FIFA Statutes - 1992

7/24/2019 FIFA Statutes - 1992

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FIF

A

FDRATION

INTERNATIONALE

DE

FOOTBALL

ASSOCIATIO N

STATUTE

S

Regulations governing th

e

Application of the S tatute

s

Stand ing Orders of th e

Congress

English Editio

n

1992


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FIFA

FDRATION

INTERNATIONALE

DE

FOOTBALL

ASSOCIATIO

N

STATUTE

S

Regulations govern ing th

e

pp lication of the Statutes

Standing Orders of th e

Congres s

English Editio n

199

2


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Index

Pag

e

Statutes

3

Regulations governing the

Application of the Statutes

3

1

Standing Orders of the Congress

4 1

This text was approved by the 1992 FIFA Congress in Zuric h

and shall apply as from 3 October 199

2

FDRATION INTERNATIONAL

E

DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIO

N

President Dr Joo Havelange (Brazil

)

Genera Secretary

Joseph S. Blatter (Switzerland

Address

:

FIFA H ouse ,

Hitzigweg 11, 8030 Zurich, Switzerlan d

Telephone: 41-1 /384 95 9

5

Telefax

:

41-1 /384 96 9 6

Telex : 817-240 fif

ch


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STATUTES OF FIFA

Interpretation clause

In interpreting the Statutes and regulations of FIFA the word

s

'FIFA

or Federation means Fdration

Internationale de

Football Association

.

1

An association or The associations refer to the nationa l

associations, except where the context denotes a different mean -

in g .

'League

means an internal organisation subordinated to

a

national association .

British associations refer to the four associations of the Unit

-

ed Kingdom, i

.e

. The Football Association, The Scottish Footbal

l

Association, The Football Association of Wales, and the Irish Foot

-

ball Association (Northern Ireland)

.

a International Board or the Board refers to the Internationa

l

Football Association Board

.

a Confederation is a group of national associations affiliated to

FIFA and belonging to the same continent (or assimilable geograph

-

ic entity)

.

The Executive Committee means the Executive Committe e

of FIFA as constituted in accordance with these Statutes

.

o

Member means a national association which is in member-

ship with FIFA or a person who is a member of a committee of FIFA .

o Officials mean all board members, coaches, trainers and

people responsible for technical, medical and adminstrative mat-

ters in a confederation, national association, league or club .

to

The term

association footbal

l

refers to the game specificall

y

controlled by the Federation and as regulated by the Laws of th

e

Game

1

. Title, constitution, headquarters

Art

.

7

' The

Fdration

Internationale de Football Association is an

association in accordance with Art

. 60 ff of the Swiss Civil Code*

.

a

FIFA shall consist of the national associations which are affil-

iated to it and recognised by it as controlling association football i

n

their respective countries

.

a Only one association shall be recognised in each country

.

Each of the four British associations shall be recognised as

a

member of FIFA

Federatio n

Associatio n

Leagu

e

Britis h

association

s

I

.ternati.

.

F . A

. Boa

d

Can .

federatio n

Executiv

e

committee

Monibe r

officials

Associati

.

.

footbal l

Title an

d

constitution


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'

A

football association in a region which has not yet gaine

d

independence may, with the authorisation of the national associ-

ation of the country on which it is dependent, also ask to becom e

affiliated to FIFA .

Bead-

6

The location of the FIFA headquarters shall be determined by

a

quarters

resolution of the Congress

. It shall be located in Zurich, Switzerlan

d

and may only be transferred elsewhere if the Congress passes

a

resolution to that effect (cf

. Art

. 15 4 (dl)

.

Article

a g of the swiss

c i v a co d e

'Associations which have a p olitical, religious, scientific, artistic, charitable, social or an

y

other than an industrial object, acquire the status of a person as soon as they show by thei r

constitution their intention to hav e corporate existence .

'The const i tut ion m ust be drawn up in wri t ing an d state the ob ject, the capital and th

e

organisation of the society

.

II

. Object

s

Art

.

2

The objects of the Federation are

:

Objects

t

to promote the game of association football in every way i

t

deems fit ; .

z to foster friendly relations among national associations, confed

-

erations and their officials and players by promoting the orga-

nisation of football matches at all levels and by supporting associ

-

ation football by all other means which it deems appropriate

;

e to control every type of association football by taking steps a

s

shall be deemed necessary or advisable to prevent infringement

s

of the Statutes or regulations of FIFA or of the Laws of the Game a s

laid down by the International Football Association Board, to pre

-

vent the introduction of other improper methods or practices in th

e

game and to protect it from abuses

;

3

.1

there shall be no discrimination against a country or an individu -

al for reasons of race, religion or politics

;

3 .2

a national association which tolerates, allows or organise

s

competitions in which discrimination is practised orwhich is estab

-

lished in a country where discrimination in sport is laid down by law

shall not be admitted to FIFA or shall be expelled if it is already

a

member . A national association, when applying to take part in a

competition, or deciding to organise one, shall give assurances t

o

the Federation that its provisions will be respected

; .

to provide, by means of statutory regulations, principles fo

r

settling any differences that may arise between or among nationa

l

associations

.


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III . Membership

Art . 3

' Associations shall beadmittedas members by the Congress only

.

Membershi p

The Executive Committee or the Emergency Committee of the

Federation (Art

. 18 and 21) is empowered to grant provisional mem

-

be rship which shall be sub mitted to the next C ongress for ratif ication

.

Art

. 4

' An association applying for membership shall address a written

Applicatio n

for member -

request to this effect to the Federation . -

sh i p

2

The application for membership shall contain a declaration i n

which the applicant association undertakes :

(a) to conform at all times to the Statutes, regulations and deci -

sions of FIFA

;

(b) to observe the Laws of the Game in force with the Federation

.

The applicant association shall enclose a copy of its own stat -

utes and regulations with its request. These statutes must, withou

t

exception, contain a mandatory clause stipulating the restraints an d

obligations contained in Art

. 57 of the FIFA Statutes

.

4

The applicant association shall submit to FIFA a file containin

g

details of its internal organisation and the sports infrastructur e

(facilities for playing football) in its country .

e

The Regulations governing the Application of the Statutes shall

~ on

o n

s

determine the terms and conditions .

Art . 5

' During the Congress session at which its application for mem-

Decisio n

regardin g

bership is to be decided, the applicant association in question may, applicatio n

through its delegates, address the Congress in support of its appli

-

cation . These delegates must, however, leave the conference hal l

whilst the application is being considered and voted upon

. If the

application is accepted, the delegates of the association which ha

s

lust been granted membership shall immediately be allowed t

o

take part in the remaining work of the Congress.

x An association which has been granted membership must pay

c o n s e ,

the annual subscription fee as laid down in Art . 45 of these Statutes

o

f

s m e m b e r s h ip

for the year of its admission

.

3

Payment of the subscription fee must be made within 30 days of

acceptance of the association's mem bership by the C ongress . Fa iling

this, the provisions of Art . 45 53 shal l be a ppl ied

mutatis mutandis

.

Once an association has been accepted as a member, it shall b e

entitled to enter immediately for any of the competitions organise

d

by FIFA, provided that the entry deadline has not passed

.


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Art

. 6

Correspon-

Each association shall inform the Federation of the name an d

dense

address of the person responsible for conducting, on its behalf

official correspondence both with FIFA and the other association

s

on all matters including disputes among associations

.

' The executive bodies of any association shall be appointed onl

y

by means of election within the association

.

' Each association shall send to the Federation and, upo

n

request, to the other affiliated associations, its official hand

-

book and all communications modifying its statutes and regu-

lations

.

Art 7

Honorary

The Congress may grant the title of Honorary President o r

and Honorary Honorary Member to any person for meritorious services rendered

Member

to the Federation

.

