For the purposes of this Regulation, the following words and phrases wherever they appear in this Regulation shall have the meanings set forth 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: The Ministry of Sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• Association: The Saudi Professional League Association.

• Federation: The Saudi Football Federation.

• Regulation: The Media Regulation for the Saudi Professional League Competition.

• Club: Any sports club that is a member of the Federation and the Association, and participates accordingly in the competition.

• Player: Any player registered with one of the clubs participating in the competition.

• Match Official Appointed by the Association: Any person appointed by the Association to assume responsibility related to the match, including but not limited to, the match director, the Association’s commercial officer, the Association’s media coordinator, and any other role determined by the Association and communicated to the clubs by circular.

• Association Media Coordinator: The person appointed by the Association to represent it in managing all media affairs and television broadcasting activities related to the match, in coordination with the match director, in accordance with the provisions of the organizational regulation of the Saudi Professional League competition.

• Club Media Officer: The person appointed by the club to manage its operations related to media affairs and to fulfill its obligations during matches.

• Inside the Stadium: The area including the pitch and the immediately surrounding areas, including players’ benches, technical areas, running track, and corridors leading to the changing rooms.

• Outside the Stadium: The area starting from the end of inside 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 inside the stadium and the referee’s whistle to start the match.

• During the Match: The time between the referee’s whistle to start the match and the whistle to end it.

• After the Match: The time from the referee’s whistle to end the match until the players and officials leave the stadium.

• Sporting Season: The period of (12) consecutive months determined by the Federation during which official competitions are held, including the Saudi Professional League competition.

• Identification Card: An accreditation card or its equivalent issued by the Association, granting its holder the right to enter controlled areas supervised by the Association.

• Controlled Areas: Include any of the following:

  • 1. The stadium.
  • 2. Official sites surrounding the stadium designated as a security zone on match day.
  • 3. Parking lots, accreditation center, broadcast complex, and hospitality areas.
  • 4. Official event sites.
  • 5. The official fan zone affiliated with the Association.
  • 6. Facility areas.
  • 7. Any other site or facility designated by the Association as a controlled entry area, where entry is permitted only to those holding an identification card, ticket, or any officially approved permit.

• Media List: The list available to the Association’s media coordinator, including the names of media professionals and representatives of authorized media outlets permitted to enter and be present inside the stadium.

• Competition: The Saudi Professional League competition.

• Official Website of the Association: www.spl.com.sa.

• Broadcast Partner: Any entity granted full or partial broadcasting rights related to the competition.

• Host Broadcasting Entity: The entity appointed by the Association to provide the official broadcast signal for each match of the competition and other competition events, in addition to ensuring the provision of all broadcast-related services, in accordance with the media rights granted by the Association and the approved production requirements.

• Mixed Zone: The area located between the changing rooms and the team bus arrival point, where media representatives are allowed to conduct interviews with players and club officials after the match.

Based on the Association's authority to establish the regulatory framework applicable to any person obtaining an identification card to attend competition matches, the Association has issued this Regulation, which aims - by way of example and not limitation - to achieve the following principles:

• 1. Organizing media operations during competition matches, including pre-match and post-match activities, directly related activities, and any football event or competition organized by the Association, unless such event or competition is subject to its own specific regulations, in a precise manner that ensures management according to the highest professional standards.
• 2. Ensuring that access to designated and necessary areas for task performance is limited to authorized persons holding official accreditation, and preventing unauthorized entry to avoid congestion or any issues that may affect safety and security.
• 3. Defining the duties and rights of all parties involved in organizing and executing media operations during matches.
• 4. Providing an enabling environment that allows media professionals to perform their tasks efficiently and professionally.
• 5. Specifying penalties in case of violation of the provisions of this Regulation.

The provisions of this Regulation apply to the following persons and entities:

• 1. Club employees authorized with official media tasks.
• 2. Representatives of print, audio, and visual media and their employees.
• 3. Representatives of digital media, websites, and social media accounts.
• 4. Photographers and journalists.
• 5. Content creators.

This Regulation organizes all media operations related to the competition on match days or in activities directly connected to it (such as training sessions or pre-match press conferences). It also applies to any football event or competition organized by the Association, unless that event or competition is subject to its own specific regulations.

1. The Association is the sole authority authorized to issue identification cards for all media personnel performing official duties that require access to designated areas during competition matches.

