CECAFA U-20 Challenge Cup: Tournament regulations released

By Our Reporter

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has released the regulations for the forthcoming CECAFA U-20 Challenge Cup that will be hosted in Uganda.

These regulations have been signed by stamped by the CECAFA President Mutasim Gafar and Secretary General Nicholas Musonye.

These have 20 Articles entailing the different parameters of objectives, right to participate, format of competition, qualifications of players and coaches, trophy and medals, registration of players, team colours & match coordination, tournament organization, Doping, Organizing Committee, CECAFA and host member responsibilities, protests & appeals, cheating & fraud, disciplinary, match reports, broadcast & publicity rights as well as CAF & FIFA Regulations.

Details

ARTICLE 1.0 CECAFA OBJECTIVES

THE Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) is the official football organization running football Activities in the East and Central zone.

1.1One of the objectives of CECAFA is to promote football by organizing football tournaments for youth players in the region. The Under 20 youth Competition is to be held regularly in the zone according to the dates designated by the Executive committee and approved by CAF/FIFA

1.2 The main objective of organizing youth U.20 competition is to prepare our national youth teams prior to CAF/FIFA Youth U.20 Cup Competitions.

ARTICLE 2.0 RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE

2.1- – A recognized member of CECAFA is obliged to participate in the above tournament and must have paid affiliation fees of USD 3,000, annual fees of USD 1,500 and Participation fee of USD 500.

2.2- CECAFA will invite members to participate in the above tournaments at the beginning of the calendar year. And any member wishing to participate in the tournament must write officially to CECAFA Secretariat three months before the start of the competition.

2.3 Each member Association will only be allowed to enter one team and the players representing that Association must be authentic citizens of that respective country.

2.4 On accepting to participate in the above competition, the participating countries must comply with the rules and regulations of CECAFA and the decisions of the organizing committee.

2.5 A member who commits to participate and withdraws after the draw will be fined USD 5,000 and further sanctions may be applied by the Executive Committee on the proposition of the Organizing committee.

2.6 A member who withdraws his team while at the venue of the competition or refuses to honor a match under any circumstances will be fined USD 5,000 and suspended from all CECAFA activities for two years.

2.7The CECAFA Executive committee shall place bids for Members Associations willing to host tournament. The Executive committee shall peruse the bids and nominate the country to host the competition. This will be based on the criteria laid down by the Executive Committee.

2.8 The national Association which commits to host an event and withdraws from doing so two months before the said competition shall be fined USD 20,000 and further disciplinary measures could be taken by the Executive Committee.

2.9 A member Association who fails to participate in two consecutive CECAFA competitions without valid reason will not be allowed to participate in CECAFA General Assembly

ARTICLE 3.0 THE FORMAT OF THE COMPETITION

3.1 If all CECAFA 12 member Associations confirm participation, the tournament will be staged in three groups with each group having four teams. If the teams are less than 12, the organizing committee shall make a competition of two groups.

3.2 If the teams are in three groups, the quarter final matches shall be played with each group producing the top two finishers and the best two overall teams in all the three groups given a quarter final slots. The best two qualifiers will be determined by the points obtained in the group stages.

3.3 If the teams were divided into two groups, the competition will proceed to semi-finals after group matches with the top two teams in both groups qualifying to the semi-finals.

3.4 The semi-final winners will play in the final while the semi-final losers will play the classification match to determine the third and fourth teams.

3.5 If the teams are less than six, the matches will be played on a league basis with the team with the highest number of points declared the champions. If the teams tie on points, criteria applicable in Sub section 3.7 below will be applied.

3.6 Matches in group stage will be on a league basis and will be determined as follows.

i) – The winner gets three points (3)

ii) –If the teams draw, they get a point each (1)

iii)- A  loser gets zero point (0)

3.7Ranking of the teams shall be determined by the number of points obtained by all the teams and this shall be as follows:-

a) The teams with greater number of points in the group stage

b) If the teams have equal points at the group stage, the goal difference between the concerned teams will determine the team that advances to the next stage

c) If the goal difference does not apply, then the team that has scored the greater number of goals in the group stage will advance to the next stage

d)If the greater number of goals does not apply, then the Fair Play system shall apply where the Organizing committee will determine the team that has shown Fair play. This is determined by the number of yellow, red cards and expulsions.

e) If the above four does not apply, the drawing of lots shall be applied by the Organizing committee.

