Rules

1. Tournament rules

The "Donosti Cup" International Football Tournament is ruled by FIFA and RFEF (Spanish Football Federation) regulations.

2. Which teams can participate?

The Donosti Cup is open to teams from soccer clubs, soccer schools, technical academies and schools participating in school leagues. 

3. Competition format

3.1. Group Stage

Participating teams will be divided into pools of 4 or 5 teams that will play against each other in a single round-robin league. Teams will be ranked by points earned.

• In the 11-a-side soccer categories, 3 points will be awarded for a won match, 1 point for a drawn match and 0 points for a lost match.
• In the 8-a-side soccer categories, 2 points will be awarded for a won period, 1 point for a tied period and 0 points for a lost period.

If two or more teams have the same number of points, the order will be decided as follows:

• Individual result (result obtained in the matches played between the tied teams)*.
• Overall Golaverage (taking into account all the matches of the group stage)**.
• Fair Play (lower coefficient of disciplinary sanctions).
• Most goals scored (taking into account all the matches of the group stage).** 
• Computerized draw.

*In case of a triple tie, the matches played between the three tied teams will be taken into account. In other words, matches played with the team or teams not involved in the triple tie will not be taken into account.

**This point only applies to 11-a-side soccer categories, it does not apply to 8-a-side soccer categories.

3.2. Final stage

First and second team of each group will qualify for the Champions League, and third & fourth for the Europe League. The 5th team will be eliminated. All matches will be decided by direct knock-out.

In the case of a draw at the end of regulation time, there will be a penalty shoot-out of three kicks per team, in accordance with the regulations laid down by FIFA.

3.3. Match duration

The breaks will last 4 minutes and will be on the field of play, not in the locker room. As a general rule there is not going to be any added time at the end of the matches. However, if a protocol is applied, a team wastes time excessively, or if the game stops for a long time due to an injury.

4. Categories

Male

• B19 born after 01/01/2006
• B16 born after 01/01/2009
• B15 born after 01/01/2010
• B14 born after 01/01/2011
• B13 born after 01/01/2012
• B12 born after 01/01/2013
• B11 born after 01/01/2014
• B11 Friendly born after 01/01/2014

Female

• G19 born after 01/01/2006
• G16 born after 01/01/2009
• G14 born after 01/01/2011
• G12 born after 01/01/2013
• G12 Friendly born after 01/01/2013

5. Particular permissions

5.1. Players above the age limit

• In categories B19, G19, B17, B16 and B15, a maximum of 2 players born 1 year before the age of the category may be called for each match. 
• In the G16 category, a maximum of 5 players born 1 year before the age of the category may be called up for each match.
• In the 8-a-side soccer categories, NO players older than the age established for their category may be called up. 

5.2. Participation of female players in male categories

Female players may participate in male categories up to the age of 14, provided they meet the age requirement for the category in which they wish to register. However, female players may not participate in categories B15, B16 and B19.

5.3. Requesting special permission

Special permission may be requested to participate in a category in which the age or gender requirements are not met, subject to the authorization of the relevant federation in the player's region. This includes cases such as underdevelopped children, with intellectual or physical disabilities, in the process of gender transition, among others.

6. Number of players and substitutions

6.1. Number of players

The number of players per team is not limited. However, each team may include in the score sheet a maximum of 20 players in 11-a-side soccer matches and 16 players in 8-a-side soccer matches.

6.2. Substitutions

Substitutions will be allowed on a rotating basis, i.e., a substituted player may re-enter the field of play. 

Substitutions must be made in a maximum of 3 slots per team (4 slots in 8-a-side soccer matches), in addition to the half time. In case both teams make a substitution simultaneously, the slots count for both teams (each team will have one slot less to use).

Under no circumstances a team may make an additional substitution once its slots have been taken, not even if there is an injured player. 

All substitutions must be made from the center of the field, when the game is stopped, and after the referee's authorization.

6.3. Participation within different teams

A participant may play in two or more teams of the same club, as long as they play in different categories and meet the rules of each category or their special permissions.

