FIWFA WORLD NATIONS CUP – RULES & TERMS

 Overview

  1. The age specific Tournament shall be called the FIWFA World Nations Cup
2.             The entry fee will be advised to all registered nations, includes entry to the end of tournament Gala Dinner, and is non-refundable.
  1. All other costs such as travel, food and accommodation are to be borne by the competing
  2. The Tournament shall comprise:
    1. Men Over 50
    2. Men Over 60
    3. Duration of play:
      1. Men Over 50 and 60 – 40 minute game, two equal periods of 20 minutes
    4. All group games will be played on a league basis
      1. Three points for a win, 1 point for a draw
      2. The winner and runner up of each group will qualify for the quarter finals
  • If points are level the team with the superior goal difference will qualify
    • If the goal difference are level the team with the superior goals scored will qualify
    • If the goals scored are level the team with the team that won the head-to-head game will qualify
    • If the head-to-head game was a draw then if time permits the teams that are level then the qualifying team will be decided by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the Walking Football Association National Cup Rules (penalty shoot-out)
    • If time does not permit a penalty shoot-out, then the teams will draw ‘lots’ to qualify
  1. Quarter Final, Semi Final and the Final Ties will be played on a Knockout basis
  2. These ties will be played on a single leg basis, if the scores are level at the end of the game, the tie will be decided by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the Walking Football Association National Cup Rules (penalty shoot-out)
  3. Groups will be decided by the FIWFA Board
  4. The tournament described as “Men” is an open tournament as both genders can participate
  5. The entire management and control of the Tournament shall be vested in the FIWFA World Nations Cup Director who reports to the Board of the FIWFA. The Board of the FIWFA shall have power to deal with any matter for which no specific provision is made
  6. The Rules of the Walking Football Association shall apply to this Tournament as far as they are applicable to the World Nations Cup Tournament, except as specifically provided for in this document
  7. The Tournament shall observe the Rules and Regulations of the FIWFA and all matches shall be played according to the Walking Football Association Laws of the Game as published by the Walking Football Association Board
  8. The date(s) for Tournament and the Grand Final Ties will be decided by the FIWFA Board
  9. Each team competing in the World Nations Cup Tournament, shall send pre-tournament registration of squads by 30 June 2023- full squad details and eligibility support to be emailed to the Registration Secretary.
    1. Tournament player registration (passports) will take place at SGP on Wednesday 23 August 2023 at the briefing meeting
  10. For the Men’s Over 50s and Over 60s tournaments the Grand Finals for each age group shall be the Winners of the Semi Final games for that age group
Players
  1. In all matches, any Player who has been duly registered with the FIWFA, and accepted, shall be
  2. Eligibility is place of birth or 5 years residency
  3. The maximum number of players allowed in a squad is 12
  4. A minimum number of 6 players, one of whom must be a goalkeeper, must be registered before the commencement of the Tournament
  5. A match day squad in all games during the Tournament will be a maximum of 12 players, one of whom must be a goalkeeper
  6. The age eligibility criteria is based on the age of the player at the time of the match, not the registration date
  7. All players MUST wear a number either on their shirt or shorts that can easily be recognised by the match officials
  8. All players must retain the same shirt number throughout Tournament
  9. Teams must bring at least one spare un-numbered shirt as a ‘blood injury shirt
  10. The squad should not include more than 3 ex professional
  11. Any Club found guilty of playing an ineligible Player shall be removed from the Competition and be subject to a fine at the discretion of the FIWFA Their opponents shall be reinstated into the competition
  12. FIWFA reserves the right to amend the eligibility criteria at any
Administration Procedures
  1. Each Team shall pay an Entrance Fee (set by FIWFA), payable before entry can be confirmed
  2. The payment for entry to the FIWFA World Nations Cup Tournament(s) is non-refundable
  3. A Team may at its discretion use a substitute that is a member of their named squad at any time in a match, except to replace a player who has been dismissed from the field of play by the referee for misconduct after play has commenced.
Discipline
  1. Any team not complying with the WFA Laws of the Game and the FIWFA World Nations Cup

Rules may be expelled from the Tournament

  1. The guilty team (country) will be liable to pay all expenses incurred by the FIWFA in investigating the incident up to a maximum of £250.00
  1. Any player dismissed will be subject to a period of suspension as detailed in the ‘Schedule of Offences and Periods of Suspension’ [as attached to this attached document]

 

Match Officials
  1. The Referee will be appointed by the FIWFA appointing An Assistant Referee and 3rd official will also be appointed

 

30.          The Draw

 

The draw conducted by the FIWFA executive team will be filmed and published in April

 

Tournament Director: John Garrett – email: johngarrett@fiwfa.org

 

Registration Secretary: Ian Moore – email:  ianmoore@thewfa.co.uk

 

Chief Executive: paulcarr@fiwfa.org

 

Additional information:

 