3.8 At the group stage, the match’s duration will be 90 minutes with two sessions of 45 minutes broken by an interval of 5-15 minutes.

3.9The quarter finals, semi-finals and finals the duration of the matches will be 90 minutes. If there is no winner, the match will go into extra time of 30 minutes broken by an interval of 15 minutes. If there will be no winner after extra time, the match will be determined by spot kicks (five for each team). If the teams tie after the spot kicks, the referee will proceed with another session of one spot kick for each team until the winner is determined.

3.10The classification match (third play-off) the duration will be 90 minutes and if the teams tie, the above (3.8) of spot kicks will be applied. There shall be no extra time for play- off match.

3.11 At the end of the group stage, the teams that have not qualified to the next stage depart to their respective countries within 48 hours.

3.12 During the drawing of lots the teams shall be ranked as follows:-

a) If the teams are in three groups, the host nation will head group A, the title holders head group B and the third team in the previous competition will head group C. If the title holders are also the hosts, the organizing committee will determine the ranking together with the rest of the teams.

b)  If the teams are divided in two groups, host country will head group A and the title holders group B. If the host country is also the title holder, then the team that finished second in the previous competition will head group B. The organizing committee will determine the rest of the groupings.

ARTICLE 4:0QUALIFICATIONS OF PLAYERS

There shall be age limit for CECAFA Youth Under 20 championship. The following shall be applicable for the youth U.20 competitions.

4.1) The CECAFA secretariat shall send formal invitation to all the Member associations informing them of the particular tournament.

4.2) The participating member Association shall be obliged to select their national youth U.20 team from the players who must be the citizen of that country.

4.3) The CECAFA secretariat shall set the age limit requirements which must be respected by all the member Associations taking part in the tournament.

4.4) Players must possess valid passports with details about the age, clear photograph, date of birth. No any other document shall be accepted by the organizing committee. On arrival at the venue, the Organizing committee will verify the age limit and citizenship of all the players.

4.5)If the Organizing committee confirms that a member Association has fielded an over age player(s), that player shall be disqualified and that particular member Association shall not be allowed to replace the player.

4.6) The Executive Committee on the proposition of the Organizing committee shall take further action against the Member Association that has fielded over age player(s). Such sanctions may include:-

-Fines

-Disqualification from the tournament

-A ban

ARTICLE 5.0: COACHES QUALIFICATIONS

The following shall be the professional qualifications for the coaches handling the National Youth U.20 team:

5.1) The head coach should be a holder of “A” coaching License from any Continental Federation (CAF/UEFA/COMEBALL/

5.2) The Assistant coach should be a holder of “A” coaching License from any Continental Federation (CAF/UEFA/COMEBALL/

5.3) Coaches must possess valid coaching License with clear photograph corresponding to the coach’s professional qualifications. No any other document shall be accepted by the organizing committee.

5.4) Coaches are obliged to comply with the instruction from the Organizing committee such as:

Submit coach’s profile when requested

Attend an interviews/press or respond to the questionnaire as instructed by the organizing committee. 

5.5) The Executive Committee on the proposition of the Organizing committee shall take further action against the coach who has submitted false coaching License or deny submitting coach profile or  attend interviews/press or respond to the questionnaire, sanctions may include:-

-Fines

– Suspension

ARTICLE 6.0: TROPHY AND MEDALS

At the end of the tournament, CECAFA shall award the following:-

6.1) Award a trophy to the winning team. This trophy is the property of CECAFA and must be kept in good custody by the winning Member Association.

6.2)Award 25 medals to the winners (Gold medals 25), runners-up (Silver medals 25) and second runners-up (bronze medals 25).

