Spoleg | Regulations on the Organization of the Premier League and First Division of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Adoption	1398 — Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Status	Governing version — Regulations on the Organisation of the Premier League and First Division
Note on the 1405 season	Pursuant to resolutions of the Executive Board, the Premier League of the 1404-1405 season was left unfinished and the twenty-sixth edition is being held with 18 teams

The full text of this document appears further down this page.

Table of articles (57 articles)

1Purpose
2Definitions
3The Iran Football League Institution (Organisation)
4Clubs
5Entry of clubs into professional football competitions
6Security and safety
7Conduct of matches under the "Laws of the Game"
8Timetable for the start of official matches
9Duration of the match and extra time
10Play Off matches - home and away
11Determining the winner by penalty kicks
12Failure of the match to start
13Cancellation or suspension (stoppage) of the match
14Stadiums
15Field of play
16Benches and the technical area
17Warming up of players
18Formalities for training at stadiums
19Match balls
20Match scheduling
21Award of points and arrangement of the competition table
22Duties and obligations of clubs
23Withdrawal from a match and the penalty for it
24Supply of kit from official manufacturers
25Prohibition of certain items
26Compulsory equipment of players
27Requirements for players' kit
28Accommodation and hospitality for match officials and staff
29Essential equipment
30Media access areas
31Press conferences
23The Mixed zone area
33Interviews
43Medical facilities, treatment and care
53Academic qualifications and duties of the stadium doctor
36Presence of a doctor on the bench
37Competence of the doctor to examine and treat
38Continuation of the match by an injured or wounded player
39Divergence between the opinion of the doctor and the technical staff
40Ticket-sales directive
41Allocation of the capacity of stadium spectator areas
42Division of other, non-ticketing revenues
43Disciplinary measures and decisions, and the Ethics and Appeals Committee
44Caution (yellow card) and how it is counted
45Sending-off (red card) and how it is counted
46Suspension from matches
47Youth teams of league clubs
48Winning the league
49Relegation from the league
50Withdrawal from membership of the league
51Tournaments (combined competitions)
52Financial affairs
53Club officials
54Super Cup champion
55Interpretation of the regulations
56Matters not provided for
57Approval and entry into force of the regulations

Chapter One; — Purpose and definitions

#Article 1Purpose

These regulations have been prepared and drawn up with the aim of consolidating and strengthening cultural and ethical foundations and developing fair play among the members, in compliance with the rules of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran and with rules of conduct, the growth and development of youth football, protection of the interests of the members and standardisation, the staging of competitions, and likewise the training and provision of capable human resources in technical and executive fields.

#Article 2Definitions

These regulations are a body of rules which determines the manner of staging the Premier League and First Division competitions throughout the country, and the terms used in them are defined as follows:

Federation: the highest official football organisation

Football League Organisation: a non-governmental institution, registered with the Companies Registration Office, which, in respect of the staging of the competitions entrusted to this organisation pursuant to Article 42 of the Federation's Statutes, performs its duties in compliance with the regulations.

Football Board: non-governmental bodies which, under the supervision of the Federation and as its successor in the province concerned, implement and supervise all planning and executive activities of football in cooperation and coordination with the League Organisation and the Departments of Sport and Youth, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.

Match officials: a body composed of persons acting as match commissioner, referee assessor, referee, assistant referee, fourth official and, where necessary, fifth assistant referee, additional assistant referees and video assistant referee, special observers, media officer, security officer, medical officer, doping control team, cultural officer, monitoring and evaluation officer, public relations manager, and technical study and development group officer, who are appointed and dispatched by the Federation and the League Organisation for the staging of the competitions.

Logo: the emblem approved by the Football Federation and the League Organisation.

Broadcasting rights: comprising any use and exploitation of the competitions for the purpose of producing and transmitting a live signal

by television, internet or radio, and the recording of the competitions by any medium, whether audio or audiovisual. The right to grant licences for the display of live signals and the recording of matches by television stations, radio stations or any other medium now existing or coming into existence in the future, including all forms of terrestrial, cable and satellite television, IPTV, broadband (fixed or wireless), internet and interactive television based on domestic and global networks.

Clean stadium: a stadium which, from 48 hours before each match until 24 hours after it, is controlled so as to be free of any advertising or promotional messages or boards which do not have a licence from the League Organisation.

Commercial affiliates: any entity to which the Federation and the League Organisation have granted, or will grant, directly or indirectly, part of the commercial rights in the competitions; some of the commercial affiliates are: sponsors, supporters, licence holders and media partners, all of which are official.

Commercial rights: all rights of commercial exploitation of the competitions, including unlimited rights of commercial exploitation of advertising, broadcasting rights, the granting of licences, hospitality, images, merchandise, the promotion of products and services, sponsorship, and tours and travel, and by new media, video or commercial exploitation or by any other means.

Competitions: a planned match played according to a timetable (including qualifying or play-off matches for entry into the competitions), and it also includes activities, the opening programme, closing ceremonies and press conferences.

Competitions website: the official website covering the competitions, used exclusively by the Federation and the League Organisation.

Host Football Board: the football board recognised by the Federation and the League Organisation to organise, stage and host the competitions.

Host club: a club recognised by the member football board and by the Federation and the League Organisation to host the staging of the competitions with appropriate organisation.

Match: each match consists of a game of 90 minutes, to which extra time and penalty kicks may also be added.

Media: all members of the visual, audio, digital and written media (news editors, reporters, photographers, radio and television news personnel, and representatives of broadcasting rights holders) who, subject to the approval of the Football Federation and the League Organisation, are entitled to receive media accreditation.

Official training venues: the training venues provided and allocated by the host club for visiting teams before each match.

Premier League: the highest level of professional football competition in the country, being a set of matches with the participation of the previous season's teams which have not been relegated to the First Division, plus the teams promoted from the First Division to the Premier League, staged in a single table on a home-and-away basis.

First Division League: a set of matches with the participation of the previous season's teams which have not been relegated to the Second Division, plus the teams promoted from the Second Division to the First Division and likewise the teams relegated from the Premier League, staged in one group on a home-and-away basis.

Participating players: players whose contracts are registered with the League Organisation and who hold a card for participation in the competitions.

Participating teams: teams which, for the duration of their presence in the competitions, are under the supervision and authority of the Federation and the League Organisation.

Chapter Two — Organisation

#Article 3The Iran Football League Institution (Organisation)

This institution (organisation), which is registered with the Companies Registration Office, is a non-governmental body which has premises and a structure in conformity with the standards, and which is selected pursuant to Article 42 of the Statutes of the Football Federation and is responsible for all matters of staging the competitions

#Article 4Clubs

Clubs are entities registered under the Commercial Code which, under a licence from the Article 5 Commission, are permitted to operate in the discipline of football, and are required to observe the following matters in their own statutes.

1.Observance of the principles of loyalty, trustworthiness and proper sporting conduct as principles of fair play.

2.Full compliance with the statutes, regulations, rules, directives issued, decisions taken and contracts concluded by the Football Federation and the Football League Organisation, and the club's contracts with natural and legal persons, and with the standards of the Asian Football Confederation and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, while safeguarding national interests and subject to the determination of the Football Federation

3.Implementation of all resolutions of the International Football Association Board concerning the Laws of the Game.

