Official Regulations

In the Gothia Cup at least 80% of all boys games shall be played by teams from different countries. The girl’s soccer shall consist of more countries and be of better quality than any other tour nament. By having close to 70 countries every year that partici pate the Gothia Cup, it remains the world’s most international tournament.

Naturally large numbers of fields are needed to carry out a tournament such as the Gothia Cup. More than 90 of them. We are proud to be able to present a tournament of this size that is solely played on grass fields. Well, 20 of the fields are actually made of turf of the latest technology.

§ 1. Rules

Gothia Cup will be played in accordance with applicable sections of the FIFA rules and the Swedish F.A. rules. In questions of interpretations of FIFA rules, the English text applies.

§ 2. Rules of the game

2.1 The club has to be a member of their FIFA affiliated national association. In countries where football is operated by the schools we also allow teams affiliated by their school football association

2.2 The teams are divided into groups of four or five where all the teams will meet in a round robin series. The order among the teams will be decided according to points. Three points will be awarded for a win, one point for a draw and 0 points for a lost.

If two or more teams have the same number of points, the order will be decided as follows:
1. Goal difference.
2. Highest number of goals scored.
3. Results of match/es between teams with equal points.
4. Penalty kick contest according to FIFA rules.

2.3 Play off
The two best teams in each group will advance to Play off A. The other teams in the group will advance to the Play off B. All play off games will be decided by the cup system, i.e. by direct elimination. A draw in the play off will be decided by penalty kicks according to FIFA rules.

§ 3. Classes

Class B18 Boys born 1st Jan. 1993 and later
Class B16 Boys born 1st Jan. 1995 and later
Class B15 Boys born 1st Jan. 1996 and later
Class B14 Boys born 1st Jan. 1997 and later
Class B13 Boys born 1st Jan. 1998 and later
Class B12 Boys born 1st Jan. 1999 and later (7 a side)
Class B11 Boys born 1st Jan. 2000 and later (7 a side)

Class G19 Girls born 1st Jan. 1992 and later
Class G17 Girls born 1st Jan. 1994 and later
Class G15 Girls born 1st Jan. 1996 and later
Class G14 Girls born 1st Jan. 1997 and later
Class G13 Girls born 1st Jan. 1998 and later
Class G12 Girls born 1st Jan. 1999 and later (7 a side)

§ 4. Playing period

Classes B18, B16, B15, G19, G17, G15: Groups and Play off B:2×25 min. Play off A: 2 x 30 min.

Other classes: Groups and Play off B: 2 x 20 min./Play off A: 2 x 25 min.

§ 5. Number of players

5.1 No team may use more than 18 players in a match. A substituted player may reenter in the match. Substitution
can be done without stopping the game. Notice that the game has to be stopped and the referee has to
be informed by substitution of a goalkeeper. All substitutions should be done within the technical area of the
team. If there is no technical area the substitution should be made at the centre line.The player that will be
substituted has to leave the field before the new player can enter the field. Incorrect substitutions will be
punished with a yellow card.

5.2 It is permitted to use a player from the same club in several teams but not in the same class. This player
has to be on the participant list of all teams he/she will play for. The player also has to be present when identifying the age each specific time for all teams the player plays for. There is no maximum number of players
on the participant list.

5.3 In classes B12, B11 and G12, 12 players can be used for the same game but only 7 can be on the field at the
same time.

§ 6. Proof of age/participant list

Each team must submit a list of players to the Gothia Cup administration before their first match in the tournament. All players MUST be able to identify themselves and to certify their age with a valid passport. This will be taken care of as follows:

For teams lodged in schools or hotels booked through Gothia Cup:
✔ When you receive your participant cards.

For teams without accommodation booked through Gothia Cup:
✔ At the Central Information on Heden on Saturday and Monday.
✔ At Gothia Kungsbacka Center , Kviberg Center, Välen, Åby or at Slättadamm on Monday before your first match in the tournament.

At this time each player on the list must be present and show proof of identity and age. This should be done before Monday at 4 pm. From Tuesday 20 July all teams must bring the list of players approved by the Gothia Cup to all matches. The list is to be shown upon request from Gothia officials. Single players can join at a later time, provided that they are listed on the first given Participants’ list and that the player shows valid identification at the Central Information, Heden, before he/she plays his/her first game. Teams using unqualified players can be excluded from the tournament.

§ 7. Dispensations

7.1 Dispensations will automatically be given to two players per squad (in 7-a-side classes one player) who are maximum one year over aged. Note that you can not use more than two over aged players from the squad by switching them between matches.

7.2 In classes B16, G17 and G15 teams from countries that still use the 1st of August limit (mainly USA and England) may also use players 5 months over aged.

7.3 Girls may play in all male classes.

§ 8. Important match details

8.1 Team list

A written team list (special forms will be distributed upon arrival) must be handed to the referee before every match.
The number each player has on the Participants’ list must be the same as the number of the shirt.
All players on the team list are considered as if they have participated in the game.
Random controls of team lists and Participants’ lists will be carried out.