6.3) The referees will also receive gold medals.

6.4) If there are sponsors and well-wishers wishing to award other medals/trophies to particular players/referees or outstanding MA, these items must be approved by Organizing committee.

However, CECAFA organizing committee may propose to award other outstanding players like:-

-Best player

-Best goalkeeper

-Top scorer

-Most disciplined team

These Awards will be determined by CECAFA technical committee and approved by the Organising Committee.

6.5) If a team wins the tournament three times in a row, that team shall keep the trophy forever and CECAFA shall buy another trophy for the next competition.

6.6) Before the next edition, CECAFA will recall the trophy from the team which won the previous event. This trophy must be returned to the CECAFA headquarters three months before the next event. It must be in good condition.

6.7) If the winning Member Association lose or damage the trophy, CECAFA shall demand a replacement of a new trophy from that member Association and this trophy must be delivered to CECAFA headquarters three months before the tournament.

6.8) Incase CECAFA invites a guest team and the  team wins the tournament, CECAFA will award them a replica trophy and the official CECAFA trophy will be awarded to the second team. The guest team will be entitled to the other awards as above.

ARTICLE 7.0 REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS

7.1) Member Associations committed to participate in the competition will confirm in writing three months before the competition.

7.2) CECAFA will send a form to all member Associations to fill the name of their delegation. Each delegation will be composed of 25 persons and each member association is allowed to register up to 20 players.

7.3) CECAFA will give a provision of amendment of the players list two weeks before the start of the tournament and the amended list will be the final list of players to engage in the tournament.

7.4)The final list of players must indicate the full names as they appear in the passport, date of birth and position

7.5) The 20 registered players cannot be changed (no replacement) in the middle of the competition. They will register their jersey numbers from 1-20 and each players is required to maintain his/her number for the whole duration of the competition.
7.6)Sanctions may be imposed to teams who may change their jersey numbers or use jerseys without clear and visible numbers.

ARTICLE 8.0 TEAMS COLOURS AND MATCH CO-ORDINATION

Upon confirmation of their participation each member Associations Must:-

8.1) Communicate officially to CECAFA Secretariat their official team colours (shirts,shorts, stockings)

8.2) The member Association must indicate the home colour and the away colour which must be clearly different colours.

8.3)  The team jerseys must conform to the size of players

8.4) The jersey numbers must be clear and visible

8.5 One day before the match, the match coordination meeting shall take place and the following must be observed by both teams and match officials:-

i) Both teams must present their two sets of uniforms in the match coordination meeting

ii) The home team (Team A) shall present its colours followed by away team (Team B). In the event the colours clash, team A shall be entitled to wear its official outfit and Team B shall wear its reserve jerseys.

iii) The match commissioner and the referee must confirm the colours and record them clearly. They must also confirm the colours of the ball boys.

vi) At the match co-ordination meeting both teams must be represented by the Head of delegation, team manager, kit manager, doctor and Assistant coach. These officials are required to communicate back to the players what was discussed in the match coordination meeting.

Vii) Before the start of the competition, CECAFA organizing committee will convene a meeting with all the teams and go through the rules and regulations. It is mandatory that all teams take part in this meeting. In case the teams are in different venues, the organizing committee is allowed to meet each team individually.

8.6 At the first match coordination meeting, the teams must present a CD of their national anthem and the flag of their country.

8.7 The organizing committee at their proposition will impose immediate fines if the following is not fulfilled:-

a) Teams who arrive late  at the match coordination meeting –USD 100

b) Teams who fail to present their two sets of uniforms at the match coordination meeting –USD 100

c) Teams who report late at the Stadium USD 200

d) CECAFA officials who report late at the match coordination and at the stadium USD 100.

