The following terms and expressions shall wherever used herein have the meanings set out opposite thereto. A reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa words importing the masculine shall include the feminine and vice versa unless the context requires otherwise.

• Kingdom: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

• SAFF: Saudi Arabian Football Federation

• SAFF Chairman: Chairman of SAFF Board of Directors

• Board: SAFF Board of Directors

• Statutes & Regulations: Statutes, regulations, circulars and other directives issued by SAFF and Sports Associations along with the Laws of the Game

• Laws of the Game: Laws issued by the International Football Association Board (IFAB)

• Code: SAFF Disciplinary and Ethics Code

• Committee: The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee having jurisdiction to apply the sanctions provided for herein.

• Appeal Committee: The Committee having jurisdiction to consider appeals against non-final decisions passed by the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.

• SSAC: Saudi Sports Arbitration Center

• Organizing Body: SAFF Secretariat General and competent committees or representative branches thereof in various regions, that organize, issue and follow up implementation of match schedules or any authority, association or body authorized by SAFF.

• Association: An organization or authority having a financially, administratively and organizationally independent juristic personality, and operating under the auspices of SAFF.

• Secretariat General: SAFF Administrative Authority.

• Club: A sports establishment or company having an independent legal personality, and officially licensed by the General Sports Authority and approved by SAFF.

• Game: Football

• Tournaments and Competitions: Official and friendly matches organized by SAFF, any Organizing Body, association or authority authorized by SAFF. 

• Referee: All persons acting as referees to manage football matches and their assistants and officially approved by SAFF and recorded in the records thereof.

• Match Commissioner: The person appointed by SAFF to handle match administrative issues such as registering players in the match statement, and reviewing the cards of players to verify their identities during, before and after the match.

• Referee Assessor: The person appointed by SAFF Main Referee Committee to technically assess the performance of referees during official and friendly matches according to the Laws of the Game.

• Technical Staff Member: Every person recorded in the match official statements as a member of the technical or medical staff.

• General Coordinator: The person appointed by the Association to take over the organizational and coordinating matters and assist the Match Officials and Match Commissioners in their tasks.

• Media Coordinator: The person appointed by the Association to assume the media matters of the Match and to organize and supervise the procedures for press conferences, the mixed zone and TV interviews.

• Player: A professional or amateur football player recorded in the statements of the SAFF affiliated club.

• Offenses: Deeds and acts penalized under this Code.

• Sanctions: The sanctions prescribed against whomever commits any of the offenses provided for herein.

• Attempt: When a person proceeds with an offending act but could not conclude it.

• Foul Play: The use of excessive force or brutality against an opponent when challenging for the ball when it is in play.

• Offensive Conduct: The use of excessive force or brutality against an opponent when there is no challenge for the ball. This offense may be directed to a team-mate, spectator, match referee or any other person within or outside the confines of the field of play. This conduct may be made by any person other than players according to this Code.

• Infield: The area including the football playground and surrounding seats for technical and administrative staffs and players, track and dressing room corridors.

• Outfield: The area starting from stands and extending to outer fences of the stadium.

• Pre-Match: The time between the arrival of administrative and technical staff and players to the confines of the stadium and the kick-off whistle.

• During the Match: The time from the match kick-off till final whistle.

• Post-Match: The time from the final whistle till the players and officials have departed from the confines of the stadium.

• International Match: A match held between two teams from two different federations.

• Official Match: A match held under the auspices of SAFF or the Organizing Body of all teams and clubs controlled thereby. The said match’s result affects the right to participate in other competitions unless the relevant regulations provide otherwise.

• Friendly Match: A match organized by SAFF, a club, Organizing Body, or another person between teams selected for such occasion that may be affiliated to different federations and the result affects said match only or the competition in question.

• Officers: Any person other than players performing a footballrelated activity at SAFF, any authority, club or association irrespective of the term or type of their office (administrative, sports, media or otherwise) including administrative, technical and medical staff, assistant staff, advisors, intermediaries, board members, club honorary members, SAFF employees such as members of the Board and committees, contracting and cooperating members, SAFF Secretariat General in addition to the authorities and associations affiliated to SAFF; etc.

• Match Official: The referee, linesmen, fourth official, match commissioner, referee assessor, match coordinator, persons in charge of protection and any other persons appointed by SAFF or the Organizing Body to assume any match-related responsibility.

• Match Official List: The list includes names of the starting and substitute players and officials who are participating in the match and are authorized to sit on the bench and be present inside the stadium.

• Sports Season: The period during which competitions, tournaments and official and friendly matches organized and determined by SAFF and sports associations are held.

• Fine: An amount paid in Saudi Riyal to SAFF account.

• Person: A natural or juristic person such as players, officials, clubs or else bound by the provisions of this Code.

This Code aims to:

• 1- Define breaches of SAFF statutes, regulations, circulars and resolutions;

• 2- Determine the applicable sanctions; and regulate the organization and functions of the committees in charge of decision-making as well as the actions to be taken by said committees;

• 3- Enhance principles of sports spirit, good competition, fair play and good manners confirming the importance of respect and application of football regulatory and legal bases and rules and compliance of football practitioners and affiliates with utmost degrees of integrity, honesty, honor and goodness; and

• 4- Maintain the good image of Saudi sports in general and football in particular by ensuring effective and proper deterrence of any improper act.

This Code applies to:

• 1- Every official match organized by SAFF or the Organizing Body;

• 2- Every friendly match organized after obtaining the consent of SAFF or the Organizing Body;

• 3- Any competition or tournament organized by SAFF or the Organizing Body;

• 4- Any breach of the objectives of this Code and the rules thereof;

• 5- Any physical or other injury suffered by a match official;

• 6- Any other football-related act not directly linked to a specific match;

• 7- Any act made by a person bound by this Code that is irrelevant to football and contrary to sports behavior and ethics; and

• 8- Any breach of SAFF statutes, objectives or resolutions or those of the Organizing Body or the Association that does not fall within the jurisdiction of any other committee.

1- The provisions of this Code shall apply to:

• 1-1 Clubs;

• 1-2 Officials;

• 1-3 Players;

• 1-4 Match referees, assessors, match commissioners and coordinators (Match Officials);

• 1-5 Match spectators at the stadium;

• 1-6 Authorized match agents and intermediaries;

• 1-7 Any person legally authorized by SAFF for a specific or unspecific duty especially in relation to any match, competition or any other event;

• 1-8 Any person who engages in a football-related sports activity and whose registration procedures have not been completed/fulfilled, or who was not registered when he committed the offense; and

• 1-9 Any other categories relevant to football that the Committee sees that they are bound by the provisions of this Code.

2- In the event that an individual bound by this Code ceases to serve in his function for any reason prior to or during proceedings, the Committee shall remain competent to render a decision according to the Code. The Committee may further suspend or proceed with proceedings according to the case heard before it.

This Code shall apply to all competitions, tournaments and official and friendly matches held under the supervision of SAFF or the Organizing Body within or outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

1- This Code applies to persons provided for under Article (4) thereof whether the offense occurred before, during or after the match.

2- This Code applies to every offense that occurred after this Code has come into force.

3- This Code applies to offenses committed before this Code comes into force and are still pending provided that the new sanction is lighter than the sanction provided for on the date of the offense.