4.Compliance with the decisions of the Federation's judicial body.

5.Bringing all disputes before the Federation's judicial body and refraining from bringing football-related claims before authorities other than the judicial bodies of the Football Federation

6.Not establishing sporting relations with entities whose membership of the Football Federation has been suspended or with persons who have been banned by final decisions of the judicial body of football and sport.

7.Maintaining active communication with the Football Federation, the League Organisation and other bodies connected with the sport of football which have become members of the Football Federation

8.Cooperation with supervisory and employment bodies and the tax administration.

9.Payment of the Federation membership fee, the fee for participation in the competitions, and the fee for leaving the province.

10.Informing the League Organisation and the Federation of any possible changes in their own statutes and board of directors.

#Article 5Entry of clubs into professional football competitions

These competitions are in two tiers, "the Premier League and the First Division League", as follows:

1.The number of, and manner of, relegation of teams in the Premier League, and likewise the number of, and manner of, promotion of teams in the First Division, shall, before the start of each season, be by means of a directive which has been endorsed by the Executive Board of the League Organisation and approved by the Executive Board of the Federation and notified to the clubs taking part in the Premier League and First Division competitions.

2.The financial rules and regulations of the games in each season for the entry of clubs into the competitions shall be notified to the clubs taking part in the competitions by means of an approved directive.

3.The club or clubs which, as representatives of the Premier League, meet the conditions for the slots determined by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) are obliged to take part in the AFC Champions League (ACL) and intercontinental competitions.

4.All players and officials registered to take part in these competitions must, if they are nominated to receive an award, attend all the relevant ceremonies determined and planned by the Federation, the League Organisation, the Asian Football Confederation and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

5.All clubs shall, after concluding a contract with players/technical staff/medical staff and logistics staff, prepare a copy of it and, after attaching the personal particulars form of the players, refer the documents to the football boards of the province concerned for verification.

6.The provincial football boards are required, without requiring the attendance of the players or technical staff, to have the personal particulars form signed and stamped by the president or secretary of the board after receiving it, and to deliver it to the club.

7.The provincial football boards may keep the documents in question in their possession for one day only, and should they refuse to sign them, the club may, after the expiry of the one-day period, submit them to the League Organisation and, by letter, report the provincial board's refusal to agree, so that the League Organisation may take the final decision.

8.The presumption is that the particulars entered on the personal particulars form are correct; accordingly, the provincial boards receive only the personal particulars forms, and the duty of establishing authenticity and verifying the signature and fingerprint of players/technical staff/medical staff and logistics staff rests with the clubs.

9.Where clubs owe debts to the provincial boards, if the indebted clubs have receivables held by the League Organisation, then, with the confirmation of the indebted club, this organisation may, in compliance with the regulations, pay the said debt to the boards.

Chapter Three — Conditions for staging matches

#Article 6Security and safety

The host club and the boards shall, in addition to coordinating with the security and law-enforcement authorities for the Premier League and First Division competitions, foresee, plan and implement adequate security and safety for the League Organisation and the Federation in all controlled areas of the matches. Security measures must cover all persons at all times. The persons who must benefit from safety services from the time of entry into until departure from the province where the match is staged are:

1.All players/technical staff/medical staff/logistics staff and officials of the visiting and host clubs

2.The match officials designated by the Federation, the League Organisation, the Asian Confederation and FIFA

3.The media.

4.Advertising staff and commercial partners.

5.Supporters and spectators.

The security and safety stages must be in accordance with the directives of FIFA, the Asian Confederation and the Sports Security Council of the Ministry of the Interior, covering the stadium, the training grounds, and likewise the hotels of the visiting club and of the match officials, and the access route to the stadium.

#Article 7Conduct of matches under the "Laws of the Game"

1.All matches are staged in accordance with the Laws of the Game and the rules drawn up and published by the International Football Association Board.

2.Only three players whose names appear on the list of substitute players may take part in the match as substitutes. In play-off matches, teams may also use a fourth substitution during the two periods of 15 minutes of extra time.

3.The minimum number of players of each team for starting and continuing a match is seven.

4.Any team covered by clause 3 may, during the game, progressively complete its team from its list of substitute players at the first stoppage of play.

5.If the number of players of either team falls below 7, the game is abandoned unfinished; in this case the League Organisation and the Disciplinary Committee (in the event of a disciplinary offence) decide on the matter.

#Article 8Timetable for the start of official matches

3 hours before the match ← attendance of the match commissioner and the representative of the football board, the stadium manager, the ground security officer, the board's media officer

2 hours before the match← attendance of the referees and the referee assessor at the stadium

1/30 hours before the match← last opportunity for the teams to be present at the stadium and to submit the list of players' names

60 minutes before the match← approval of the teams' team sheets by the match commissioner, distribution of the list of names among the media

50 minutes before the match← warming up of both teams on the field of play

30 minutes before the match← announcement of the players' names over the stadium public address system

20 minutes before the match← end of the warm-up period and departure of the teams from the pitch and final inspection of the field of play

12 minutes before the match← movement of the substitute players and the technical staff seated on the bench and their taking up position at the bench

10 minutes before the match← presence of both teams in the tunnel for the final check by the referees

8 minutes before the match← entry of the commissioner, the referees and the teams onto the field of play

5 minutes before the match← start of the pre-match ceremony, photographing of the teams by the photographers and the referee's toss

precisely at the appointed time← start of the match

#Article 9Duration of the match and extra time

1.Each match is 90 minutes, consisting of two halves of 45 minutes and one interval of 15 minutes between the two halves.

2.The 15-minute interval between the two halves is counted from the whistle ending the first half to the whistle starting the second half.

3.In play-off stage matches (where a result must be obtained), if normal time ends in a draw, extra time shall be provided for.

4.Extra time consists of two periods of fifteen minutes, which begins with a five-minute rest after the end of normal time of the match, and between the two halves of extra time the ends are changed with a rest of at most one minute for drinking water.

#Article 10Play Off matches - home and away

1.In each Play Off match, in order to determine the winning team, the points obtained from the head-to-head games are the first criterion; then, in the event of equality of points, goals scored at the opponent's ground are counted double.

2.If both teams are equal in the number of home and away goals, extra time shall be provided for, and goals scored in extra time are not subject to the away-goals rule.

3.The result of the game in extra time is itself an independent method of obtaining a result.

#Article 11Determining the winner by penalty kicks

This method is an independent procedure for determining the winner of the game.

1.If, after the two halves of extra time, the result is still level, kicks from the penalty mark (in accordance with the procedures explained in the Laws of the Game) are taken until the winner is determined.

2.While the penalty kicks are being taken, the substitute players and the technical staff must remain in the technical area belonging to their own team.

3.If, on account of weather conditions or reasons beyond control, the penalty kicks cannot be completed, the result is determined by lot drawn by the referee in the presence of the match organising officer and the captains of the two teams.

4.If, on account of the fault of one team, the penalty kicks cannot be completed, in this case the Disciplinary Committee of the Football Federation decides on the matter.

