The following words and phrases wherever they appear in this Regulation shall have the meanings indicated opposite each of them, and the reference to the singular shall apply to the plural and vice versa, unless the context requires otherwise:

• Kingdom: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Ministry: Ministry of Sport.
• Association: Executive Administration of the First Division Professional Clubs Association (FDL).
• President of the Association: Chairman of the Board of Directors of the First Division Professional Clubs Association.
• Board of Directors: Board of Directors of the First Division Professional Clubs Association.
• Federation: Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).
• Charter: Charter of the First Division Professional Clubs Association.
• Competitions Committee: Competitions Committee of the First Division Professional Clubs Association.
• Regulation: Regulatory Regulation for the First Division Professional Clubs League Competition.
• Disciplinary and Ethics Committee: Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
• Sports Arbitration Center: Saudi Sports Arbitration Center.
• FIFA: Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
• AFC: Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
• Laws of the Game: The laws issued by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
• Club: A sports institution or company with a legal personality officially licensed by the Ministry of Sport and accredited by the Federation and the Association.
• Player: A player registered with any club affiliated with the Federation and the Association who is eligible to register and participate in the competition.
• Electronic System: (SPLIS) An intelligent electronic system for managing competition matches through which player and official lists are registered, referee and observer reports are created, match results are entered, and which is accessible to all relevant parties.
• Referee: The person appointed by the Federation to referee and manage the match and his assisting team in its management, officially accredited by the Federation or the federation of his country and registered in its records, including the main referee, first assistant referee, second assistant referee, fourth official, and the referees responsible for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
• Referee Assessor: The person appointed by the Federation to evaluate the referees’ technical performance during the match according to the Laws of the Game.
• Match Observer: The person appointed by the Association to handle the administrative matters of the match, including registering players on the match sheet, applying cards to players and officials, verifying their identities, recording disciplinary violations, and other procedures before, during, and after the match.
• General Match Coordinator: The person appointed by the Association to handle organizational and coordination matters and assist match officials and observers in their tasks.
• Match Media Coordinator: The person appointed by the Association to handle the media affairs of the match and organize procedures related to press conferences, mixed zones, television interviews, and supervise them.
• Inside the Stadium: The area that includes the green rectangle (pitch) and the surrounding seating areas for the technical and administrative staff, players, track, and corridors leading to the changing rooms.
• Outside the Stadium: The area starting from the end of the inside of the stadium up to the external fences of the stadium, including but not limited to parking lots, fan gathering areas, internal and external gates, restrooms, and restaurants.
• Before the Match: The time between the arrival of players and officials to the stadium premises and the whistle signaling the start of the match.
• During the Match: The time between the whistle signaling the start of the match and the whistle signaling its end.
• After the Match: The time between the whistle signaling the end of the match and the departure of players and officials from the stadium premises.
• Official: Any person other than players who engages in football-related activities with the Federation, or any body, club, or association, regardless of his position, duration, or type of activity (administrative, sporting, media, or any other activity), including administrative, technical, medical staff, assistant employees, consultants, agents, professional managers, as well as members of boards of directors, honorary members of clubs, Federation affiliates including board members, committees, contractors, collaborators, and the Federation’s General Secretariat, in addition to bodies and associations affiliated with the Federation and others.
• Match Official: The referee, assistant referees, fourth official, VAR referees, match observer, referee assessor, match coordinator, match media coordinator, security personnel, and any other persons appointed by the Federation or the Association to perform responsibilities related to the match.
• Persons Subject to the Regulation: Clubs, club officials, players, match officials, licensed media, commercial, and organizational entities.
• Sporting Season: The time period during which the competition is held according to the match schedule, starting from the first official match of the competition and ending with the last official match of the competition.
• Identification Card: A card or its equivalent issued by the Association granting its holder the right to be present inside the stadium.
• Starting Match List: The list including the names of the starting players, substitutes, and officials participating in the match who are entitled to sit on the bench and be present inside the stadium.
• Official List of Officials: The list including the names of the official representatives of the club during the season who are entitled to register on the starting match list.
• Host Club: The club playing the match on its home ground and whose name appears first in the match schedule.
• Guest Club: The club playing the match away from home and whose name appears second in the match schedule.
• Competition: First Division Professional Clubs League.
• Promotion Playoff Matches: A system of matches determining the holder of the third promotion slot to the higher division, which is an integral part of the competition.
• Champion: The club that obtains first place in the final standings of the competition.
• Refusal to Play an Official Match: When a club refuses to play an official match before the start of the match.
• Withdrawal from Playing an Official Match: When a club withdraws from an official match during the match.
• Pitch: The area including the green rectangle described in Law No. (1) of the Laws of the Game issued by the International Football Association Board.
• Force Majeure: Any unexpected and uncontrollable emergency event that leads to the suspension, prevention, or postponement of a match or competition, including but not limited to weather conditions, floodlight failure, flight conditions, or any other circumstances of similar nature.
• Match Schedule: The competition match schedule issued by the Competitions Committee specifying the dates, times, and stadiums where the competition matches are played.
• Local License: A certificate granted by the licensing authority confirming that the license applicant meets the minimum criteria of all club licensing standards, as part of the procedures for joining the Saudi Professional League or the First Division League.
• Licensing Authority: The entity that manages the First Division Club Licensing System and grants licenses to applicants in accordance with the First Division Club Licensing Regulations.
• Association Website: www.fdl.sa

