• The meanings of the following words and phrases, wherever they appear in this Regulation, are as defined next to each of them. References to the masculine apply to the feminine, and to the singular apply to the plural, and vice versa, unless the context requires otherwise:

• The Kingdom: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• The Federation: The Saudi Football Federation.

• President of the Federation: The President of the Saudi Football Federation.

• The Council: The Board of Directors of the Saudi Football Federation.

• The Laws and Regulations: The basic law, regulations, circulars, and other directives issued by the Saudi Football Federation and sports associations, as well as the Laws of the Game.

• The Laws of the Game: The laws issued by the legislative council of the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

• The Regulation: The Disciplinary and Ethical Regulation of the Saudi Football Federation.

• The Committee: The Disciplinary and Ethical Committee responsible for imposing the penalties stipulated in this Regulation.

• The Appeals Committee: The committee responsible for reviewing appeals against non-final decisions issued by the Disciplinary and Ethical Committee.

• The Center: The Saudi Sports Arbitration Center.

• The Organizing Body: The General Secretariat of the Federation and the relevant committees within the Federation, or their representatives in the regions, in organizing and issuing match schedules, and monitoring their implementation, or any body, association, or entity authorized by the Federation.

• The Association: An organization or body with independent legal personality, administratively, financially, and organizationally, operating under the umbrella of the Saudi Football Federation.

• The General Secretariat: The administrative body of the Saudi Football Federation.

• The Club: A sports institution or company with legal personality officially licensed by the Ministry of Sport and recognized by the Federation.

• The Game: The game of football.

• The Championships and Competitions: The official and friendly matches organized by the Federation, or any organizing body, association, or entity authorized by the Federation.

• The Referee: Anyone who officiates football matches, or assists in officiating them, officially recognized by the Federation and registered in its records.

• The Match Observer: The person appointed by the Federation to handle the administrative matters of the match, including registering players on the match sheet, applying player cards, and verifying their identities before, during, and after the match.

• The Referee Evaluator: The person appointed by the main referees committee of the Federation, tasked with evaluating the performance of referees during official or friendly matches, from a technical perspective, according to the Laws of the Game.

• The Specialist: Any person whose name is listed in the official match record, as part of the technical or medical staff of the club.

• The General Coordinator: The person appointed by the Federation or the organizing body to handle organizational and coordination matters, and to assist match officials and observers in their tasks.

• The Media Coordinator: The person appointed by the Federation or the organizing body to handle media matters for the match, and to organize procedures for press conferences, the mixed zone, television interviews, and to supervise them.

• The Player: The professional or amateur player of football, registered in the rosters of the club affiliated with the Federation.

• The Violations: The acts and behaviors punishable under this Regulation.

• The Penalties: The sanctions imposed on anyone proven to have committed one of the violations stipulated in this Regulation.

• The Attempt: The initiation of an act that is in violation but has not been completed by the perpetrator.

• The Violent Play: The use of excessive force, or playing brutally against an opponent, when competing for the ball during play.

• The Disgraceful Behavior: The use of excessive force, or dealing brutally against an opponent, when there is no competition for the ball, which may be against a teammate, a spectator, or one of the match officials, or another person inside or outside the field; it can also be committed by someone other than the player according to this Regulation.

• Inside the Field: The area that includes the green rectangle and its surroundings, including the seating areas for the technical and administrative staff, players, the track, and the corridors leading to the changing rooms.

• Outside the Field: The area that starts from the seating areas for spectators to the outer walls of the field.

• Before the Match: The time between the arrival of administrators, specialists, and players inside the field, and the sounding of the starting whistle for the match.

• During the Match: The time between the sounding of the starting whistle for the match and the sounding of the final whistle.

• After the Match: The time from the sounding of the final whistle until the departure of administrators, specialists, and players from the field.

• The International Match: A match between two teams belonging to different federations.

• The Official Match: A match organized under the umbrella of the Federation, or the organizing body for all teams or clubs under its administration; the result of the match has an impact on the right to participate in other competitions, unless the relevant regulations state otherwise.