#Article 12Failure of the match to start

If, for reasons of force majeure such as the unsuitability of the ground or weather conditions, or failure of the floodlights, or preparing the turf, or lack of security for the match, the officials, the spectators and the operational staff, or unforeseen and unexpected circumstances, the match organising officer is unable to start the game, they must, in coordination with the referee, take the following decisions on continuing or cancelling the game:

1.The game is automatically suspended for thirty minutes so that conditions become sufficiently suitable for the match to start, unless, in the referee's view, conditions for staging it are met before the thirty minutes have elapsed. (If the game is suspended for up to 15 minutes the teams must remain on the pitch; if it is suspended for between 15 and 30 minutes the teams must go to the dressing rooms and, before the start, may warm up for up to 10 minutes)

2.If, after a thirty-minute suspension, it is not possible to stage the match, a further thirty-minute suspension shall be provided for; during this time the teams may be in the dressing rooms, but the teams must be allowed a further warm-up of up to 20 minutes.

3.After the end of the second waiting period under clause 2 and where it is not possible to stage the match, the League Organisation takes the final decision on restarting or cancelling the match.

4.In the event of air pollution and cancellation of the match, the League Organisation may stage the match at another time and place which it determines, and in this connection the other staging staff and both teams are obliged to cooperate.

#Article 13Cancellation or suspension (stoppage) of the match

1.If, for reasons of force majeure such as unsuitable weather conditions or failure of the floodlights or unsuitability of the turf, the referee stops a match before the end of the regulation time, the referee, in cooperation with the match organising officials, must act in the manner of clauses (1, 2 and 3) of Article 12.

2.In the event of cancellation of the match, the game must be staged with a delay of twenty-four hours, and the visiting and host teams and the other staging staff are obliged to cooperate.

3.If a match is abandoned unfinished (suspended) by the referee at any point of the game, the match continues on the following day from the same minute (at which it was suspended) — with the circumstances existing at the time of the stoppage of the match (counting the goals scored, the cautions (yellow cards) and sending-offs (red cards) received by the players and other members of the team, and likewise with the same list of names of players and other technical staff.

4.If a match which has been abandoned unfinished is, by decision of the League Organisation together with the Disciplinary Committee, staged from the beginning, any yellow card given during that match is annulled.

5.Any failure or omission on the part of the host or visiting club or other staff in giving effect to the above clause shall be subject to the sanctions set out in the disciplinary regulations.

6.If, during the game, a particular incident is observed or reported which threatens the security and safety of the players, technical staff, spectators or other staging staff present at the stadium, the match organising officer shall inform the referee of the matter, and the referee decides to suspend or abandon the game.

7.There is no possibility for teams to request review of the decisions taken under Articles 12 and 13, and the decisions of the organising body are final.

8.Where the failure to stage the match results from the absence of the law-enforcement force, the League Organisation shall cancel the said match and stage the game on a neutral ground, and all the costs of the visiting team are borne by the host.

9.Where, according to the announcement of the relevant organisation, the level of fine dust is reported at 200 micrograms per cubic metre, the match shall be suspended.

10.Where the level of air pollution, according to the announcement of the relevant organisation, is reported as more than AQI 170, the match is suspended.

Chapter Four — Facilities and requirements

#Article 14Stadiums

1.Each club is required to nominate to the League Organisation two stadiums, as first and second priority, for the matches it hosts, so that they may be inspected and approved.

2.Matches must be staged in a stadium which meets the minimum conditions and standards set out in the stadium regulations of the Asian Football Confederation.

3.Determining whether the stadium where the match is staged meets the minimum standards of the Asian Football Confederation is the responsibility of the League Organisation and the match organising officer.

4.Each club is required, throughout the competitions, to stage all its home games at a single stadium, unless, on the occurrence of unforeseen circumstances beyond its control, it is obliged, in the opinion of the Competitions Organising Committee, to use its second stadium.

5.Should the first and second nominated stadiums not be ready for staging matches or fall outside the conditions for the game and the initial approval, the League Organisation shall itself select and nominate a stadium in one of the cities of the province or outside the province, so that the game may be staged at that stadium.

6.Clubs are required, before the start of the season, to cover the stadium where their matches are held with civil liability and accident insurance; otherwise the consequences of any incident are borne by the host club.

#Article 15Field of play

1.The League Organisation must ensure that the condition of the pitch is suitable and standard for playing the game

2.Before the start of the match, the match organising officer inspects the stadium in order to ensure that conditions are met in accordance with the Laws of the Game. If the condition of the field of play, including the dimensions of the goal and the pitch and the measurements of its areas, is not in accordance with the Laws of the Game, the match organising officer gives the host club the necessary instructions to correct these matters. If, before the start of the game, the correction of the defects has still not been carried out, the League Organisation decides on determining another time and place for staging the match or referring the matter to the Disciplinary Committee.

#Article 16Benches and the technical area

1.The responsible officials of the team (comprising the team manager, head coach, coaches, medical staff, logistics officer, interpreter, media manager) and the substitute players may be seated on the team bench, provided that they hold an identity card and permission to be present at the match; the number of persons is announced at the start of each season as determined by the League Organisation

2.The authority to decide on changing the maximum number of persons seated on the bench is reserved to the League Organisation and is notified to the teams before the start of the season.

3.All officials and players seated on the bench must have their ID cards on their chest at all times.

4.All persons stationed on the bench, and the players, must use for their clothing a colour which differs from the colour of the kit of the players and the referees on the pitch.

5.The host team is stationed on the left-hand bench (to the left of the fourth official of the match). -

6.The visiting team is stationed on the right-hand bench (to the right of the fourth official). -

7.During the game only one of the team's officials may convey tactical instructions to their players. -

8.None of those seated on the bench are permitted to use mass communication or telecommunication devices during the staging of the match.

9.Use of the EPTS system is possible subject to the approval of the referee assessor and its bearing the IMS or FIFA logo, provided that its data is not extracted during the match, in which case it is permitted.

10.Changing the benches of the visiting and host teams in emergency circumstances is possible only at the determination and under the responsibility of the match commissioner. -

#Article 17Warming up of players

1.If the weather is favourable, teams are entitled to warm up on the field of play before the game; otherwise, at the determination and decision of the match organising officer, the warm-up stages must take place outside the main pitch or on part of the main pitch.

2.Each team may enter the pitch and begin warming up at most 50 minutes before the start of the match.

3.Teams are required to leave the pitch 20 minutes before the start of the game so that the field of play may be inspected again.

4.Twelve minutes before the start of the game, the persons seated on the bench must enter the pitch and take up position on the benches. -

5.Eight minutes before the start of the game, after those seated on the bench have taken up position, the starting players, together with the referees and the coordinator or match organising officer, enter the field of play.

6.During the match, a maximum of six substitute players from each team, wearing bibs, may warm up simultaneously but without a ball or other equipment behind the goal nearer to their bench, or in an area determined by the match organising officer, and, in the event of a shortage of space, 3 players and one member of the technical staff from each team may warm up. Alongside these players, two of the team's technical staff officials may also be present.

7.The warming up of substitute players may continue until the end of the substitutions. -

8.Any team which causes a delay at the time of staging, at the start of the match or at the start of the second half, is fined, on the first occasion, twenty million rials for each minute, and this amount is doubled relative to the previous one for subsequent occasions.

9.If this delay is caused by natural persons, only the natural person is fined, and in the event of repetition they may, in addition to the financial fine, be referred to the Disciplinary Committee for the application of supplementary sanctions.

