FIFA Disciplinary Code

2023 edition
Fédération Internationale de Football Association
President: Gianni Infantino
Secretary General: Fatma Samoura
Address: FIFA
FIFA-Strasse 20
P.O. Box
8044 Zurich
Switzerland
Telephone: +41 (0)43 222 7777
Internet: FIFA.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS 6
1. Object 7
2. Scope of application: substantive law 7
3. Scope of personal application 7
4. Scope of temporal application 7
5. Applicable law 8
6. Disciplinary measures 8
7. Directives 9
8. Responsibility 9
9. Decisions of the referee 9
10. Limitation period for prosecution 10
11. Duty to report 10
12. Duty to collaborate 11

II. OFFENCES 12
Chapter 1. Infringements of the Laws of the Game 13
13. O
 ffensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play 13
Chapter 2. Disorderliness at matches and competitions 13
14. Misconduct of players and officials 13
15. Discrimination 15
16. Unplayed matches and abandonment 16
17. Order and security at matches 16
18. Protests 17
19. Fielding an ineligible player 18
20. Manipulation of football matches and competitions 18
Chapter 3. Other provisions 19
21. Failure to respect decisions 19
22. Forgery and falsification 21
23. Specific proceedings 21
Chapter 4. Implementation of disciplinary measures 22
24. Enforcement of sanctions 22
TABLE OF CONTENTS

25. Determining the disciplinary measure 22

26. Recidivism 22
27. Suspension of implementation of disciplinary measures 23
28. Forfeit 23
29. Matches to be played without spectators 23
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III. ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCE 25

Chapter 1. General provisions 26
30. General rule 26
31. Composition of the FIFA judicial bodies 27
32. Independence and impartiality 27
33. Meetings 27
34. Confidentiality 28
35. Secretariat 28
36. Integrity experts 29
37. Exemption from liability 29
38. Time limits 29
39. Evidence, evaluation of evidence and standard of proof 30
40. Match officials’ reports 30
41. Burden of proof 30
42. Witnesses 30
43. Anonymous participants in proceedings 31
44. Identification of anonymous participants in proceedings 31
45. Representation and assistance 32
46. Legal aid 32
47. Language used in proceedings 32
48. Communication with the parties 33
49. Costs and expenses 33
50. Effects of decisions 34
51. Provisional measures 34
52. Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) 34
Chapter 2. Decision-making process 35
53. Convocation,
 rights of the parties, hearings,
decisions, communications and confidentiality 35
54. Decisions 36
Chapter 3. Disciplinary Committee 37
55. Commencement of proceedings 37
56. Jurisdiction 37
57. Jurisdiction of the single judges of the Disciplinary Committee 38
58. Proposal by the secretariat 38
59. Closure of proceedings 39
Chapter 4. Appeal Committee 39
60. Jurisdiction 39
61. Admissibility of appeals 40
62. Standing to appeal 40
63. Deliberations and decisions 40
64. Jurisdiction of the chairperson ruling alone 41
65. Effects of appeal 41
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IV. SPECIAL PROCEDURES 42

66. Expulsion and match suspension 43
67. Carrying over cautions 44
68. Cancellation of cautions 44
69. Carrying over match suspensions 45
70. Extending sanctions to have worldwide effect 46
71. Review 47

V. FINAL PROVISIONS 48
72. Official languages 49
73. Gender and number 49
74. Specific disciplinary rules 49
75. Associations’ disciplinary codes 49
76. Adoption and enforcement 49

ANNEXE 51

TABLE OF CONTENTS


 I.
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
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1. Object
This Code describes infringements of the rules in FIFA regulations,
determines the sanctions incurred, regulates the organisation and
function of the FIFA judicial bodies responsible for taking decisions and
the procedures to be followed before said bodies.

2. Scope of application: substantive law

1. This Code applies to every match and competition organised by FIFA and to
matches and competitions in association football that do not fall under the
jurisdiction of the confederations and/or the associations, unless otherwise
stipulated in this Code.
2. This Code also applies to any breach of FIFA’s statutory objectives as well
as of any FIFA rule that does not fall under the jurisdiction of any other FIFA
body.

3. Scope of personal application

The following are subject to this Code:
a) associations;
b) members of associations, in particular the clubs;
c) officials;
d) players;
e) match officials;
f) football agents licensed by FIFA;
g) match agents licensed by FIFA;
h) single-entity leagues;
i) anyone elected or assigned by FIFA to exercise a function, in particular
with regard to a match, competition or other event organised by FIFA.

4. Scope of temporal application

1. This Code applies to all disciplinary offences committed following the date
on which it comes into force.
2. This Code also applies to all disciplinary offences committed prior to the
date on which it comes into force, subject to any milder sanction that would
apply under previous rules.
3. Disciplinary proceedings instigated against someone who was under FIFA’s
jurisdiction as per article 3 on the day the alleged disciplinary offence
was committed shall not be abandoned by the FIFA judicial bodies solely
because the person involved is no longer under FIFA’s jurisdiction.
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5. Applicable law
The FIFA judicial bodies base their decisions:
a) primarily, on the FIFA Statutes as well as FIFA’s regulations, circulars,
directives and decisions, and the Laws of the Game; and
b) subsidiarily, on Swiss law and any other law that the competent judicial
body deems applicable.

6. Disciplinary measures
1. The following disciplinary measures may be imposed on natural and legal
persons:
a) warning;
b) reprimand;
c) fine or any other pecuniary measure;
d) return of awards;
e) withdrawal of a title;
f) o
 rder to fulfil a financial obligation arising or existing in the context of a
trial.
2. The following disciplinary measures may be imposed on natural persons
only:
a) suspension for a specific number of matches or for a specific period;
b) ban from dressing rooms and/or team bench;
c) ban on taking part in any football-related activity;
d) community football service;
e) suspension or withdrawal of a football agent licence;
f) suspension or withdrawal of a match agent licence.
3. The following disciplinary measures may be imposed on legal persons only:
a) ban on registering new players;
b) playing a match without spectators;
c) playing a match with a limited number of spectators;
GENERAL PROVISIONS

d) playing a match on neutral territory;

e) ban on playing in a particular stadium;
f) annulment of the result of a match;
g) deduction of points;
h) relegation to a lower division;
i) expulsion from a competition in progress or from future competitions;
j) forfeit; I.
9

k) replaying a match;
l) implementation of a prevention plan;
m) forfeiture of training rewards that are due;
n) payment of restitution to an affiliated club;
o) payment of a specific amount to a club or a member association.
4. Fines shall not be less than CHF 100 or more than CHF 1,000,000.
5. Associations are jointly liable for fines imposed on representative team players
and officials. The same applies to clubs in respect of their players and officials.
6. The disciplinary measures provided for in this Code may be combined.

7. Directives
1. Directives require those affected by them to behave in a certain manner.
2. In addition to disciplinary measures, the FIFA judicial bodies may issue directives
stipulating the manner in which a disciplinary measure must be carried out,
including the date and conditions on which the disciplinary measure is enforced.
3. The FIFA judicial bodies may also award compensation for damage where an
association or club is liable for that damage on the basis of article 8 or 17.

8. Responsibility
1. Unless otherwise specified in this Code, infringements are punishable regardless
of whether they have been committed deliberately or negligently. In particular,
associations and clubs may be responsible for the behaviour of their members,
players, officials or supporters or any other person carrying out a function on
their behalf even if the association or club concerned can prove the absence of
any fault or negligence.
2. Acts amounting to attempt are also punishable.
3. Anyone who takes part in committing an infringement or induces someone to
do so, whether as instigator or accomplice, may also be sanctioned.

9. Decisions of the referee

1. Decisions taken by the referee on the field of play are final and may not be
reviewed by the FIFA judicial bodies.
2. In cases where a decision by the referee involves an obvious error (such as
mistaking the identity of the person penalised), the FIFA judicial bodies may
only review the disciplinary consequences of that decision. In cases of mistaken
identity, disciplinary proceedings may, in accordance with this Code, be opened
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only against the person who was actually at fault.

3. A protest against a caution or a sending-off from the field of play after two
cautions is admissible only if the referee’s error was to mistake the identity
of the player.
4. In cases of serious misconduct, disciplinary action may be taken even if
the referee and their assistants did not see the event in question and were
therefore unable to take any action.
5. The provisions of this Code relating to protests against match results
affected by a referee’s decision that was an obvious violation of a rule
remain applicable.

10. Limitation period for prosecution

1. Infringements may no longer be prosecuted in accordance with the
following periods:
a) two years for infringements committed during a match;
b) t en years for anti-doping rule violations (as defined in the FIFA Anti-
Doping Regulations), infringements relating to international transfers
involving minors, and match manipulation;
c) five years for all other offences.
2. The limitation period runs as follows:
a) from the day on which the perpetrator committed the infringement;
b) if the infringement is recurrent, from the day on which the most recent
infringement was committed;
c) if the infringement lasted for a certain period, from the day on which it
ended;
d) from the day on which the decision of the Dispute Resolution Chamber,
the FIFA Players’ Status Committee or the Court of Arbitration for Sport
(CAS) becomes final and binding.
3. The limitation periods set out above are interrupted by all procedural acts,
starting afresh with each interruption.
GENERAL PROVISIONS

11. Duty to report

1. Anyone subject to this Code shall immediately report to the secretariat of
the Disciplinary Committee any violation of, or attempt to violate, this Code
by any third party.
2. Anyone subject to this Code who makes an unfounded or irresponsible
accusation may be sanctioned.

