Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup:
Extract of the Regulations 2011

General Conditions and Eligibility for Participation

1. All matters not specifically provided for in these regulations shall automatically be subject to the general tournament rules of the Swiss Football Association (Swiss FA). These regulations are based on the specifications for the organisation of football tournaments as laid down by the Swiss FA (1985 edition). The following provisions are applicable:
   
   
2. The participants shall be youth footballers born in 1991, 1992 or 1993. No players born before 1991 may be registered, however, each club may only register a maximum of five players born after 31 December 1993. All other players who do not meet this age eligibility criterion are not permitted to play in the tournament. In order to increase the strength and appeal of the teams, they may also field players not registered with their club (e.g. players on trial from another club).
   
   
3. Each team may enrol a maximum of 18 players by completing the official list and submitting it to the Organising Committee prior to the tournament. Of the 18 listed players, only eleven may be included in the official starting line-up. A maximum of three substitutions (outfield players or goalkeepers) will be permitted during each match. The players shall wear the same number throughout the entire tournament
   
   
4. Only the footballs provided by the tournament organisers may be used.
   
   
5. All of the teams competing will be notified at least eight days prior to the start of the tournament of the match schedule for the group and final rounds. This match schedule is binding. If a team does not appear on time for any of its scheduled matches, the opposing team shall win by forfeit (with a score of 2-0, with the two goals counting as having been scored). The tournament organisers’ clock is decisive. The tournament organisers may take whatever decision deemed necessary in the case of force majeure.
   
   
6. According to Swiss FA tournament rules, protests shall be lodged with the referee as soon as they occur and before play has resumed. A fee of CHF 200 is payable for each protest. The Appeal Committee shall take an immediate decision on the protest. This decision shall be final.
   
   
7. The Appeal Committee shall reach a final decision on any matters not provided for in these regulations or any cases of force majeure.
   
   

Division into Groups/Group Matches

8. The ten teams are divided into two groups of five teams. In each group, each team plays one match against each of the other teams.
   
   
9. The ranking (positions 1-5) in each group is determined by the number of points obtained (win = 3, draw = 1, defeat = 0).
   
   If two or more teams have an equal number of points, the following criteria will apply:
   
   
   1. goal difference from all the group matches in the preliminary round
   2. goals scored in all the group matches in the preliminary round
   3. number of points in the match(es) between the teams equal on points
   4. goal difference in the match(es) between the teams equal on points
   5. goals scored in the match(es) between the teams equal on points
   6. number of points conceded in the fair play ranking
   7. kicks from the penalty mark if two teams are equal
   8. drawing of lots if more than two teams are equal
      
      

10. The duration of group round matches (Matches 1-20) is 2 x 20 minutes (play will stop at halftime for the teams to change ends with an interval of five minutes). The team named first takes to the left half of the pitch. The referee will then toss a coin to determine the choice of ends.

Final Round

11. Match 21: The fifth-placed team in Group A will play the fifth-placed team in Group B to determine positions 9 and 10.
    Match 22: The fourth-placed team in Group A will play the fourth-placed team in Group B to determine positions 7 and 8.
    Match 23: The third-placed team in Group A will play the third-placed team in Group B to determine positions 5 and 6.
    Match 24: The second-placed team in Group A will play the second-placed team in Group B to determine positions 3 and 4.
    Match 25: The winners of Group A will play the winners of Group B to determine positions 1 and 2.
    
    
12. The duration of the final-round matches to determine positions 3 to 10 (matches 21-24) is 2 x 20 minutes. The duration of the final (match 25) is 2 x 25 minutes. Play in all matches will stop for five minutes at half-time to allow the teams to change ends. The team named first takes to the left half of the pitch. The referee will then toss a coin to determine the choice of ends.
    
    
13. All final-round matches that end in a draw will be decided by kicks from the penalty mark. Extra time will not be played.

Fair Play and Disciplinary Measures

14. Points in the fair play ranking are conceded as follows:
    Yellow card = 1 penalty point
    Indirect red card = 2 penalty points (in addition to penalty point for first yellow card)
    Direct red card = 4 penalty points
    
    
15. The Fair Play Trophy will be awarded on the basis of three, equal criteria:
    
    
    • Number of points in fair play ranking in accordance with article 14 of the regulations.
    • General impression of the team delegation’s behaviour on and off the pitch.
    • Sporting behaviour of the team on the principle of “fair and successful“, i.e. higher-placed teams with a low number of points in the fair play ranking will be classified higher
      
      
16. Any player sent off by the referee shall immediately return to the dressing room and be automatically suspended from his team’s next match. Additional suspensions for serious offences will be decided by the tournament organisers and are not be subject to appeal. Should a player receive two yellow cards during the course of the tournament, he will be suspended irrevocably from the following match. Any subsequent yellow cards will also result in an additional, irrevocable match suspension. Suspended players may not remain in the technical area or on the substitutes’ bench.
    
    
17. Any coach or official excluded by the referee shall immediately leave the technical area and be automatically suspended from his team’s next match. In both cases, the coach or official shall at all times be at least 20 metres (in all directions) from the technical area. Additional suspensions for serious offences will be decided by the tournament organisers and are not be subject to appeal.