#Article 18Formalities for training at stadiums

1.Having regard to the weather and the condition of the ground, the visiting club is entitled to one official training session of one hour at a suitable stadium approved by the League Organisation. This official training session is allocated to them one day before the match and at the same hour at which the match is to be played.

2.Where the stadium is at the host's disposal by way of lease, the legal right of the visiting team to carry out the training under clause 1 must be guaranteed.

3.For an official training session, the field of play must be prepared in accordance with match conditions. If the field of play is not in suitable condition, the match organising officer may allow the teams, wearing training shoes, merely to inspect the field of play.

4.If artificial turf is used for the matches, the visiting club is entitled, one day before the match, to two official training sessions of one hour or one official training session of two hours at the stadium where the match is played.

5.No match, programme or ceremony, with the exception of the weekly programmes coordinated with the League Organisation on the day of the match, may be held at the stadium where the match is staged.

6.Where it is essential for teams to hold any ceremony, they must send their official request to the League Organisation ten days before the match is staged, so that, if agreed, the said ceremony may take place.

#Article 19Match balls

1.The League Organisation selects footballs suitable for playing the Premier League and First Division matches and places them at the disposal of the clubs, and the host club receives the approved balls and, on the day of the match, places ten balls at the disposal of the match organising officials; the match balls must be free of any writing, club logo or advertising slogan.

#Article 20Match scheduling

1.All matches are staged in accordance with the competition calendar determined by the League Organisation. The times and dates announced are final and binding on all the parties concerned.

2.At the start of the competitions, clubs may propose to the League Organisation the kick-off times for all their home matches, but the final decision in this respect shall be taken by the League Organisation.

3.If, in the final two weeks, the matches are sensitive in terms of gaining points and goal difference (for promotion and relegation and obtaining slots), the League Organisation must announce and stage the matches simultaneously.

4.No match may be postponed except at the discretion and by the written order of the Federation or the League Organisation.

5.At the request of the responsible security authorities of the province where the match is staged, the League Organisation shall decide on changing the time and day of staging the match in accordance with the rules of the country's Sports Security Council {SHAK}.

6.At the request of the financial sponsor of the competitions, or of the television authorities or the Provision Council, on account of a clash of the broadcasting of the matches with a clash of national and religious programmes, the League Organisation may change the time at which the match is staged.

7.If more than three players from any team are called up to the senior national team camp, then, at the request of the said team, that team's matches shall be staged on another date determined by the League Organisation.

Chapter Five — Award of points

#Article 21Award of points and arrangement of the competition table

1.The Premier League and First Division competitions are staged on a home-and-away basis. -

2.In each match, three points are provided for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.

3.The ranking of the group table shall be as follows:

a: the total of points obtained in the competition table. -

b: in the event that two or more teams have equal points, the team with the greater goal difference is placed in the higher position. -

c: in the event of equality of the goal difference of the two or more teams being compared, the team with more goals scored shall be placed in the higher position.

d: in the event of equality of the greater goals scored of two or more teams, the head-to-head game of the two teams being compared, applying the rule of goals scored at the opponent's ground, is taken as the basis.

e: in the event of equality of all the existing criteria, for obtaining a slot or for promotion and relegation, one game in a neutral city shall be provided for the teams being compared.

f: the running costs of this match are divided equally between the two teams. Other teams which are on equal terms are declared to be of equal rank.

Chapter Six — Obligations of clubs

#Article 22Duties and obligations of clubs

On entering the league competitions, clubs automatically accept the following obligations:

1.Observance of the financial, commercial, trading, radio and television, telecommunications, digital and other agreements signed by the Football Federation and the League Organisation.

2.Clubs are required to place the stadium at the disposal of the organisers in a clean state and free of any advertising from 24 hours before the match, and in the event of any advertising in the space between the turf and the spectator stands (first and second tier), the offending club shall be dealt with disciplinarily in accordance with the regulations and the said club is required to pay up to twice the damage caused.

3.Observance of the safety and security agreements undertaken by the Football Federation and the League Organisation.

4.Acceptance of all administrative and disciplinary matters and the refereeing rules of the competitions.

5.In all cases clubs must act with complete honesty towards the League Organisation and the other clubs.

6.No club may, without written authorisation from the League Organisation, disclose information which may be used in commercial and financial matters; otherwise the Ethics Committee may impose an appropriate sanction.

7.To settle all matters in dispute through the relevant committees of the Football Federation and the League Organisation.

8.Acceptance of the jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, as defined in the Statutes of the Football Federation.

9.Observance of the principles of fair play.

10.To accept responsibility for the conduct of players, officials, members, financial backers and any person who performs duties on their behalf during the competitions, whether in home games or from the time of entry into the host city until the time of departure from the city where the match is played.

11.Providing the necessary requirements and facilities for staging the matches in cooperation with the relevant bodies.

12.Guaranteeing access to the stadium where the match is staged for the match organising officials and the players of the teams, sponsors and supporters, and the media, who have travelled to the city where it is staged.

13.Attendance and participation in all official activities and programmes, such as the meeting of team managers, media conferences, other media activities and so on, which are organised by the Football Federation and the League Organisation or the host football board, on the basis of the directives or the rules of the circulars issued.

14.Observance of the matters provided for clubs in the other regulations approved by the Federation.

15.Apart from the competitions provided for in the competition calendar, no club has the right, without written authorisation from the League Organisation, to take part in any domestic or foreign tournament.

#Article 23Withdrawal from a match and the penalty for it

1.Clubs must play in all the matches announced in advance by the League Organisation.

2.If the teams taking part in the Premier League competitions 14 days before, and the teams taking part in the First Division League 10 days before, the start of the team's first match of the season, have not registered 14 of their players with the League Organisation, this is deemed to be withdrawal from the competitions, and the League Organisation shall, in compliance with the regulations, substitute another team.

3.Should a club withdraw before the start of the competitions or be excluded, the League Organisation shall submit its written proposal for the substitution of another team, and after endorsement by the Executive Board of the League Organisation and approval by the Executive Board of the Federation, it becomes operative.

4.If a club withdraws from continuing in the competitions in the first half of the season (the first round) or fails to appear in two consecutive or non-consecutive games, the said club is removed from the competition table and all the points and goals scored and conceded relating to that team and to the other rival teams against the withdrawing team shall not be counted in the table, and it is self-evident that the competition table continues with one team fewer.

5.If a club withdraws during the second half of the season (the return round) or fails to appear in two consecutive or non-consecutive games without valid reason as determined by the League Organisation, the said club is removed from the competition table and the results obtained in the first half of the season (the first round) remain in force and the results of all the games of the second half of the season (the return round) shall be deleted from the competition table.

6.If a club fails to appear in one game in the first half of the season (the first round) and one game in the second half of the season (the return round), that club is removed from the table and the results obtained in the first round remain in force and the results of the return round shall be deleted.

7.In the event that a team fails to appear in two consecutive or non-consecutive games, this team is removed from the competition table and, in compliance with the regulations, is relegated by up to two competition tiers.

8.If a team taking part in a competition tier is removed from the table before the start of the competitions, in compliance with the regulations the last team to have been relegated from that same competition tier is substituted.

9.If a team which is removed from the table had previously been promoted from a lower tier, the last team which had the most points in the competitions of the promoted team is substituted.