I.
11

12. Duty to collaborate

1. The parties shall act in good faith throughout the proceedings.
2. The parties or the persons subject to this Code shall collaborate to establish
the facts and, in particular, comply with requests for information from a
FIFA body, committee, subsidiary or instance, as well as from the FIFA
administration.
3. In particular, persons subject to this Code shall help to establish and/or
clarify the facts of a case or any possible breaches of this Code and, in
particular, shall provide any evidence requested.
4. Any breach of this article by any person subject to this Code may lead to
the appropriate sanctions being imposed by the relevant judicial body.
5. If the parties fail to collaborate, especially if they ignore the stipulated time
limits, the judicial body may nonetheless reach a decision on the case using
the file in its possession.
 II.
OFFENCES
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CHAPTER 1. INFRINGEMENTS OF THE LAWS OF

THE GAME

13. Offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of

fair play
1. Associations and clubs, as well as their players, officials and any other
member and/or person carrying out a function on their behalf, must
respect the Laws of the Game, as well as the FIFA Statutes and FIFA’s
regulations, directives, guidelines, circulars and decisions, and comply with
the principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity.
2. For example, anyone who acts in any of the following ways may be subject
to disciplinary measures:
a) violating the basic rules of decent conduct;
b) insulting a natural or legal person in any way, especially by using
offensive gestures, signs or language;
c) using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature;
d) behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into
disrepute;
e) actively altering the age of players shown on the identity cards they
produce at competitions that are subject to age limits.

CHAPTER 2. DISORDERLINESS AT MATCHES AND

COMPETITIONS

14. Misconduct of players and officials

1. Players and officials shall be suspended for misconduct as specified below
and may be fined accordingly:
a) o
 ne match for players who are sent off for denying the opposing team
a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity;
b) at least one match or an appropriate period of time for unsporting
behaviour towards an opponent or a person other than a match official;
c) a
 t least one match for officials who are sent off for dissent by word or
action;
d) at least one match for deliberately receiving a yellow or red card,
including in order to be suspended for an upcoming match or to
ultimately have a clean record;
e) at least two matches for serious foul play;
f) at least two matches for provoking spectators at a match by any means;
 14

g) a
 t least two matches or a specific period for acting with obvious intent
to cause a match official to make an incorrect decision or supporting
their error of judgement and thereby causing them to make an incorrect
decision;
h) at least three matches for violent conduct;
i) at least three matches or an appropriate period of time for assault,
including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or hitting an
opponent or a person other than a match official;
j) at least four matches or an appropriate period of time for unsporting
behaviour towards a match official;
k) at least ten matches or an appropriate period of time for intimidating
or threatening a match official;
l) at least 15 matches or an appropriate period of time for assaulting a
match official, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or
hitting.
2. The misconduct described in paragraph 1 b), f), j) and k) is also subject to
the respective sanctions in this Code, despite the fact that the offence has
been committed off the field of play (including via social networks).
3. If the suspension is to be served in terms of matches, only those actually
played by the respective team count towards execution of the suspension.
It is not necessary for a player to be included on the team sheet for the
respective match or competition in order for a match suspension to be
considered served.
4. A player or official who, in the context of a match (including pre- and post-
match) or competition, publicly incites others to hatred or violence will
be sanctioned with a ban on taking part in any football-related activity
for no less than six months and with a minimum fine of CHF 5,000. In
serious cases, in addition to the above sanctions and in particular if the
infringement is committed using social networks and/or the mass media
(such as the press, radio or television) or takes place on a matchday in or
around a stadium, the minimum fine will be CHF 20,000.
5. If a national or club team conducts itself improperly (for example, if
individual disciplinary sanctions are imposed by the referee on five or more
players – three or more in the case of futsal – during a match), disciplinary
measures may also be taken against the association or club concerned.
6. Additional disciplinary measures may also be imposed in all cases.
OFFENCES

II.
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15. Discrimination
1. Any person who offends the dignity or integrity of a country, a person
or group of people through contemptuous, discriminatory or derogatory
words or actions on account of race, skin colour, ethnicity, nationality, social
origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or
any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status or any other reason
shall be sanctioned with a suspension lasting at least ten matches or a
specific period, or any other appropriate disciplinary measure.
2. If one or more of an association’s or club’s supporters engage in the
behaviour described in paragraph 1, the association or club responsible
will be subject to the following disciplinary measures:
a) F
 or a first offence, playing a match with a limited number of spectators
and a fine of at least CHF 20,000 shall be imposed on the association or
club concerned;
b) For recidivists or if the circumstances of the case require it, disciplinary
measures such as the implementation of a prevention plan, a fine, a
points deduction, playing one or more matches without spectators,
a ban on playing in a particular stadium, the forfeiting of a match,
expulsion from a competition or relegation to a lower division may be
imposed on the association or club concerned.
3. The competent judicial body may deviate from the above minimum
sanctions if the association and/or club concerned commits to developing,
in conjunction with FIFA, a comprehensive plan to ensure action against
discrimination and to prevent repeated incidents. The plan shall be
approved by FIFA and shall include, at least, the following three focus areas:
a) Educational activities (including a communication campaign aimed at
supporters and the general public). The effectiveness of the campaign
will be reviewed regularly.
b) Stadium security and dialogue measures (including a policy on how
offenders will be identified and dealt with through football sanctions, a
policy on escalation to state (criminal) legal authorities, and a dialogue
with supporters and influencers on how to create change).
c) Partnerships (including working with supporters, NGOs, experts and
stakeholders to advise on and support the action plan and ensure
effective and ongoing implementation).
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4. Persons who are bound by this Code and have been the victim of potential
discriminatory behaviour may be invited by the respective judicial body to
make an oral or written victim impact statement, and will have the right to
request the motivated decision in proceedings before the judicial bodies,
as well as to lodge an appeal and act as party in the disciplinary appeal
proceedings in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Code.
5. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, if a match is abandoned by the
referee because of racist and/or discriminatory conduct, the match shall
be declared forfeited.

16. Unplayed matches and abandonment

1. If a match cannot take place or cannot be played in full for reasons other
than force majeure, but due to the behaviour of a team or behaviour for
which an association or a club is liable, the association or the club will be
sanctioned with a minimum fine of CHF 10,000. The match will either be
forfeited or replayed.
2. Additional disciplinary measures may be imposed on the association or
club concerned.
3. If a match was abandoned and is to be replayed in full, any caution
issued during that match shall be annulled. If a match was abandoned, in
particular for reasons of force majeure, and it recommences at the minute
at which play was interrupted, any caution imposed before the match was
abandoned remains valid for the remainder of the match. If the match is
not to be replayed, the cautions received by the teams shall be upheld.

17. Order and security at matches

1. Host clubs and associations are responsible for order and security both
in and around the stadium before, during and after matches. Without
prejudice to their responsibility for the inappropriate behaviour of their
own supporters, they are liable for incidents of any kind, including but
not limited to those listed in paragraph 2 below, and may be subject to
disciplinary measures and directives unless they can prove that they have
not been negligent in any way in the organisation of the match. In particular,
associations, clubs and licensed match agents who organise matches shall:
a) assess the degree of risk posed by the match and notify the FIFA bodies
of those that are especially high-risk;
b) comply with and implement existing safety rules (FIFA regulations,
OFFENCES

national laws, international agreements) and take every safety

precaution demanded by the circumstances in and around the stadium
before, during and after the match and if incidents occur;
c) e
 nsure the safety of the match officials and the players and officials of
the visiting team during their stay; II.
17

d) keep local authorities informed and collaborate with them actively and
effectively;
e) ensure that law and order are maintained in and around the stadiums
and that matches are organised properly.
2. All associations and clubs are liable for inappropriate behaviour on the part
of one or more of their supporters as stated below and may be subject to
disciplinary measures and directives even if they can prove the absence of
any negligence in relation to the organisation of the match:
a) the invasion or attempted invasion of the field of play;
b) the throwing of objects;
c) the lighting of fireworks or any other objects;
d) the use of laser pointers or similar electronic devices;
e) the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit
a message that is not appropriate for a sports event, particularly
messages that are of a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature;
f) acts of damage;
g) causing a disturbance during national anthems;
h) any other lack of order or discipline observed in or around the stadium.

