1. This league shall be called the BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (BIFL). The original regulations were accepted in October 1998, with amendments made at subsequent league meetings. Amendments can be made at any stage of the competition, either in emergency cases by the league committee, or by a majority vote at a general meeting. It is understood that any new regulation shall be enforced from the date of its introduction, and cannot effect any event or circumstance prior to its introduction.

2. THE LEAGUE ASSEMBLY. The General League assembly is the league’s sovereign body. The Assembly shall be made up of ONE representative of each team. The Assembly will meet in ordinary session TWICE a season, in June and September. The function of these meetings will include the following:
Elect members of an executive board
Approve financial statement
Acceptance of new teams into the League
Approve budget
Make any changes to the League Rules
Unless stated elsewhere, all decisions will be made by a simple majority. An extraordinary meeting of the assembly can be called by:
A majority vote of the Executive Board, or
A written request to the Secretary signed by a minimum of a third of the teams.
Meetings will be chaired by the president, unless otherwise decided by the assembly. An Assembly meeting is quorate with half or more teams represented.

3. THE EXECUTIVE BOARD. A six-member executive board will be established, made up of the president and the following members elected by the assembly in June:
ONE member of the assembly
THREE league Officers:
1) SECRETARY: responsible for fixture lists, collecting and distributing results, tables and scorers, convening meetings.
2) TREASURER: responsible for presenting a budget, controlling income and expenditure, presenting a yearly financial statement.
3) REFS ADMINISTRATOR: responsible for ensuring refs at every game, organising refs meetings to unify and clarify criteria, informing treasurer of referee payments.
4) MINUTES TAKER: Responsible for taking minutes at meetings and distributing them to the relevant people
5) RULES OFFICER: Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the league rules
6) SIXTH MEMBER: Responsible for providing an additional voice at league committee meetings and assisting in the organisation of special events.
The posts, and the President, will receive payment as decided by the Assembly.
The executive board is charged with the day to day running of the league and with executing the league rules agreed to at the beginning of each season by the Assembly.
The Executive board MUST meet once a month during the season. An extraordinary meeting of the board can be called by two members of the Board or the Majority of the Assembly.
A Board meeting is quorate with three or more members. All Assembly members must be informed of Board meetings and are free to attend and speak, though not to vote.
The Board has the right to make any emergency decisions between Assemblies, and to deal with any matter not covered by these rules as it sees fit until an Assembly is called.
If any one individual takes on more than one of the above Offices, an additional member of the assembly must be accepted by the league to assure that the committee includes six members.

4. An ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION to the league shall be decided by the League based on the Treasurer's accounts and projected budget. Date(s) shall be set for the payment of this fee. If a team fails to make the required payment by that date, a second date for payment shall be set, and any team that still hasn't paid the required amount by that time shall immediately be suspended from playing BIFL matches until payment and the League may vote to expel that team.

5. All TEAMS that participated in the previous BIFL season shall be invited to the first meeting after the summer break and shall automatically be re-admitted unless the majority of teams at the meeting vote to refuse a team membership for any reason. Any new team wishing to enter or former member seeking re-admission shall only be accepted if the majority of member teams at the meeting accept them and if the League committee feels capable of accommodating them in the fixture list. As soon as a team has been admitted it shall assume the same rights as any other member.
Once the draw/fixture list has been made, no further teams may be admitted to any competition.
The BIFL Cup is open to all BIFL League teams, and if the League so desires, may invite other teams to participate. The League shall set a fee that these teams must contribute towards the cost of each match they play.
Invited teams must observe all BIFL regulations as if they were full members, and can attend League Assemblies, but do not have voting rights.

6. All participating teams have a right to attend any LEAGUE OR CUP DRAW, and must receive at least 24 hours notice of the time and place of the event in case they should wish to send a witness. If any team feels that it was not adequately informed of the draw, then it must be repeated should that team request such a measure to be taken. Should the configuration of any draw prove unsatisfactory for any reason, it can only be repeated with the consent of every single team represented at the meeting, without exception.

7. All MATCHES shall be played in full accordance with FIFA rules, although up to five substitutions shall be permitted from an unlimited list of players. No player, once substituted, may return to the field of play.
Any PLAYER, provided they have not been suspended or expelled from the BIFL, may represent any team. Players can only change teams once in any given season, and may only do so before Christmas. Under no circumstances may a player change teams more than once in a season.
The deliberate giving of false or ambiguous names as a means to avoiding suspensions or fielding ineligible players is a serious offence and the League may prohibit any offending player from participating in further matches that season and/or deduct 3 or more points from any team felt to have deliberately given false information.