' Nominations for such positions shall be made by the Executiv

e

Committee .

' An Honorary President or an Honorary Member shall be permit

-

ted to attend the Congress with the right to join in discussions, bu

t

not to vote

.

Art

.

8

confeder-

National associations affiliated to FIFA and geographically sit

-

ations

uated on the same continent may form confederations which wil

l

be recognised by FIFA

FIFA shall recognise the following confederations :

(a)

Confdration Africaine

de Footbal

l

(b)

Asian Football Confederation

(c)

Union of European Football Association s

(d) Confederacin

Norte-Centroamericana y del

C arib e de Ftb o

l

(e) Confederacin Sudamericana

de

Ftbol

.

'FIFA may, in exceptional circumstances, authorise a confeder-

ation to grant membership to a national association that belong s

geographically to another continent and is not affiliated to th

e

confederation on that continent

. The opinion of the confederation

concerned geographically is required

.

' Oceania is regarded as an independent geographical entity

. A

s

such, it is entitled to some of the rights conferred upon the confed -

erations. These rights shall be determined by the Executive Com-

mittee in accordance with its statutory powers

.


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Each of the recognised confederations shall have the following

Rights an

d

duties

rights and duties :

(a)

to comply with and enforce compliance with the FIFA Statutes ,

regulations and decisions ;

(b) to co-ope ratewith FIFA in all matters relating to the organ isation o

f

international competitions and football in general ;

(c)

to organise its own inter-club competitions

;

(d) to organise its own international competitions, particularl

y

youth competitions ;

(e)

to ensure that international leagues or any other such combina-

tion of clubs or leagues shall not be formed without its consen

t

and the approval of FIFA

;

(f) to assign to associations wishing to become members of FIFA

and upon the latter's recommendation, the status of associat

e

member for not more than two year

s

duration, which will giv

e

such associations the right to participate in its competitions an

d

discussions but not the right to vote

;

(g) to appoint, as the confederation'

s representatives, vice-presi-

dents and members to the FIFA Executive Committee in con-

formity with Art . 18 of the FIFA Statutes ;

(h)

to maintain good relations and co-operation with FIFA by ap-

pointing two members to serve on a consultative committe

e

with an equal number of representatives from FIFA to deal wit h

matters of interest to the confederation and FIFA

;

(i)

to ensure that the representatives it has appointed to the FIF

A

bodies exercise this function with due respect and attention

;

(k) to appoint committees which will work in close co-operation

with the corresponding FIFA committees ;

(1) to grant permission in exceptional circumstances, and providin g

FIFA approves, to an association of another confederation (or it

s

member clubs) or to an association which is not a member of a

confederation (or its member clubs) to take part in approve

d

competitions which it organises ;

(m)generally to take all action it deems useful to encourage th

e

development of association football on its continent (e .g . b

y

organising courses, seminars, etc. )

;

(n)

to constitute all the bodies necessary to fulfil the duties in-

cumbent upon them ;

(o)

to procure the funds required to fulfil its duties adequately

.

5

The Executive Committee of FIFA may, in specific cases, dele

-

gate some of its duties or powers to any confederation .

e The statutes and regulations of the confederations must b e

submitted to the Executive Committee of FIFA for approval

.


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IV

. Legislative, executive and administrative bodie

s

Art .

9

Legislative,

'

The Congress shall be the legislative body of FIFA and, as such,

executiv

e

and adnninis . the supreme authority

.

b o e s

2

The Executive Committee shall be the executive body of FIFA

.

' The general secretariat shall bathe administrative body of FIFA .

The standing and ad hoc committees shall serve to assist th e

various bodies of FIFA in their respective duties . Their compositio

n

and functions are stipulated in Art . 22 to 36 of these Statutes

.

The Congress

Art

. 1

0

Congres

s T h e

The Congress, the supreme body of FIFA, shall be held ever

y

two years

.

s The Executive Committee mayatanytime call an Extraordinar

y

Congress of the Federation . At the written request of one-third of

the affiliated national associations of the Federation, the Executiv e

Committee shall convene an Extraordinary Congress within thre e

months of receipt of such request .

Art

. 1 1

Right to vote

Each association shall have the right to one vote and be entitle

d

to be represented by a maximum of three delegates, all of who m

may take part in the debates

.

The confederations shall be entitled to be represented by thre

e

observers

.

Delegates

2

The names of the delegates must be sent to the general secre-

tariat before the opening of the Congress. The one having the righ

t

to vote must be indicated

. Should this delegate leave the confer-

ence hall at any time during the Congress, he shall be replaced b y

the representative next on the list of delegates drawn up by the

national association concerned

.

' Only the delegates present and entitled to vote shall decide an

y

questions put to the vote .

No delegate shall be allowed to represent more than one associ-

ation .

' During their term of office, members of the Executive Commit

-

tee shall not be eligible to act as delegates of their associations

.

vole

b y

te r

Voting by letter or proxy is not allowed

.

Delegates to the Congress must be bona fide members o f

the affiliated association they represent and be subjects of th

e

country represented by that association

.


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a The Federation shall bear the costs of travel and accommoda-

tion for one delegate from each association taking part in the

Congress

. The Executive Committee shall issue appropriate direc

-

tives in this respect

.

Art

. 1

2

' The date and place of a Congress must be notified to affiliate d

associations by registered letter posted six months in advance

.

2

The agenda, specifying the nature of the business to be trans

-

acted, the report of the General Secretary, the balance sheet an d

the auditors' report must be sent to the associations by registere d

letter and posted two months before the date of the Congress

.

s All proposals and questions to be submitted to the Congress b

y

affiliated associations must be sent in writing to the FIFA secretar-

iat at least four months before the Congress. Only those proposal

s

and questions sent in time and included in the agenda may b

e

discussed at the Congress

.

The Congress may, in emergencies, deal with matters sub-

mitted after the above closing date, provided an absolute majorit

y

of the associations affiliated to FIFA (which have not forfeited thei

r

right to vote for any reason at the time of the Congress) is presen

t

and a majority of three-fourths of the votes recorded thus decides .

a

The place, date and agenda of an Extraordinary Congress mus

t

be notified to the affiliated national associations at least two

months before it is due to take place

.

6

The names of candidates for the presidency of the Federatio n

may be submitted by any member association and must reach the

general secretariat of FIFA two months before the opening date of

the Congress

. A retiring president shall be eligible for re-election .

The names of all candidates must be forwarded by the genera

l

secretariat to all the national associations at least one month befor

e

the Congress.

Art

. 1

3

' The agenda of the Ordinary Congress shall include at least th

e

following items

:

(a)

an address by the Presiden

t

(b) appointment of five members to check the official minute s

(c) appointment of scrutineer

s

(d) formal approval of the minutes

of the preceding Congres s

(e)

the report covering the period since the preceding Congres

s

(f)

submission of balance sheet, receipts and expenditure accoun

t

(g)

vote on the approval of the account

s

(h)

submission of the budge

t

(i) admission and/or resignation of national associations

Date an d

place of th e

Ordinary

Congres

s

Proposal

s

an d

question s

Extraordinar

y

Congres

s

Candidate

s

fo

r

Presidenc

y

Agenda o

f

the Ordinary

Congress


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W consideration of proposals for alteration to the Statutes, Regu-

lations governing the Application of the Statutes and Standin

g

Orders of the Congress of FIF

A

(1) questions from national associations and any other matters the

Executive Com mittee wishes to propose

. (Such qu estions shall b e

sub mitted in writ ing in accordanc e w ith Art . 12 3 of the Statutes

.

)

(m)appointment of chartered accountants to examine and certif

y

the accounts of the Federation

(n) election of the President (if necessary) and installation of th e

vice-presidents and members of the Executive Committee

.