18. Protests
1. Associations and their clubs are entitled to lodge protests. Protests must
reach the Disciplinary Committee in writing via the FIFA Legal Portal,
indicating the relevant grounds, within 24 hours of the end of the match in
question.
2. The 24-hour time limit cannot be extended. For the sake of the smooth
running of the competition, the corresponding competition regulations may
shorten the protest deadline accordingly.
3. The protest fee is CHF 1,000. It must be paid when the protest is lodged
and is reimbursed only if the protest is admitted in full.
4. A protest is admissible only if it is based on:
a) an ineligible player’s participation in a match as a consequence of
that player not fulfilling the conditions defined in the relevant FIFA
regulations;
b) a
 n unfit field of play, as long as the referee was informed as soon as
the problem was reported or observed (whether in writing before the
match, or orally by a team captain, in the presence of the captain of the
opposing team, during the match);
c) a
 n obvious error by the referee as defined in article 9 of this Code,
in which case the protest may be directed only at the disciplinary
consequences of the referee’s obvious error.
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19. Fielding an ineligible player

1. If a player fielded in a match and/or competition is declared ineligible,
the FIFA judicial bodies, taking into consideration the integrity of the
competition concerned, may impose any appropriate disciplinary measures.
2. If a player fielded in a match is declared ineligible following a protest,
the team to which the player belongs will be sanctioned by forfeiting the
match and paying a minimum fine of CHF 6,000. The player may also be
sanctioned.
3. The Disciplinary Committee may act ex officio.

20. Manipulation of football matches and competitions

1. Anyone who directly or indirectly, by an act or an omission, unlawfully
influences or manipulates the course, result or any other aspect of a match
and/or competition or conspires or attempts to do so by any means shall
be sanctioned with a minimum five-year ban on taking part in any football-
related activity as well as a fine of at least CHF 100,000. In serious cases, a
longer ban period, including a potential lifetime ban on taking part in any
football-related activity, shall be imposed.
2. If a player or official engages in behaviour described in paragraph 1, the club
or association to which the player or official belongs may be sanctioned
with the forfeiting of the match in question or may be declared ineligible
to participate in a different competition, provided the integrity of the
competition is protected. Additional disciplinary measures may be imposed.
3. Persons bound by this Code must cooperate fully with FIFA at all times
in its efforts to combat such behaviour and shall therefore immediately
and voluntarily report to the secretariat of the Disciplinary Committee
any approach in connection with activities and/or information directly
or indirectly related to the possible manipulation of a football match or
competition as described above. Any breach of this provision shall be
sanctioned with a ban of at least two years on taking part in any football
related activity and a fine of at least CHF 15,000.
4. The Disciplinary Committee shall be competent to investigate and
adjudicate all conduct on and off the field of play in connection with the
manipulation of football matches and competitions.
OFFENCES

II.
19

CHAPTER 3. OTHER PROVISIONS

21. Failure to respect decisions

1. Anyone who fails to pay another person (such as a player, a coach or a
club) or FIFA a sum of money in full or part, even though instructed to do
so by a body, a committee, a subsidiary or an instance of FIFA or a CAS
decision (financial decision), or anyone who fails to comply with another
final decision (non-financial decision) passed by a body, a committee, a
subsidiary or an instance of FIFA, or by CAS:
a) w
 ill be fined for failing to comply with a decision and receive any
pertinent additional disciplinary measure; and, if necessary:
b) w
 ill be granted a final deadline of 30 days in which to pay the amount
due or to comply with the non-financial decision;
c) may be ordered to pay an interest rate of 18% p.a. to the creditor as
from the date of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee rendered in
connection to a CAS decision on an appeal against a (financial) decision
passed by a body, a committee, a subsidiary or an instance of FIFA;
d) in the case of clubs, upon expiry of the aforementioned final deadline
and in the event of persistent default or failure to comply in full with the
decision within the period stipulated, a ban on registering new players
will be issued until the complete amount due is paid or the non-financial
decision is complied with. A deduction of points or relegation to a lower
division may also be ordered in addition to a ban on registering new
players in the event of persistent failure (i.e. the ban on registering new
players has been served for more than three entire and consecutive
registration periods following the notification of the decision), repeated
offences or serious infringements or if no full registration ban could be
imposed or served for any reason;
e) in the case of associations, upon expiry of the aforementioned final
deadline and in the event of persistent default or failure to comply in
full with the decision within the period stipulated, additional disciplinary
measures may be imposed;
f) in the case of natural persons, upon expiry of the aforementioned final
deadline and in the event of persistent default or failure to comply
in full with the decision within the period stipulated, a ban on any
football-related activity for a specific period may be imposed. Other
disciplinary measures may also be imposed.
2. With regard to financial decisions passed by a body, a committee, a
subsidiary or an instance of FIFA, or CAS, disciplinary proceedings may
only commence at the request of the creditor or any other affected party
who is entitled to be notified of the final outcome of the said disciplinary
proceedings, including the motivated decision if so requested.
 20

3. If the sanctioned person disregards the final time limit, FIFA and/or the
relevant association (in cases involving clubs or natural persons) shall
implement the sanctions imposed. Where a registration ban (in the case
of a club), a ban on any football-related activity (in the case of a natural
person) or a disciplinary measure (in the case of associations) has been
enforced against a debtor in accordance with this article in relation to a
financial obligation resulting from a CAS or FIFA decision and where the
debtor provides FIFA with reliable evidence of having complied with such
decision, such ban or measure may be provisionally lifted.

The creditor will be invited to confirm whether such payment has been
made.
a) Should the debtor have provided accurate information and fully settled
its financial obligation, the ban or measure is considered permanently
lifted.
b) Should the debtor have provided inaccurate information and/or have
failed to comply with its financial obligation in full, the Disciplinary
Committee may decide to:
i. reinstate the ban or measure; and
ii. impose additional disciplinary measures.
4. The sporting successor of a non-compliant party shall also be considered
a non-compliant party and thus subject to the obligations under this
provision. Criteria to assess whether an entity is to be considered as the
sporting successor of another entity are, among others, its headquarters,
name, legal form, team colours, players, shareholders or stakeholders or
ownership and the category of competition concerned.
5. Any financial or non-financial decision that has been issued against a club
by a competent decision-making body within the relevant association shall
be enforced by the association of the deciding body that has issued the
decision in accordance with the principles established in this article and in
compliance with the applicable disciplinary regulations. An association will
be fined for failing to enforce the decision in accordance with this article. In
the event of persistent failure to enforce the decision, additional disciplinary
measures may be imposed on the association.
6. Any financial or non-financial decision that has been issued against a natural
person by a competent decision-making body within the relevant association
shall be enforced by the association of the deciding body that has issued the
decision or by the natural person’s new association, if the natural person
has, in the meantime, been registered or licenced at another association, or
OFFENCES

otherwise employed by a club affiliated to another association or by another

association, in accordance with the principles established in this article and
in compliance with the applicable disciplinary regulations. An association will
be fined for failing to enforce the decision in accordance with this article. In
the event of persistent failure to enforce the decision, additional disciplinary II.
measures may be imposed on the association.
21

7. Any financial decision issued by the Football Tribunal or FIFA imposing

disciplinary measures, such as a ban from registering any new players –
either nationally or internationally – or a restriction on playing in official
matches, will be automatically enforced by FIFA and the relevant member
association. FIFA will be competent to deal with any issue relating to the
enforcement of such decisions, including but not limited to the potential
recognition of the sporting successor and the assessment of potential
insolvency and/or bankruptcy proceedings.
8. Where a decision issued by the FIFA Football Tribunal or a proposal
confirmed by the FIFA general secretariat contains consequences for failure
to pay relevant amounts on time and the debtor has not provided proof of
payment after such consequences have been served in full, the Disciplinary
Committee may decide to provisionally extend such consequences until a
final decision has been rendered by this judicial body in accordance with
this article.
9. The Disciplinary Committee shall be competent to decide on cases related
to the failure to respect settlement agreements concluded in the context
of disciplinary proceedings opened against a debtor with respect to a final
and binding financial decision issued by a body, a committee, a subsidiary
or an instance of FIFA or by CAS.
10. Disciplinary proceedings for failing to respect a final CAS decision rendered
in the context of ordinary proceedings may be initiated provided that the
respective CAS procedure started after 15 July 2019.

22. Forgery and falsification

1. Anyone who, in football-related activities, forges a document, falsifies
an authentic document or uses a forged or falsified document will be
sanctioned with a fine and a ban of at least six matches or for a specific
period of no less than 12 months.
2. An association or a club may be held liable for an act of forgery or
falsification by one of its officials and/or players.

23. Specific proceedings

1. Doping is sanctioned in accordance with the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations
and this Code.
2. Breaches of the FIFA Football Agent Regulations are sanctioned in
accordance with the FIFA Football Agent Regulations and this Code.
3. Breaches of the FIFA Match Agent Regulations are sanctioned in accordance
with the FIFA Match Agent Regulations and this Code.
4. Breaches of the FIFA Clearing House Regulations are sanctioned in
accordance with the FIFA Clearing House Regulations and this Code.
 22

CHAPTER 4. IMPLEMENTATION
 OF DISCIPLINARY
MEASURES

24. Enforcement of sanctions

1. The limitation period to enforce disciplinary measures is five years.
2. The limitation period begins on the day on which the final decision comes
into force.

