Technical

1. The size of the field (playing area) is 46 x 26m.
   
2. The size of goals is 4 x 2m (inner size, not including posts).
   
3. The size of the ball is 5.

Timing

1. Matches are played for 25 minutes in each half.
   
2. Half time is 5 minutes.
   
3. If a team arrives late (more than 5 minutes after the official start of the match), then they lose the match by default (5-0).
   
4. The referee must add extra time to the game if it is interrupted due to injury, deliberate delaying, etc.
   
5. If a match is abandoned part-way through due to inclement weather or any other unforeseeable circumstance, the rescheduled match will resume at the exact same point in terms of the timing at which it was suspended. The match protocol must contain the same players who were on the match protocol when the match was abandoned, with the exception of players sent off during the abandoned match as well as players suspended for the abandoned match. The teams must restart the match on the field with the players who were in play at the time the match was abandoned.

Players

1. Players must be a minimum of 16 years old. Any player under 16 is allowed to play only with the written notarized permission of their parents/guardians, in accordance with the legislation of the country.
   
2. In any case of complaint, players must be able to provide evidence of their identity by showing their valid ID card or passport.
   
3. Please refer to the ‘EMF Professional Player Definition’.
   
4. Each team can register 17 players and 7 officials for EMF Euro – Sarajevo.
   
5. There are a maximum of 15 players in a squad for each match, and it must be sent 6 hours before the match.
   
6. Only players and officials registered in the team list are allowed to sit on their bench.
   
7. Squads must change benches at half-time.
   
8. A maximum of 5 team officials are allowed to represent the team on the team bench during the match.
   
9. Before all matches, players must present passports for identity verification.
   
10. Players without ID cards or passports are not allowed to participate in the match.
    
11. The players’ identity check is made by the referees and the match commissioner.
    
12. All squad members registered in the match protocol who are not playing must sit on their bench. One person (e.g., head coach) can stand up and manage the team. They must respect the technical area. All substitution players must wear vests (different colours than the jersey).

Clothing

1. Each squad should wear the home/away kit as well as one set of reflective bibs/vests for the match.
2. Referees will wear kits to avoid colour clashes with the participating teams.
3. Each player will wear a long or short-sleeved jersey with a printed number between 1 and 99 on the back. The printed number should be 20-25 cm in size. The number on the jersey must be the same as the number submitted to the referee and printed on their match protocol.
4. If a player’s jersey is damaged, they may swap to a jersey with a different number, so long as no other player has worn that number during the game. In this case, the team captain must alert the referee of the change before it is done.
5. The goalkeeper’s kit should be a different colour, distinguishing them from their team and the opponent.
6. Shin pads must be worn.
7. Shoes with metal studs or blades are not allowed. Only flat shoes or shoes with elastic or plastic moulds are permitted. See below ‘Authorised footwear.’
8. Wearing jewellery of any kind is strictly forbidden.

Referees

1. Two referees will officiate each match from opposing sidelines.
   
2. The referee has the authority to:
   1. Start, suspend, and restart the game as appropriate.
   2. Warn or penalise players for both on and off-field behaviour.
   3. Exercise discretionary power.
   4. Add extra time to the game for any delays.
      
3. The Tournament Director is responsible for keeping the archive of the match protocol after the match. The Tournament Director may delegate this duty to another member of the Tournament Committee.
   
4. Referees are licensed by EMF/WMF and have experience officiating at the Minifootball Champions League and the Minifootball World Cup.

Start of the game

1. The team manager (leader, captain) must be in place at least 30 minutes before the start of the game to complete the match protocol. The countdown to kick-off is attached.
   
2. Teams must enter from the side of the pitch and walk out to the centre, forming a line facing the main side of the pitch. The team listed first in the fixtures (the ‘home’ team) will go along the line and do the handshake procedure with the referees and their opponents.
   
