Rules

Arriving in plenty of time to inspect the field, goals, flags, and marking for accuracy. If any part of the field surface or the goals and flag posts present a danger to participants or are unsuitable to play, the referee must refuse to officiate the game and, unless there is a possibility that the problem can be corrected, should leave immediately after announcing his decision to both sides.

Unresolved problems with the field that do not involve safety should be reported to the Champions League, even if the game is played.

Referees Post-Game Responsibilities include:

The referee is required to fill out the Champions League game report neatly and completely before leaving the field.

Goals:

The goals must be securely anchored to the ground. For safety reasons, if the goals are not securely anchored to the ground, the match shall not be played.

Flagposts:

The compulsory corner flagposts and optional halfway flagposts should be no less than five (5) feet high; anything shorter is dangerous to the players. If used, the optional halfway flagposts must be at least one (1) yard outside the touch line.

Substitutions:

Unlimited substitutions are allowed during any stoppage of play at the referees discretion. The referee is not obligated to permit substitutions if he/she feels that by doing so the flow of the game will be interrupted. The referee is asked to do his/her best to recognize when substitutions are being used by the coach as a form of time wasting.

Minimum Number of Players:

While a team needs to field seven (7) players in an 11v11 game in order to start and continue a match, a referee is permitted to allow play to continue if the number of players drops below seven (7) due to an injury or if instructed by the referee to leave the field to correct bleeding, blood on the uniform, or illegal equipment. If the referee is not satisfied that that team will be able to field the minimum number within a reasonable period of time, the referee must abandon the match and describe the circumstances fully in the match report.

Player's Equipment:

Uniforms

Player's jerseys must be tucked inside their shorts, socks must remain pulled up, and each player must wear shinguards under the socks. All undergarmets (slide pants, undershirt, etc.) which extend visibly beyond the required uniform must be as close as possible in color to the main color of the uniform part under which they are worn.

Jewelry

All items of jewelry are considered dangerous; however, referees should consider carefully any item that is clearly religious or medical in nature and permit it to be worn if it is not dangerous and not providing the player with an unfair advantage.

Players may not tape, cover up, or otherwise hide prohibited items. The player must still be prevented from participating in the match if the prohibited item continues to be worn.

Terminating a Match:

The referee may terminate a match for reasons of safety (bad weather or darkness), for any serious infringement of the Laws, or because of interference by spectators. Only the Champions League, not the referee, has the authority to declare a winner, a forfeit, or a replay of the match in its entirety.

Termination of a Match Due to Weather or Darkness-

The Champions League requires that the game is considered complete only after ten minutes have been played in the second half.

Termination of a Match For all other reasons-

The Champions League competition committee will consider the report given by the referee before making a determination.

Abandoning a Match:

The referee may abandon a match if there is an insufficient number of players to meet the requirements of the Law or the competition, if a team does not appear or leaves before completion of the game, or if the field or any of its equipment do not meet the requirements of the Laws or are otherwise unsafe.

Abandoning a Match due to an insufficient number of players-

The Champions League requires that no fewer than seven (7) players are required to play an 11v11 match, five (5) for an 8v8 match, and four (4) for a 6v6 match. A game will be abandoned when fifteen (15) minutes have passed after the scheduled kick-off and one team does not have a sufficient number of players.

Abandoning a Match for all other reasons

The Champions League competition committee will consider the report given by the referee before making a determination.