25. Determining the disciplinary measure

1. The judicial body determines the type and extent of the disciplinary
measures to be imposed in accordance with the objective and subjective
elements of the offence, taking into account both aggravating and mitigating
circumstances.
2. Disciplinary measures may be limited to a geographical area or to one or
more specific categories of match or competition.
3. When determining the disciplinary measure, the judicial body shall take
into account all relevant factors of the case, including any assistance of
and substantial cooperation by the offender in uncovering or establishing a
breach of any FIFA rule, the circumstances and the degree of the offender’s
guilt and any other relevant circumstances.
4. In exercising its discretionary powers, the relevant FIFA judicial body may
scale down the disciplinary measure to be imposed or even dispense with
it entirely.

26. Recidivism
1. Recidivism occurs if another offence of a similar nature and gravity is
committed after notification of the previous decision within:
a) o
 ne year of the previous offence if that offence was sanctioned with a
suspension of up to two matches;
b) t wo years of the previous offence if that offence related to order and
security;
c) t en years of the previous offence if that offence related to match
manipulation or corruption;
d) three years of the previous offence in all other cases.
OFFENCES

2. Recidivism counts as an aggravating circumstance.

3. Recidivism in doping matters is subject to the rules of the FIFA Anti Doping
Regulations.
II.
23

27. Suspension of implementation of disciplinary measures

1. The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the
implementation of a disciplinary measure.
2. By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body
subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four
years.
3. If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another
infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period,
the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction
enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new
infringement.
4. Disciplinary measures relating to match manipulation cannot be suspended.

28. Forfeit
1. A team sanctioned with a forfeit is considered to have lost the match 3-0 in
11-a-side football, 5-0 in futsal or 10-0 in beach soccer. If the goal difference
at the end of the match is less favourable to the team at fault, the result on
the pitch is upheld.
2. Cautions issued in a match that is subsequently forfeited shall not be
annulled.

29. Matches to be played without spectators

To the extent that the competent judicial body decides otherwise, no one
shall be allowed to attend a match that has been ordered to be played
without spectators, with the exception of:
a) a
 maximum of 200 people holding category 1 tickets from the
visiting club or association and a maximum of 20 VIP guests for each
association;
b) a maximum of 55 people per team delegation, including the players;
c) accredited broadcast staff and media (journalists and photographers);
d) p
 olice officers and security staff with specific tasks related to security
at the match;
e) people carrying out functions related to the stadium infrastructure
(grounds, lighting, signage, etc.) and persons carrying out functions
related to the match (ball kids, children involved in the pre-match
ceremony as well as their chaperones);
f) a maximum of 75 confederation/FIFA representatives carrying out
functions at the match;
 24

g) people from the confederation/FIFA and confederation/FIFA partners

with complimentary tickets; and
h) a
 maximum of 1,000 children up to the age of 14 (duly accompanied)
from schools and/or football academies invited to the match free of
charge.

OFFENCES

II.
 III.
ORGANISATION
AND COMPETENCE
 26

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

30. General rule

1. The FIFA judicial bodies shall be competent to investigate, prosecute and
sanction conduct within the scope of application of this Code.
2. Confederations, associations and other sports organisations are responsible
for investigating, prosecuting and sanctioning conduct in their respective
jurisdictions. In particular, confederations shall have jurisdiction on
disciplinary matters related to friendly matches and competitions between
representative teams or clubs belonging to the same confederation,
provided that the competition is not organised by FIFA.
3. FIFA shall have jurisdiction on disciplinary matters related to matches and
competitions organised by it, to international “A” friendly matches (tier-1
international matches), to friendly matches and competitions between
representative teams or clubs belonging to different confederations or to
matches involving invitational teams composed of players registered with
clubs belonging to associations of different confederations.
4. Each association has a duty to cooperate with other associations to
forward and notify them of documents or to provide information related to
and/or required for domestic disciplinary proceedings. If an association
fails to cooperate in this way, it may lead to sanctions as provided under
this Code.
5. Confederations and associations shall inform FIFA immediately of the
sanctions issued by their respective judicial bodies in relation to serious
infringements (including but not limited to doping, manipulation of football
matches and competitions, sexual abuse or harassment).
6. The FIFA judicial bodies reserve the right to investigate, prosecute and
sanction serious infringements within the scope of application of this Code
– in particular, doping, match-fixing and discrimination – that fall within the
ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCE

jurisdiction of confederations, associations or other sports organisations,

if deemed appropriate in a specific case and if no formal investigation has
been initiated by the competent confederation, member association or
other sports organisation 90 days after the matter became known to FIFA,
or if the relevant confederation, member association or sports organisation
agrees with FIFA to confer the competence regarding the relevant matter
on FIFA.
7. The FIFA judicial bodies shall not deal with cases that have been previously
subject to a final decision by another FIFA body involving the same party
or parties and the same cause of action. In such cases, the claim shall be
deemed inadmissible.

III.
27

31. Composition of the FIFA judicial bodies

1. In the context of this Code, the FIFA judicial bodies are:
a) the Disciplinary Committee;
b) the Appeal Committee.
2. The FIFA judicial bodies shall consist of a chairperson, a deputy chairperson
and an unspecified number of members.
3. The Congress elects, upon the proposal of the Council, the chairpersons,
deputy chairpersons and other members of the FIFA judicial bodies for a
period of four years.

32. Independence and impartiality

1. The chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and other members of the FIFA
judicial bodies shall be impartial and fulfil the independence criteria as
defined in the FIFA Governance Regulations.
2. Members of the FIFA judicial bodies may not decide on a matter where
there are legitimate grounds for questioning their independence or
impartiality and/or if there is a conflict of interest. They shall disclose any
circumstance which may give rise to any such ground.
3. Members who decline to participate in a meeting on any of the above
grounds shall notify the chairperson immediately.
4. If the circumstances give rise to legitimate doubts over the independence
or impartiality of a member of the FIFA judicial body, a party is entitled to
challenge said member at the latest two days prior to the relevant date on
which the judicial body is called to decide on a matter.
5. The chairperson shall decide on any such challenge. If an objection is raised
concerning the chairperson, the deputy chairperson or, in their absence,
the longest-serving member present shall decide on such challenge.

33. Meetings
1. At the request of the chairperson, the deputy chairperson or, in their
absence, the longest-serving member available, and depending on the
seriousness of the potential infringement, the secretariat shall call the
number of members deemed necessary to each meeting.
2. A meeting may take place with a single judge.
3. The chairperson, the deputy chairperson or, in their absence, the single
judge, shall conduct the meetings and pass the decisions that this Code
empowers them to take.
 28

34. Confidentiality
1. The members of the FIFA judicial bodies shall ensure that everything
disclosed to them during the course of their duty remains confidential
(including the facts of the case, the contents of the deliberations and
decisions taken).
2. The opening of proceedings as well as decisions already notified to the
addressees may be made public by FIFA.
3. Any person who is required to participate in or is subject to a disciplinary
investigation or disciplinary proceedings must keep such information
confidential at all times, unless the chairperson of the judicial body explicitly
stipulates otherwise in writing. Any breach of such duty may be sanctioned.
4. In the event of a breach of this article by a member of a judicial body, the
relevant member shall be suspended from the Disciplinary Committee until
the next FIFA Congress.

35. Secretariat
1. The FIFA general secretariat provides the FIFA judicial bodies with a
secretariat and the necessary support, infrastructure and staff at FIFA
headquarters. The FIFA judicial bodies may be assisted by legal counsel or
experts.
2. The secretariat takes charge of the administrative work and writes the
decisions of the meetings.
3. The secretariat manages the case files. The decisions passed and the
relevant files shall be kept for at least ten years.
4. The secretariat keeps records of cautions, sendings-off and match
suspensions, which are stored in FIFA’s central data storage system. The
secretariat of the Disciplinary Committee confirms them in writing to the
association or club concerned or, in the case of final competitions, to the ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCE
head of the delegation concerned (or the person(s) indicated by the latter
for each competition). To ensure that the relevant records are complete,
the confederations shall inform FIFA of all sanctions that have been issued
during their own competitions that are likely to be carried over to a FIFA
competition or future competitions organised by the confederations.
5. The secretariat takes charge of the necessary investigation ex officio.
6. The general principles that will apply to investigations are the following:
a) 
FIFA may investigate possible offences falling within the scope of this
Code.

III.
29

b) In principle, when an investigation is initiated, the parties concerned are

informed. This does not apply where such notification is not deemed
appropriate. Such investigations are conducted by means of written
inquiries, engaging with third parties, such as forensic companies and,
where necessary, the questioning of individuals. Other investigative
procedures may also be employed, including but not limited to
on-site inspections, document requests and the procurement of expert
opinions.
An investigation may be reopened if new evidence or facts emerge which
imply that an offence falling within the scope of this Code may have been
committed.