Chapter Seven — Players' equipment

#Article 24Supply of kit from official manufacturers

1.Clubs are required to obtain their kit from manufacturers whose production of sports kit is in accordance with the standards laid down.

#Article 25Prohibition of certain items

A player's use of clothing or items which are dangerous to the player themselves or to other players (such as jewellery) is prohibited.

#Article 26Compulsory equipment of players

The basic and compulsory equipment of players is as follows:

1.A sleeved shirt: (short or long). If an undershirt is used, its colour must be the same as the colour of the shirt sleeve.

2.Shorts: (if undershorts are used, their colour must be the same as the main colour or the background colour of the shorts).

3.Long socks.

4.Shin guards: they must be made of a suitable material and provide the necessary protection and be completely covered by the socks.

5.Footwear: football boots must be approved from the point of view of the regulations, and the number and size of their studs must be approved under Law 4 of football refereeing

#Article 27Requirements for players' kit

1.The colour of the goalkeepers' kit must differ from the colour of the kit of the players and the referees, and it is self-evident that in each match the goalkeepers must not use kit of the same colour

2.Players must not use a shirt or undergarment bearing a slogan, advertisement or any kind of image. The display of advertising on an undergarment during the match carries a fine of from thirty million rials to two hundred million rials in proportion to the significance of the advertisement.

3.The undersleeve must be the same colour as the sleeve of the player's shirt.

4.The players' polo-neck covering must be of the same colour as, and attached to, the shirt.

5.Before the start of the season, each club must submit to the League Organisation the particulars of three sets of kit for the players and the goalkeeper (comprising shirt, shorts, socks) with first, second and third colour priority, and on the day of the match they must have two sets with them.

6.The kit of the first-choice and the substitute goalkeeper must be of one colour.

7.The players' kit (shirt and shorts) must bear a number (from 1 to 99) of standard dimensions. The shirt number of each player may not be changed until the end of the competitions; in the event of a change of shirt number in any game, an amount of ten million rials shall be deducted as a fine from the revenues of that club.

8.If a player's boot has an upper, they must cover the upper with tape of the same colour as the socks.

9.The height of the number on the back of the shirt shall be 25 to 35 centimetres, on the front of the shirt 10 to 15 centimetres, and the size of the number on the right leg of the player's shorts shall be 10 to 15 centimetres.

10.In order to distinguish the group leader (captain) from the other players, that player is required to use an armband of a different colour on the left arm. During the game, the captain shall not be changed except in the event of being substituted.

11.The player's shirt number must be visible from a distance and all the players' numbers must be of one colour.

12.The colour of each team's kit in each match is determined by the League Organisation having regard to the colour priority announced by the host and visiting clubs, and only the referees may change the colour of their kit on the day of the game.

13.Each club may place the advertising emblem of its financial backers, in standard dimensions, on its kit.

14.Advertising emblems and marks must be displayed in standard size.

15.Advertising on the chest and the back of the player's shirt is a maximum of two hundred square centimetres.

16.The club's emblem and logo on the left breast is a maximum of one hundred square centimetres.

17.The emblem and logo of the kit manufacturer on the right breast is a maximum of twenty square centimetres.

18.The size of the club's emblem and logo inside the cuff of the goalkeeper's gloves is fifty square centimetres.

19.The size of the manufacturer's emblem and logo on the back of the cuff of the goalkeepers' gloves of the two teams is 20 square centimetres.

20.The size of the club's emblem and logo on the leg of the sock is fifty square centimetres.

21.The size of the sock manufacturer's emblem and logo is twenty-five square centimetres.

22.The height of the player's name on the back of the shirt is 5 to 7.5 square centimetres.

23.The size of the club's emblem and logo on the shorts is fifty centimetres.

24.The size of the manufacturer's emblem and logo on the shorts is twenty-five square centimetres.

25.The height of the player's number on the shorts must be 10 to 15 centimetres and must correspond to the shirt number.

26.Where the design of a club's kit is chequered, sufficient space must be provided for the display of the shirt and shorts number on the main background colour of the shirt.

27.On the player's left arm the fair play emblem is affixed, and on the player's right arm the emblem and logo of the competitions.

28.The club may inscribe its name on the back of the collar of the players' shirts, (twelve square centimetres with dimensions of 6 × 2.

29.Clubs may have a maximum of four sponsors for the shirt in each game (two sponsors on the front and two sponsors on the back of the shirt) and one sponsor for the shorts.

30.The League Organisation may impose a prohibition in the case of similarity of the logo and emblem of the financial backers and of commercial, economic, manufacturing and service institutions, or of natural or legal persons, etc., providing financial cover to the clubs, where there is similarity.

31.No club may benefit from the financial support of an institution which is a financial sponsor of the referees.

Chapter Eight — Facilities for staging matches

#Article 28Accommodation and hospitality for match officials and staff

1.Only standard hotels which have been approved by the Federation and the League Organisation are used for the accommodation of the match commissioner, the referee assessor, the referees and the representatives dispatched by the League Organisation and the Football Federation.

2.The host club, in coordination with the provincial football board and at the club's expense, must provide the following for the dispatched delegation one day before the match, on the day of the game and, having regard to the flight and transport schedule, one day after the match.

a: accommodation of the dispatched delegation at the highest-rated hotel available in the host city.

b: food appropriate to the season (three meals a day) and sufficient drinking water, plus fruit and other hospitality requirements. -

c: the accompaniment of an official or officials of the host club or of the football board of the place where the match is held with the match commissioner, the referee assessor and the group of referees and other dispatched officials at the time of arrival and departure, in order to facilitate transport from the airport to the hotel and vice versa.

3.The referees and the dispatched delegation, the host team and the visiting team must be accommodated in three separate hotels. If there are not three suitable hotels in the city where the match is staged, the referees and the dispatched delegation must be accommodated in the hotel of the visiting team. (preferably on separate floors)

#Article 29Essential equipment

a) The host club is required to ensure that the following facilities are provided for the delegation dispatched by the League Organisation and the Football Federation for the staging of the matches.

1.One computer (laptop) or desktop connected to the internet via ADSL or cable.

2.One printer and its consumables such as paper, toner and cartridges.

3.One photocopier and its consumables such as paper, toner and cartridges.

4.At least eight radio sets with an amateur wavelength at the stadium on the day of the match, covering the whole stadium and not interfering with the radios of the police and stadium security.

5.At least two substitution boards at the stadium on the day of the match (1 electronic – 1 mechanical)

6.At least six corner flags on the day of the match.

7.One television with live coverage of the match, placed at the seat of the referee assessor.

8.The host club or the football board of the place where it is staged are required (at their own expense) to provide the match commissioner, after the match, with one complete copy of the DVD of the match played at their ground, and to send another complete copy to the League Organisation the following day. The host club or the football board must guarantee that the DVD is of suitable quality and covers the entire duration of the match.

10.In the event that the game is not recorded in full, or the DVD is not delivered and sent, the party at fault (the host club or the football board) shall be subject to a fine of up to two hundred million rials.

#Article 30Media access areas

1.No representative of the written press or radio and television reporter may enter the field of play or the area between the field of play and the spectator area.

