The following words and phrases shall have the meanings defined opposite them, unless the context requires otherwise. Reference to the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and reference to the masculine shall include the feminine. Any definitions not included in this Regulation but contained in the Statutes of the Federation and the laws and regulations of the International Federation of Association Football and the Asian Football Confederation shall be incorporated into this Regulation, as applicable.

• Kingdom: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Ministry: The Ministry of Sport.
• Federation: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).
• Council: The elected Board of Directors of the Federation, which was formed pursuant to the Statutes.
• Law: The Statutes of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
• Committee: The Competitions Committee of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
• Regulation: The Competitions and Tournaments Regulation.
• Disciplinary and Ethics Committee: One of the judicial committees of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
• Disciplinary and Ethics Regulation: The Disciplinary and Ethics Regulation issued by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
• Sports Arbitration Center: The competent judicial body exclusively authorized to hear and/or adjudicate and/or mediate all sports disputes and/or disputes related to sports after the exhaustion of the Federation’s internal appeal mechanisms.
• International Federation: The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
• Asian Confederation: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
• Law of the Game: The laws governing the sport of football issued by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
• Club: A sports entity having legal personality or a company officially licensed by the competent authority to practice the sport of football and which is a member of the Federation or a member of a league participating in competitions with at least one team.
• Player: A natural person officially registered with the Federation to participate in any football competitions organized or supervised by the Federation.
• Electronic System (MySAFF): An intelligent electronic system for managing competition matches, through which the list of players and officials is registered, referee and match commissioner reports are prepared, and match results are entered, and which may be used by all relevant concerned parties.
• Referee: The person appointed by the Federation and officially accredited by the Federation or by the federation affiliated with his country and registered in its records, to officiate and manage the match, including the main referee, first assistant referee, second assistant referee, fourth referee, and referees responsible for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
• Referee Assessor: The person appointed by the Federation to evaluate the referees’ performance during the match from a technical perspective in accordance with the Law of the Game.
• Match Commissioner: The person appointed by the Federation to handle the administrative matters of the match, including registering the players on the match sheet, applying the cards issued to players and officials, verifying their identities, recording disciplinary violations, and carrying out other procedures before, during, and after the match.
• Match General Coordinator: The person appointed by the Federation to handle organizational and coordination matters and assist the match officials and commissioners in their duties.
• Match Media Coordinator: The person appointed by the Federation to handle the media matters of the match and organize and supervise the procedures relating to press conferences, the mixed zone, and television interviews.
• Inside the Stadium: The area comprising the pitch and the surrounding areas, including the seating areas for the technical and administrative staff and players, the track, and the passageways leading to the changing rooms.
• Outside the Stadium: The area extending from the end of Inside the Stadium to the outer fences of the stadium, including, without limitation, car parks, spectator assembly areas, internal and external gates, restrooms, and restaurants.
• Before the Match: The period between the arrival of the players and officials Inside the Stadium and the blowing of the whistle to commence the match.
• During the Match: The period between the blowing of the whistle to commence the match and the blowing of the whistle to end it.
• Official: Any person other than players who engages in an activity related to football with the Federation or any body, club, or league, regardless of his position, the duration of the activity, or its type (administrative, sporting, media-related, or any other activity), including administrative, technical, and medical staff, support personnel, consultants, agents, and professional managers, as well as members of clubs’ boards of directors, Federation personnel comprising members of the Board of Directors and committees, contractors, collaborators, and the Federation’s General Secretariat, in addition to the bodies and leagues affiliated with the Federation and others.
• Match Official: The referee, assistant referees, fourth referee, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) referees, match commissioner, referee assessor, match coordinator, match media coordinator, persons responsible for security, and any other persons appointed by the Federation to undertake a responsibility relating to the match.
• Persons Subject to the Regulation: Clubs, officials, match officials, players, and media and commercial entities.
• Season: The period during which competitions are held in accordance with the match schedule, commencing with the first official match in the competitions and ending with the last official match in the competitions.
• Accreditation Card: A card or equivalent issued by the Federation that grants its recipient the right to be present Inside the Stadium.
• Starting Match List: 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 substitutes’ bench and be present Inside the Stadium.
• Official Officials List: The list containing the names of the official officials representing the club throughout the season and entitled to be registered on the Starting Match List.
• Visiting Club: The club that plays the match away from its home ground and whose name appears second in the match schedule.
• Home Club: The club that plays the match at its home ground and whose name appears first in the match schedule.
• Competition: The tournaments and competitions organized by the Federation in accordance with its Statutes and Regulations.
• Champion: The club whose team wins the competition championship.
• Field of Play: The area comprising the pitch and described in Law 1 of the Laws of the Game issued by the International Football Association Board.
• Refusal to Play an Official Match: The club’s refusal to play an official match before the commencement of the match.
• Withdrawal from Playing an Official Match: The club’s withdrawal from an official match during the match.
• Force Majeure: Any unforeseen emergency event beyond the control of the parties that results in the stoppage, prevention, or suspension of a match or competition, including, without limitation, adverse weather conditions, failure of floodlights, flight conditions, or any other circumstances having the same characteristics.
• Match Schedule: The schedule of competition matches issued by the Competitions Committee or the organizing body, specifying the dates, times, and stadiums in which the competition matches are played.
• Federation Website: www.saff.com.sa

