The Nairobi Cup is organized by Chipuka Football and will be governed according to the rules and regulations of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and FIFA - International Association Football Federation.
The present regulations describe the modifications of the rules and regulations previously detailed, adapting them to the Nairobi Cup 2023 competition.
13 Players per team. Players in this category were born between 01 January 2010 and 31st December 2011
11 Players per team. Players in this category were born between 01 January 2012 and 31st December 2013
10 Players per team. Players in this category were born between 01 January 2014 and 31st December 2015
8 Players per team. Players in this category were born between 01 January 2016 and 31st December 2017
7 Players per team. Players in this category were born between 01 January 2018 and 31st December 2020
In the categories U13, U11, U9 it is allowed to register up to a maximum of 2 players from the preceeding (younger) age group.
In the U7 category it is allowed to register up to a maximum of 1 player from the preceeding (younger) age group..
No exceptions are allowed in the U5 categories.
All the categories allowed to have a team comprised of both boys and girls.
Before the start of the competition all players and technical staff must be duly accredited and registered on the competition platform.
During the competition only team members who are duly accredited will be allowed in the assigned technical area.
The registration or modification of players and technical staff won’t be allowed once the competition has started.
The person responsible of each team will receive from the organization copies of the list of players. Thirty minutes (30') before each game, one of these lists must be handed to the director or the assistant director of the field indicating the numbers that the players will wear during the match.
All players must identify themselves with a valid federation license, ID card, passport or other official document accrediting the age with a current photograph. All teams are required to carry with them in each game the documentation of all team members proving the identity (ID card, passport, card, etc.).
The corresponding review of documentation will be made before the start of the competition, but also if circumstances require it, the organization may repeat it at any other time.
There is no maximum limitation on the number of players registered per match.
It is allowed to line-up a player in different teams of the same club as long as the team where the player is fielded is of a different and higher category. In no case may a player be fielded in another team of the same category or lower category than the one in which he is registered, regardless of his age.
For U13, the minimum number of registered players must be 14. For U11, the minimum number of registered players must be 11. For U9, the minimum number of players registered must be 9. For U7 and U5, the minimum number of players registered must be 8.
In no case, a player can play the competition with two different clubs or two teams of the same club participating in the same category.
To be properly aligned, 40 mins must have passed between the end of a match and the start of another.
Changes are free without the need to stop the game, always under previous authorization of the director, assistant field manager or referee.
The game will only be stopped if the substituted player is the goalkeeper, or if the referee or field director deems it necessary.
Any substituted player may re-enter.
All substitutions must be made through the centre of the field. The player who enters the field must do so once the field director or assistant field director has given his approval.
All fields are of natural turf of the highest quality.
The use of shoes with metal studs is prohibited.
All matches will be played with Nairobi Cup branded balls (U13, U11 categories will use size 4 and U9, U7 and U5 categories will size 3).
The organization will not give balls for team warmups. It is recommended that teams bring their own balls.
Each club is required to bring at least two numbered playing uniforms or one numbered kit and one set of numbered bibs. All jerseys must be properly numbered, and the numbers must match the team list. It is recommended that the player wear the same number throughout the competition.
Teams shall wear the first official kit of the designated club prior to the start of the competition. If the kits of both teams match in colour or the referee determines that confusion may occur, the away team (listed second on the competition schedule) shall change kits.
All players playing in the match are required to wear shin guards.
Players warming up during the match must stand in the area previously established by the Field Director wearing a bib/vest that does not coincide in colour with any of the teams in play.
The organizing committee reserves the right to make changes in the game program, both in terms of schedules and playing fields. The information of the changes will be communicated to the team responsible.
All matches shall be two 25-minute halves.
The organizing committee is authorized to alter the duration and schedule of the games if circumstances require it. In the intermission of the matches there will only be a change of field, except in the final, in which there will be a 3-minute break.
Teams must be at the field between 1 hour before the scheduled start of the competition. Twenty minutes (20') before the start of the match, the team must be ready on the field.
In the "Classification Round" the teams play against each other in a single round league system. All groups will be formed by 8 teams.
The teams classified in 1st and 2nd position will pass to the "Final Round". The teams that finish in 3rd and 4th position will face each other in the "Consolation Round”, except the best thirds qualified for the Final Round as it is explained in the schedule.
The "Final Round" and "Consolation Round" matches will be played according to the cup system (direct elimination) and will be decided without extra time, by penalties, according to IFAB and FIFA rules.
*The competition system may vary depending on the number of participating teams.
- Match won: 3 points
- Match drawn: 1 point.
- Match lost: 0 points.
In case of a tie between two teams, the determination of the best of the two will follow the following rules (With the same order).
The team with the highest Individual goal average will be classified as the best.
The team with the highest global goal average will be the best pick.
The team with the highest Individual goal average will be the best pick.
The team with the youngest average player age will be the best pick.
In case of a tie between more than two teams.
The team with the highest point will be the best of the rest in ranking.
The team with the highest goal average will be ranked as the best.
The team with the highest number of goals will be the first in ranking.
The team with the highest number of goals will be ranked as the first.
