Tournament Rules
1. Rules
All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as laid down by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) (current edition), unless specified otherwise in the present regulations.
The number of players per team, including the goalkeeper, is limited to 11 players.
All pitches, either training ground/Reserve stadia or main stadiums conform to the dimensions specified by the Governing Body and are currently in use for official matches recognised by the relevant Football Association.
Other rules:
With the focus very much on young player education and development, the organising committee will possibly seek to add an additional substitute for matches. This is to recognise the travel time for matches and the need for as many players as possible to benefit from the experience.
2. Referees
All matches shall be under the charge of referees affiliated to the relevant Governing Body. The host clubs will seek permission in the normal manner from their home association. All travelling clubs will likewise seek permission to travel and compete overseas against a European club. For those clubs who qualify for the Finals event, permission will be sought from the relevant home Association to travel to the Middle East region.
All officials will be allocated by the relevant home Association.
The referee shall be responsible for notifying the Tournament Committee of the result of each game.
3. Age Category
All eligible players shall belong to the following age category:
Each squad will consist of a maximum 18 players. All players must be born on or after January 1st 1993 although 3 players are allowed in the squad who are born on or after January 1st 1992. Only two of these three players born on ar after January 2nd 1992 are allowed to play at any one time. The inclusion of the 3 older players is an ‘option’ for each participating club and not a stipulation.
4. Duration of Matches
The duration of play shall be 45 minutes each way. The half-time interval shall last 15 minutes.
Extra time will not be necessary for any of the qualifying matches although will be used in the Finals event if required. This would be 15 minutes each way and followed by a penalty shoot out if a decision still not reached.
5. Team Lists and Substitutes
3 of the 7 substitutes included on the list (incl. goalkeeper) may be used at any time during the match. A player who has been substituted will take no further part in the same match.
6. Tournament Format
The tournament shall be played according to the following format:
Description: The teams will be divided into 4 qualifying groups and play each other on a home and away basis. The top 2 teams in each qualifying group will advance to the Finals event
For the Finals the 8 teams play a knock-out format although each team will play 3 matches to determine final placing i.e. 1st to 8th
Total 12 matches
7. Points System
The following points system shall apply for the tournament:
3 points for a win / 1 point for a draw / 0 points for a defeat
If two or more teams finish equal on points, the following criteria shall apply to determine their rankings or qualification for the next round:
a) better goal difference
b) greater number of goals scored
c) direct encounter
d) drawing lots
8. Kit
Each team shall have a first-choice kit, as well as a reserve kit in other colours. The team named second on the match schedule shall be required to change its kit if the referee considers that the colours of the two teams are not clearly distinguishable.
The Tournament committee will receive all team colour information prior to the commencement of the event and all participating teams shall be informed of 1st and 2nd choice kits.
9. Disciplinary Matters
Red card - A straight red card will see the player automatically miss the next fixture, unless the offence is deemed as violent behaviour with intent to harm, in which case the ban can be extended after review by the disciplinary committee. A player given 2 yellow cards and therefore sent off the field of play shall be suspended for the following qualifying game.
Yellow card - official caution: a player who is given two yellow cards during the qualifying process shall be suspended for the next qualifying fixture.
If a player is sent off the field or given a yellow card, the Tournament Committee shall be notified by the referee immediately after the match.
Any player adjudged guilty of unsporting conduct shall be reported to his national football association for the appropriate course of action to be decided upon. Any delegation member who commits an act of gross unsporting misconduct during the tournament shall be reported in writing by the Tournament Committee to the national or international football body which is entitled to act upon the matter.
Please note that any player sent off the field of play and adjudged to be guilty of gross unsporting misconduct during the qualifying stages will have a suspension carried over into the first game/s of the Finals event. The length of suspension will be determined by the Organising Committee after consultation with the local Governing Body/ Association.
Yellow cards awarded during the qualifying fixtures will be cleared off the record for any player whose team make it through to the Finals event.
10. Protests/Complaints
All protests or complaints shall be made to the Tournament Committee, whose decision shall be final and binding. The Committee will not accept complaints relating to decisions taken by the referee.
11. Awards
A trophy shall be awarded to the winning team.
Next Gen Series Website Terms of Use
By accessing this website or any pages or microsites contained within it (the "NextGen Series Website"), you are confirming your understanding of, and agreeing to, these terms and conditions (“Terms”). If you do not agree to the Terms please do not access, use or link to this NextGen Series Website. These Terms may be updated at any time, without notice, and you should regularly review these Terms for changes.
Ownership and Intellectual Property
Except as specified herein, the Next Gen Series Website, the NextGen Series name, logo, tournament and associated trade marks, databases and copyright works, together with any associated intellectual property rights or rights to register those, are owned by Cycad Enterprises LLP (“Cycad”). Users are not granted any licence or other rights to download, store or otherwise use any of the material contained herein except to view the Next Gen Series Website, and in particular you may not make any commercial use of the material contained herein without the express written permission of Cycad or the applicable rights owners.
Certain third party logos, names, trade marks and copyright works contained in are owned by sponsors, partner football clubs and other third parties. All third party intellectual property, remains the property of its respective owners.
Disclaimer
Except as expressly stated herein, the material on the NextGen Series Website is for information and entertainment only. Cycad makes no representation or warranty that material on the NextGen Series Website (or any linked site) is appropriate or available for use in your local area and you should not rely on it. If you access the NextGen Series Website from outside of the European Union, you are responsible for compliance with local laws and regulations. Cycad takes reasonable care that the information contained within the NextGen Series Website is accurate when material is uploaded, it makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the NextGen Series Website or the material contained in it, or that that it will meet your requirements, operate reliably or without errors or viruses, or that it will be secure. If you link to the NextGen Series Website, you do so at your own risk.
Privacy
Please refer to our
Privacy Policy for the terms relating to use of personal data.
Applicable law and Jurisdiction
The NextGen Series Website is operated in accordance with, and these Terms are subject to, the laws of England and Wales. Users consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of England in respect of any disputes relating to these Terms. Cycad Enterprises LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales under number OC354925 with its registered office at Unit 530, Highgate Studios, 53 - 79 Highgate Road, London NW5 1TL.