• The Friendly Match: A match organized by the Federation, a club, or an organizing body, or another person, between selected teams for that occasion; it may involve teams from different federations, and the result only affects that match or the relevant competition.

• The Officials: Any person other than players who engages in activities related to football within the Federation, or any body, club, or association, regardless of their position, duration, or type of activity (administrative, sports, media, or any other activity), including administrative, technical, and medical staff, supporting employees, intermediaries; as well as members of boards of directors, committees, contractors, collaborators, and the General Secretariat of the Federation; in addition to bodies and associations affiliated with the Federation, and others.

• The Match Officials: The referee, assistant referees, fourth official, match observer, referee evaluator, match coordinator, media coordinator, security personnel, and any other persons appointed by the Federation or the organizing body to assume responsibilities related to the match.

• The Official Match Sheet: The list containing the names of the starting and substitute players, and the officials participating in the match, who are entitled to sit on the bench and be present on the field.

• The Sports Season: The period during which competitions, championships, and official and friendly matches organized and determined by the Federation or sports associations take place.

• The Fine: A monetary amount paid in Saudi Riyals to the Federation's account.

• The Person: A natural or legal person, whether a player, official, club, or otherwise, subject to the provisions of this Regulation.

• The purpose of this Regulation is to:

• 1- Define cases of violation of the basic Law of the Union, its Regulations, circulars, and Decisions.

• 2- Determine the necessary penalties, regulate the organization and functions of the committees responsible for making Decisions, in addition to the Procedures that must be followed by those committees.

• 3- Establish the principles of sportsmanship, fair competition, clean play, and the embodiment of good morals, which emphasize the importance of respecting and applying the organizational and legal foundations and rules of football, and ensuring that its practitioners and affiliates uphold the highest degrees of integrity, honesty, honor, and rectitude.

• 4- Preserve the honorable image of Saudi sports in general, and football in particular, by ensuring the effective and appropriate deterrence of any misconduct.

• This Regulation applies to:

• 1- Every official match organized by the Federation or the organizing body.

• 2- Every friendly match organized after obtaining the approval of the Federation or the organizing body.

• 3- Any competition or tournament organized by the Federation or the organizing body.

• 4- Any violation of the objectives of this Regulation, and any breach of its rules.

• 5- Physical injury to the match official or otherwise.

• 6- Any act related to football, without a direct connection to a specific match.

• 7- Any act committed by a person subject to the provisions of this Regulation, which is not related to football activity, but constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct or is contrary to ethics.

• 8- Any violation of the basic system of the Federation and its objectives, or the Federation's regulations, or its decisions, or those of the organizing bodies, or the association, which do not fall under the authority of another committee.

• 1- The provisions of this Regulation apply to each of the following:

  • 1/1- Clubs.

  • 1/2- Officials.

  • 1/3- Players.

  • 1/4- Match referees, assessors, observers, and coordinators (match officials).

  • 1/5- Spectators at the stadium.

  • 1/6- Match agents and licensed intermediaries.

  • 1/7- Any person legally authorized by the Federation for a specific or unspecified task, particularly related to any match, competition, or any other event.

  • 1/8- Any person who has committed any violation that warrants a penalty under the provisions of this Regulation, even if their registration procedures have not been completed, or if they were not registered at the time of committing the violation.

  • 1/9- Any other categories related to football that the Committee deems subject to the provisions of this Regulation.

• 2- In the event that a person subject to the provisions of this Regulation ceases to perform their duties for any reason before or during the litigation procedures, the Committee remains competent to issue the decision required under the Regulation; it may also suspend the proceedings of the litigation or continue with them, depending on the case before it.

This regulation applies to all competitions, tournaments, and official and friendly matches held within the Kingdom and abroad, which are under the supervision of the Federation or the organizing entity.

• 1- This Regulation applies to the individuals specified in Article (4) thereof, whether the violation occurred before, during, or after the match.

• 2- This Regulation applies to every violation that occurred after the commencement of the enforcement of this Regulation.

• 3- This Regulation applies to violations that were committed before the commencement of its enforcement and are still under consideration, provided that the new penalty is lighter than the penalty specified at the date of the violation.