2. Identification cards are issued by the Association based on a request submitted through the dedicated platform established by the Association, either by the media personnel themselves or by the media entity to which they belong. Each identification card must include the full name of the holder, their personal photograph, and the media entity to which they belong.

3. The Association provides two registration periods each season, each lasting one month, during which local media entities are allowed to submit accreditation requests via the official website of the Association. In exceptional cases, the late registration period may be reopened upon payment of a late fee of (500) Saudi Riyals. Foreign media entities may submit accreditation requests throughout the season without a late fee, provided that the accreditation is valid for only one round.

4. In the event that a media person transfers from one media entity to another during the season, a new request must be submitted and a reissuance fee of (500) Saudi Riyals must be paid.

5. The host club is obligated to ensure that representatives of accredited and approved media outlets by the Association are granted access to the stadium on match days and training sessions, in accordance with the procedures approved by the Association.

1. The following conditions must be met to submit an application for obtaining an identification card:

• A- The applicant must hold a valid membership card from the Saudi Sports Media Federation and be affiliated with a media entity accredited by the Federation. Content creators are exempted from this condition, provided that the content creator applicant holds a valid "Mawthooq" license issued by the General Authority for Media Regulation.
• B- Submission of an official assignment letter from the affiliated media entity, except for content creators.
• C- The applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years old.
• D- The applicant must not be subject to a current penalty prohibiting entry to stadiums or banning participation in any football-related activity, whether for a specified or unspecified period.
• E- The applicant must not have a final sports decision issued against them by any local, continental, or international sports federation prohibiting entry to stadiums or banning participation in any football-related activity for one year or more.
• F- The applicant must not have a criminal record including a prison sentence exceeding six (6) months for crimes involving dishonor, breach of trust, or similar offenses.

2. The Federation shall reject any application that does not fulfill the required documents or the above conditions. The rejection decision is not subject to appeal, but the applicant may request reconsideration or submit a new application.

3. Submitting an application for obtaining an identification card constitutes an acknowledgment by the applicant and the concerned media entity of full awareness of this regulation and all other Federation regulations and commitment to them. It also constitutes an acknowledgment of informing the entity’s personnel of their obligations upon receiving the identification cards.

4. The Federation issues the identification cards and delivers them to the media entities according to the city specified on the platform at the time of application. The identification card entitles its holder to enter the designated and specified areas on the card for all competition matches during the season in which it was issued.

1. Identification cards include general behavioral guidelines that outline the basic obligations of their holders, without prejudice to the provisions contained in this Regulation. In addition, and without prejudice to any other provisions, the following must be adhered to:

• • Journalists and media representatives are prohibited from entering or filming in restricted areas without obtaining an official permit from the Association.
• • Journalists and media representatives holding identification cards are prohibited from entering restricted areas or engaging in any media activity while wearing inappropriate clothing or clothing that violates public decency in any form.
• • It is strictly forbidden to sign shirts or take personal photos with players or coaches.
• • The identification card must be worn and clearly displayed at all times. The card is a personal document that is non-transferable, non-modifiable, and non-copyable. Any misuse thereof will result in accountability of the holder and the entity to which they belong.
• • No person without a valid identification card is allowed to enter areas designated for media personnel. Identification cards are issued to representatives of officially recognized media institutions, whether governmental or private, local or international (including newspapers, magazines, television channels, radio stations, and official electronic platforms).
• • In case of loss or damage to the identification card, the holder must immediately notify the Association in writing. The concerned media entity may request the issuance of a replacement card upon payment of a fee of (1,000) Saudi Riyals to the Association.

2. In case of violation of the provisions of this Regulation or any document or instructions issued by the Association - including the terms and conditions of the identification card or the directives of the media coordinator - the following procedures shall apply:

• • A verbal warning shall be issued to the violating media representative upon the first violation.
• • If the violation continues after the warning, the identification card shall be withdrawn and the person shall be asked to leave the stadium immediately.

3. In the event of a serious violation, the Association may immediately withdraw the identification card and expel the violator from the stadium without prior warning.

4. Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Association reserves the right - through the media coordinator - to withdraw or cancel any identification card at any time and for any reason deemed to violate the provisions of this Regulation. The cardholder and the concerned media entity shall be notified of the withdrawal decision and its reasons, and the decision shall be final and non-appealable.