3. The referee will then toss a coin, and the captain of the team listed second in the fixtures (the ‘away’ team) will choose heads or tails. The winner of the coin toss will choose kick-off.

Substitutions

1. A maximum of 6 players are allowed on the pitch at any given time.
   
2. There are unlimited substitutions.
   
3. Substitutions are rolled on, rolled off, and administered by the third referee at the halfway line on the side of the pitch where the team benches are located.
   
4. If a player is injured, they may leave the field from another point, but the player replacing them must enter at the halfway line upon authorization of the referee.
   
5. In the case that a goalkeeper is substituted for an outfield player, the outfield player must wear a different coloured jersey, distinguishing them from their team and the opponent.

Sliding

1. Slide tackles are not allowed. If there is contact with the opponent player, the referee will whistle for a direct free kick. If there is no contact with the player and they only touch the ball or endanger the opponent’s playing area, it is an indirect free kick. A player can make a slide tackle to stop the ball from going out of the pitch, block a shot, or play the ball if it doesn’t endanger the opponent’s player.
2. General sliding to control or stop the ball is permitted only if there is no opponent’s player nearby.

Scoring

1. A goal can be scored directly from a goal kick.
   
2. The referee disallows the goal if the ball is thrown by hand from the opposing goalkeeper into the other team’s goal.
   
3. If a player scores an own goal from a goal kick, throw-in, direct free kick, or indirect free kick, the game is restarted by a corner kick for the opposing team.
   
4. If a match is drawn at the knock-out stage, each side will have three penalties. If the teams cannot separate, the game will go to sudden death penalties until a winner is determined. The players taking the sudden death penalty must be different from the players who took the first three penalties.

Restarts

1. If the ball goes out of play, it will be thrown in from the sideline.
   
2. The goalkeeper must restart the game with a kick-off if the ball passes the goal line (but there is no goal).
   

Free-kicks

1. The distance between the ball and the opponents at a free kick should be 5 meters.

Yellow and Red Cards

1. Yellow cards are issued for:
   1. Unsporting behaviour
   2. Reckless foul
   3. Disrespect for the game
   4. Stopping a promising attack
   5. Holding
   6. Dissent with referees’ decision
   7. Persistent infringement of the laws of the game
   8. Delaying the restart of play
   9. Failure to respect the required distance
   10. Entering the pitch without referees’ permission
   11. Leaving the pitch without referees’ permission
   12. Simulation
   13. Deliberate handball
   14. Wrong substitution
   15. Other: (Reason to be explained)
       
2. Red cards are issued for:
   1. Excessive reckless foul play
   2. Violent conduct
   3. Denying a goal by deliberately handling the ball
   4. Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
   5. Using offensive language or gestures
      
3. A red card results in the exclusion of the relevant player for the rest of the game, and the team will be reduced to 5 players for 5 minutes.
   
4. After the awarding of a red card, the offending player’s team will commence a period of 5 minutes in which they will play with a player less. Once the game has restarted after the incident, the 5 minutes must be completed in full. If a player is treated for an injury during this period, the clock must be stopped and restarted once the game commences. If the dismissal occurs in the first half of the game or at the end of a match that goes into extra time, the 5-minute count stops at the end of that period and continues in the next period.
   
5. A player who receives a direct red card will be banned from playing in the subsequent game.
   
6. A player who receives two yellow cards in one game will be shown a red card and, therefore, is excluded for the remainder of the match. The team will be reduced to 5 players for 5 minutes.
   
7. A player who receives a yellow card in two consecutive games is banned from playing in the subsequent match. This rule applies throughout the whole competition, and the player’s record will not be wiped after the group stage (except for the final, where the player who got two yellow cards in two different games – usually quarter and semi-final – is allowed to play). The yellow cards are starting to accumulate again after the suspension is served.
   
8. The Disciplinary Committee has the authority, upon witnessing or written report, to exclude a player for the remainder of the tournament for very serious offences (violence towards players, officials, and spectators).
   