8.2 Players uniforms

All team shirts must be numbered and the numbers must correspond to the numbers on the team list. Numbers must be on the backs of the shirts. Two players may not use the same number in any given match.
If the referee decides that one team should change shirts due to similarity to the opposing team’s shirts, the team appearing last in the program must change.

8.3 Before game

All teams must be ready at the field no later than 15 minutes before kick-off.
The team manager must make sure that his players are adequately insured.
All players MUST wear shinguards.
The teams are responsible for their supporters’ conduct.

8.4 Balls
All matches are played using balls of size 5, except for classes B11,B12, G12, G13 and G14 who use size 4.

§ 9. 7-a-side

Classes B11, B12 and G12 play 7-a-side (one goalkeeper and 6 players) The offside rule is not applicable. It is allowed to pass the ball to the goalkeeper and he/she are allowed to pick up the ball with the hands. Goal kick can be done from the ground or from the hands of the goalkeeper. He can also throw the ball. Sending-Off at obvious goal-scoring opportunity is not valid.

§ 10. Referees

Referees are members of the Swedish Football Association. There will be assistant referees in the following games:
✔ group games and Play Off-A in classes B18, B16, G19
✔ from 1/8-final in classes B15 and G17 (only Play Off A)
✔ from 1/4-final in classes B14, B13, G15, G14 and G13 (only Play Off A)
✔ from 1/2-final in classes B12, B11 and G12 (only Play Off A)

The coordinator for the referees during the tournament will be available at Gothia Cup Central Information at Heden. If you have comments or an idea about referee you are more than welcome.

§ 11. Tournament jury

The jury of the tournament consists of representatives of the Swedish Football Association and the Regional Football Association of Gothenburg. The jury handles protests and sanction matters. Their decisions cannot be appealed..

§ 12. Protest and sanctions

12.1 Any and all protests must be made in writing by the team manager. Protests must be delivered to the Central Information, Heden, Kungsbacka Center or Kviberg Center no later than 90 minutes after the match is finished.

A protest fee of SEK 500 will be paid at that time. This fee will be returned if the protest is approved.
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with the play are final. (FIFA rule no. 5) No measures will be taken on protests on decisions made by referees.

12.2 Cautions and Sending-Off Offences

Any player given a red card is automatically suspended from participation in the followingmatch.
The tournament jury can decide about suspension for further game(s).
Yellow cards are not accumulated.
Severe offences will be reported to the FA of the nation concerned.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If a player that is suspended is participating in a game, the team with the suspended player losses automatically the game with 3-0

§ 13. Walk over

13.1 Any team not appearing at the appointed time and place for a match without a valid excuse can be declared looser by 3-0, after a decision by the jury. If a team repeatedly fail to appear at the games, the team may be excluded from the tournament. In special cases, the tournament jury may decide to exclude a team at the first offence, i.e. if a deliberate WO favours the own team or is unfair to another team in the group.

13.2 If a match is interrupted for some reason and can’t be played to the end the jury will decide if the game has to be replayed, if the result will be fixed or if one of the teams or both teams lose 3-0.

§ 14. Match fields

14.1 All the playing fields are grass or artificial turf.

14.2 The fields have been divided into the following areas: Centrum, Öster, Hisingen, Frölunda, Mölndal and Kungsbacka.

14.3 In case of bad weather conditions games may be changed to gravel fields or decided by penalty kicks or drawing of lots.

§ 15. Matchprogram

The organization committee has the right to change the groups (until July 19th), times and fields. Notice about changes will be communicated to the leader of the teams concerned..

§ 16. Organiser

The Swedish club BK Häcken organizes The Gothia Cup.

§ 17. Regulations for accommodation

17.1 General

The team manager as indicated on the Participants’ list is responsible for any damage caused by his/her players.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages is absolutely forbidden in the schools.
Silence is prescribed in each school between 11 p.m. – 6a.m.
Before departure you have to clean your sleeping room.

17.2 To prevent fire

Smoking is prohibited in the schools.
It is forbidden to cook (for instance make coffee) in the sleeping facilities and corridors.
It is forbidden to put combustibles in the corridors, or to move out desks and chairs etc.
Please note that the doors between the corridors and the stairs should be closed.

FAILURE TO COMPLY TO THESE RULES WILL BE DEALT WITH BY THE JURY AND MAY RESULT IN
EXCLUSION FROM THE TOURNAMENT AND LODGINGS.

§ 18. Insurance and responsability

Make sure that all your players are insured both on and off the playing field. Gothia Cup does not carry any group insurance protecting participants in case of injury, illness, theft or damage to property. Gothia Cup is in no way responsible for injury or economic loss which may arise in the case of war, warlike events, civil war, revolution or civil disturbances or because of the actions of the authorities, strikes, lockouts, blockades or similar events. Participants from countries that have no medical insurance agreement with Sweden must have personal medical insurance.

PLEASE DO NOT KEEP ANY MONEY OR VALUABLES IN YOUR SCHOOL ROOM.