Extraordinary

x

In the case of an Extraordinary Congress, the notice of the

Congress

meeting shall include the agenda

. No items other than those con-

tained in the agenda may be discussed .

Art

. 1 4

Alterations to

The Congress alone may alter the Statutes, the Regulation s

the Statutes

,

regulations

governing the Application of the Statutes and the Standing Order s

and Standing

of the Congress of FIFA

Orders

z A proposed alteration to the Statutes may be included in the

agenda and put to the vote only if it has been submitted by on

e

national association and seconded by two others or if proposed b y

the Executive Committee

.

3

In order to be able to consider an amendment to the Statutes,

a

Congress must be attended by an absolute majority of the FIF

A

membe

r

,

associations, which at the time of the Congress have no

t

forfeited their right to vote for any reason

.

4

To be adopted, the amendment must receive the approval o

f

three-fourths of the votes cast by the delegates present and enti-

tled to vote

.

5

An amendment to the Regulations governing the Application o

f

the Statutes or the Standing Orders of the Congress may be pro

-

posed by one national association or by the Executive Committee .

s Proposals to amend the Regulations governing the Application

of the Statutes or the Standing Orders of the Congress shall b

e

passed by a simple majority of votes cast by the delegates presen t

and entitled to vote

.

Art

. 1 5

Elections

'

Voting for the elections shall be by secret ballot

.

Other

Other decisions, when voting is necessary, shall be taken by

a

decisions

show of hands. If this method of voting does not result in a definit

e

majority in favour of a proposal, the vote shall be taken b y ca lling th

e

roll, countries being called in English alphabetical order .

Necessary a

Forthe election of the President of the Federation, two-thirds o

f

majorities

the votes recorded in the first ballot are necessary . In a second

10


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ballot and any subsequent ballots which may be necessary, a

n

absolute majority of the votes recorded is required . From the sec-

and ballot onwards, and if there are more than two candidates, th

e

one obtaining the lowest number of votes will be eliminated afte

r

each ballot until only two candidates remain in the running

.

Other decisions shall be taken by a simple majority of the vote

s

recorded with the exception of the following, which can only b

e

taken if an absolute majority of the associations affiliated to FIFA

(which have not forfeited their right to vote for any reason at th

e

time of the Congress) is present and a majority of three-fourths o

f

the votes recorded is reached :

(a) amendments or additions to the Statutes (cf

. Art

. 14 4)

;

(b) additions to the Congress agenda (cf

. Art . 12 4)

;

(c )

expulsion of a member from the Federation (cf . Art . 59 2)

;

(d)

change of the Federation

'

s headquarters (cf

. Art . 1 6)

;

(e)

dissolution of the Federation.

Art . 1 6

' The General Secretary shall keep the official minutes of the

Minute s

Congress

.

s

The minutes shall be submitted forverification to five members

specially appointed for this purpose by the Congress

.

Art . 1 7

' Decisions taken at a Congress shall come into operation and

I m p

l

nor

become binding on the Federation and affiliated associations three deeiXn

s

months after the closing date of the Congress .

2

Decisions taken by the Congress to accept the affiliation of ne

w

member national associations shall, however, come into force imme -

diately (cf

. Art

. 5)

. In such a case the associations shall be entitled t

o

vote immediately upon formal acceptance of their candidature

.

3

The Congress may, in emergencies, decide that decisions b e

enforced at a different date . In such cases, the decisions shal l

become operative at the date fixed by the Congress

.

Executive Committe e

Art. 1 8

' The Executive Committee of the Federation shall consist of :

constitution

1 presiden

t

8 vice-president

s

12 members

Z

The President shall be elected by the associations represented

Election o f

at the Congress and entitled to vote (Art . 15 3 )

.

President

1 1


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14/45


15/45

'The business shall be conducted normally at specially convene

d

meetings

. However, if in exceptional circumstances the Commit-

tee is unable to convene a meeting, decisions may be reached b

y

means of written communication, in which case the Executiv

e

Committee shall be notified immediately

.

Retiricmen

All decisions taken by the Emergency Committee shall be im-

plemented immediately and confirmed by the Executive Commit

-

tee at its next meeting .

' If the President is unable to attend, the senior vice-presiden

t

who is available shall deputise . The P resident shall have authori ty t o

appoint a substitute if one of the members is not available or if th e

national association of which he is a member is directly concerne

d

in a case or dispute requiring urgent attention. The substitute must,

however, belong to the same confederation as that to which th e

unavailable or ineligible member belongs

.

Standing committees

Art

. 2 2

standing

' The standing committees shall be :

committees

(a) Finance Committee

(b)

Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cu

p

(c)

Organising Committee for the Olympic Football Tournamen t

(d)

Committee for FIFA Youth Competition

s

(e)

Committee for Five-a-side (Indoor) Footbal l

(f)

Committee for Women's Footbal l

(g)

Referees' Committe

e

(h) Technical Committee

(i)

Sports Medical Committe

e

(k) Players' Status Committee

(1) Committee for Legal Matters

(m)Committee for Security Matters and Fair Play

(n) Media Committe

e

(o)

Protocol Committe

e

Constim

b

he chairman, deputy chairman and the members of eac h

standing committee shall be appointed for a term of office of fou

r

years by the Executive Committee

.

The chairman and deputy chairman of each standing committe

e

shall be chosen from among the members of the Executive Com-

mittee

.

' Each chairman shall represent his committee, see that its busi

-

ness is properly conducted, fix the date of the meetings in conjunc

-

14


16/45

tion with the General Secretary and report to the Executive Com-

mittee on its work

.

4

Each committee may appoint a sub-committee (bureau) and

wherever necessary, an ad hoc committee for emergencies

.

Art . 2 3

' The Finance Committee shall consist of a chairman, deputy

Finance

Committe

e

chairman and three members, each one of the five belonging to

a

different confederation

. They shall be chosen from among th

e

members of the Executive Committee . -

3

The duties of the Committee shall b e

(a) to control the financial administration of the Federation

;

(b) to advise the Executive Committee on the management o

f

property

;

(c) to prepare the budget of the Executive Committee and to exam

-

ine those of the various standing and ad hoc committees and t

o

submit them for approval to the Executive Committee

;

(d) to supervise the financial accounts of the committees and t

o

authorise the General Secretary to make the payments, afte

r

verification

.

Art

. 2 4

' The Organising Committee forthe FIFA World Cup shall consist

m

of a chairman, deputy chairman and the number of members

for the FIF

A

deemed necessary

. The chairman, deputy chairman and at least

world

cu

p

two of the members shall be selected from among the members o

f

the Executive Committee

. The Committee shall, however, hav

e

among its members

:

(a) one member from each confederation

;

(b) one member from the national association which organised th e

last World Cup

;

(c) one member from the national association which has bee

n

assigned to organise the next World Cup

;

(d) one member from the national association which has bee

n

assigned to organise the subsequent World Cup.

The members mentioned under (b), (c) and (d) shall be appointed a t

the recommendation of the national associations concerned.

z The Committee shall be responsible for the organisation of th

e

FIFA World Cup in accordance with the regulations governing th

e

competition .

The Committee shall be empowered to submit to the Executiv e

Committee proposals for amendments which it considers should

be made to the competition regulations

.

The Committee shall be responsible for the production an

d

publication of an official report on the FIFA World Cup .

1 5


17/45

Art

. 2 5

Commne

The Organising Committee for the Olympic Football Tourna-

fortne

ment shall consist of a chairman, deputy chairman and the numbe r

Olympic

of members deemed necessary . It shall, however, have among it

s

Footbal l

Tournament members :

(a)

one member from each confederation

;

(b )

one member from the national association which has bee

n

assigned to organise the next Olympic Games . He shall b

e

appointed at the recommendation of the national association

concerned .