9. Team officials and management are subject to the same disciplinary measures as the players.

Qualification

1. Sixteen (16) teams progress from the group stage into the next round of the competition “Last 16”. They are the winner of each group, the runner-up from each group, and four best 3rd place teams from the six groups.
   
2. For every win in the group, a certain team obtains 3 (three) points, 1 (one) point for a draw, and 0 (zero) for a loss.
   
3. If two teams are tied on points after the completion of the group stage, the following criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings:
   1. Mutual match
   2. Superior goal difference
   3. Number of goals scored
   4. Lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received in the group stage (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
   5. Drawing of lots. If, upon completion of a group stage, a draw is required, the lots will be drawn in the EMF Tournament office. The draw is made by the Tournament Director and the team managers/captains, who must sign a document stating that they accept the result of the draw.
      
4. If three teams are tied on points after the completion of the group stage, the following criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings:
   1. A higher number of points was obtained in the matches played among the teams in question (the three teams). The three teams form an additional ranking between them hereinafter: additional ranking I.
   2. If the points between the three teams are equal, an additional ranking between the three teams is made according to the following criteria in the order given:
   3. Superior goal difference from the matches played among the teams in question (the three teams)
   4. Higher number of goals scored in the matches played among the teams in question (the three teams)
   5. Total goal difference (with all teams in the group)
   6. Lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received in the group stage (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
   7. Drawing of lots. If, upon completion of a group stage, a draw is required, the lots will be drawn in the EMF Tournament office. The draw is made by the Tournament Director and the team managers/captains, who must sign a document stating that they accept the result of the draw.

Rule for 3rd Place Teams Ranking

1. After the group stage, the four best 3rd-place teams qualify for the last 16 rounds.
   
2. The ranking is made between those four teams by:
   1. Points
   2. Goal difference
   3. Goals scored
   4. Number of wins
   5. EMF ranking
      
3. In the Last 16 rounds, no teams from the same group can face each other.

Five (5) Seconds

1. The referee will count five seconds and visibly show it in the following situations:
   • Throw-in – If a player is ready to take a throw-in or is clearly delaying the restart, the referee will start a 5-second countdown, after which the referee awards a throw-in to the opposition team.
   • Corner kick – If a player is ready to take a corner kick or is clearly delaying the restart, the referee will start a 5-second countdown, after which the referee awards a goal kick to the opposition team.
   • Goal kick – If the goalkeeper is ready to take a goal kick or is clearly delaying the restart of the game, the referee will start a 5-second countdown, after which the referee awards an indirect free kick to the opposition team, and the indirect free kick will be taken from the nearest penalty area line.
     
2. Goalkeeper – ‘5 second GK rule’. The referee will start to count once the goalkeeper (GK) has control of the ball in the GK’s half of the field of play. The referee will then begin to count to 5 seconds. The count of 5 seconds only stops when:
   • The ball clearly enters the GK opponent’s half of the field of play
   • The ball leaves the field of play
   • The ball is touched by an opponent anywhere on the field of play
   • The ball is passed to a teammate of the GK
     
   • If the GK is guilty of any misconduct, it receives a sanction such as a yellow or red card.
3. If the GK holds onto the ball in their own half for more than 5 seconds, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposition for a technical foul.

Disciplinary Committee

The Disciplinary Committee is responsible for preserving International Minifootball Rules, the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship, as well as the EMF image and reputation. It may impose sanctions and any other disciplinary measures in accordance with the EMF Disciplinary Code, in force for all European mini football teams.

Field and Goals Size

1. The total size of the field is 56 x 36m. The playing area is 46 x 28m.
   
2. The size of goals is 4 x 2m (inner size, not including posts).

Authorised Footwear

Only flat shoes or shoes with elastic or plastic moulds are permitted. Shoes with metal studs or blades are not allowed.