36. Integrity experts

1. The secretariat may appoint an integrity expert to support the necessary
investigations into potential breaches of FIFA regulations.
2. The appointed integrity expert may request the opening of disciplinary
proceedings and propose that disciplinary measures be imposed on
member associations, clubs and individuals.
3. The integrity experts shall remain impartial and fulfil the independence
criteria as defined in the FIFA Governance Regulations. The requirements
and conditions of their appointment as well as of their role are set in
accordance with the relevant circular letter on this subject. The term as
integrity expert shall be limited to four years. A list of integrity experts shall
be submitted to the FIFA Council for approval.

37. Exemption from liability

Except in the case of gross culpability, neither the members of the FIFA
judicial bodies nor the secretariat may be held liable for any deeds or
omissions relating to any disciplinary procedure.

38. Time limits

1. Time limits shall commence the day after the notification of the relevant
document. Time limits are deemed to have been complied with if the
relevant action has been completed by midnight (Central European Time)
at the latest on the last day of the stipulated deadline.
2. Official holidays and non-working days are included in the calculation of time
limits. Time limits are interrupted from 20 December to 5 January inclusive.
3. Time limits to which persons other than the associations shall adhere
commence on the day after receipt of the document by the association
responsible for forwarding it, except when the document is also or solely
sent to the person concerned or their legal representative. If the document
was also or solely sent to the parties or their legal representatives, the time
limit starts on the day after receipt of the document by such person.
 30

4. When a deadline expires on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in the Swiss

canton of Zurich, where FIFA´s headquarters are located, it is carried forward
to the next working day.
5. If a time limit is not observed, the defaulter loses the procedural right in
question.
6. Time limits laid down by this Code may not be extended.

39. Evidence, evaluation of evidence and standard of proof

1. Any type of proof may be produced.
2. The competent judicial body has absolute discretion regarding the
evaluation of evidence.
3. The standard of proof to be applied in FIFA disciplinary proceedings is the
comfortable satisfaction of the competent judicial body.

40. Match officials’ reports

Facts contained in match officials’ reports and in any additional reports
or correspondence submitted by the match officials are presumed to be
accurate. Proof of their inaccuracy may be provided.

41. Burden of proof

1. The burden of proof regarding disciplinary infringements rests on the FIFA
judicial bodies.
2. Any party claiming a right on the basis of an alleged fact shall carry the
burden of proof of this fact. During the proceedings, the party shall submit
all relevant facts and evidence of which the party is aware at that time, or of
which the party should have been aware by exercising due care.
ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCE
3. For anti-doping rule violations, the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations apply.

42. Witnesses
1. Witnesses shall tell the absolute and whole truth and shall answer the
questions put to them to the best of their knowledge and judgement.
2. It is the responsibility of the parties to ensure the appearance of the
witnesses requested by them and to pay all costs and expenses in
connection with their appearance.

III.
31

43. Anonymous participants in proceedings

1. When a person’s testimony in proceedings conducted in accordance
with this Code could lead to threats to them or put them or any person
particularly close to them in physical danger, the chairperson of the
competent judicial body or the deputy chairperson may order, inter alia, that:
a) the person not be identified in the presence of the parties;
b) the person not appear at the hearing;
c) the person’s voice be distorted;
d) the person be questioned outside the hearing room;
e) the person be questioned in writing;
f) all or some of the information that could be used to identify the person
be included only in a separate, confidential case file.
2. If no other evidence is available to corroborate the testimony provided by
the person concerned, such testimony may only be used in the context of
imposing sanctions under this Code if:
a) 
the parties and their legal representatives had the opportunity to pose
questions to the person concerned in writing; and
b) the members of the judicial body had the opportunity to interview the
person concerned directly and in full awareness of their identity and to
assess their identity and record in full.
3. Disciplinary measures shall be imposed on anyone who reveals the identity
of any person granted anonymity under this provision or any information
that could be used to identify such person.

44. Identification of anonymous participants in proceedings

1. To ensure their safety, persons granted anonymity shall be identified
behind closed doors in the absence of the parties. This identification shall
be conducted by the chairperson of the competent judicial body alone, the
deputy chairperson and/or the members of the competent judicial body
present and shall be recorded in minutes containing the relevant person’s
personal details.
2. These minutes shall not be communicated to the parties.
3. The parties shall receive a brief notice which:
a) confirms that the person concerned has been formally identified; and
b) contains no details that could be used to identify such person.
 32

45. Representation and assistance

1. Subject to article 46 of this Code, the parties are free to have legal
representation at their own cost, in which case a duly signed power of
attorney must be submitted.
2. If they are not required to appear personally, they may be represented.

46. Legal aid

1. In order to guarantee their rights, individuals bound by this Code who have
insufficient financial means may request legal aid from FIFA for the purpose
of proceedings before the FIFA judicial bodies.
2. Applicants for legal aid must submit reasoned requests and supporting
documents.
3. The secretariat establishes a list of pro bono counsel.
4. According to each applicant’s needs, and subject to prior written
confirmation by FIFA, legal aid may be provided as follows:
a) The applicant may be released from having to pay the costs of
proceedings.
b) Pro bono counsel may be selected by the applicant from the list
provided by the secretariat.
c) The applicant’s own reasonable travel and accommodation costs and
those of witnesses and experts they call to testify may be covered by
FIFA, including the travel and accommodation costs of any pro bono
counsel selected from the list provided by the secretariat.
5. The chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee decides on requests for legal
aid. Such decisions are final.
6. Further conditions and requirements associated with legal aid and pro bono
counsel may be communicated by circular letter. ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCE

47. Language used in proceedings

1. The languages used in proceedings are English, French and Spanish. The
FIFA judicial bodies and the parties may choose to communicate in any of
these languages.
2. Decisions are passed in any of the aforementioned languages.
3. If the language used in a decision is not the mother tongue of the person
concerned, the association to which the person belongs will be responsible
for translating it.

III.
33

48. Communication with the parties

1. All of the parties shall be notified of the decision.
2. All communications between FIFA and the party concerned during
proceedings before the FIFA judicial bodies shall be sent exclusively through
the FIFA Legal Portal. Communications through the FIFA Legal Portal are
valid and binding means of communication and will be deemed sufficient
to establish time limits and their observance.
3. The parties and associations must ensure that their contact details
(including their address, telephone number and email address) are valid
and kept up to date at all times.
4. Decisions and other documents intended for players, clubs and officials
are addressed to the association concerned on condition that it forwards
the documents to the parties concerned. In the event that the association
acts on behalf of the party concerned, these documents are considered
to have been communicated properly to the ultimate addressee on the
day after the notification to the respective association. In the event that
the email address of the party concerned is unknown and the documents
have been sent to the association concerned via the FIFA Legal Portal,
these documents are considered to have been communicated properly
to the ultimate addressee four days after the notification of the document
to the respective association. Failure by the association to comply with
the aforementioned instruction may result in disciplinary proceedings in
accordance with this Code.

49. Costs and expenses

1. Costs and expenses shall be borne by the party that has been sanctioned,
unless otherwise stipulated in this Code.
2. The costs of proceedings before the Disciplinary Committee shall be borne by
FIFA, except in protest cases, when they shall be borne by the defeated party.
3. If no party is sanctioned, the costs and expenses shall be borne by FIFA.
Should a party generate unnecessary costs on account of its conduct, costs
may be imposed upon it, irrespective of the outcome of the proceedings.
4. The judicial body that rules on the substance of the matter decides how
costs and expenses shall be allocated and the relevant amounts are
stipulated by the chairperson of the relevant judicial body. This decision is
not subject to appeal.
5. Each party shall bear its own costs, including the costs of its own witnesses,
representatives, legal advisers, interpreters and counsel, subject to
article 46.
 34

50. Effects of decisions

1. Decisions come into force as soon as they are notified.
2. Cautions, sendings-off and automatic match suspensions have an
immediate effect on subsequent matches even if the notification reaches
the association, club or head of delegation concerned later.

51. Provisional measures

1. The chairperson of the competent judicial body, or their nominee, is entitled
to issue provisional measures where these are deemed necessary to ensure
the proper administration of justice, to maintain sporting discipline or to
avoid irreparable harm, or for reasons of safety and security. They are not
obliged to hear the parties.
2. Provisional measures issued by the chairperson of the Disciplinary
Committee or their nominee may be appealed against in accordance with
the relevant provisions of this Code. However, the appeal must reach FIFA
in writing via the FIFA Legal Portal and with grounds within three days of
notification of the contested measure, without the condition of payment
of any appeal fee. The chairperson of the Appeals Committee, or their
nominee, decides on such appeals as a single judge. Such decisions are
final.
3. A provisional measure may apply for up to 90 days. The duration of any
such measure may be deducted from the final disciplinary sanction.
The chairperson of the competent judicial body, or their nominee, may
exceptionally extend the validity of a provisional measure by up to 90 days.

52. Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

Decisions passed by the Disciplinary and Appeal Committees may be
ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCE

appealed against before CAS, subject to the provisions of this Code and
articles 56 and 57 of the FIFA Statutes.