1. The Association is competent in the following matters:

• 1/1 Organizing and managing the competition.
• 2/1 Organizing and managing the commercial and marketing rights of the competition.
• 3/1 Organizing and managing the media matters and procedures of the competition.
• 4/1 Appointing the match observer, the general coordinator, and the media coordinator for each match.
• 5/1 Issuing identification cards.
• 6/1 Providing the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Federation with reports on cases involving disciplinary violations.
• 7/1 Covering travel, transportation, accommodation, subsistence, and all other expenses related to match observers, coordinators, and media coordinators.
• 8/1 Selecting and providing the official football for the competition matches.
• 9/1 Proposing suggestions for the development of the competition.
• 10/1 Any other responsibilities and competences stipulated in this regulation.

2. The Federation is competent in the following matters:

• 1/2 Approving player registrations in accordance with the Professionalism and Players’ Status Regulation of the Federation and FIFA, during the summer and/or winter transfer windows approved by the Federation after completing all regulatory procedures, provided that this approval is done through the SPLIS electronic system.
• 2/2 Reviewing and adjudicating disciplinary cases through the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulation.
• 3/2 Appointing referees and referee assessors for each match.
• 4/2 Covering travel, transportation, accommodation, subsistence, and all other expenses related to match referees and referee assessors.

The Competitions Committee is competent in the following:

• 1. Approving the competition calendar, its match schedule, venues, dates, and making amendments when necessary.
• 2. Approving the results of the competition matches.
• 3. Deciding on cases related to the suspension of matches or their non-occurrence due to force majeure, and consulting the competent authorities when needed.
• 4. Approving the final standings of the competition and any other sports arrangements not within the jurisdiction of other committees.
• 5. Proposing any suggestions aimed at developing the competition and submitting them to the Executive Director for presentation to the Board of Directors for study and decision-making.
• 6. Any other competence assigned to it under this regulation or other regulations of the association or the federation.

1. Each club participating in this competition shall commit to the following:

• 1/1 Observing all obligations stipulated in the statutes of the federation and the association, and all regulations, decisions, instructions, and circulars issued by the association and/or the federation.
• 2/1 Adhering to and complying with the laws of the game as stipulated by the International Football Federation Council and published by the International Football Federation.
• 3/1 Accepting that all administrative, disciplinary, and arbitration matters related to the competition are resolved by the federation and/or the association in accordance with the regulations governing each of them according to their jurisdiction.
• 4/1 Full commitment to all contracts signed by the association related to the competition with any party.
• 5/1 Acknowledging the jurisdiction of the Sports Arbitration Tribunal.
• 6/1 Committing to observe the prescribed percentage of seats allocated to the fans affiliated with each club in the match, which is (70% for the host club and 30% for the guest club), unless the two teams involved in the match agree otherwise.
• 7/1 The host club shall grant the association (10) tickets of the highest category, and (50) unified tickets, in each match held on its ground.
• 8/1 The host club shall grant (4) seats of the highest category to the members of the Saudi First National Team and the Saudi Olympic National Team, in each match held on its ground, upon their desire to attend the match.
• 9/1 Observing the principles of fair play and sportsmanship.
• 10/1 Preventing unauthorized persons from being present inside the stadium and changing rooms.
• 11/1 Bearing responsibility for the conduct of its players, the responsibility of its supporters, and any person representing the club throughout the competition.
• 12/1 Ensuring that none of its players or officials participate in any activity that may harm or affect integrity.
• 13/1 Submitting the starting lineup and the official list of officials in accordance with the procedures and times stipulated in this regulation.
• 14/1 Accepting all arrangements approved by the association and/or the federation.
• 14/1 Attending and participating in all official activities and events, including but not limited to any technical or organizational meetings, press conferences, media and marketing activities, and celebrations in accordance with the instructions issued by the association.
• 15/1 Providing statistics, photos of players and officials affiliated with the club, and any other data requested by the association within the specified period.
• 16/1 In the event of an official awards ceremony held by the association or any other party approved by it, all selected players and officials must attend the ceremony, and the club shall bear responsibility if any of them fail to attend.