1. The association shall appoint one or more media coordinators for each match.

2. The media coordinator appointed by the association shall be its official representative and shall be responsible for all media activities during the match.

3. All journalists and media representatives are obligated to comply with the instructions issued by the association’s media coordinator.

4. The association’s media coordinator shall have, without limitation, the following authorities:

• • Supervising the implementation of all media procedures before, during, and after the match.
• • Ensuring compliance with the identification card conditions, media entry protocols, and professional conduct standards.
• • Ensuring adherence to all circulars, guidelines, and directives issued by the association.
• • Submitting reports to the association regarding any potential violations by accredited persons.
• • Withdrawing any identification card in accordance with the authorities stipulated in this regulation.

1. It is strictly prohibited for media personnel and representatives of media outlets to enter the field or locker rooms on match day.

2. The presence of media personnel and representatives of media outlets is limited exclusively to the following areas:

• • Media center.
• • Press conference hall.
• • Mixed zone.
• • Seats designated for media inside the stadium.

3. Media personnel and representatives of media outlets are not allowed to conduct interviews with any person before the end of the match, unless otherwise stipulated in any of the Association’s regulations, or approved in writing by the Association.

4. Questions directed to players, coaches, or officials must not include any offensive, provocative, or disrespectful language.

5. Registered media personnel and representatives (reporters, journalists, and editors) whose names appear on the media list must attend the post-match press conference and obtain a daily entry permit from the Association’s media coordinator.

6. If more than one representative is assigned by the same media entity, only one (1) person is allowed to represent the entity in each designated area, and the entity must choose between covering the press conference or the mixed zone.

7. Specialized sports media entities may assign two (2) editors to cover the match.

8. Non-specialized media entities may assign one (1) editor to cover the match.

9. Accredited media personnel and representatives are allowed to attend pre-match press conferences and official training sessions.

All media entities not holding broadcasting rights shall adhere to the following:

• 1. They are prohibited from entering the stadium grounds or surrounding areas before, during, or after the match, unless they have an identification card issued by the association.
• 2. They are not allowed to bring any of their equipment into the stands.
• 3. They must obtain prior written approval from the association to use or broadcast any footage from behind the scenes of the match or any materials related to the match.
• 4. Non-rights-holding entities may apply for permission to enter the media platform from the Media Registration Office at least (48) hours before the match start time, subject to seat availability, and they are not allowed to bring any equipment onto the media platform.

1. Photographers must enter the internal area surrounding the playing field exclusively through designated entry points.

2. Photographers holding valid identification cards issued by the association may enter the internal area surrounding the playing field when the stadium gates open on match day. They must wear the official vests provided by the association’s media coordinator or the club’s media officer and return them to the media center immediately after the match and after the players have left the field.

3. No photographer not officially assigned to cover the match by an authorized entity is allowed to enter the area surrounding the playing field.

4. Specialized media entities may assign two (2) photographers per match.

5. Non-specialized media entities may assign one (1) photographer per match.

1. Photographers must remain behind the electronic advertising boards located behind the goal area during the warm-up period (between fifty (50) minutes and twenty (20) minutes before the match starts).

2. The association’s media coordinator must ensure that no photographer, except the official association photographer, is present near the technical area, the fourth official’s area, or the match observer’s seat.

3. Photographers may proceed to their designated locations ten (10) minutes before the match starts to photograph the teams’ entrance ceremonies and the group photo.

4. After the teams finish shaking hands and the coin toss is conducted, photographers must immediately move behind the electronic advertising boards behind the goals.

5. Photographers are not allowed to change their locations except during the halftime interval.

6. If a photographer needs to leave the field during the match, they must exit through the nearest designated gate.

7. Photographers are prohibited from entering the technical area or the playing field before, during, or after the match.

8. Photographers are prohibited from entering the mixed zone after the match, except for the official association photographer and photographers officially registered within each club’s delegation.

9. Photographers are prohibited from entering the perimeter of the playing field (the track) during the ten (10) minutes preceding the start of the match and may only return during the halftime interval.

10. Photographers are strictly prohibited from wearing clothing bearing club logos while covering matches, or interfering with the course of the match in any way, including entering the playing field, celebrating with players, interacting with the administrative and technical staff, ball collectors, match officials, or provoking the crowd by action, speech, or gesture.