From WFA Laws of the Game

The Taking of Kicks from the Penalty Mark

  • Kicks from the penalty mark are taken after the match has ended and unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the Game A player who has been sent off during the match is not permitted to take part
  • Warnings and cautions issued during the match are not carried forward into kicks from the penalty mark
Procedure Before kicks from the penalty mark start
  • Unless there are other considerations (e.g. ground conditions, safety etc.), the referee tosses a coin to decide the goal at which the kicks will be taken which may only be changed for safety reasons or if the goal or playing surface becomes unusable
  • The referee tosses a coin again, and the team that wins the toss decides whether to take the first or second kick
  • With the exception of a substitute for a goalkeeper who is unable to continue, only players who are on the field of play or are temporarily off the field of play (injury, adjusting equipment etc.) at the end of the match are eligible to take kicks
  • Each team is responsible for selecting from the eligible players the order in which they will take the kicks. The referee is not informed of the order
  • If at the end of the match and before or during the kicks one team has a greater number of players than its opponents, it must reduce its numbers to the same number as its opponents and the referee must be informed of the name and number of each player Any excluded player is not eligible to take part in the kicks (except as outlined below)
  • A goalkeeper who is unable to continue before or during the kicks may be replaced by a player excluded to equalise the number of players or, if their team has not used its maximum permitted number of three substitutes, a named substitute, but the replaced goalkeeper takes no further part and may not take a kick
  • If the goalkeeper has already taken a kick, the replacement may not take a kick until the next round of kicks
During kicks from the penalty mark
  • Only eligible players and match officials are permitted to remain on the field of play
  • All eligible players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers, must remain within the centre circle
  • The goalkeeper of the kicker must remain on the field of play, outside the penalty area, on the goal line where it meets the penalty area boundary line
  • An eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper
  • The kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence; the kicker may not play the ball a second time
  • The referee keeps a record of the kicks
  • If the goalkeeper commits an offence and, as a result, the kick is retaken, the goalkeeper is warned for the first offence and cautioned for any subsequent offence(s)
  • If the kicker is penalised for an offence committed after the referee has signalled for the kick to be taken, that kick is recorded as missed and the kicker is cautioned
  • If both the goalkeeper and the kicker commit an offence at the same time, the kick is recorded as missed and the kicker is cautioned

 

Subject to the conditions explained below, both teams take three kicks
  • The kicks are taken alternately by the teams
  • Each kick is taken by a different player, and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick
  • If, before both teams have taken three kicks, one has scored more goals than the other could score, even if it were to complete its three kicks, no more kicks are taken
  • If, after both teams have taken three kicks, the scores are level, kicks continue until one team has scored a goal more than the other from the same number of kicks
  • The above principle continues for any subsequent sequence of kicks but a team may change the order of kickers
  • Kicks from the penalty mark must not be delayed for a player who leaves the field of play. The player’s kick will be forfeited (not scored) if the player does not return in time to take a kick
Substitutions and sendings-off during kicks from the penalty mark
  • A player, substitute or substituted player may be cautioned or sent off
  • A goalkeeper who is sent off must be replaced by an eligible player
  • A player other than the goalkeeper who is unable to continue may not be replaced
  • The referee must not abandon the match if a team is reduced to fewer than four players

 

 

Schedule of offences and Periods of Suspension
SENDING-OFF OFFENCE AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION COMPETITIONS TO WHICH AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION APPLIES
Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent whose overall movement is towards the offender’s goal by an offencepunishable by a free kick 1 Match Ban Any competitions under the auspices of The FIWFA
Serious foul play 2 Match Ban Any competitions underthe auspices of The FIWFA
Spitting at an opponent or any otherperson 3 Match Ban Any competitions underthe auspices of The FIWFA
Spitting at a Match Official Minimum 5 Match Ban to a maximum of 3month ban from all walking football activities including Club, Tournament and Representation games Any competitions under the auspices of The FIWFA
Violent conduct against an opposingPlayer 2 to 5 Match Ban dependant on the severity Any competitions underthe auspices of The FIWFA
Using offensive, insulting or abusivelanguage and/or gestures on the pitch 1 Match Ban Any competitions under the auspices of The FIWFA
Using offensive, insulting or abusivelanguage and/or gestures to a Match Official 2 Match Ban Any competitions under the auspices of The FIWFA
Receiving a second blue card in thesame match 1 Match Ban Any competitions underthe auspices of The FIWFA
Improper Conduct against a Match Official(Including Threatening and/or Abusive Behaviour) Suspension from all football activity for aperiod of between 56 days and 182 days. The recommended entry point, prior to considering any mitigating or aggravatingfactors, is 112 days Any competitions under the auspices of The FIWFA
Improper Conduct against a MatchOfficial(Including Physical Contact or attempted Physical Contact andThreatening and/or Abusive Language/Behaviour) Suspension from all football activity for a period of between 112 days and 2 years. The recommended entry point, prior to considering any mitigating or aggravating factors, is 182 days. Any competitions under the auspices of The FIWFA
Asault of a Match Official Minimum 5 Match Ban to a maximum of 3 year Sin Die ban from all walking football activities including Club, Tournament and Representation games, with a minmmum review after 1 year Any competitions under the auspices of The FIWFA