' The Committee shall be responsible for the organisation of th e

Olympic Football Tournament in accordance with the special regu-

lations governing the competition and the Olympic Charter

. The

Committee shall be empowered to submit to the Executive Com-

mittee proposals for amendments which it considers should b

e

made to the tournament regulations

.

s The Committee shall be responsible for the production an d

publication of an official report on the Olympic Football Tourna

-

ment .

Art . 2

6

Committee

The Committee for FIFA Youth Competitions shall consist of

a

for FIF

A

Youth

chairman, a deputy chairman and the number of members deeme

d

competit ions

necessary

. It shall, however, have among its members :

(a)

one member from each confederation

;

(b )

one member from each of the national associations which ha s

been assigned to organise one of the forthcoming FIFA yout

h

competitions. They shall be appointed after nomination by th

e

national associations concerned .

The Committee shall be responsible for the organisation of

:

(a) the World Youth Championshi

p

(b) the U-17 World Championshi

p

in accordance with the special regulations governing these compe -

titions

.

The Committee shall be empowered to submit to the Executiv

e

Committee proposals for amendments it considers should b

e

made to the competition regulations

.

a The Committee shall be responsible for the production an d

publication of an official report for each competition it organises .

Art

. 2 7

Committee

The Committee for Five-a-side Football (or Indoor Football an

d

for Fivea

.

side Football

thus called hereafter) shall consist of achairman, a deputychairman

and the number of members deemed necessary

.

2

Its duties shall be

:

16


18/45

(a) to draw up the Laws of the Game for this type of football

;

(b)

to approve the official translation of these Laws of the Game

;

(c)

to make decisions regarding the application of the Laws of the

Game ;

(d) to propose to the Executive Committee any measures deeme

d

necessary to ensure the control of indoor football

;

(e)

to deal with all matters involving indoor football

;

(f)

to organise an indoor football world competition from time to

time ;

' The Committee shall be responsible for the production an

d

publication of an official report for each competition it organises

.

Art . 2 8

' The Committee for Women

'

s Football shall consist of a chair-

,

m

tW

e

man, deputy chairman and the number of members deemed

nec-

Footbl

i

essary .

s Its duties shall be

:

(a)

to deal with all matters regarding women's football ;

(b)

to propose to the Executive Committee any measures deeme

d

necessary to promote the development of women

s football ;

(c) to organise a women

's football world competition from time t

o

time

.

s

The Committee shall be responsible for the production an

d

publication of an official report for each competition it organises

.

Art

. 2

s

' The Referees' Committee shall consist of a chairman, deputy

C o

r

nm

es

'

chairman and the number of members deemed necessary, wit

h

each confederation being represented

.

2

Its duties shall be

:

(a) to make decisions and interpretations regarding the applicatio n

of the Laws of the Game ;

(b) to approve the official translation of the Laws of the Game

;

(c) to propose to the Executive Committee the amendments to th

e

Laws of the Game to be submitted to the International Footbal

l

Association Board

;

(d) to compile a list of referees qualified to supervise internationa l

matches from among the nominations submitted by the nation

-

al associations ;

(e)

to appoint the referees for matches in competitions organised

by FIFA or for any other matches or tournaments, wheneve

r

requested to do so ;

(f)

to establish uniformity in methods of refereeing and imple-

mentation of the Laws for world-wide use

;

17


19/45

(g)

to draw up inspection standards for referees to be used equally

by every national association

;

(h)

to approve the editing of the section Laws of the Game i

n

official FIFA publications

;

(i) to organise courses for international referees and referee in-

structors

;

(k) to draw up a list of instructors and lecturers capable of conduct -

ing courses for referees ;

(1) to prepare and produce useful didactic material on refereeing

;

(m)to ensure that each national association has a properly consti

-

tuted Referees' Committee and ascertain that these commit-

tees function satisfactorily.

Art. 3

0

Tech.cai

' The Technical Committee shall consist of a chairman, deputy

Committee

chairman and the number of members deemed necessary

.

' Its duties shall be :

(a) to advance training methods;

(b ) to take all possible measures to improve the qualifications of

coaches;

(c )

to resolve questions on the theory and practice of football

;

(d) to take all possible measures to promote familiarisation wit

h

and experience in teaching football

;

(e) to organise courses and conferences for instructors, trainers ,

coaches and administrators in conjunction with national associ

-

ations and confederations ;

(f)

to compile material on teaching and coaching techniques for

players, trainers, coaches and referees

;

(g)

to provide the assistance necessary for the production of didac-

tic films;

(h)

to deal with all matters concerning the construction of installa-

tions and the availability of equipment to teach football

;

(i)

to issue a memorandum from time to time regarding technica l

assistance and grants which have been given or are to be give

n

towards any development project;

(k) to be responsible for editing the technical section of official FIF

A

publications

;

(1) to recommend coaches, instructors ortrainers to national asso

-

ciations and at the associations' request

.

(m)to examine any problems concerning football pitches

.

Art

. 3

1

Meari

'

The Sports Medical Committee shall consist of a chairman,

Committee

deputy chairman and the number of members deemed necessary

,

all of whom shall be very well versed in medicine

.

18


20/45

Its duties shall be

:

(a)

toactasan advisory board forthe FIFA Executive Committee o n

every aspect of medicine, physiology and hygiene

;

(b) to develop and use scientific experience in the fields of physi-

ology, medical supervision, training theories, psychology an

d

hygiene;

(c )

to draw up a medical guide for use by coaches, players an

d

referees

;

(d) to draw up a guide for players to improve their athletic ability

physical fitness and performance capacity

;

(e)

to prepare memoranda for trainers and coaches on the physica

l

preparation of football players

;

(f) to prepare memoranda on diet and nourishment for players

giving appropriate recommendations

;

(g)

to prepare memoranda on general aspects of sports hygien

e

and, in particular, the effects of certain substances on the bod

y

(alcohol, nicotine, medicaments, drugs etc

. )

;

(h) to issue instructions regarding medical facilities to be mad

e

available at international matches and tournaments

;

(i) to investigate types of injuries suffered during football matche

s

and to issue recommendations for improved prevention o

r

treatment of such injuries ;

(k) to draw up regulations on doping control in FIFA competition

s

for the Executive Committee and check regularly that they ar

e

being observed

.

Art

. 3 2

' The Players' Status Committee shall consist of a chairman,

Players

'

deputy chairman and the number of members deemed necessa

sw a n

r Y

Committe

e

with each confederation being represented

.

2

Its duties shall be :

(a) to examine general problems regarding the status of players ;

(b) to advise the Executive Committee on the interpretation of th e

FIFA Statutes and the regulations regarding the eligibility, statu

s

or transfer of players ;

(c)

to ensure that the definitions drawn up by FIFA regarding the

status of players are observed

;

(d) to decide the status of players for the different competition

s

organised at international level;

(e)

to investigate and decide upon disputed transfers submitted t

o

FIFA in compliance with the special provisions governing thi

s

matter

; in this connection, the following sanctions may b e

directly imposed upon clubs, officials, members, coaches an

d

players

:

19


21/45

a caution

a censur

e

a fin

e

a suspension.

s The Committee shall deal, in principle, only with cases sub-

mitted via the national associations

.

Coaches shall be classified as players as far as status is con

-

cerned

.

e An appeal may be lodged with the Executive Committee agains t

any decision taken by the Committee as described under (d) and (e )

above .