Under no circumstances is it allowed for a participant to play in two teams of the same category. If a player participates (appears in the score sheet) in more than one team of the same category, the matches of both teams will be considered as matches lost.

7. Number of coaches

Each team may include a maximum of 4 coaching staff members on the scoresheet: head coach, assistant coach, delegate and physiotherapist. At least one of them must be over 18 years old, while the rest must be at least 15 years old. 
All members of the coaching staff must have been previously accredited during the Age Control. In order to stay on the bench, they must wear the wristband and the Coach accreditation all the time.

Only the first coach of the team may be allowed by the referee to stand and give instructions. The rest of the coaches must remain seated.

8. Match information

8.1. Roster of players 

At least 30 minutes before the start of the match, a coach of each team must deliver to the Field Delegate of the Donosti Cup the Team Roster, with the corresponding player numbers, indicating the players and substitutes. All players appearing on the score sheet will be considered players participating in the match. 

8.2. Age Control

Prior to starting the tournament, all players must take an age control by carrying their identity card and will be identified with a wristband that certifies their year of birth. It is mandatory to wear this wristband to play the matches. The Field Delegate will check the wristbands before the start of each game.

If a player's wristband is broken during the course of a game, he/she must report to the Field Delegate and prove his/her identity and age for its replacement. If a player loses his wristband, he must go to the Information Point, prove his identity and age, and pay 5 euros.

8.3. ScoreSheet

The Donosti Cup field delegates will be in charge of the score sheets.  At the end of the match, a coach from each team is recommended to verify, together with the field delegate, the result of the game and the cards shown by the referee.

8.4. Match equipment

All jerseys must have a number on the back, and these numbers must correspond to those shown on the score sheet. Two players can not use the same number in the same match.

If, due to match similarity, a team is forced to change its uniform, the visiting team (the second team in the match schedule), must use its second uniform. If the similarity persists, the organization will provide bibs of a different color to the visiting team. The teams' kits may be consulted on the website or app. 

8.5. Shinguards

All players must wear shin guards.

8.6. Punctuality

Match schedules will be strictly enforced. Teams must be ready to enter the field at least 15 minutes in advance.

8.7. Coming out onto the field of play

Five minutes before the start of each match, both teams must be ready to march out with the referee. At the referee's signal, they must go out in two rows behind the referee and, before the field of play is drawn, the visiting team must first greet the referee and then the players of the other team.

8.8. Facilities

The organization will check the locker rooms before and after each game with the delegate of each team to ensure that they have been used in a correct manner. 

In the event of any damage to the dugouts, locker rooms or playing fields, the team delegate, the team and the person who caused the damage will be responsible for them.

9. Balls

Todos los partidos de Fútbol 11 se jugarán con balones de talla 5. En las categorías de Fútbol 8 se jugará con balones de talla 4.
The tournament organizers will not provide any balls for the warm-up prior to the game. Each team must bring balls for warm-up exercises.

10. Playing Fields

All playing fields are of artificial or natural grass. The fields are divided into six zones: Bidasoaldea, Donostialdea, Kosta, Tolosaldea and Barnealdea.

In the different venues of the tournament there are artificial grass and natural grass fields. In the artificial grass fields it is forbidden to play with aluminum cleats; the cleats must be made of rubber.

11. Referee

All matches will be officiated by referees appointed by the Spanish Football Federation or other national associations. 

There will be assistant referees in the finals (linesmen).
The referee and the Field Delegate will be the highest authorities on the pitch. Both will have the power to stop or suspend a match in case of unsportsmanlike attitudes in one or both teams, or inappropriate behavior from the public that may interfere with the proper conduct of the match and the tournament. 
Both the final result of the match, as well as the disciplinary resolution of the facts, will be the work of the Competition Committee.

12. Comité competición

The Competition Committee is independent of the tournament's Sports Management and is formed by members of the Spanish Soccer Federation (Real Federación Española de Fútbol). 

The Committee is responsible for analyzing every incident and claim, adopting the disciplinary decisions it may consider. The sanctions are published on the website and on the Donosti Cup App. 