8.8 At the first match coordination meeting, CECAFA will compel all the participating teams to sign an engagement letter which binds all the teams to:-

i) To comply and fully respect the rules and regulations herein

ii)Respect the decisions that will be taken by the organizing committee

iii) Respect and accept all the arrangements of the organizing committee and host Association

vi) Observe Fair play principles

ARTICLE 9.0 TOURNAMENTORGANISATIONS

9.1) The CECAFA organizing committee and the Local Organizing committee shall be responsible for the organization of the tournament.

9.2) The LOC will inform CECAFA of the designated venues. Four month before the tournament, CECAFA will make an inspection visit.  CECAFA will make final inspection visit two months before the start of the competition.

9.3) The matches can be played in one or two venues as shall be agreed upon by CECAFA and LOC.

9.4) The matches shall be played at daylight. In case the LOC recommends matches to be under floodlights, CECAFA shall insist on the inspection of lighting system to prove their suitability.

9.5) CECAFA and LOC shall determine the kick- off times especially starting at the quarter finals to finals in consideration of the host nation.

9.6) Teams are required to arrive at the stadium one hour and 30 minutes before kickoff (90 minutes)

9.7) On arrival, teams are required to submit the start list of players to the match commissioner or designated match coordinator. The start list provided by CECAFA must include all the 20 players. But starting players must be identified as per the instructions on the form.

9.8) Teams must observe and respect the arrangement at the stadium irrespective of the home team. This include respecting the dressing room allocation and substitutes bench.

9.9) Each team will be allowed a maximum of three substitutes per match. Five technical officials and the nine substitute players are allowed to sit on the bench. No additional people will allow on the bench.

9.10 No team shall determine the venue of their choice or question decisions of the organizing committee regarding the kick-off matches and any other arrangement.

9.11 The CECAFA Organizing committee and the LOC shall determine any matters that may be necessary to adopt in order to organize a successful event. Such decisions cannot be questioned by the participating teams.

9.12 All matches shall be played in accordance with the laws of game as applied by CAF and FIFA

ARTICLE 10.0 DOPING

10.0) Doping is prohibited in sports:

10.1) According the International Olympic Committee (IOC), doping is the “administration of or use by an athlete of any substance foreign to the body or any physiological substance taken abnormal quantity or taken by an abnormal route with the sole purpose of increasing in an artificial and unfair manner, his/her performance in competition”.

10.2) When necessity demands medical treatment with any substance which, because of its nature, dosage or application is able to boost the athlete’s performance in competition in an artificial and unfair manner, this too is regarded as doping.

10.3) In order to support this concept, the IOC has published a list of prohibited substances and has developed a drug testing program to be used in Olympic games and related competitions in order to put an end to the use of these substances.

10.4) The ant doping testing agents normally don’t inform any party when they want to conduct the test, They just appear to the competition venue and pick any athlete (s) at random and collect samples for the test.

10.5) The team, officials and players are obliged to comply to the instructions given by the ant doing testing agents.

10.6) Failure to comply to the instructions given by the testing agents shall lead to sanctions such as:

10.7)

ARTICLE 11.0 THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE

The organizing committee for the Youth U.20 championship is appointed by CECAFA Executive committee. And they have the following responsibilities.

11.1)  The committee is responsible for organizing and coordinating the matches of the youth U.20 championship in accordance with the governing rules and regulation.

11.2) The committee shall be headed by a chairman and a number of members as specified by the Executive committee

11.3) The committee shall be responsible for the overall organization of the competition

11.4) The committee shall deal with all the disciplinary matters, imposing fines and recommending to the Executive committee further sanctions to offending associations

11.5) The decisions of the Organising committee shall be final and binding and not subject to appeal.

11.6) The organizing committee have the power to disqualify players from the competition if they are found over age or having committed any other offence

11.7) A member of the organizing committee whose country is subject of discussion shall not be allowed to take part in that meeting. However this does not include the President, Vice president or Secretary General of CECAFA

11.8) The organising committee under the guidance of the Secretary General shall be responsible for the drawing of lots and arranging the fixtures

11.9) The organizing committee shall form the bulk of match commissioners, Assessors, match coordinators all recognized by CAF.

