Rules of the league
If you have any queries on the league then please contact the league manager Toby Nash on his e-mail or mobile.
07779 255351
1. All league matches are to kick-off at 6:30pm. All cup matches are to kick off at 6.30pm or 8pm. Teams should ensure that they arrive at the ground in plenty of time to meet the aforementioned kick-off times.
2. Should a team be unable to field 7 players or more within 15 minutes of kick off then the opposing team have the option to enforce a 2-0 lead before the fixture has kicked off. For the avoidance of any doubt the latest kick off times to avoid such a penalty would be 6.45pm for a league fixture and 6.30pm for a cup fixture. If the aforementioned penalty is to be imposed by a team then it should be confirmed with the referee and both captains/managers before kick-off. Obviously, we all pay good money to play the full game so out of respect for all the teams in the league please be ready to kick-off on time otherwise you face a potential 2-0 deficit before your team has even kicked a ball!
3. "Rolling Subs" will be allowed in all games. Up to FIVE substitutes may be fielded by any one team in any one game.
4. The league has reverted to a traditional yellow & red card format for offences committed. A second yellow card will result in a sending off. A yellow card will generally only be produced for persistent fouling, abusing the referee or a "professional foul". The latter could also result in a straight red card should the referee determine that the offence committed prevented a goal scoring opportunity and that the player who committed the offence was the last player from where the foul was committed and his own goalkeeper.
5. A straight red card will be produced in the event of violent conduct - though I would hope that this will not occur. The manager of the player sent off must report the red card to me in the Monday match report and a one match ban will be enforced in this instance. If you feel that you have grounds to appeal against a ban then I will hear your objections and make a ruling. A one game ban will not be imposed upon any player sent off for either two yellow cards in a match or where a red card was awarded for a professional foul.
6. Please remember that although this is a fiercely competitive league, it is also played in a terrific spirit, and, on the whole, players and teams adopt the desired attitude and respect to one another. Perpetual violent conduct will result in the expulsion of that player and/or team. This is a professional type league and we do not want to go back to work on a Monday with a black eye and/or a broken leg as a result of reckless and dangerous foul play and/or violent conduct otherwise the aforementioned punishment will be enforced.
7. In the event of a team being expelled from the league due to constant violent conduct or defaulting on payments, then monies paid to date will not be refunded and all subsequent games and previous results involving said team will be voided.
8. Please also remember that the referees do not have linesmen, and will therefore make mistakes. There is therefore no point criticising those decisions as all you are likely to receive is a yellow card with the possibility of being sent off for a further yellow card. So please respect the referees and their decisions.
9. Failure to attend a match will result in an automatic 3-0 defeat and a £100 fine to be paid within 28 days (failure to pay the fine will result in expulsion from the league - see Rule 7).
10. In the event of a match being abandoned for whatever reason, then the result shall be determined by the referee, who shall take the score at the time and the circumstances of the abandonment into consideration. For example, if a team is 3-0 up with 5 minutes to go and the lights go out, then the result will probably stand. However, if on the other hand a side is 1-0 and then have 5 players sent off, leading to the match being abandoned (minimum number of players is 7), then although 1-0 up, the opposition will be awarded a 1-0 win on the grounds of serious ungentlemanly conduct!
11. Managers should contact their opposite number (or assistants) when they have a match, just to make sure that the opposition have remembered that there is a game on and to avoid a kit clash. If you turn up at Battersea Park and there is no opposition, although you will be awarded a 3-0 win, your players might not be too pleased to not have a match!
12. All results and goalscorers’ names should be forwarded to the league at rostam29@hotmail.com and via the whatsapp group on the following Monday after a match, by both managers/assistant managers.
13. Games can only be postponed if I am given at least 2 weeks notice. Within those two weeks I will try and reschedule another team to fill the fixture, but if that is not possible, you should play with as many people as you can assemble, otherwise your team will incur a 3-0 defeat in default and pay a fine of £100 within 28 days (failure to pay the fine will result in expulsion from the league - see Rule 7). Postponements should be used as a last resort in an emergency type scenario as all teams should really be able to field eleven players unless there is, for example, a company training day or a stag do which involves the whole team. Continual rescheduling of fixtures in recent years has cost the league money and prolonged the season until July – both of which are unacceptable so each team is only allowed to request to postpone one league fixture over the course of the season. The fixtures will be agreed between all the teams before the season commences so each team shall have plenty of time to reschedule their fixtures during this period outside of the regular season.
14. The league positions will be determined at the end of the season as per Premiership rules, i.e. 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and teams on equal points are separated by, firstly goal difference, then goals scored and finally head to head record if required.
15. Cup games will be played as normal matches, but 40 minutes each way. In the event of a draw, it is straight to penalties (usual cup format - 5 each then sudden death). Only players on the pitch at the end of a game may take part in the penalty shoot-out, but any of those players can go in goal.
16. If any player is seen to be wearing studded, bladed, moulded or other inappropriate footwear (in the eyes of the referee) then they will immediately be issued with a yellow card. In the event that they are unable to return to the field with appropriate footwear then they will not be allowed to play any further part in the game.