2.Only authorised photographers, television camera operators and personnel necessary for the use of television cameras, unaccompanied, holding a special bib and a special ID card of the League Organisation, may enter the area between the field of play and the spectators and carry out their work in the particular places allocated to them.

3.Access of media representatives to the dressing rooms before the match, during the match and after it is strictly prohibited.

4.The host football board and the officials of the stadium where it is staged must ensure that the Football Federation and the League Organisation, the host television broadcaster and all broadcasting affiliates have free access to the stadium from one day before the match until one day after the match, so that they can provide for the technical requirements of the audio and video transmission of the stadium.

5.The host football board and the stadium where it is staged must ensure that the broadcasting rights of the League Organisation and the Federation are protected and that no television broadcaster or video camera crew or outside broadcast unit may have access to the stadium without obtaining written permission from the League Organisation and the Football Federation.

#Article 31Press conferences

1.The host club must, one day before each match, hold the pre-match press conference under the supervision of the media officer of the host football board.

2.The head coaches of the two participating clubs, from each club, are required to attend the press conference, which is held at least one day before the match. The media officer of the participating club must ensure the attendance of the head coach at this conference.

3.At most fifteen minutes after the final whistle, the post-match press conference must be held at the stadium. The head coaches of both clubs are required to attend this conference. First the coach of the visiting team, then the coach of the host team

4.Where the head coach of a team is not in a position to attend the conference before or after the game, they must obtain authorisation from the League Organisation for the attendance of the team's assistant coach.

5.In the event of non-compliance with the above clauses, the League Organisation may impose a fine of from ten million to one hundred million rials on a particular team, which, on the basis of the report of the match commissioner and the notification of the competitions unit and the order of the secretary of the League Organisation, is deducted from the revenues of the offending team.

#Article 23The Mixed zone area

1.After the match, the host club must provide a mixed zone area for the media in a suitable place. Use of this area begins after the end of the match, and in this area a suitable barrier will separate the coaches and players from the media.

2.The team's media officer is required, before the match, to provide the necessary information to the players and coaches so that they become aware of their responsibilities in this respect.

3.The team officials, personnel, coaches and players of the host and visiting clubs must, at the end of the match, pass through the mixed zone area on their way from the dressing room towards the bus carrying the team. Players and officials who do not comply with this article shall be subject to a fine of from ten million rials to thirty million rials, which, on the basis of the report of the match commissioner and the notification of the competitions unit and the order of the secretary of the League Organisation, is deducted from the revenues of the offending team.

4.Interviews with the media in this area are not compulsory, but it is strongly recommended that players and coaches

give short interviews to the media in this area.

#Article 33Interviews

1.At the request of the Football Federation and the League Organisation, both clubs must place their head coach and one key player at the disposal of the Football Federation and the League Organisation for an interview of at most ten minutes one day before the match or on the day of the match.

2.This interview shall be recorded by the holder of the television broadcasting licence, or by the local television broadcaster holding the broadcasting licence, within the premises of the club concerned or of the League Organisation, and shall be used for news distribution among all the holders of news rights in the competitions and the official site of the Football Federation and the League Organisation.

3.Players, coaches and officials of the participating clubs are not permitted to give interviews at the time of the match on the field of play or in the area adjacent to it.

4.The location of all interviews must be determined by the media officer of the football board and with the approval of the match organising officer, where necessary. The backdrop of the interview picture must be marked with the advertising approved by the Federation

5.The pre-match and post-match press conference is held for the purpose of addressing the technical matters of that game, and the coaches shall speak about the technical circumstances of their own team. Accordingly, the pre-match and post-match press conferences must not address matters other than the game in question; otherwise the matter shall be subject to being brought before the judicial body of the Football Federation.

6.If head coaches or other members of the technical staff are not permitted to accompany their team on account of a suspension arising from a sending-off or a decision of the judicial body, they may not give interviews at the press conference before and after the game or in the mixed zone area.

7.Should, for any reason, reporters of the audio, visual and written media not be present at a press conference before and after the game, the said conference may be held with the presence of the media manager of the football board of the place where the match is staged, and the head coaches and each of the members of the technical staff of the teams present at the conference shall be required to answer the questions put by the media manager holding the conference.

8.Players and technical staff must on no account give interviews to persons who do not have the reporters' uniform and ID card.

Chapter Nine — Medical facilities and doping control

#Article 43Medical facilities, treatment and care

1.All players, technical staff and the team manager must take part in medical examinations at the League Organisation's medical assessment centre, IFMARK, and obtain a certificate of health.

2.Participating clubs must pay the costs relating to hospitalisation, surgery and specialist medical examinations for all the members of their football team, including players and technical staff.

3.The host club is required, at its own expense, to provide the following facilities for the staging of the match, which are inspected before the matches by the representatives of the Medical Committee and the League Organisation.

a: conclusion of a contract with the hospital nearest to the stadium where the match is staged for the treatment of persons injured in connection with the match, which has an emergency admissions department and an operating theatre and inpatient facilities.

b: allocation of a medical emergency room, near the dressing rooms and the field of play, with emergency medical and treatment equipment comprising:

- two beds

- oxygen with a suitable breathing mask

- a Basket Structure bed and splints for the lower and upper limbs

- a suction device

- an intravenous injection set together with ampoules, infusion fluids and emergency drugs

- measures and equipment required for minor surgery

- an external shock device (AED)

- medical personnel trained in basic and advanced emergency care.

- two ambulances with a driver and equipped with oxygen, a mask, an AED device, ampoules, infusion fluids and emergency drugs, and trained medical personnel, to cover possible injury to players and spectators

- in proportion to the attendance of spectators, an emergency ambulance and a motorcycle ambulance must be present at the stadium.

4.The host club and football board are required to have present, on the day of the match, at the stadium where the match is staged, a doctor who must necessarily hold a professional doctorate.

The stadium's emergency doctor's room must be supported by the medical officer and personnel trained in the field of emergency treatment.

5.Medical services within the ground

6.The stadium's medical officer must be a doctor trained in the field of emergency treatment. -

7.Light stretcher - 2 units

8.Eight persons to carry the stretcher, of suitable physical condition, who have received the necessary training from the match doctor for carrying the injured.

9.Doping control personnel comprising one officer and four assistants -

10.The doping room, in accordance with the directive of the Medical Committee of the Football Federation, must comprise at least the following standards:

10.1 A waiting room with the following conditions:

* at least 12 square metres * a standard air-conditioning system.

* eight armchairs. * sealed water and non-alcoholic drinks at each match

* a refrigerator (at least 7 feet). * a lockable cabinet

*a suitable television * a waste bin.

10.2- The main doping control room

* minimum space 9 square metres * three chairs

* one writing desk. * two packs of paper tissues. * a waste bin.

* a toilet, comprising at least two units, one squat toilet and one seated toilet, with suitable space together with a flush and ventilation to the outside, and one washbasin unit and a suitable place for taking a shower.

#Article 53Academic qualifications and duties of the stadium doctor

1.Each stadium must have at its disposal at least one doctor (general practitioner) or specialist in sports medicine matters.

2.Carrying a medical bag with all the necessary facilities and requirements in accordance with the standard laid down in this respect

3.Treatment of possible injury to the referees -

4.Providing specialist medical advice to the match commissioner and referee on request -

5.Coordination for the transfer of injured athletes who, in the opinion of the team doctor, need to be sent to hospital

6.Participation in the treatment of players of the teams taking part in the match solely at the request of the doctor of the team concerned

7.The stadium doctor's station is in the stadium's medical room.

