MI)
o Trademark of item’s manufacturer
o Maximum size of 30 cm2 when worn by the athlete
• Product Technology Identification (PTI)
o Trademark of any fabric technology (e.g. Dri-Fit, Climacool)
o Maximum size of 10 cm2 when worn by the athlete
• Placement
o One MI and one PTI per item

Accessories:
o One MI and one PTI per item
o Maximum size of 10 cm2 when worn by the athlete

Equipment:
o As sold on the retail consumer market

Sponsorship logos
• Teams are permitted to carry sponsorship logos on other items with the exception of the
match clothing.
o Maximum size of 300 cm2
• Any sponsorship logos appearing on equipment, other than the Manufacturer Identification
(MI) and Product Technology Identification (PTI), must be forwarded to IFCPF at least 4
weeks in advance of the tournament for approval. IFCPF reserves the right to refuse
sponsorship logos.
• For other tournaments such as the Paralympic Games, different requirements may apply.

Shirt Numbers & Colours

• National team playing kits shall have numbers on the front and back of the playing shirts
and the front of the playing shorts. Players numbers shall be between 1 and 14. Players
should have the same number throughout the duration of the tournament.
• Teams are required to have two full playing kits, with distinctive colours. Each goalkeeper
must wear colours that are distinguish from the other players and the match officials.
• If a replacement shirt or shorts are required, they must display the same playing number or
a number not used by any other player within the squad.
• Four (4) weeks before the start of an IFCPF sanctioned international tournament, countries
must provide team playing kit colours and player shirt numbers to info@ifcpf.com for
approval.

Club Competitions:
• For club competitions such as the IFCPF Champions League, sponsorship on match clothing
will be allowed.
• Any sponsorship logos other than the Manufacturer Identification (MI) and Product
Technology Identification (PTI), must be forwarded to IFCPF at least 4 weeks in advance of
the tournament for approval. IFCPF reserves the right to refuse sponsorship logos.

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11 Insurance
• Teams are responsible for 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.

12 Medical
• Each participating member shall include an adequately trained medical team official in its
delegation.

13 Clean-Sports
• Doping is strictly prohibited. The IFCPF Anti-Doping Code and all other relevant IFCPF Anti-
Doping regulations apply for all CP Football competition.
• During CP Football competition, every player may be subject to in-competition testing and
out-of-competition testing at any time and place.

For the latest version of the IFCPF Anti-Doping Code, visit www.ifcpf.com/ifcpf-clean-sports

14 Team Meetings
• A representative from each nation must attend all team meetings.
• Any nation found not attending shall be subject to disciplinary action.

15 Match Day Countdown

• The ‘Match Day Countdown’ will be communicated to all teams in the first Technical Meeting.
• Teams must comply with the timings indicated in the ‘Match Day Countdown’.
• Any teams found not complying with the ‘Match Day Countdown’ or delaying the start or
restart of play shall be subject to disciplinary action.

16 Respect
• Everyone involved in the sport of CP Football, must be committed to promoting inclusivity,
and to eliminating all forms of discrimination.
• Any allegations of discriminatory behavior brought to the attention of IFCPF shall be fully
investigated. Any individual/team found guilty shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions.
• For a minor offence, the sanctions of a formal warning or a fine shall be given to a team.
• For reoffenders or for serious incidents, sanctions such as point deductions or expulsion from
a tournament shall be given to a team.
• Furthermore, any person (player, official, match official, etc.) who commits such an offence
shall be subject to disciplinary action.

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 IFCPF | Competition Rules | 2020

For the latest version of the IFCPF Safeguarding and Welfare Policy, visit
www.ifcpf.com/medical-health-and-athlete-safety

17 Withdrawal, Unplayed Matches and

Abandoned Matches
Prior to kick-off:
• Matches abandoned prior to kick-off being completed will be replayed in full where the
tournament schedule allows.
• In the case that the tournament schedule does not allow a match to be replayed, the result
will be decided by drawing lots.