8. Any player who is shown a DIRECT RED CARD shall receive an automatic ban of two matches, while any player receiving an INDIRECT RED CARD (ie. as a result of two yellows in the same match) will receive an automatic one-match ban. The accumulation of four YELLOW CARDS from separate matches shall also result in a one-match suspension.
Information supplied verbally and/or in writing by the match referee shall be deemed final in determining disputes regarding yellow and red cards.
Based on a scoring system of 2 for all direct red cards and 1 for all yellow cards, any player reaching a total of ten points will be examined in detail by the Committee and sanctioned accordingly.
All suspensions will be applied to the next official matches (league, cup, supercup or any other that is created) that that player is involved in, even if that or those game (s) do not take place until the following season, or if that player has joined a different team.
The Executive Board has the right to extend any suspension should it see fit, or even decide to expel a player from the league. The Board also reserves the right to suspend or even expel players that were not cautioned or sent off by the referee during the course of a match.
If any player is suspended, but his next official match is not played, he will be considered to have served that suspension if the League imposes an artificial result. If, however, the League reschedules this game for a later date, the player shall then miss the next official match his team plays.
The decision of the referee to give any red or yellow card shall be accepted as final and under no circumstances shall the League consider over ruling any decision.
If the general conduct of any team is considered unsatisfactory, and warnings have not had the required effect, the League may vote to expel that team from the League. In such a case, that team shall not be returned any money it might have previously paid, and is free to negotiate with the ground staff and any implied teams to continue playing any outstanding matches (provided they have paid to cover the cost) independently of the league system.
All matches played against a thereafter expelled team shall be deemed void and any points gained from matches against that team shall be discounted. If that team has not been eliminated from the Cup, the team that it beat in the previous round shall occupy its place, or the team that finished directly below in any group table. This procedure shall also apply if a team voluntarily resigns from the League. Goals scored against that team shall not be counted towards the Leading Goalscorer competition, but all yellow and red cards against that team shall stand.
If a team resigns voluntarily from any BIFL Competition it shall never be refunded any money it might have previously paid.

9. Each team shall provide the President with the following INFORMATION before the season commences:
(i) Name of team
(ii) Name, phone number and e-mail address of at least one representative
(iii) Shirt colour

10. All teams must have at least one complete set of identical and numbered SHIRTS. Teams failing to do so will be issued a formal warning, and may be suspended from all competitions until the situation is rectified. In the event of the referee considering the shirts to be too similar, the teams must reach a mutual decision as to who shall change shirts. It is expected that if only one team possesses a change strip, that that team should be the one who changes. Any team not playing that weekend should permit any other side obliged to wear a change strip to borrow their shirts on the understanding that they are to be held financially responsible for any loss or damage. Any team that brings a correct set of shirts, but wears a set of shirts that does not comply with league regulations in order to avoid a colour clash, shall not be punished in any way.

11. In the event of any match being ABANDONED for any reason stated in Law 5 (FIFA Rules), the League has the power to let the score at the time of abandonment stand, to award one side or other with a 3-0 win, consider the result to have been 0-0, have the game replayed, or restart the match at a later date, depending on what it sees most appropriate given the circumstances. The league shall assist in the rescheduling of any game abandoned through no fault of either team, and that game shall then become a fixture to be treated as any other. With regret, this may involve teams playing twice on the same weekend. If the League finds no acceptable solution, or if both teams are in agreement, the match shall be considered to have ended 0-0.
Any team that fails to arrive with more than seven players shall automatically lose that game 3-0. A game shall be abandoned if a team is reduced to seven players, and the score at the time shall be considered the result, provided the unreduced side is winning, otherwise they shall be given a 3-0 win.
If a team foresees that it shall not be able to field a team for any match, it should inform the opposition and the President at least five days before the match day. It shall lose that match 3-0 with no further repercussions, and the opposition will have the first option in deciding how that pitch time should be used. If a team fails to provide this warning, it shall still lose 3-0, but shall be considered to have presented an incomplete team, as detailed in the next sentence.
Provided a team has eight players or more, it shall be expected to play the match.
If, for whatever reason, no match official arrives at a match, the two captains should search for a mutually acceptable emergency replacement, or as a last resort should nominate members of their own teams to officiate either the whole match or a half each. Only if the two teams agree BEFORE the match can the teams appeal for the match to be replayed at a later date.

