Rules & Regulations of Surf Cup International 2025 – Tangier, Morocco
Rules and Format:
Matches will be played according to FIFA regulations and the rules of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. The tournament will begin with a group stage (groups of 3 teams), followed by a second stage that includes semifinals, a final, and a 5th/6th place playoff for the teams that finished third in their groups.
Match Duration:
Matches will be 2 x 30 minutes during both the group stage and the finals. Organizers reserve the right to adjust match duration in case of exceptional circumstances. Halftime will last 5 minutes. For the girls’ division, final phase matches will be 2 x 25 minutes.
Referees:
Matches will be officiated by referees from various technical committees. All decisions made by referees are final and cannot be appealed.
Uniforms:
All jerseys must be numbered and must match the player list submitted or emailed to the organizers in advance. In case of color conflict, the second-listed team must wear an alternate kit.
Substitutions:
Each match will begin with 11 players including a goalkeeper. Substitutions are rolling (unlimited) and do not require informing or waiting for approval from the referee. Substituted players may re-enter the match.
Suspensions:
A player receiving a red card will be automatically suspended for that match. If the red card is due to a minor offense, the player will not be suspended for the next match. The final decision rests with the tournament organizers.
Protests:
Referee decisions cannot be protested. All other protests must be submitted by the team’s official representative. Protests related to a specific match must be submitted within 15 minutes of the match ending, along with a fee of €60 / 600 MAD. This fee will be refunded if the protest is upheld. The decision of the organizers is final.
Knockout Stage Rules
After the group stage, all six participating teams will be re-ranked based on total points. Knockout pairings will be determined as follows:
Ranking & Matchups:
Top 4 teams advance to the semifinals:
Match 1: 1st place vs 4th place
Match 2: 2nd place vs 3rd place
5th and 6th place teams play in the 5th/6th place playoff.
Semifinal Winners:
Advance to the final to compete for the championship.
5th/6th Place Match:
Played between the 5th and 6th ranked teams after the group stage.
Tiebreakers:
If teams are level on points after the group stage, the following criteria will be applied in order:
Head-to-head result
Goal difference
Goals scored
Goals conceded
Random draw
Penalty Shootouts:
In knockout matches, penalties will follow FIFA rules. Each team will take 5 alternating kicks. If still tied, the shootout continues until one team scores and the other misses. Only players on the field at the final whistle are eligible to take part.
Modifications:
Any situation not covered in this document is under the exclusive discretion of the organizers. All decisions are final. Organizers reserve the right to modify or add rules as necessary.
Forfeits Due to Late Arrival:
Teams must be present and ready to play at the scheduled time. A 15-minute grace period is allowed. If a team is not ready within that time, they will forfeit the match 3-0. Repeated forfeits may result in additional disciplinary action, including possible disqualification from the tournament.