11.10) The CECAFA Referees sub-committee will nominate the required number of referees and assistants. The sub-committee will forward the names to Secretary General who will approve the list. The referees and assistants must be on the current FIFA list. No member Association shall be responsible for the nomination of referees and assistants.

11.11) Any member Association who interferes with the selection of referees nominated for CECAFA Competition will be sanctioned on the proposition of the organizing committee.

11.12) On the occasion of CECAFA tournament, the referees Subcommittee will appoint match officials (Referees and assistants) for each match – one day before the match and the list shall be approved by the organizing committee. The organizing committee have powers to reject the list based on the circumstances of the situation.

11.13) The referees sub-committee under the guidance of the organizing committee and in conjunction with the LOC will conduct referees medical and physical test two days before the start of the tournament.

11.14) The Host Federation is responsible for all the arrangements and any costs that may arise during the above exercise.

11.15)If any referee or assistant referee fail the medical or physical test, the organizing committee shall order him/her to return home. The organizing committee shall recommend to the referees sub- committee to get a replacement who shall go through the same medical and physical tests.

ARTICLE 12.0 RESPONSIBILITIES OF CECAFA

12.1)CECAFA are the custodian of all CECAFA competitions

12.2) They are responsible for the day to day running of CECAFA activities

12.3) They organize competitions on behalf of Member Associations

12.4) They ensure that competitions comply to CAF and FIFA framework

12.5) To organize draws and fixtures

12.6) To look for sponsors and partners and ensure that officials and referees arrive at the venue of the competition on time.

12.7)They ensure that there is order and discipline during the competitions.

12.8)To ensure that Rules and Regulations are respected and observed.

ARTICLE 13.0 RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST COUNTRY

13.1)The host Federation must conform to the rules of engagement as stipulated by CECAFA

13.2) They must honour all financial obligations as agreed upon by (CECAFA)

13.3) Must provide accommodation and local transport for CECAFA delegation, visitors, referees, teams and other delegates as agreed upon by CECAFA. The hotels for teams must Three (3) Star or good hostels with all the necessary facilities.

13.4)  Must put at the disposal of CECAFA the stadia and training grounds suitable for the teams without any conditions

13.5) Must guarantee adequate security to all delegations, teams, referees and even spectators at the stadia.

13.6) Entry Visas must be easy to be obtained by the visiting delegations. The host nation must liaise with the relevant Government organs to facilitate this.

13.7) The host Federation must ensure that TV partners entering their territory for CECAFA matches are not subjected to taxes and bureaucratic delays at the point of entry. They must also ensure that TV partners are afforded adequate facilities like power, security of their equipment and free access to the venues.

13.8i) Must provide good protocol for delegations at the point of entry and at the Stadia ensuring that delegations are well received and seen-off

ARTICLE 14.0 RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTICIPATING MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

14.1)  To conform to the rules and regulations governing the competition

14.2) To ensure that they pay travel tickets of their teams unless CECAFA or a sponsor offers to provide tickets.

14.3) To ensure that their delegation is composed of 25 people as CECAFA and host nation shall not be responsible for extra persons.

14.4) To honour their obligation to CECAFA by paying their dues promptly. These include Affiliation fee of USD 3,000, Annual Fee of USD 1500  and USD 500 participation fee for Under 20 Youth Competition.

14.5) To arrange for their visas from their country of origin unless there is no mission of the hosting federation

14.6) To inform CECAFA host federation their travel schedule ten days before the start of the tournament.

14.7) To accept the accommodation and transport provided by the host nation. If they feel the accommodation is sub-standard they can move to a hotel of their choice and meet all the boarding expenses. The host Federation/CECAFA shall not be responsible for that decision.

14.8) Must be able to settle minor expenses on their own

14.9) Must ensure they prepare and present a good team to the competition.

14.10) They must ensure they observe the age limit for the youth U.20 competitions to avoid sanctions.