1. This regulation aims to establish the general regulatory framework for all football competitions organized or supervised by the Federation, and it shall serve as the highest reference for all regulatory bylaws specific to each competition.

2. This regulation is responsible for stating the general provisions and fundamental governing principles for organizing competitions, provided that each regulatory bylaw for each competition shall organize the technical, procedural, and detailed aspects related to it according to its specific nature, in a manner that does not conflict with the provisions of this regulation.

3. This regulation aims to establish a safe sporting environment for all those subject to it, and to enhance the protection of minor children from all forms of abuse, exploitation, bullying, discrimination, and others, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, and in a manner that ensures the preservation of their rights and physical and psychological safety during participation in all competitions and championships.

1. The Committee shall be formed by a decision of the Council and shall consist of a President, a Vice President, and three (3) members who possess expertise in the field of football, and in areas related to competitions and the organization of the game.

2. The Council shall appoint the President and members of the Committee, and the President shall select a Vice President from among the members of the Committee.

1. Organizing and managing official and friendly competitions and matches, except for the Saudi Professional League and the First Division League.

2. Preparing the schedules of the competitions and matches it organizes, including their locations and dates.

3. Approving the results of the matches and competitions it organizes.

4. Proposing the establishment of new competitions and championships deemed necessary to advance the sport and raise its level.

5. All other powers assigned to it in the charter or in this regulation.

1. The Committee shall meet periodically and whenever necessary, upon the invitation of its President or his deputy, and the meeting shall be considered valid with the presence of the majority of the Committee members, provided that the President or his deputy is among them.

2. The Committee may invite to its sessions those it deems necessary to assist in the matters presented before it, without granting them the right to vote.

3. The Committee's decisions shall be issued by a majority of the votes of those present, and in the event of a tie, the side with the President shall prevail. The Committee may also issue its decisions by circulation via email or any other written communication means, not oral, and the Committee's decisions shall be effective immediately upon issuance.

4. All decisions of the Committee shall be final, binding, and not subject to appeal.

1. The Federation is competent in the following matters:

• 1/1: Organizing and managing competitions.
• 2/1: Organizing and managing the commercial and marketing rights of the competitions.
• 3/1: Organizing and managing the media matters and procedures of the competitions.
• 4/1: Registering players in accordance with the Professionalism and Players’ Status Regulations of the Federation and the International Federation, and all related regulations.
• 5/1: Considering and adjudicating disciplinary cases through the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations.
• 6/1: Appointing referees and referee assessors for each match.
• 7/1: Appointing the match observer, general coordinator, media coordinator, and security coordinator for each match.
• 8/1: Issuing identification cards.
• 9/1: Covering travel, transportation, accommodation, and meal expenses for match referees, referee assessors, match observers, coordinators, and media coordinators.
• 10/1: Selecting and providing the official football for competition matches.
• 11/1: Proposing suggestions for the development of competitions.