The team with the highest number of goals will be ranked as the first.
The team with the youngest average player age will be ranked as the first.
*If the tie between more than two teams in any point becomes a tie between two teams, then it will be considered a "tie between two teams" and the tie will be broken according to the appropriate criteria.
It will be carried out in accordance with the FIFA rules. The teams will shoot a penalty shootout, one at a time alternately (5 penalties in the U13, U11, 4 penalties in U9, 3 penalties in U7 and U5 categories). If there is still a tie, it will go to sudden death. The teams will shoot a penalty alternately until one team scores and the other misses.
Only players who are on the field at the end of the match may participate in the penalty shootout. Each penalty kick shall be taken by a different player. Only after each team member has taken a penalty kick (including the goalkeeper) may players take a second penalty kick.
A goalkeeper who suffers a clear and obvious injury, confirmed by the medical team of the organization present on the field, during the execution of the penalty shootout and can no longer play may be replaced.
Any eligible player may change places with the injured goalkeeper at any time during the execution of the penalty shootout.
If at the end of the match and before the penalty kicks are taken a team has more players than its opponent, it must reduce its number of players to equal that of its opponent, and the team manager must inform the field director and the referee of the name and number of each player excluded.
Thus, any excluded player will not be allowed to take part in the penalty kicks.
All players available, according to the rules, to take the penalty kick shootout, must stand at the centre of the field, except for both goalkeepers and the player taking the penalty kick. The rest of the players and coaching staff must remain in the assigned technical area.
The Competition Committee shall be appointed by the organizing entity of Nairobi Cup 2023.
This committee will consist of four people, including three members of the organizing entity and a member of the Technical Committee of Referees.
The matters of protests and claims will be handled by the Competition Committee and its written resolutions may not be appealed or changed.
If a team lines-up a sanctioned player or a player who does not comply with the requirements of the rules, the team will lose the match in question by 3-0.
If a player commits an infraction punishable by a caution or expulsion (either on or off the field), he will be penalized according to the nature of the act according to the referee's report and under the sanction parameters detailed in the regulations and rules of the game.
The yellow card will be used to communicate a caution. A player who receives two yellow cards in the same match will be expelled from the match and will not be allowed to participate in the same match.
The red card will be used to communicate an expulsion.
During the competition the use of the green card will NOT be valid.
Expulsions, previously verified and reviewed by the Competition Committee, will not be penalized in the following cases:
Expulsions of a serious nature will be sanctioned by the Competition Committee and may lead to the suspension of one or more match days, in the following cases:
All cases of serious expulsion will be reported to the national federation of the country of the player involved.
Unsportsmanlike conduct, regardless of whether it occurs on or off the field of play, may result in the exclusion of a player or team from the competition.
All incidents and expulsions that may occur during the competition (on or off the field) will be reported to the Competition Committee.
The Competition Committee shall be solely responsible for applying the corresponding disciplinary sanctions. At the end of each day the sanctions will be communicated to the teams concerned.
The sanctions imposed by the Competition Committee and its written decisions may not be appealed or changed.
If a match is suspended due to any incident and/or incidence, the Competition Committee will decide on the following parameters, considering the reason for the suspension.
Nairobi Cup referees belong to National and International Referee Committees and will be appointed by the Nairobi West Sub County. Their decisions are unappealable and in no case will be grounds for complaint.
Protests or claims must be submitted in writing to the Course Director or Head of the Organization together with the claim fee of $10, which will be returned in case of a favourable resolution.
These claims must be submitted no later than 30 minutes after the end of the match in question.
Claims will be accepted only if they are submitted by the delegate or team manager duly accredited.
Complaints will not be accepted for refereeing decisions.
The written decisions of the organizing committee cannot be appealed or changed.
All clubs/teams must have their players insured on and off the field. All participants must have a health card or private insurance. Nairobi Cup is not responsible for possible damages to participants such as loss of personal belongings (due to theft or other circumstances) or injuries. Neither will be responsible for measures taken by public authorities or transportation companies such as strikes, cancellations, etc. The club, at the time of registration, declares that its players are physically fit for the event. The organization declines all responsibility for any damage that participants may cause during and after the competition both to themselves and to third parties.
All participants registered on the official platform of the tournament, are required to fill out the data protection form, have it signed by their legal representatives and deliver it to the organization before the tournament. Through this form, they will give their consent to the processing of their data. Participation in the event authorizes Nairobi Cup to use any graphic reproduction of the participants during the tournament.
Players and / or clubs that do not submit the authorization of image rights before the start of the competition, may not participate in the Nairobi Cup 2023.
Any circumstance that has not been reflected in the rules, is the sole responsibility of those responsible for the organization, being their decisions unappealable, reserving the right to add, modify, interpret, and apply the rules according to their criteria and the needs of each tournament. Nairobi Cup reserves the right to modify these rules for the benefit of the competition.
All changes made to these rules will be communicated in writing to the head of the participating club or team.
If you have questions or comments about these tournament rules, please contact us at:
Nairobi Cup
37073 - 00200, Nairobi
+254 710 577577