Art. 33

ommittee

The Committee for Legal Matters shall consist of a chairman

for Lega

l

Matters

deputy chairman and the number of members deemed necessary

all of whom shall have legal qualifications .

z Its duties shall be :

(a)

to take counsel, give advice and adopt a position on all cases ,

disputes or enquiries submitted to the Committee

;

(b )

to follow the development of the Statutes and regulation

s

which govern FIFA and propose to the Executive Committe

e

any amendment which the Committee deems useful ;

(C )

to check the statutes and regulations governing affiliated asso

-

ciations, as the case may be, and to recommend that the Exec -

utive Committee intervene to bring about any desired amend-

ments

.

Art

. 3 4

Committee

The Committee for Security Matters and Fair Play shall consis

t

for Security

Matters and

of a chairman, deputy chairman and the following members :

Fair Play

(a) the chairman of each of the organising committees of FIF

A

competitions

;

(b) the president of each confederation

;

(c )

the chairman of the Committee for Legal Matters

;

(d) the Press Officer of FIFA

.

z Its duties shall be the following

:

(a)

to examine generally every aspect of security inside the stadi

a

and in the immediate vicinity ;

(b)

to investigate every possible way of improving security at foot

-

ball matches ;

(c )

to deal with every aspect of fair play in its widest sense

;

(d) to propose different kinds of campaigns designed to promot e

fair play, to ensure that they are realised and to follow up th

e

results

.

2 0


22/45

Art

. 35

'TheMedia Committee shall consist ofachairman, deputychair-

Media

man, the number of members deemed necessary, and the Press

committe e

Officer of FIFA

. At the suggestion of the Committee, the Genera l

Secretary may convene co-opted members for special duties for

a

limited period

.

z Its duties shall be

:

(a) to advise the general secretariat and FIFA committees on mat

-

ters involving public relations and work with the news media ;

(b) to develop proposals regarding FIFA publications and, if nee

d

be, assist in their conception and preparation ;

(c) to advise the respective organising committees regarding th e

conditions for the organisation of work by the media at FIF

A

events; to draw up the terms of reference

; to prepare and carr

y

out the accreditation procedure for media representatives an

d

to supervise the organisation of the media

;

(d) to work in conjunction with international organisations of th

e

media

.

Art . 3 6

' The Protocol Committee shall consist of a chairman, deputy

c

o

rotoco

l m m i t te e


.

x Its duties shall be

:

(a)

to deal with all matters of protocol during FIFA competitions an

d

conventions or other events in which FIFA is involved ;

(b)

to draw up relevant proposals for the Executive Committee .

Judicial bodies

Art . 3 7

The judicial bodies of FIFA in respect of competitions organised by

Jadicia

i

FIFA shall be

:

bodie

s

(a)

the Disciplinary Committee

;

(b)

the Appeal Committee

.

Art . 3 8

' The Disciplinary Committee shall consist of a chairman, deputy

Disciplinary

chairman and the number of members deemed necessary . The

committee

chairman shall have legal qualifications .

2

The function of this body shall be governed by regulation

s

drawn up by the Executive Committee, which will also elaborate

a

list of disciplinary measures

.

21


23/45

'

The Disciplinary Committee may sanction national associations

,

clubs, officials, members, coaches or players for any breach of FIF

A

Statutes, regulations and instructions, or any violation of decisions

reached by a body of FIFA, or for any action violating the spirit o

r

letter of the Laws of the Game .

a The Disciplinary Committee shall base its decisions on the List o

f

Disciplinary Measures drawn up by the Executive Committee (cf. 2)

.

e Disciplinary powers are, however, exclusively reserved to the

other competent bodies of FIFA in respect of

:

the status and transfer of players (cf . Art

. 3 2

)

the suspension and expulsion of national associations (cf

. Art

.

42 and 59)

Art. 39

Committee

The Appeal Committee shall consist of a chairman, deput

y


. Th

e

chairman shall have legal qualifications .

' It shall hear appeals lodged against decisions by the Disciplinary

Committee which are not irrevocable according to FIFA regulations

.

' Decisions pronounced by the Appeal Committee shall be irrevo-

cable and binding on all the parties concerned

.

The function of the Appeal Committee and the procedure to b

e

followed shall be contained in special regulations drawn

up by

the

Executive Committee

.

General secretaria

t

Art

. 40

5eC

e

a n a l The general secretariat of the Federation shall be a permanen

t

administrative body.

' It may be called upon to carry out administrative, publicity an

d

technical work

.

Art

. 4

1

General

The General Secretaryshall be the chief executive of the perma -

Secretary

nent secretariat of the Federation

.

' He shall be appointed on the basis of an individual legal agree -

ment.

aesponsb

a

He shall be responsible for:

biftlas

(a) managing and keeping the accounts of the Federation ;

(b)

the execution of decisions taken by the Executive Committee

;

(c )

the production of the minutes of the meetings of the Executiv

e

Committee, the standing and ad hoc committees

;

(d)

the correspondence of the Federation

;

22


24/45

(e)

relations among the Federation and the confederations, nation

-

al associations, organisations and committees

;

(f)

the organisation of the general secretariat ;

(g) the appointment of the staff in the general secretariat

.

V. Suspensions of national associations

Art. 4 2

' Only the Congress shall be competent to suspend a national

penaltie

s

association

. However, in emergencies, such a sanction may b

e

imposed by the Executive Committee

. The suspension may onl

y

have effect until the next Congress at the latest and may then onl

y

be prolonged by a decision taken by a three-fourths majority of th

e

votes made at that Congress

.

The provision contained in Art

. 45 3 of these Statutes is no

t

subject to the foregoing paragraph .

2

A national association that has been suspended shall forfeit it s

right to vote at the Congress until the sanction has been lifted

.

Moreover, suspended national associations may not entertain foot

-

balling contacts with other members

.

' National associations must take part in FIFA competitions

.

to

of righ

t

National associations which do not participate in at leasttwo of an

y

FIFA competitions for a period of two years running shall be sus

-

pended from voting at the Congress until they have fullfilled thei

r

obligations in this respect .

VI. Finances

Art. 4

3

' The financial period of the Federation shall be four years and

Financia l

shall begin on 1 January preceding the final round of each FIF

A

World Cup

.

2

Intermediate balance sheets shall be drawn up on 31 Decembe

r

of every year

.

Art

. 4 4

' The Congress shall appoint a firm of chartered accountants to

Auditors

examine the accounts of the Federation after the accounts hav

e

been approved by the Finance Committee

. The appointment shal l

be for four years

.

1

The accountants

reports shall be submitted to the Congress

.

Art . 4 5

' Each national association shall pay a standard annual subscrip-

n

ptio n

tion

. This shall be due on 1 January each year

.

2 3


25/45

' The amount of the annual subscription shall be determined b

y

the Congress every four years following the recommendation o

f

the Executive Committee. It shall be the same for every nationa l

association

.

An association which has not paid its subscription by 1 April i n

any year shall automatically be suspended, unless it produces

a

valid reason which is acceptable to the Executive Committee . A

s

soon as the subscription has been paid, the suspension shall b e

lifted.

Art

. 4 6

Low

For every internationalmatch includingfriendlymatches,tour -

naments and all the matches of the Olympic Football Tournament

played between two national A

teams (cf

. Art. 4 2 of the Regu-

lations governing the Application of the Statutes) the association o

f

the country in which the match is being played shall pay the Feder-

ation a share of the gross receipts from the match

.

Minimum

z The amount due and method of payment shall be laid down i

n

contribution

the Regulations governing the Application of the Statutes of FIFA

.

These regulations shall also prescribe the amount representing th e

minimum contribution due to FIFA from the proceeds of matche s

subjected to a levy

.

conceder-

The confederations are authorised to levy share in addition t

o

ations'rigma

that demanded by FIFA. The amount and method of payment shal l

be regulated by their statutes, especially if the match in questio

n

involves two national teams from different confederations

.