#Article 36Presence of a doctor on the bench

Each team taking part in the match is required to have on the bench a doctor and a physiotherapist who have been approved by the Medical Committee of the Federation. Apart from the said persons, no other person is permitted to be present on the team's bench during the match in the capacity of doctor or physiotherapist. Furthermore, carrying an external shock device (AED) is compulsory for the doctor on the bench, and otherwise the offending team shall be subject to a fine and the consequences arising from it are borne by the team.

#Article 37Competence of the doctor to examine and treat

The doctor and physiotherapist of each team are the only persons competent to examine and treat the players of their own team, and they enter the pitch with the permission of the referee. Furthermore, the stadium doctor is permitted to enter the field of play only in particular circumstances such as at the request of the team doctor and with the permission of the referee.

#Article 38Continuation of the match by an injured or wounded player

Any injured player is permitted to continue playing only after authorisation has been issued by the doctor, and if an injured player is used in the continuation of the match contrary to the opinion of the team doctor, responsibility for the possible consequences rests with the team's technical staff.

#Article 39Divergence between the opinion of the doctor and the technical staff

In the event of divergence between the opinion of the doctor and that of the team manager and head coach on the use of a player, the doctor is required to report the matter in writing to the managing director of the club immediately after the match, retaining a second copy.

Chapter Ten — Ticket sales and the manner of dividing revenues

#Article 40Ticket-sales directive

1.Ticket sales must be carried out at all Premier League and First Division League matches, and no match is played without ticket sales

2.The League Organisation shall prepare the directive relating to ticket sales each year, setting the price of stadium tickets, and it must be notified to all the parties concerned.

3.Where a club requests a reduction in the price of spectators' tickets, it must send its written request, together with the endorsement of the provincial Provision Council, to the League Organisation at most ten days before the match, and, subject to the written agreement of the League Organisation, provide the entry ticket at the new rate. It is self-evident that the League Organisation has full discretion to reject or accept this request.

4.The revenue from ticket sales shall be divided in accordance with the ticket-sales directive approved by the Executive Board of the Iran Football League Organisation.

5.Ticket sales at stadiums are carried out entirely electronically.

6.In the event of non-payment of the percentage share of the boards and the Football Federation, the matter is referred to the judicial body.

#Article 41Allocation of the capacity of stadium spectator areas

1.The host club and the football board must place at least 10% of the net capacity of the stadium exclusively at the disposal of the supporters of the visiting club, (preferably behind the bench of the visiting team); these seats must be located in a separate and secure area, determined by the football board of the place where it is staged, with the prior coordination of the match organising officer and the law-enforcement unit. In the event that the remaining capacity of the stadium is not filled by the spectators of the host team, then, at the determination of the match commissioner and the League Organisation, the spectators of the visiting team may be stationed in a place separate from the spectators of the host team.

2.The price of tickets for the supporters of the visiting club must not be higher than the price of tickets for the supporters of the host club.

#Article 42Division of other, non-ticketing revenues

The revenue arising from perimeter advertising contracts, television, radio, internet and satellite broadcasting rights, the recording of the competitions in any form of audio or audiovisual media, the right to grant licences for the display of live signals, recording or broadcasting by anyone and in any of the television or radio formats or any other medium now existing or which may come into existence in the future, including all forms of terrestrial, cable and satellite television, IPTV, broadband (fixed or wireless), internet and interactive television based on domestic and global networks and telecommunications productions, and other related revenues including

sponsors, hospitality rights, travel and tours and so forth, in respect of which the shares determined for the parties involved in the staging of the competitions shall be in accordance with the financial directives approved by the Executive Board of the League Organisation and the Executive Board of the Football Federation.

Chapter Eleven — Disciplinary matters

#Article 43Disciplinary measures and decisions, and the Ethics and Appeals Committee

1.Any breach of the statutes, the disciplinary regulations, the code of ethics and other rules, regulations and directives approved by FIFA, the AFC, the Federation and the League Organisation is referred to the judicial body of the Federation for consideration.

2.At the match coordination meeting, the League Organisation delivers to the team manager, through the match organising officer, the list of names of the players and other members of each club who are subject to cautions, sending-offs and disciplinary measures. The team manager is required to compare the list provided with their own registered list of cautions, sending-offs and disciplinary measures, and, in the event of a lack of correspondence between the two existing lists (the League Organisation's list and the team manager's list of recorded events), to enquire of the League Organisation about the matters in dispute before the start of the match.

Note 1: the person or persons at variance in the two lists of the competitions and the team manager are required to inform the team manager of the relevant information and documentation on the receipt of cautions and sending-offs and any kind of sanction applied; otherwise the offending person will also be dealt with disciplinarily.

Note 2: having regard to all the aforementioned measures, in accordance with the disciplinary regulations the responsibility for recording and giving effect to suspensions for cautions and sending-offs and disciplinary suspensions rests with the club.

#Article 44Caution (yellow card) and how it is counted

1.The receipt of two yellow cards in one match, or the receipt of one direct red card, suspends the player and technical staff member from the next match, and the Disciplinary Committee may take another decision to increase the suspension.

2.If players or substitutes or technical staff receive two cautions in total over several games in knockout competitions and combined competitions, they are automatically suspended from the next match.

3.The suspension of players or substitutes and technical staff in the national league competitions in respect of the accumulation of cautions is calculated in accordance with the directive announced each year by the League Organisation.

4.If players or substitutes and technical staff receive a caution during a match and then also receive a second caution and, with the accumulation of these two cautions, are consequently sent off with a red card, only their final red card is taken into account.

5.If players or substitutes and technical staff receive a direct red card in a match, then, in addition to the suspension from the next game, if they have received another yellow card in the same match, those yellow cards are also counted separately for them.

6.If an unfinished match is for any reason not staged again, the cautions of both teams remain in force.

7.Yellow and red cards received in one competition tier are counted only in that same competition tier and are not transferred to other competitions and tiers.

#Article 45Sending-off (red card) and how it is counted

1.The red card is for showing to players or substitutes and technical staff

2.The person sent off must leave the field of play and its surroundings and be taken to the dressing room, but their presence in the spectator stand is not prohibited.

3.If one of the team's officials is sent off from the pitch, they may convey their instructions from the spectator stand to their deputy in a manner which does not disrupt the course of the match.

4.If a match has been left unfinished (whether it is staged again or not staged), all the red cards of that match are valid and the player or players concerned shall be suspended from participation in the next game.

5.The receipt of a red card automatically suspends the person from the next game, subject to the other provisions of the disciplinary regulations.

#Article 46Suspension from matches

1.Suspensions must be specified in days or months or by the number of matches.

2.The duration of the suspension must be in accordance with the provisions laid down in the disciplinary regulations.

3.For sanctions which have a time limit, the period of general stoppage of all competitions and the rest between seasons is not counted.

4.Responsibility for recording and applying disciplinary suspensions for players or technical staff and those permitted to be seated on the bench at a club rests with the team holding the suspended person

5.If the suspension is accompanied by a financial fine, the suspension shall continue until the financial fine is paid.