14.11 Carry the CD and national flag to the venue of competition

14.12 To ensure their travel tickets are easily validated to enable them return home within 48 hours

ARTICLE 15.O PROTESTS AND APPEALS

Protests and appeals are not allowed in CECAFA competitions. However incase a team feels there was an injustice, they have a right to protest and appeal.

15.1) Protests and appeals can be submitted to the match commissioner immediately after the match with the protesting team stating is reasons for protest. This must be in writing by the Head of delegation of the protesting team and must be received by CECAFA three hours after the match. The protest must be accompanied by non-refundable fee of USD 500

15.2) Appeals and protests against referees’ decision shall not be accepted by CECAFA as the referees’ decision is final.

15.3) Protests and Appeals being lodged out of the framework of these regulations shall not be accepted.

15.4) CECAFA shall not accept appeals and protests after the final match.

15.5) CECAFA shall not tolerate its member Associations taking football matters and disputes to the court of law. CECAFA has the power impose sanctions to such members.

ARTICLE 16.00 CHEATING AND FRAUD

 Cheating and engaging in fraud is not allowed in CECAFA.

16.1)Any member association whose team is involved in any form of cheating or fraud like over- age,  fielding non-qualified player, using a forged passport, fielding a suspended/expelled player, that team will lose the match 3-0 and shall be expelled from the tournament awaiting further sanctions from the organizing committee. Such sanctions may include a two year ban from all age category competitions or a fine of not less than USD 2000.

16.2) CECAFA can institute and pursue fraud and cheating investigations even after the end of the tournament (3 months) and if there is informed evidence of fraud and cheating, sanctions shall be imposed to the offending party. Such sanctions may include suspension, fine or forfeiting the trophy if they were the winners or disqualification for any CAF/FIFA competition.

ARTILE 17.0 DISCIPLIINARY MATTERS

17.1) At the group stage, a player who has accumulated two yellow cards, sent-off or shown a red card shall be suspended from playing the subsequent match.

17.2) Yellow cards (one) accumulated by players in the group stage shall not be taken into account at the next stage of the competition. But a player who has been suspended in the group stage shall not be allowed to play at the next stage of the competition.

17.3) A player who has been sent-off and shown a red card twice in the tournament shall be suspended from all the remaining matches and further sanctions may be imposed on him by the organizing committee

17.4) If a team abandons a match for whatever reasons, that team shall lose match 3-0 and further sanctions can imposed on the team

17.5)If a team fields an over-age player and it is proved so, that offending team shall lose the match 3-0 and further sanctions can be imposed on the offending team.

17.6) If the referee is forced to stop the match due to darkness before the end of the regular time and if the delay of kick was caused by one team, that team that caused the delay shall be declared the loser by 3-0 and the opposing team shall be declared the winner.

17.7) In force majeure situation, if a match is abandoned and cannot be played in its entirety, the organizing Committee and the LOC shall decide whether the match result at the time of abandonment is valid or whether the match shall be replayed.

17.8) If the organizing committee decides that a match must be replayed, this replay must be held within 24 hours and any team that fails to honour the match shall be declared the loser by 3-0 and the opposing team shall be declared the winner.

17.9) If a team that has qualified for the quarter finals, or semi-final or final fails to honour a match, the organizing committee shall disqualify the team and replace it with the team that it knocked out. The organizing committee may impose further sanctions on the defaulting team.

ARTICLE 18.0 MATCH REPORTS

18.1 Match commissioners and referees are required to submit their match reports to the chairman of the organizing committee at the end of the match

ARTICLE 19.0 BROADCAST AND PUBLICITY RIGHTS

19.1 All Television and publicity Rights belong to CECAFA

19.2 The President and Secretary General of CECAFA shall be responsible for preparations and negotiations of Broadcast and Publicity agreements and contracts.

ARTICLE 20.0 CAF AND FIFA REGULATIONS

Any clause or matter not provided in these Rules and Regulations shall be referred to the Rules and Regulations of CAF and FIFA.

PRESIDENT CECAFA                                                                                         SECRETARY GENERAL

MUTASIM GAFAR