Once play has commenced:

• Abandoned matches after 45 minutes the result and score line stands
• Matches abandoned prior to 45 minutes being completed will be restarted at the time of the
abandonment until the completion of the full match duration has taken place.
• In the case that the tournament schedule does not allow a match to be finished or restarted
after abandonment, the score line at the time the match is ended will stand. In the case of
a score line that is level, the result will be decided by drawing lots.
• Cautions leading to suspensions will in all circumstances stand, as will yellow cards received
during an abandoned match. Players who receive a yellow card prior to the match being
abandoned will carry this caution when they re-enter the field of play during the replay.
Please note that teams reserve the right to start the replayed match with a different starting
line-up than that submitted for the abandoned match.
• In the event that a team has a player(s) sent off prior to match being abandoned they must
start the replay with the same number of players as they had on the field when the match
was ended.

Match Officials:
• If a match is abandoned by the referee due to a consequence of a team’s actions, including
having less than four (4) players eligible to be on the field, score line of 10 – 0 will be awarded
to the match opponents.
• In the event that the match official abandoned the match due to both teams’ actions, both
teams will receive zero (0) points and a deficit of ten (10) goals.
• In all cases of abandonment due to negative actions of teams/players, the Disciplinary
Committee reserves the right to take further sanctions.

18 Lightning
• The referee may temporarily suspend play if a lightning flash and thunder sound occur
within 30 seconds (see-to-sound time) of each other, as the lightning is considered too close
to allow play to continue.
• Play will be suspended, and cannot resume until 30 minutes after the lightning and thunder
stop occurring within 30 seconds of each other.

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 IFCPF | Competition Rules | 2020

• The referee will have the final decision.

19 Temperature
Cold Weather:
Cold weather generally is not seen as a barrier to football, as long as the environmental risks are
evaluated, the necessary precautions are undertaken and cold-related injuries are constantly
anticipated, identified and managed.

Heat Stress:
• Where possible, matches will be scheduled for cooler times of the day, at a time where
less heat stress and exposure is expected. IFCPF will endeavor to reschedule matches
where the heat stress is extreme.
• Heat stress will be measured, where possible, by using a wet bulb globe thermometer
(WBGT) device consisting of three components:
o Air temperature – measured by a dry bulb thermometer
o Solar radiation- measured by a black globe thermometer
o Humidity – measured by a wet bulb thermometer where air is blown over a
wetted wick
• A wet bulb globe reading will be calculated, with the relative components to heat stress
reflected in their weighting in the formula used to calculate the reading.
Index = (0.1 x dry bulb) + (0.2 x globe temp) + (0.7 x wet bulb temp)

Cooling Breaks and Drinks Breaks:

• Extra cooling breaks may be implemented when the WBGT is above 32°C.
• ‘Cooling’ breaks (90 secs – 3 mins) and ‘drinks’ breaks (max 1 min).
• The referee will have the final decision.

20 Altitude
• The risk of developing altitude-related conditions is quite variable between individuals, and
depends on many factors. The altitude level accepted as being the threshold for the
occurrence of AMS is 2000m and above.
• When staging an ascent to altitude, it is recommended that one day of acclimatisation
should be spent for every 300m to 500m above 2000m.

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 IFCPF | Competition Rules | 2020

21 Sanction Fees
Any breach of these rules shall incur a disciplinary fee as decided upon by the Discipline Committee.

• Minor infractions shall incur a fine of no less than 100 EUROS

• Major infractions shall incur a fine of no less than 250 EUROS

All fines must be paid within 24 hours of formal communication to the IFCPF Technical Delegate or
Local Organising Committee.

Any fines not paid within the 24 hour period, will incur an additional 25 EUROS for every 24 period
the fine is not paid.

The Discipline Committee reserve the right to impose sanctions such as point deductions or
expulsion from a tournament.

Any appeal should be submitted to the IFCPF Technical Delegate or Local Organising Committee
along with the appeal fee of 100 EUROS, in addition to the fine.

Should an appeal be successful, only the fine will be returned unless in the case of an appeal on the
basis of mistaken identity as provided for in section 8 of this document.

22 Matters not provided for and force

majeure
Matters not provided for in these ‘IFCPF Competition Rules’ or cases of force majeure shall be
decided by IFCPF.

Contact Information
For further guidance please visit www.ifcpf.com
or contact the International Federation of CP Football info@ifcpf.com

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