III.
35

CHAPTER 2. DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

53. Convocation, rights of the parties, hearings, decisions,

communications and confidentiality
1. As a general rule, there are no oral statements and the FIFA judicial bodies
decide on the basis of the file.
2. At the motivated request of one of the parties or at the discretion of the
chairperson, the deputy chairperson or the competent single judge, a hearing
may be arranged to be held, to which all the parties shall be summoned.
3. Unless this Code specifies otherwise, the parties are entitled to submit
written statements, examine the case file and order copies of the case file
before any decision is reached.
4. Hearings are recorded and archived. Parties are not given access to
recordings of hearings; however, if a party claims that procedural rules in
its favour have been breached during a hearing, the chairperson of the
competent judicial body, or their nominee, may allow that party to have
access to the recording. Recordings are destroyed after five years.
5. The FIFA judicial bodies may hold hearings and take decisions in the absence
of one or all of the parties.
6. If different proceedings are opened against the same association, club or
individual, the competent judicial body may combine the cases and issue
one comprehensive decision.
7. Hearings of the FIFA judicial bodies are not open to the public, except in
cases of anti-doping rule violations by individuals if duly requested by the
defendant and approved by the chairperson of the relevant judicial body or
their nominee. In cases of match manipulation, the relevant chairperson or
their nominee will decide about a public hearing. The chairperson or their
nominee decides at their own discretion if and under what conditions a
public hearing may take place.
8. At any time prior to the meeting set up to decide the case by the relevant
judicial body, a party may accept responsibility and request the FIFA judicial
bodies to impose a specific sanction. The FIFA judicial bodies may decide on
the basis of such request or render a decision which it considers appropriate
in the context of this Code.
9. All communications concerning an association, club or individual (including
notifications of proceedings against them and the issuing of the decisions
taken by the FIFA judicial bodies) are addressed to the association or club
concerned, which must then, if applicable, inform the club or the individual
in person. All such communications by FIFA or the FIFA judicial bodies shall
be sent by the secretariat via the FIFA Legal Portal.
10. Written communications to FIFA by an association, club or individual shall
be submitted via the FIFA Legal Portal.
 36

54. Decisions
1. Decisions are passed by a single judge or by a simple majority of the
members present. If votes are equal, the chairperson has the casting vote.
2. The FIFA judicial bodies may take decisions via personal meetings, telephone
conference, video conference or any other similar method.
3. In principle, the FIFA judicial bodies issue the terms of decisions without
grounds, and only these terms of the decision are notified to the parties,
who are informed that they have ten days from that notification to request,
in writing via the FIFA Legal Portal, a motivated decision. Failure to make such
a request results in the decision becoming final and binding and the parties
being deemed to have waived their right to lodge an appeal.
4. A motivated decision shall include at least:
a) a brief summary of the facts, which does not need to include every single
contention;
b) the article(s) infringed;
c) the considerations that are relevant to the potential breach of the FIFA
regulations; and
d) the criteria used to determine the possible sanction.
5. If the motivated decision is requested within the time limit stipulated
in paragraph 3 above, the time limit for lodging an appeal begins only
on notification of the motivation. Only the parties to which a decision is
addressed can request the motivation.
6. Any appeal lodged before notification of the motivated decision is regarded
exclusively as a request for motivation.
7. Doping-related decisions are issued with grounds. In case of urgency, or
under any other special circumstances, the relevant judicial body may notify
the party of only the terms of the decision, which become immediately
applicable. The full, written decision shall then be notified within 60 days.
ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCE

8. The FIFA secretariat publishes decisions issued by the FIFA judicial bodies.
Where such a decision contains confidential information, FIFA may decide,
ex officio or at the request of a party, to publish an anonymised or a
redacted version.
9. The request for a motivated decision does not affect the enforcement of the
decision, which shall take effect as soon as it is notified, with the exception
of orders to pay a sum of money.
10. The competent judicial body may rectify any mistakes in calculation or any
other obvious errors in the decision at any time.

III.
37

CHAPTER 3. DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

55. Commencement of proceedings

1. Proceedings are opened by the secretariat of the Disciplinary Committee:
a) on the basis of match officials’ reports;
b) where a protest has been lodged;
c) at the request of the FIFA Council;
d) at the request of the integrity expert;
e) at the request of the Ethics Committee;
f) on the basis of a report filed by a FIFA body, committee, subsidiary,
instance or by the FIFA administration;
g) on the basis of article 21 of this Code;
h) on the basis of documents received from a public authority;
i) ex officio.
2. Any person or body may report any conduct that is considered incompatible
with FIFA regulations to the FIFA judicial bodies. Such complaints shall be
made in writing. FIFA may initiate investigations and appoint an integrity
expert to investigate any such complaint.

56. Jurisdiction
1. The Disciplinary Committee is competent to sanction any breach of FIFA
regulations which does not come under the jurisdiction of another body.
2. The Disciplinary Committee is, in particular, responsible for:
a) sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match
officials’ attention;
b) rectifying obvious errors in the referee’s disciplinary decisions;
c) extending the duration of a match suspension incurred automatically by
a sending-off;
d) pronouncing additional sanctions.
3. If deemed appropriate, the chairperson or their deputy may refer a case,
regardless of the matter involved, directly to the Appeal Committee for
consideration and decision.
 38

57. Jurisdiction of the single judges of the Disciplinary

Committee
1. The chairperson can rule alone as a single judge and may delegate their
functions to another member of the Disciplinary Committee. In particular,
the chairperson or their nominee acting as a single judge may take the
following decisions with respect to any of the following matters:
a) urgent or protest cases;
b) whether disciplinary proceedings should be initiated, suspended or
terminated;
c) suspending a person for up to five matches or for up to three months;
d) pronouncing a fine of up to CHF 100,000;
e) extending a sanction;
f) settling disputes arising from objections to members of the Disciplinary
Committee;
g) issuing, altering and annulling provisional measures;
h) cases involving matters under article 21 of this Code;
i) cases involving order and security at matches; and/or
j) unplayed or abandoned matches.
2. The secretariat, under the guidance of the chairperson or the deputy
chairperson, is responsible for assigning the relevant cases to single judges.
The proceedings before a single judge shall be conducted in accordance with
this Code.

58. Proposal by the secretariat

In matters reserved for the single judge, the secretariat may propose a
sanction on the basis of the existing file . The party concerned may reject the
proposed sanction and submit its position before the relevant judicial body
within five days of notification of the proposed sanction, in the absence of
ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCE

which the proposed sanction will become final and binding.

59. Closure of proceedings

Proceedings may be closed when:
a) the parties reach an agreement;
b) a party is under insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings pursuant to the
relevant national law and is legally unable to comply with an order;
c) a club is disaffiliated from an association;
d) the alleged violation has not been proven.
III.
39

CHAPTER 4. APPEAL COMMITTEE

60. Jurisdiction
1. The Appeal Committee is competent to decide on appeals against any of
the Disciplinary Committee’s decisions that FIFA regulations do not declare
as final or referable to another body, as well as on cases referred by the
chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee or their deputy for consideration
and decision.
2. The Appeal Committee is also competent to decide appeals against decisions
of the Ethics Committee, as set out in the FIFA Code of Ethics.
3. Any party intending to lodge an appeal must inform the Appeal Committee
of its intention to appeal, in writing via the FIFA Legal Portal, within three
days of notification of the grounds of the decision.
4. Within five days of expiry of the time limit for the declaration of appeal, the
appellant must file, in writing via the FIFA Legal Portal, the appeal brief. This
must contain the appellant’s requests, an account of the facts, evidence,
a list of the proposed witnesses (with a brief summary of their expected
testimony) and the appellant’s conclusions. The appellant is not authorised
to produce further written submissions or evidence after the deadline for
filing the appeal brief.
5. In urgent cases and during final competitions, the chairperson may shorten
the deadline for the submission of the above-mentioned documents.
6. The appeal fee is CHF 1,000, payable on submission of the appeal brief at
the latest.
7. The appeal is not admissible if any deadline and/or any of the
above-mentioned requirements are not met.
 40

61. Admissibility of appeals

1. An appeal may be lodged with the Appeal Committee against any decision
passed by the Disciplinary Committee, unless the disciplinary measure
issued is:
a) a warning;
b) a reprimand;
c) a suspension of up to two matches or of up to two months (with the
exception of doping-related decisions);
d) a fine of up to CHF 15,000 imposed on an association or a club or of up
to CHF 7,500 in other cases;
e) decisions passed in compliance with article 21 of this Code.
2. Only the motivated decision can be appealed against.
3. If the Disciplinary Committee combines disciplinary measures, an appeal is
admissible if at least one of the disciplinary measures imposed exceeds the
above limits. In this case, the subsequent instance(s) will only be entitled to
examine the sanctions that exceed the above limit.

62. Standing to appeal

1. Anyone who has been a party to the proceedings before the Disciplinary
Committee may lodge an appeal with the Appeal Committee, provided this
party has a legally protected interest in filing the appeal.
2. Associations and clubs may appeal against decisions sanctioning their
players, officials or members.

