The regulatory statute for the Second Division League Competition 2026-2027 addresses provisions related to the application of laws and the rights and duties of the concerned parties, including the federation, clubs, and players. Thirty-two clubs participate, divided into two groups, with a mechanism for replacing clubs that abstain from participation. The regulation defines the competition system, technical procedures, match costs, and awards, and the decisions of the federation's Board of Dire...
Without prejudice to the provisions of this Regulation; the provisions contained in the Regulation of Competitions and Championships shall apply to all matters not addressed in this Regulation.
Any reference to the Federation's Charter or any of its regulations shall be a reference to those systems and regulations in force at the time of application.
This Regulation stipulates the rights, duties, and responsibilities of the Federation, clubs, officials, and players in the competition.
This Regulation, along with all decisions, instructions, and circulars approved by the Federation's Board of Directors related to the competition, shall be binding on all persons subject to this Regulation.
The Federation shall organize and manage the competition and shall handle the commercial, marketing, and media affairs of the competition in accordance with the Federation's Charter, the Regulation of Competitions and Championships, this Regulation, and other Federation regulations.
Chapter 2: Participation, Competition Law
Article 2: Participation
Thirty-two (32) clubs participate in the competition, divided into two groups, each group comprising sixteen (16) clubs.
The Committee shall determine the clubs eligible to participate in the competition in accordance with the mechanism stipulated in the relevant federation regulations.
In the event of approval to increase or decrease the number of clubs in the competition, the Committee shall issue its decision regarding the implementation mechanism and the commencement of its effect.
In the event of a club's withdrawal due to force majeure, or before the official competition schedule is issued, the following shall apply:
1/4 If the withdrawing club is one of the clubs promoted to the competition, the club next in ranking shall be promoted.
2/4 If the withdrawing club is one of the competition clubs or one of the clubs relegated from the competition, the highest-ranked club among the relegated clubs in the group stage shall participate.
Subject to the sanctions stipulated in the Discipline and Ethics Regulations regarding a club's withdrawal or abstention after the official competition schedule is issued, the subparagraphs of paragraph (4) of this article shall apply to the mechanism for selecting a replacement club for the withdrawing club from this competition.
Article 3: Competition Law
Chapter 3: Technical Procedures
Article 4: Suspension Due to Warnings (Yellow Cards) and Expulsion (Red Cards)
1/1: If a player or official receives (4) four warnings in different matches within the competition; they shall be automatically suspended from participating in the next match.
2/1: If a player or official is sent off with a red card (direct or indirect dismissal); they shall be automatically suspended from participating in the next match unless a decision is issued by the Discipline and Ethics Committee specifying the details of the penalty.
In the event of cancellation, replay, or non-completion of any match; the relevant articles in the Discipline and Ethics Regulations concerning warnings and dismissals shall apply.
Each club shall be responsible for monitoring the number of warnings and dismissals of its players and officials and ensuring their eligibility to participate in matches.
If any player or official transfers or is loaned to another club, they shall retain their record of yellow and red cards during the competition matches.
The remaining provisions contained in the Discipline and Ethics Regulations shall apply in this regard, including but not limited to: the mechanism for transferring cards between different competitions, and the mechanism for transferring cards from one season to another.
Chapter 4: Team Roster
Article 5: Eligibility of Players
Each club must register no fewer than (16) sixteen players and no more than (25) twenty-five players in the team list, through the Federation's electronic system (MySAFF), taking into account the conditions related to the ages and numbers of players in accordance with paragraph (4) of Article (30) of the Competitions and Championships Regulations.
Each club may include any player classified in the rosters of lower divisions than the first team grade in each match of the competition, whether they are Saudi, foreign, born locally, professional, or amateur (with no upper limit), provided that the number of foreigners or locally born players does not exceed the allowed limit in the championship list as stated in paragraph (1) of this article.
Participation in the goalkeeper position in the championship is limited to Saudi players only, from the start of the match until its end, including – but not limited to – cases of substitutions, goalkeeper dismissal or injury during the match, and the unavailability of substitutions for the team.
The number of substitute players in the match list shall be a minimum of (5) five players and a maximum of (9) nine players.