VII

. Television and radio transmission s

Art

. 4

7

Television

'

FIFA, its member associations, confederations and clubs ow

n

and radio

rans-

the exclusive rights to broadcasts and transmissions of events

missions

coming under their respective jurisdiction via any audiovisual an

d

sound broadcasting media whatsoeverwhether live, deferred o

r

as excerpts .

' The Executive Committee shall decide on the use of the right

s

in accordance with the exisiting statutes and regulations of th

e

respective confederations .

a

The provisions for implementation of this article are contained i n

special regulations drawn up by the Executive Committee, whic

h

shall, in particular, settle the rights and obligations arising from th e

international use and broadcasting of televised pictures among th

e

owners of the rights and other national associations

.

2 4


26/45

VIII . Official languages

Art . 4 8

' The official languages of the Federation are English, French,

Officia

l

language

s

Spanish and German

. English is the standard language for th e

minutes, official correspondence and communications

.

' Each national association shall be responsible for its own trans

-

lation .

' English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic and Portu-

co

The

gree

e

guese are the official languages of the Congress . Translations shal

l

be made by interpreters officially accredited by the Executive Com -

mittee

. Delegates may address the Congress in their own lan -

guage, provided they arrange for their speeches to be translated

into one of the seven aforementioned languages

.

The Congress may dispense with any one of these seven lan

-

guages providing none of the delegates objects

.

5

Official decisions of the Congress or the Executive Committee

officia l

and communications from the general secretariat shall be issued in

decision

s

and state

.

each of the four official languages . m e n 's

a

In the case of any divergence in the interpretation of the French,

Authoritativ

e

Spanish or German translation of the Federation

'

s Statutes, regu-

text

lations, decisions or communications, the English text shall b e

regarded as authoritative

.

IX

. International competition

s

Art . 49

' The organisation of international competitions among teams

Organisatio n

representing national associations must be approved by the Exec-

internationa

l

utive Committee of the Federation .

competit ion s

The organisation of such competitions, the rules of which mus

t

be approved by the Federation, may be left to or delegated to th e

confederations

. These rules must contain provisions regarding dis-

ciplinary action and the levy due to the Federation in accordanc

e

with Art

. 46 of these Statutes

.

' International competitions among club teams and/or teams rep

-

resenting leagues must be approved by the Executive Committe

e

of the Federation, who may leave or delegate its responsibilities t

o

the confederations. The latter shall be responsible for ensuring tha t

such competitions do not conflict with national competitions o

f

affiliated associations

.

' The authorisation of the Executive Committee of the Federatio

n

is necessary for matches between representative teams of confed

-

erations (such as selected teams, champion teams) and repre -

2 5


27/45

sentative teams or club teams of another confederation

. Such

matches may not assume the status of a competition or champion -

ship without special permission from the Executive Committee o

f

the Federation .

e International matches organised between representativ

e

teams of national associations must be notified to the secretariat o

f

the Federation, once the date has been fixed .

Art

. 50

Final rounds

The venue of the final round of competitions organised by th e

of the

Federation's

Federation shall be designated by the Executive Committee so tha

t

competitions

the contests shall not be staged on the same continent on two

successive occasions

. Furthermore, the national associations se-

lected must be in a position to guarantee that the competition wil

l

be organised in accordance with the sports rules and financia

l

regulations governing it

.

' The regulations for the FIFA World Cup competitions mus t

provide for a certain amount of the entire gross receipts to b

e

reserved for development purposes

. They shall regulate the meth

-

od of payment and allocation .

Art

. 5

1

Prohibited

Affiliated associations and their clubs shall not be permitted t o

contacts

play matches or entertain other sports contacts with associations

which are not affiliated to FIFA or with clubs belonging to them

,

without the Federation's consent .

' Affiliated national associations and their clubs shall not be per

-

mitted to play matches against teams consisting of players who d

o

not belong to a club or league affiliated to a national association

.

' National associations shall not be allowed to form groups with

-

out special permission from the Federation .

MembersoftheFederationmaynotplaymatchesontheterrito-

ry of another national association without the consent of the latter

.

Art

. 5

2

Unauthorised

'Associations, leagues or clubs established within the territory o f

membershi p

prohibited

a national association affiliated to the Federation shall not be per-

mitted to become members of another national association withou

t

the approval of the Federation and the national association i

n

whose territory they were founded

.

2

Associations, leagues or clubs established within a territory o

r

country where there is no association affiliated to the Federatio n

shall not be permitted to become members of a national associ-

ation in another country without the consent of the Federation

.

2 6


28/45

X

. Suspensions and expulsion s

Art . 53

' Affiliated national associations shall recognise each other's sus-

suspension

s

pensions and expulsions

.

an

d

expulsion

s

z The Federation is bound by this article

.

9

Exceptions shall, however, be made in respect o

f

the special regulations governing the transfer of players

a suspension or expulsion imposed bya national association o

r

a confederation on a member of a committee or subcommitte

e

of FIFA.

Art

. 54

A national association which is involved in a dispute with the

occur

s

confederation of which it is a member mayappeal at any time to the

n

o a t b n a l

n o

Federation to intervene

.

associatio

n

and

a

canfeder -

stio

n

XI

. Players' statu s

Art

. 5

5

' Players of national associations affiliated to the Federation shall

Players

either be amateur or non-amateur

.

statu s

1

The definitions and other provisions governing the status and

s

e i a l ions

transfer of players shall be contained in special regulations draw

n

up by the Executive Committee

.

XII . Laws of the Gam e

Art . 5 6

' Each member of the Federation shall play association football

the am

e

according to the Laws of the Game laid down by the Internationa

l

Football Association Board, which alone has full authority to alte

r

them

.

z The function of this Board is governed by special regulations .

Specia

l

XIII . Disputes

Art

. 57

' National associations, clubs or club members shall not be per-

setaman

t

ofdisputes

mitted to refer disputes with the Federation or other associations,

interdictio

n

clubs or club members to a court of law and they shall agree t

o

submit each one of such disputes to an arbitration tribunal appoint

-

ed by common consent

.

27


29/45

s The national associations must, in order to give effect to th

e

aforegoing, insert a clause in their statutes by which their clubs an

d

members shall not be permitted to take a dispute to courts of la

w

but shall be required to submit any disagreement to the jurisdictio

n

of the association or to an arbitration tribunal .

a Even if the law of a country allows clubs or club members t

o

contest at a civil court any decisions pronounced by sports bodies ,

clubs or club members shall refrain from doing so until all th

e

possibilities of sports jurisdiction within, or under the responsibilit

y

of, their national association have been exhausted

. The nationa l

associations shall ensure, as fares they can competently do so, tha

t

their clubs and club members observe this obligation and that they

are aware of the consequences of disregarding it (cf

. 2 and 6) .

In the event of disagreement between two or several associations

which are unable to agree on the composition of the arbitratio n

tribunal, the Executive Committee shall have the right to decide . This

decision shall be final and binding upon the associations concerned

.

Imple

.

National associations, clubs or club members shall adher e

meNa[ionof

decisions

strict)Yto the decisionstakenb

thecompetent bodies in respect o f

disputes in accordance with the terms of the foregoing paragraphs

.

senctiens

'Any breach of the aforementioned provisions shall be sanc-

tioned in accordance with the FIFA List of Disciplinary Measure s

(cf . Art . 38) . Any club which contravenes the terms outlined abov

e

may be sanctioned by being suspended from all international activ -

ity (official competitions and friendly matches) in addition to receiv

-

ing a ban on all international matches (involving national associ-

ations and clubs) played in its stadium

.

Special ease

Disputes regarding the transfer and eligibility of players shall b e

settled in accordance with the procedure laid down in Art

. 32 of

these Statutes

.

XIV.