12. Before the League FIXTURES are announced, all teams are free to suggest any time or date that is inconvenient for them. Although the League should make allowances for these requirements, it is under no obligation to do so should this seem problematic or unfair on other teams.
Only with the mutual consent of both teams may any fixture time or date be amended, and the President should be adequately informed of (and should approve) such changes. It shall then be the concern of the two teams to arrange the time, place, refereeing, and financing of the rearranged match, which should be played in full accordance with BIFL regulations.

13. Before each match, both teams should provide the referee with a LIST OF ALL PLAYERS who will take part in the match, along with the number on each player's shirt. The referee must note the score, the names of all goalscorers and of all players shown cards in the match along with any other comment of relevance, including the reasons for any sending off. Team captains are advised to check that this information is correct, for it shall be taken as final, for which reason they are requested to sign the sheet, and may add any comment that they feel appropriate. The score, scorers and bookings should be provided to the Secretary by the agreed means by 12:00 on the Monday after the match or the referee will receive 6 euros less than the usual fee.
It is the referee’s responsibility to ensure that the both teams have filled in the match sheet correctly and clearly, and should consult with the teams should any information be missing on unclear.
Before the competition starts, a referee's fee shall be decided upon. The Refs Administrator is free to delegate any referee that he considers acceptable, or to delegate somebody suitable to appoint referees. Teams may appeal to the President or this delegate if they are not happy with the chosen match official, but these protests do not necessarily have to be accepted.
There shall be no linesmen at BIFL matches unless the two teams at any one match reach an agreement and it shall be their responsibility to pay for them (with the exception of the Cup Final, for which paid linesmen will be provided).

14. Teams must be on the field and ready to play at the scheduled TIME. And provided both sides have a minimum of eight players on the field, the match shall start. Late arrivals may join with the referee's permission without being considered substitutes. Any team correctly situated on the field of play whilst the opposition is not has the right to declare themselves winners by 3-0 should they so desire. That team should inform the referee and the opposing team of their intention, and if the opposing side does not immediately take to the field of play, they can proclaim themselves winners. Once the game has kicked-off, it is too late for any such appeal to be made. The kick off time can be delayed should both teams be in agreement, and the playing time shortened if necessary. Under no circumstances can a match delayed through tardiness subsequently cause the late starting of the following match (whether or not it is an official BIFL tie.) If a game is delayed for reasons outside of the control of the participating teams, referees should ensure that all BIFL matches to be played that day are affected equally. If the kick off time of a match is delayed so much that the referee doesn't consider the match feasible, it is considered to have been abandoned.
The staff of any ground at which BIFL matches take place may decide to refuse admission to their premises to any player or team, or deem the pitch unplayable for whatever reason. The League shall not be able to overrule such a decision.
If a referee is asked to attend, and then turns up for, a match that is not played for whatever reason, he should still be paid the full amount if he was not properly informed of the cancellation.
The League reserves the right to amend any fixture time or date. Teams should receive adequate notice of such changes, and the League should always endeavour to cause as little inconvenience as possible.

15. Both teams are expected to arrive with BALLS suitable for play, and the league shall not be held responsible for any losses, and if a game cannot be played because there is no ball, the result shall either be deemed 0-0, or the teams should arrange to replay the match at a later date (the league will not cover the expenses of this replayed match)

16. The League will buy MEDALS for all players and officials who take part in the Finals, which shall be kept as mementoes. Winning teams shall also receive a trophy which shall be kept until the President asks for it's return the next year. That team shall be held financially responsible for loss or damage to that trophy until its return.

17. The official mode of COMMUNICATION between the Executive Committee and teams will be via e-mail. All teams must provide one e-mail address, which should be checked at least once a week by a nominated person whose responsibility it is to relay any relevant information to the person(s) concerned. The secretary will provide weekly updates on results, tables, fixtures and bookings via the league website at www.bifl.org, and will inform teams of all meetings and any other information deemed necessary.

18. The format of all BIFL competitions must be made clear to all participants before the first game is played.
In knockout matches, it must be decided before the match how the result will be determined in case of a draw. The usual procedure is half an hour of extra time followed by a penalty shoot-out. However, if time does not allow for this, games will be decided by a penalty-shoot at the end of ninety minutes normal play.
In group matches, should a team or teams finish level on points, the following criteria, in order of preference, shall be applied:
a) Result(s) of match(es) between implied teams.
b) Fewest games lost 0-3 through non-attendance
c) Overall goal difference
d) Overall number of goals scored
e) Fewest direct red cards
f) Fewest yellow cards (indirect reds count as two)
g) Toss of coin