EMF rules

EMF PROFESSIONAL PLAYER DEFINITION

EMF organizes tournaments for amateur players. Consequently, players with a professional employment contract at the time of the competition and 365 or fewer days before the day of the opening ceremony are not allowed to participate.

Definition of professional status:

The rule is related to the football and futsal sports codes.

Professional leagues have no international consistency, so it depends on the country where the player is registered.

Categories

The players are classified into three categories:

Category 1

League: Full-amateur

The player is allowed to participate: Yes

Players from full-amateur leagues are allowed to play even if they have a salary of any amount.

Category 2

League: Semi-professional (Leagues with half amateur, half professional clubs).

The player is allowed to participate: Only with proof (see below)

Players from leagues like “semi-professional “leagues” or “mixed” are allowed if they don’t have professional employment contracts with football clubs. The definition means that the league contains amateur and professional clubs.

All players from first-league futsal and football are generally considered to be “semi-professionals “, no matter their actual status. This means the players who are playing or played in such a league are automatically minimum category 2.

Proofs: To get permission for a “category 2” player, the National Association has to show documents that clearly prove the non-professional status. Additionally, and in any case, a full CV, a description of the main job plus contact details of the current employer has to be given. If a player works for the same club (like coach, etc.) as he is playing for, this is considered as category 3, and the player is not allowed to play.

All the named proofs have to be sent with the registration. If a player gets identified as Category 2 and the national association doesn’t announce this during registration, the player will be suspended for the upcoming tournament.

Category 3

League: Full-professional

The player is allowed to participate: No

Players from full-professional leagues are not allowed to participate –even if they haven’t got a professional employment contract.

To check the status, the Tournament Committee can demand to see any document (like a contract) and speak to any person they deem necessary until they are sure about the status of the player. The line of argument will follow all information which is provided on the internet. If there are any mistakes, the National Association must provide valid and trustworthy proof.

To be sure about the status of a player and if it is accepted, the National Associations can consult the Tournament Committee to avoid complications or disqualification.

How can you check if a player is professional based on the EMF Professional Player Definition?

Since the National Associations know the status of the football and futsal leagues in their country, it’s simple to check with three steps in Google:

1. Google the name of the player.
2. Google the name of the player plus the word “Transfermarkt”.
3. Google the name of the player plus the word “Futsal”.
   

Check further to see where the player plays if there are any hits. Also, Wikipedia could be an option.

Expanded and Developed Regulatory Framework

Competition Format

The competition will feature either 16 or 20 teams divided into four groups.

Rules

The regulations applied will be those of the EMF/WMF, with two additional rules:

1. The use of a mistake rule per half is similar to futsal.
   
2. In the event of a red card being issued to an official or anyone else on the bench, a player from the field must be removed for a duration of 5 minutes.

Match broadcast

All matches will be streamed live on YouTube.

VAR system

We have implemented the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system.

Team composition

Each team will consist of a maximum of 15 players.

Provisions for teams

Each team will receive:

• Free water
• A football
• A participation trophy
• A certificate
  

Match duration

Matches will be 2 x 15 minutes.

Participation fee

The participation fee is £350, of which a deposit of £100-150 is payable upon registration, with the balance to be paid before the draw.

Footwear

The permitted footwear for play is of a specific model or closely resembling it. NO FOOTBALL BOOTS OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED!

Schedule

• The competition starts around 9:00-9:30 AM and can end by 6:00 PM, depending on the progression of the matches.
• We allow a margin of error to ensure smooth operations and avoid any scheduling issues.
  

Prizes

Prizes include medals, cups, and individual and team trophies. Teams may also earn the opportunity to participate in a European competition in various formats.

Important rule

The most crucial rule is that we do not accept players who are active in the Romanian championship unless they have a permanent transfer confirmed by the Romanian federation.

Affiliations

We are affiliated with the European Forum and maintain constant contact with European federations. Additionally, the competition is affiliated with the English Minifootball Federation.