Resignations

Art

. 5

8

Resignation

A national association wishing to resign from the Federatio

n

must notify FIFA of such resignation by registered letter . This

intimation of resignation shall, however, only be recognised if it i

s

confirmed by another registered letter within three months o f

receipt of the first. The association concerned shall continue to b e

considered as a member of FIFA until the second letter has bee n

received .

gCon

e- '

A national association whose intimation of resignation has bee n

accepted, shall lose its status as member and all the privilege

s

conferred by the Federation .

2 8


30/45

' A

request for resignation shall only be accepted when the

condifon

s

association has settled all its financial obligations towards the Fed-

eration and its members

.

XV. Expulsion of national association

s

Art

. 5 9

' A national association may forfeit its membership with the

m

Loss of

embershi

p

Federation

:

(a) for non-payment of dues or other debts to FIFA

;

e

Federation

;

(c)

for any grave dishonour to FIFA or any national associatio

n

affiliated to FIFA

;

(d) by ceasing to have the real status of a national football associ-

ation in its own country

.

z The expulsion of a national association may only be decreed b

y

the Congress

. For such a decis ion to be val id, the C ongress must b

e

attended by an absolute majority of the national associations affil

-

iated to FIFA, which have not forfeited their right to vote for an

y

reason at the time of the Congress, and the decision must b

e

passed by a majority of three-fourths of the votes recorded

.

XVI

.

Final provisions

Art

. 6

0

' Any matters not provided for under these Statutes or cases of

tttl

rot

force

majeure

shall be settled by the Executive Committee, whos

e

decisions shall be final

.

Decisions in matters of legislation shall not become operative

st

o

bservatio

n

until they have been approved by the Congress

.

Art

. 6 1

Every activity of the bodies and committees shall be subject t

o

strict observation of the Statutes and regulations of the Federation

.

Art . 62

In the event of the dissolution of the Federation, its funds shall

Dissolutio n

not be distributed

. They shall be transferred to the supreme court o

f

the country in which the headquarters are situated, which shall

29


31/45

invest them in gilt-edged securities until the re-establishment of th

e

Federation

.

Art. 6

3

These Statutes were adopted by the FIFA Congress in Rome o

n

6 June 1990 and amended by the FIFA Congress in Zurich on 3 Jul

y

1992

. They supersede those dated 28/29 September 1961 an

d

come into force as laid down in Art . 17

.

Zurich, 3 July 199

2

ON BEHALF OF THE FIFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTE E

President :

General Secretary

:

Dr Joo Havelange Joseph S Blatter

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REGULATIONS GOVERNIN G

THE APP LIC ATION OF THE STATU TES

1

. Application for affiliation

to FIFA

Art . 1

Any association wishing to become affiliated to FIFA shall apply

Applicatio n

to the Fdration Internationale de Football Association

. The Exec-

foratfillatlo

n

provisiona

l

utive Committee of FIFA may grant provisional affiliation immedi-

affiliatio n

tey

Art

.

z

' The Executive Committee may, before granting provisional affil-

`ontsaeo

-

iation to the prospective association, request the confederation to

associat

e

which the association geographically belongs to grant it the status

member

s

of associate member of that confederation for a period of tw o

years.

Once these two years have elapsed, the confederation concerne

d

shall supply FIFA with a detailed report on the organisation of th e

association

.

t

Based on this report and the documents mentioned in Art

. 4 o

f

the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Executive Committee shall decid

e

whether to grant the association concerned provisional affiliation

.

Art

. 3

The subsequent FIFA Congress shall decide whether to grant

definitive affiliation or not (cf. Art . 13 (i) of the FIFA Statutes)

.

II . Definition, announcement and registration of matche

s

Art

. 4

' International football matches recognised by the Federation

Internationa

l

matche

s

shall be those between two national associations affiliated to th

e

Federation and for which each association fields a representativ

e

national team

.

z An international A match shall be a match that has been

Internationa l

A matches

arranged between two national associations affiliated to the Feder

-

ation and for which both associations field their first national repre

-

sentative team .

The terms used to define a match shall be those recognised a

s

giving an appropriate political and geographical description of th

e

countries or territories within the national associations whose

3

1


33/45

teams are involved in the match and over which countries o

r

territories they have sole control and jurisdiction

.

If a national association allows one of its leagues to choose

a

team which bears the name of its country, the match shall b

e

considered an international match as described in the aforemen-

tioned

Q

Art

. 5

note

ms

An nterclub match shall be a match played between two clubs .

Although the clubs may belong to different national associations

such a match shall not be recognised as an international match (cf .

Art. 4 1) .

Interleague

An interleague match shall be a match played between tw o

matches

leagues. Although the leagues may belong to different nationa

l

associations, such a match shall not be recognised as an interna

-

tional match (cf

. Art

. 4 7), subject to the provision of Art . 4 4

above

.

Art

.

6

International

'

Every international A match (cf . Art

. 4 2) including friendl

y

A matche

s

-notification

matches and those played in tournaments or in games comprising

football shall be made known to the Federatio

n

'

s general secretar-

iat by the national associations organising them within 14 days o f

their being held. In any case, such notification must reach th

e

Federation at least 48 hours before the planned date of the match .

Sanctions s

Failure to give notification of a match within this prescribe d

period shall incur a fine of SFr. 1,000 to be paid to the Federation

.

Failure to provide any notification whatsoever shall incur a fine of

SFr

. 2,000. These fines shall be paid within 10 days of receipt of the

Federation's decision .

Art

. 7

International

The Secretary of the national association on whose territory th

e

A meeport

match is being played shall, within 14days of each international A

match, notify the Federation's general secretariat of the result o f

the match, the surnames and first name of the referee and lines

-

men who officiated and the surnames, first names and status of th

e

players and substitutes of each team, using the official form for thi

s

purpose

. This form shall be filled in completely and signed

.

Sanctions

If the aforementioned form is sent in belatedly, a fine of SFr

. 10

0

shall be paid to the Federation

. If the form is not sent in at all, th

e

amount of the fine due shall be SFr

. 1,000, payab le within 10 days o

f

3 2


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receipt of the Federation's decision

. In case of repeated dilato-

riness the amount of the fine may be increased by the Executiv

e

Committee

.

Art. 8

t Every international A match (cf

. Art

. 4 2) shall be recorded

Official lis

t

with its results on an official list kept up to date by the Federation

.

2

Such a match shall, however, not be registered on the officia l

list of international matches involving two affiliated national associ-

ations if either of the associations so desires and informs th

e

Federation and the other association to this effect at least 48 hour

s

before the match takes place

. The levy due to the Federation fo

r

nternational

A

matches in virtue of Art

. 4641 o f the Fl FA Statute s

must still be paid in such a case

.

III

. Interclub and interleague matches

Art

. 9

No interclub or interleague matches between teams from dif-

intemlub and

ferent national associations shall be played without the express

intedeagu

e

nawhes-

authorisation of the national associations concerned . The national

authorisation

associations shall include a provision in their regulations stipulatin g

at what point of time the clubs are required to seek authorisation

and, in addition, the sanctionsto be imposed if this rule is breached

.

2

A club with headquarters near a frontier shall be permitted t o

play another club located near the frontier of the adjoining country i

f

notice of 24 hours has been given to the two national associations

concerned .

a A national association shall inform the national association

s

concerned of every match which it knows has been arranged an

d

played in their area of jurisdiction and for which permission wa

s

either not sought or given

.

4

Scratch teams consisting of players not belonging to the sam

e

club or association shall not be permitted to play clubs or team

s

representing associations unless approval has been granted by th

e

national associations concerned, by the Federation and by th e

opposing team .

IV. Tournaments

Art . 1 0

All tournaments involving more than two local or national teams

Toumamem s

(clubs or representative teams) which belong to different national

00

0 m

s

associations must be approved by the Federation

.