6.Suspension from a match relates to actual games; that is, if a game is for any reason not staged by the League Organisation, then, subject to clauses 7, 8 and 9 of this same article, a person's suspension cannot be deemed to have been served.

7.If the next match from which the offending person is to be suspended is cancelled or is not staged at all, and the team holding the offending person is at fault in the reason for the failure to stage or the cancellation of the match, the suspension in question continues and shall be applied in the next actual game. But if the opposing team is found to be at fault in these matters, that match is deemed to have been played and that suspension is likewise deemed to have been served.

8.If a match from which the offending person is to be suspended is abandoned unfinished and the team holding the offending person is not at fault in the abandonment of the game, that suspension is deemed to have been served.

9.If a person who is under suspension is transferred to another team, their suspension remains valid and is transferred to the matches of the new club, but the yellow cards received while a member of the old club are not transferred to the new club.

10.The suspension of an official, technical staff member and logistics staff member of the team from the match extends, in addition to the prohibition on being present on the field of play and in the substitutes' area, to being present in the dressing room.

Chapter Twelve — Youth teams and other matters

#Article 47Youth teams of league clubs

All clubs taking part in the league competitions are required to have under-14, 16, 18 and 21 youth teams and to take part in the two relevant competition tiers. If a club does not meet these conditions, it must form these teams at the latest one season after taking part in the league competitions. Otherwise, the Executive Board of the League Organisation will decide on the manner of that club's continued participation in the league.

#Article 48Winning the league

a) At the end of the season, the team at the top of the table is deemed to be the champion.

b) The champion team is awarded a cup, a commemorative medal and a championship certificate.

c) The second- and third-placed teams receive a medal and a certificate.

#Article 49Relegation from the league

a) At the end of the league competitions, a specified number of teams at the bottom of the table shall be relegated to the lower division; this number is announced each year by the League Organisation before the start of the season, after approval by the Executive Board of the league and the Federation.

b) In the event of the withdrawal of one or more clubs from continued participation in the league, the results of that team shall be deleted from the competition table in accordance with the provisions of the relevant article, and at the end of the season that same number fewer teams shall be relegated.

c) In the event that the teams promoted from the lower league do not meet the conditions necessary for participation in the higher league, the teams removed from the higher league shall be substituted on the basis of the ranking.

#Article 50Withdrawal from membership of the league

1.A club which intends to withdraw from membership of the league may do so only after the end of the season which is in progress and up to one month before the start of the new league.

2.A club which has announced its withdrawal is required to notify the League Organisation of its withdrawal request in writing.

3.In the event that a club wishes to withdraw from membership and does not act in accordance with paragraphs a and c of this same article, it must make good all the losses of the clubs remaining in the league. These losses are: the revenues and profits which the other clubs lose on account of that club's withdrawal, such as ticket sales, television broadcasting rights and other commercial contracts

4.If a club intends to withdraw from the league during the season and before the end of the league and refrains from taking part in the competitions until the conclusion of the league, the League Organisation shall meet all the losses caused to the league and to the clubs taking part in the league from the revenues of that club, and the club concerned shall have no right of objection whatsoever.

#Article 51Tournaments (combined competitions)

The League Organisation is permitted, with the approval of the Football Federation, to plan any kind of tournament. All eligible teams must take part in all the competitions of the League Organisation with all the players who are members of the club and registered at the office of the League Organisation.

#Article 52Financial affairs

a) Each club is required, under the country's Commercial Code, to keep and record its operations in financial ledgers, and all payments, whether payments to the management staff, coaches and the salaries and bonuses of players, or the receipt of transfer fees, salaries and bonuses, etc., must be recorded therein, and at the end of each financial year and after examination by the statutory auditor and approval by the general assembly, it must deliver a copy of the financial performance to the League Organisation. The club's board of directors is responsible for the proper implementation of this clause, and the final report must be brought to the attention of the Executive Board of the League Organisation.

b) The club's board of directors is required, at the end of each year, to prepare and submit to the club's general assembly and to the League Organisation a report on its executive performance, comprising at least the following matters.

1.That it has precisely observed the rules of the League Organisation regarding the transfer of players and coaches and that no breach has taken place.

2.That all contracts have been made within the framework of the rules of the League Organisation and recorded in the club's ledgers.

3.That all payments to managers, coaches, players and the agents involved in player transfers have been recorded in the club's ledgers and that no sum has been paid outside them.

4.That all the contracts concluded at the club are available and accessible for inspection or any kind of lawful review of the club.

#Article 53Club officials

1.Natural or legal persons connected with the executive, managerial or sporting affairs of a club, whether directly or indirectly, must observe the following matters.

a) They must not hold or trade in security interests or shares in another club, because this could have a considerable effect on another club taking part in the same competitions.

b) They must not hold a majority shareholding with voting rights in another club taking part in the same competitions.

c) They must not have the right to appoint or dismiss the majority of the administrative, managerial or supervisory members of another club taking part in the same competitions.

d) They must not, by virtue of a contract subsequently concluded with the other shareholders of that club, come to hold shares and control of the majority of the shareholders' voting rights in another club taking part in the same competitions.

e) They must not in any other manner hold membership or management of the administration or the sporting affairs of another club taking part in the same competitions.

2.If two or more clubs are managed by one management group:

a) Those teams may not compete in one competition tier.

b) Should their activity be in different competition tiers, in the event of the promotion of any of the subsidiary teams to a higher division, authorisation to take part in the higher tier will not be issued.

c) In the event that a team is relegated from a higher tier or promoted from a lower tier, there shall be an obligation to withdraw one of them or to transfer it in the tier concerned.

Chapter Thirteen — The Super Cup

#Article 54Super Cup champion

1.After the champions of the Premier League competitions and of the Hazfi Cup have been determined, the League Organisation shall, before the start of the following season, stage one match between the champions of the two sets of competitions, and the winner of the match is declared Super Cup champion.

2.The date and place of staging the Super Cup match are determined by the League Organisation.

3.The Super Cup fixture is a single match and is staged under the conditions of a knockout match.

4.The host of the Super Cup fixture is determined by lot

5.In the event that the champion of the Premier League and of the Hazfi Cup is one and the same team, the Super Cup match is not staged and the said team is also declared Super Cup champion.

6.In the event of the non-appearance of any of the teams taking part in the Super Cup, the waiting time for the start of the game is two periods of half an hour; in the event of the non-appearance of the absent team, the winner is determined by the League Organisation.

Chapter Fourteen — Approval and interpretation of the regulations

#Article 55Interpretation of the regulations

The interpretation of the provisions set out in the regulations rests with the Executive Board of the League Organisation and the Legal and Regulations Drafting Committee of the Football Federation.

#Article 56Matters not provided for

Where the regulations are silent, or matters arise which have not been provided for in these regulations, the matter shall be raised by the League Organisation before the Executive Board of the League Organisation and decided on the basis of the laws and regulations of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the Asian Football Confederation and the Football Federation of Iran, and this decision is final and conclusive and shall not be open to objection.

#Article 57Approval and entry into force of the regulations

These regulations, comprising 57 articles, were raised before and endorsed by the Executive Board of the League Organisation on 4/12/1398 on the proposal of the League Organisation, and were approved by the Executive Board of the Football Federation on 5/13/1398, and are binding from that same date.