63. Deliberations and decisions

1. The Appeal Committee deliberates behind closed doors. ORGANISATION AND COMPETENCE
2. Within the framework of the appeal proceedings, the Appeal Committee has
full power to review the facts and the law.
3. The decision by the Appeal Committee upholds, amends or overturns the
contested decision. In the case of a fundamental mistrial, the Appeal
Committee can overturn the contested decision and refer the case back to
the Disciplinary Committee for reassessment.
4. If the accused is the only party to have lodged an appeal, the sanction
cannot be increased.
5. If new disciplinary offences come to light while appeal proceedings are
pending, they may be judged in the course of the same proceedings. In
such a situation, the sanction can be increased.
III.
41

64. Jurisdiction of the chairperson ruling alone

The chairperson (or in their absence, the deputy chairperson) of the Appeal
Committee may take the following decisions alone:
a) on a preliminary procedural issue related to the appeal, including the
admissibility of the appeal;
b) in urgent or protest cases;
c) on an appeal against a decision to extend a sanction;
d) to resolve disputes arising from objections to members of the Appeal
Committee;
e) on appeals against provisional decisions passed by the chairperson of
the Disciplinary Committee;
f) issue, alter and annul provisional measures;
g) in cases where the sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Committee is a
fine of up to CHF 500,000 or a suspension from playing or carrying out
a function for up to five matches or a period of time up to 12 months;
and/or
h) at the request of the parties.

65. Effects of appeal

1. The appeal does not have a suspensive effect except with regard to orders
to pay a sum of money.
2. The chairperson, the deputy chairperson or, in their absence, the
longest-serving member available, may, on receipt of a reasoned request,
award a stay of execution.
 IV.
SPECIAL
PROCEDURES
43

66. Expulsion and match suspension

1. A player who has been sent off:
a) shall stay in the team dressing room or the doping control room,
accompanied by a chaperone, until the names of the players selected
for the doping test are communicated. The player may be allowed to sit
in the stands, provided their integrity and security are safeguarded, they
are not picked for doping control and are no longer wearing their football
equipment;
b) is not entitled to attend the post-match press conference or any other
media activity held in the stadium.
2. A player who is serving a match suspension:
a) may be allowed to sit in the stands, but not in the immediate vicinity of
the field of play, provided their security and integrity are safeguarded;
b) shall not enter the dressing room, tunnel or technical area, before or
during the match, attend the warm-up, or sit on the team bench. After
the final whistle, a suspended player may join their team in the dressing
room;
c) is not entitled to attend the post-match press conference or any other
media activity held in the stadium.
3. An official who has been sent off or is serving a match suspension:
a) may be allowed to sit in the stands, but not in the immediate vicinity of
the field of play, provided their security and integrity are safeguarded;
b) 
shall not enter the dressing room, tunnel or technical area, or
communicate with or contact any person involved in the match – in
particular, players or technical staff – by any means whatsoever prior to
or during the match;
c) is not entitled to attend the post-match press conference or any other
media activity held in the stadium.
4. A sending-off automatically incurs suspension from the subsequent match.
The FIFA judicial bodies may impose additional match suspensions and other
disciplinary measures.
5. The automatic match suspension and any additional match suspension
must be served, even if the sending-off is imposed in a match that is later
abandoned, annulled, forfeited and/or replayed.
 44

6. If a match is abandoned, cancelled or forfeited (except for a violation of

article 19), a suspension is only considered to have been served if the
team to which the suspended player belongs is not responsible for the
circumstances that led to the abandonment, cancellation or forfeit of
the match.
7. A match suspension is regarded as no longer pending if a match is
retroactively forfeited because a player took part in a match despite being
ineligible. This also applies to the match suspension imposed on the player
who took part in the match despite being ineligible.

67. Carrying over cautions

1. If a person receives a caution in two separate matches of the same FIFA
competition, they are automatically suspended from the next match in
that competition. Such suspensions must be served before any other
suspension. The Disciplinary Committee may exceptionally depart from
or amend this rule before the start of a particular competition. Any such
decision reached by the Disciplinary Committee is final and binding.
2. Cautions received during one competition are not carried over to another
competition.
3. They are, however, carried over from one round to the next in the same
competition. The Disciplinary Committee may exceptionally depart from this
rule before the start of a particular competition. This provision is subject to
article 68 of this Code and to any derogating rules that FIFA may issue for a
specific competition.
4. If a person is sent off as a result of a direct red card, any other caution they
have previously received in the same match is upheld.

68. Cancellation of cautions

1. The Disciplinary Committee may, at its own discretion and on its own
initiative or at the request of a confederation, cancel cautions that have not
resulted in a sending-off or a suspension by means of a decision not subject
to appeal.
2. In any case, the committee may do this only once in any competition.
SPECIAL PROCEDURES

IV.
45

69. Carrying over match suspensions

1. As a general rule, every match suspension (of players and other persons) is
carried over from one round to the next in the same competition.
2. Match suspensions imposed in terms of matches in relation to a sending-off
issued against a player outside of a competition (separate match[es]) or not
served during the competition for which they were intended (elimination or
the last match in the competition) are carried over as follows:
a) FIFA World Cup™ and FIFA Women’s World Cup™: carried over to the
representative team’s next official match;
b) competitions subject to an age limit: carried over to the representative
team’s next official match in the same age group. Where the suspension
cannot be served in the same age group, it shall be carried over to the
next highest age category;
c) FIFA Club World Cup: carried over to the club’s next official match;
d) 
Women’s Olympic Football Tournament: carried over to the
representative team’s next official match;
e) Men’s Olympic Football Tournament: for players who meet the age
limit, carried over to the representative team’s next official match in the
same age group. Where the suspension cannot be served in the same
age group, it shall be carried over to the next-highest age category. For
players who do not meet the age limit, it shall be carried over to the
representative team’s next official match;
f) confederation competitions for representative teams: carried over to the
representative team’s next official match;
g) competitions in which teams have been chosen in accordance with
certain criteria (cultural, geographical, historical, etc.): unless the
regulations of these competitions specifically stipulate otherwise, the
suspension is carried over to the representative team’s next official
match;
h) friendly matches: carried over to the representative team’s next friendly
match.
3. If a representative team is hosting a final competition and is consequently
not required to participate in qualifying matches to reach the final
competition of this tournament and its next official match is in that
final competition, any match suspension shall be carried over to the
representative team’s next friendly match.
4. In no case may match suspensions resulting from several cautions issued
to a player in different matches of the same competition be carried over to
another competition.
 46

5. Officials of a club or an association shall serve a match suspension with any

club or association of which the official is an official.
6. Match suspensions that have to be carried over to another competition
must be served by the person concerned, regardless of whether the status
of that person has changed in the meantime, including from player to official
or vice versa.

70. Extending sanctions to have worldwide effect

1. If the infringement is serious, in particular but not limited to discrimination,
manipulation of football matches and competitions, misconduct against
match officials, or forgery and falsification, as well as sexual abuse or
harassment, the associations, confederations, and other organising sports
bodies shall request that the Disciplinary Committee extend the sanctions
they have imposed so as to have worldwide effect (worldwide extension).
2. Any doping-related legally binding sanction imposed by another national
or international sports association, national anti-doping organisation or
any other state body that complies with fundamental legal principles shall
automatically be adopted by FIFA and, provided that the requirements
described hereunder and in article 74 of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations
are met, shall be automatically recognised by all confederations and
associations.
3. The request shall be submitted in writing via the FIFA Legal Portal and
enclose a true copy of the decision. It shall include the name and address
of the person who has been sanctioned and that of the club and the
association concerned as well as evidence that the person concerned
has been informed that the sanction will be submitted for a worldwide
extension.
4. If the Disciplinary Committee discovers that associations, confederations
and other sports organisations have not requested a decision to be
extended to have worldwide effect, a decision may still be passed ex officio.
5. A worldwide extension will be approved if:
a) the person sanctioned has been cited properly;
b) they have had the opportunity to state their case (with the exception of
SPECIAL PROCEDURES

provisional measures);
c) the decision has been communicated properly;
d) the decision is compatible with the regulations of FIFA;
e) extending the sanction does not conflict with public order or with
accepted standards of behaviour.
6. The chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee takes their decision, in
principle, without deliberations or orally hearing any of the parties, using
only the file. IV.
47

7. The chairperson may exceptionally decide to summon the parties

concerned.
8. The chairperson is restricted to ascertaining that the conditions of this
article have been fulfilled. They may not review the substance of the
decision.
9. The chairperson shall either grant or refuse to grant the request to have the
sanction extended.
10. A sanction imposed by an association or a confederation has the same effect
in each association of FIFA, in each confederation and in FIFA itself as if the
sanction had been imposed by any one of them.
11. If a decision that is not yet final in a legal sense is extended to have
worldwide effect, any decision regarding extension shall follow the outcome
of the association’s or confederation’s current decision.