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2

The request for approval shall be submitted by the nationa

l

association in whose country the tournament is planned at leas

t

two months before the earliest of the planned dates.

3

The request for approval shall be accompanied by a list of th e

teams who are planning to take part in the tournament and th e

tournament regulations drawn up by the organising body

.

Sanctions

4

If a tournament is played on the territory of a national associ-

ation without prior permission, the national association in questio

n

shall be fined an amount of at least SFr

. 3 ,000 by the Federat ion an d

may be subject to more serious sanctions in the event of anothe r

type of violation (such as the participation of a team from a nationa l

association which has been suspended)

.

V

. Financial arrangement

s

Art

. 1 1

Levy

The levy to be paid to the Federation for each match playe

d

between two national'A'teams (cf

. Art

. 46 1 of the FIFA Statutes) ,

including the matches played in tournaments or in games compris

-

ing football (except forjunior tournaments) shall amount to 2% (tw

o

per cent) .

caic.narnn

z The amount shall be based on the gross receipts (ticket sales

,

advertising rights, rights for television and radio broadcasts, an

d

film and video rights etc

.) derived from matches subject to levies .

Deductions

3

The only deductions that shall be made from the gross incom e

are state or local taxes actually paid (but not bank charges o r

differences in exchange rates) and any charges for the hire of th e

stadium.

The amount of deductions shall not exceed 30% of the entire gross

income .

confodor-

National associations affiliated to a recognised confederatio

n

ethane

are governed by the provisions of 1 of this article subject to th

e

following conditions :

(a)

the levy due to the Federation in respect of matches played o

n

the territory of a confederation between national associations

belonging to that confederation is only 1 %, the remaining 1

%

being payable directly to the confederation involved

;

(b)

the 2% levy due in respect of matches played between nationa

l

associations affiliated to different confederations, on the territo

-

ry of one of these confederations, is payable to the Federation

which will retrocede 'h% to each of the confederations in

-

volved .

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36/45

Art. 1 2

' For each match subject to a levy a detailed statement of account

astattement of

oun t

shall be drawn up by the national association of the country in which

the match has been played

.

2

This statement shall contain all the requisite figures reflectin

g

the entire income and anytaxes or charges deducted therefrom (cf

.

Art . 11 3) .

a The statement of account and the amount due from the levy

paymen

t

shall be sent to the Federation within 60 days of the date the matc

h

was held .

4

Failure to conform with these requirements shall be punished

sanction s

nder Art

. 42 of the FIFA

Statutes.

Art

. 1

3

Whatever the financial outcome of the match, the minimum

Minimu m

contributio n

contribution to be paid to FIFA is SFr

. 500 (cf

. Art . 46 2 o f the FIFA

Statutes)

.

VI

. Special provision

s

Art. 1 4

A club affiliated to one of the Federation

s associations may no

t

be a source of profit for its officials or for those who have lent fund

s

to it, whatever the status of its players

.

Art

. 1

5

Any person receiving remuneration in virtue of a contract from a

national association or one of its clubs shall not be entitled to accept

work in return for remuneration with another association at th

e

same time.

V II

. Match agents and players

'

agents

Art

. 1 6

' The employment of agents or intermediaries in the arrange-

Match

ment of matches shall be permitted

.

x Agents or intermediaries who arrange matches between team

s

from the same confederation must be officially recognised by th

e

confederation in question.

3

Agents or intermediaries who arrange matches between teams

peda

legulation

s

belonging to different confederations must possess an agent'

s

licence issued by FIFA

. The FIFA Executive Committee shall dra

w

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37/45

up regulations governing the award of this licence and the concom

-

itant rights and responsibilities

.

' FIFA shall be entitled to intervene to enforce the agreement

s

concluded between agents or intermediaries and teams with whic

h

they are contractually bound only in the following cases

:

(a)

if the match or tournament at the source of the dispute involve

s

teams from different confederations

;

(b)

if the agent or intermediary in question holds a FIFA licence.

Art. 1 7

Players'

'

The use of agents or other intermediaries in the transfer o f

agents

players is prohibited .

' The Executive Committee shall, however, if it deems neces-

sary, draw up stringent regulations authorising the licensing of

players

agents under certain conditions

.

VIII

. Nationality of player

s

Art

. 1

8

Eligibility for

Any player who is a naturalised citizen of a country in virtue o f

nationa

l

teams

that country

'

s laws shall be eligible to play for a national or repre

-

sentative team of that country .

z If a player ha s be en included in a national or representative tea m

of a country for which he is eligible to play pursuant to 1, he shal l

not be permitted to take part in an international match for anothe

r

country

.

' The only players exempt from this provision are those whose

nationality has been changed not voluntarily but as the result of a n

international decree either granting independence to a region o

r

ceding part of one country to another

.

IX

. Suspended players and disciplinary measures within

the

competence of the national association

s

Art . 1

9

' Any disciplinary measures required as a result of incidents tha

t

have occurred at international friendly matches, internationa l

friendly tournaments and interclub friendly matches (cf

. Art

. 4,

5

and 20 to 22) shall come under the jurisdiction of the nationa

l

association to which the player, the official or the club to be sanc-

tioned belongs

.

' National associations shall apply the List of Disciplinary Mea

-

sures drawn up by the Executive Committee (cf

. Art

. 38 2 of th

e

Statutes) and comply with Art

. 20 to 22 below

.

3 6


38/45

3

The following cases shall be exempt from the foregoing clauses

:

serious infringements, inwhich case theFIFA Disciplinary Com

-

mittee shall be entitled to intervene on its own initiative

;

cases whereby a national association expressly requests the

FIFA Disciplinary Committee to intervene.

The following sanctions shall be final in respect of every deci-

sion passed in accordance with the terms of this article

:

(a)

cautions and censures imposed on players, officials or clubs ;

(b )

the suspension (up to three matches) of players or disqual

-

ification (up to three months) of officials or clubs

;

(c ) fines imposed on players and officials (for amounts up to SFr

.

10,000) or clubs (for amounts up to SFr

. 3 0,000)

.

Art

. 2

0

' Aplayerwho has been sentoff duringan international match(cf

.

D i s s c c i p l m e a s

o

Art

. 4 t) shall remain automatically suspended from all future internationa l

matches until either the national association to whom the player

matche

s

belongs or, in the case of a tournament, the appropriate Disciplinar

y

Committee, if existent, has imposed the necessary sanctions

.

z A Disciplinary Committee which is operative during a tourna -

ment shall only be entitled to prohibits playerwho has been sent of

f

from playing in the matches in that tournament

. If more severe

sanctions are necessary, they shall be imposed by the nationa

l

association to which the player belongs

.

s If any disciplinary measures (expulsions, cautions etc

.) have

been imposed by a referee during an international match (cf

. Art

. 4

1), the national association under whose jurisdiction the matc

h

was played shall send a copy of the refere

e s report (cf

. Art

. 24 1

)

to the national association of the offending player

. The latter nation

-

al association shall inform both the national association unde

r

whose jurisdiction the match was played and the FIFA genera

l

secretariat what measures have been taken against the playe r

concerned

.

Any disciplinary measures that need to be taken with regard t

o

expulsions or cautions imposed during international matches orga

-

nised by FIFA are solely within the competence of the Federation

.

Art . 2

1

' If an expulsion has been imposed by a referee during an in-

Dlsciplm

w

terclub match (cf

. Art

. 5) involving clubs from different national

ne.s resa

t

leml

.b

associations, the association in whose country the match was

matche

s

played shall inform the other association immediately of the ex

-

pulsion

.

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z The national association to whom the offending player belong s

FIFA Statutes - 1992

Documents

Transcript of FIFA Statutes - 1992