The most serious or urgent sanctions may be communicated to managers of the affected teams by the Tournament Sports Management before being published in the official channels.

All decisions of the “Competition Committee” are not appealable, and all participating teams must accept these decisions without exception.

13. Rules of Discipline

13.1. Sanctions

Two yellow cards shown in the same match are equivalent to a red card and therefore lead to a sanction.

The player sent off the field with a straight red card, will be suspended with one or more matches, depending on the reason for the expulsion, and may even be expelled from the tournament.
The player who accumulates three yellow cards during the tournament will be suspended for the next match. The cards are accumulative throughout the tournament and will not be withdrawn in the knockout phase. The penalty match for accumulation of yellow cards will only be forgiven in the case of reaching the final of the tournament. 

A suspended player is not allowed to play any match in any category until the sanction is fulfilled in the category in which he has been expelled. In other words, he will not be able to play with his club in any other category, even if his age allows it, until he completes the sanction with the team he has been expelled from. In the event that the team with which he has been suspended is eliminated, the player will not be able to participate again in the edition, as he has not fulfilled the sanction.

It is team's responsibility to ensure that a player with a sanction does not participate in the competition until the sanction is completed. If the sanctioned player is registered on the score sheet, the match will be automatically declared lost by 0-3.

13.2. Fair Play Coefficient

In case of tie and as a fourth qualifying criterion, the accumulation of cards will have a negative value in qualifying:

• Tarjeta amarilla: 1 punto
• Doble tarjeta amarilla: 2 puntos
• Tarjeta roja directa: 3 puntos

13.3. Suspension of match

Any team that does not appear at the time and place appointed for a match, will have 15 minutes of courtesy after notifying the organization of its delay. Once the courtesy time is exceeded, except in case of force majeure, the team will be declared loser by 0-3. 

If a team does not show up for a match or deliberately give up a win, it may be expelled from the tournament.

If a team remains with 6 players in 11-a-side soccer matches or 5 players in 8-a-side soccer matches, the team will be suspended and the resolution of this match will have to be decided by the Competition Committee.

13.4. Severe infringements 

If a team shows a violent attitude during the competition, it may be automatically expelled from the tournament. Cases of serious expulsion will be reported to the National Soccer Federation of the concerned country. 

In the case of players assigned to the territorial federation of Guipuzcoa, names and surnames of those involved will be provided, with the possibility of sanctions being imposed by its disciplinary body.

The team delegates will be responsible for the behavior of their players towards the referees, teammates, opponents, public, organization and sports facilities.

13.5. Verbal violence

In case of threats, insults and manifestations of racism, xenophobia, sexism and intolerance, the Protocol for Effective Action against Verbal Violence will be applied.

14. Complaints

Written complaints must be submitted to the Field Delegate within 60 minutes after the end of the match. No complaint will be accepted after this time. A 50€ claim fee must be paid at the same time. If the claim is accepted, this fee will be refunded. 
Claims will be resolved by the Competition Committee and communicated to the responsible of the team or teams involved through the tournament's Sports Management.

The Organization will not accept claims related to the referees' performance.

15. Calendar

The organization has the right to make changes in the match program, both in terms of the division of groups, schedules and playing fields. The changes will be notified to the team manager and will be published on the website and on the tournament App.

16. Insurance

All participants will have a private accident insurance, which will include health care for any accident that may occur during the competition. 

In case of injury, the injured player must inform the field delegates (staff of the organization on the field with the accreditation of “Staff”), fill out an injury report and go to the Polyclinic of Gipuzkoa for a medical evaluation and where a detailed medical report will be provided. 

Once the player has been examined at the hospital, it is very important that he/she keeps a copy of the report and a copy of the visit receipt. They will be requested to process your insurance claim. 

This insurance policy covers only injuries occurred during the official matches of the tournament for a period of one year. Injuries occurring outside of matches will not be covered by this policy. It is important to understand that any additional medical expenses, such as prescribed medications or specialized treatments, are not covered by this policy and will be the sole responsibility of the participant.

In case of serious injuries, the field delegate will activate the medical emergency protocol, contacting the organization's medical assistance.