71. Review
1. A review may be requested before the competent judicial body after a legally
binding decision has been passed if a party discovers facts or proof that
would have resulted in a more favourable decision and that, even with due
diligence, could not have been produced sooner.
2. A request for review shall be made within ten days of discovering the reasons
for review.
3. The limitation period for submitting a request for review is one year after
the decision has become final and binding.
 V.
FINAL PROVISIONS
49

72. Official languages

1. This Code exists in English, French and Spanish.
2. In the event of any discrepancy between the three texts, the English version
is authoritative.

73. Gender and number

Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders. Any term
in the singular applies to the plural and vice versa.

74. Specific disciplinary rules

Specific disciplinary rules may be introduced for the duration of a FIFA
final competition. Such rules shall be communicated to the participating
associations/clubs before the first match of the final competition at the
latest.

75. Associations’ disciplinary codes

1. The associations are obliged to adapt their own disciplinary provisions to the
general principles of this Code for the purpose of harmonising disciplinary
measures. Article 66 paragraph 3 of this Code is considered mandatory in
domestic competitions.
2. Upon FIFA’s request, the associations must provide FIFA with a copy of their
updated regulations.
3. All associations shall also ensure that no one is involved in the management
of clubs or the association itself who is under prosecution for action
unworthy of such a position or who has been convicted of a criminal offence
in the past five years.

76. Adoption and enforcement

This Code was adopted by the FIFA Council at its meeting in Doha on
16 December 2022 and comes into force on 1 February 2023.
Doha, 16 December 2022
For the FIFA Council:

President: Secretary General:

Gianni Infantino Fatma Samoura
ANNEXE
51

ANNEXE 1 – List of disciplinary measures

Article 6 of this Code establishes the list of disciplinary measures which may be
imposed by the FIFA’s judicial bodies on natural and legal persons.
This annexe is aimed at providing a list of specific disciplinary measures which may
be taken into consideration by the relevant judicial body when deciding on a specific
case.
For the sake of good order, it is to be noted that the list of disciplinary measures
developed in the present annexe is not exhaustive, nor binding, and is without
prejudice to the general principles established under article 25 of this Code. As a
matter of fact, the decisions are rendered on a case-by-case basis and the type and
extent of the disciplinary measures are determined by the relevant judicial body in
accordance with the objective and subjective elements of the offence, taking into
account both aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

I. Failure to respect financial decisions (art. 21 of this Code)

Further disciplinary measures in case of failure to
Final deadline to comply by the final deadline
Amount due Fine
comply with the
(in CHF) (in CHF) In the case of In the case of In the case of
relevant decision
clubs associations natural persons

0-10,000 1,000

10,001-20,000 2,000

20,001-50,000 5,000

50,001-75,000 7,500

Imposition
75,001-100,000 10,000
of a ban on Imposition of a ban
Additional
registering new on any
100,001-250,000 15,000 30 days disciplinary
players until the football-related
measures
complete amount activity2
250,001-500,000 20,000
due is paid1

500,001-750,000 25,000

750,001-1,500,000 30,000

1,500,001-3,000,000 30,000

> 3,000,000 30,000

1

A deduction of points or relegation to a lower division may also be ordered in addition to a transfer ban in the event of persistent failure, repeated offences
or serious infringements or if no full transfer could be imposed or served for any reason.

2

O ther disciplinary measures may also be imposed.
 52

II. Order and security at matches (art. 17 of this Code)

A. Host clubs and associations responsibilities

Offence Sanction first offence Sanction second offence Sanction further offence

Failure to assess the degree

of risk posed by the match
and notify the FIFA bodies CHF 5,000 CHF 7,500 CHF 15,000
of those that are especially
high-risk

Failure to comply with and

implement existing safety
rules and take every safety
precaution demanded by
CHF 5,000 CHF 7,500 CHF 15,000
the circumstances in and
around the stadium before,
during and after the match
and if incidents occur

Failure to ensure the safety

of the match officials and
the players and officials of CHF 5,000 CHF 7,500 CHF 15,000
the visiting team during
their stay

Failure to keep local

authorities informed and
CHF 5,000 CHF 7,500 CHF 15,000
collaborate with them
actively and effectively

Failure to ensure that law

and order are maintained
in and around the stadiums CHF 10,000 CHF 15,000 CHF 30,000
and that matches are
organised properly

B. Associations’ and clubs’ responsibilities for inappropriate

behaviour of their supporters

Offence Sanction first offence Sanction second offence Sanction further offence

CHF 5,000 (less than 5 persons)

Invasion or attempted CHF 7,500 (between 5 and 10)
Previous fine increased
invasion of the field CHF 10,000 (between 10 and 20) CHF 7,500
by 100%
of play CHF 20,000 (if more than 20)

No. of objects No. of objects No. of objects

Throwing of objects
x CHF 500 x CHF 750 x CHF 1,000

No. of fireworks No. of fireworks No. of fireworks

Lighting of fireworks or
x CHF 500 x CHF 750 x CHF 1,000
any other objects
With a minimum of CHF 1,000 With a minimum of CHF 1,500 With a minimum of CHF 2,000

Use of laser pointers

Previous fine increased
or similar electronic CHF 5,000 CHF 7,500
by 100%
devices
Annexe

Use of gestures, words,

objects or any other
means to transmit a CHF 5,000 (low severity) CHF 10,000 (low severity) Previous fine increased
message that is not CHF 10,000 (high severity) CHF 20,000 (high severity) by 100%
appropriate for a
sports event
53

CHF 5,000 CHF 7,500 Previous fine increased

Acts of damage
+ damages + damages by 100%

Causing a disturbance
Previous fine increased
during national CHF 5,000 CHF 7,500
by 100%
anthems

CHF 15,000 (if no match

interruption/no impact on the
Drone match) - -
CHF 25,000 (if impact on the
match – interruption or delay)

III. Misconduct of players and officials (art. 14 of this Code)

Fine
FIFA tournament
Yellow card
Indirect red card Direct red card Team misconduct 3
(caution)

FIFA World Cup™ CHF 10,000 CHF 15,000 CHF 20,000 CHF 15,000

FIFA Women’s World

CHF 5,000 CHF 7,500 CHF 10,000 CHF 7,500
Cup™

FIFA Club World Cup CHF 10,000 CHF 15,000 CHF 20,000 CHF 15,000

FIFA U-20 World Cup™ CHF 500 CHF 1,000 CHF 1,500 CHF 1,000

FIFA U-20 Women’s

CHF 500 CHF 1,000 CHF 1,500 CHF 1,000
World Cup™

FIFA U-17 World Cup™ CHF 500 CHF 1,000 CHF 1,500 CHF 1,000

FIFA U-17 Women’s

CHF 500 CHF 1,000 CHF 1,500 CHF 1,000
World Cup™

FIFA Beach Soccer World

CHF 500 CHF 1,000 CHF 1,500 CHF 1,000
Cup™

FIFA Futsal World Cup™ CHF 500 CHF 1,000 CHF 1,500 CHF 1,000

Olympic Football
CHF 500 CHF 1,000 CHF 1,500 CHF 1,000
Tournaments – Men

Olympic Football
CHF 500 CHF 1,000 CHF 1,500 CHF 1,000
Tournaments – Women

Youth Olympic Futsal

N/A N/A N/A CHF 500
Tournaments – Men

Youth Olympic Futsal

N/A N/A N/A CHF 500
Tournaments – Women

3

Such fine would be imposed in addition to the individual fines in case individual disciplinary sanctions are imposed by the referee on five or more players
of the team during the relevant match.
 54

IV. Other match-related issues

FIFA Equipment Regulations

Offence Sanction first offence Sanction second offence 4 Sanction further offence5

Infringement to the FIFA Previous fine increased

Warning CHF 5,000
Equipment Regulations by 50%

FIFA Media and Marketing Regulations

Offence Sanction first offence Sanction second offence 6 Sanction further offence7

Unapproved advertisement
Previous fine increased
on equipment in controlled Warning CHF 5,000
by 50%
areas

Consumption of competing
Previous fine increased
beverage brands in Warning CHF 500
by 50%
controlled areas

Unapproved advertisement Previous fine increased

Warning CHF 5,000
on the official training sites by 50%

Failure to comply with

Previous fine increased
media activity obligations in Warning CHF 2,000
by 50%
controlled areas

Display and/or distribution

Previous fine increased
of promotional materials in Warning CHF 1,000
by 50%
controlled areas

Unapproved use of FIFA Previous fine increased

Warning CHF 2,000
competition marks by 50%

Others

Offence Sanction first offence Sanction second offence Sanction further offence

Previous fine increased

Late kick-off Warning CHF 10,000
by 100%
Annexe

4
The below amounts should be reduced to 20% for youth tournaments, futsal tournaments and beach soccer tournaments.
5
The below amounts should be reduced to 20% for youth tournaments, futsal tournaments and beach soccer tournaments.
6
The below amounts should be reduced to 20% for youth tournaments, futsal tournaments and beach soccer tournaments.
7
The below amounts should be reduced to 20% for youth tournaments, futsal tournaments and beach soccer tournaments.