HOLLYWOODBETS MEN’S REGIONAL LEAGUE

REGULATIONS 2024/25

1. Title

The competition shall be known as the Hollywoodbets Mens’ Regional

League (“the League”).

2. Format of the competition

2.1 The League shall be played in a Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional

League stream of eighteen (18) teams per Region affiliated to SAFA.

2.2 The Competitions Committee shall be authorised to increase the

number of teams participating in a stream based on an appropriately

motivated application and request to participate in a particular

stream.

2.3 The League shall be played over two (2) rounds commencing on

August/September of each season or as soon as possible

thereafter. It shall be played on a home-and-away basis; with the

winner of each League match allocated three (3) points; one (1) point

for a drawn match; and, no points for a loss.

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2.4 The competition shall be played in accordance with the following

phases:

2.4.1 Phase 1 – a Club League Championship played at

Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League level;

2.4.2 Phase 2 – all the respective Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional

League winners shall participate in an Inter-Hollywoodbets

Men’s Regional League (Provincial) play-off to determine the

two (2) teams to be promoted to the ABC Motsepe League.

(At this stage, the respective nine (9) Provincial U-21 squads

will be selected, (selection not limited to play-offs only) and

proceed to Phase 3);

2.4.3 Phase 3 – this is an Inter-Provincial Tournament/National

Championship.

2.4.3.1 The selected Provincial U-21 squads shall be

entitled to earn Provincial colours when they

represent their respective Provinces at this

Tournament/National Championship.

2.4.3.2 The tenth (10) team shall be the University Sports

of South Africa (USSA) – Football team.

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2.5 Each Region shall register their participating teams prior to the start

of the competition, and shall confirm these participating teams by no

later than August. The teams shall submit the prescribed entry and

competition forms on or before the prescribed deadline which, unless

otherwise stated.

2.6 The league shall be open for all players provided a maximum of Five (5)

players under the age of 21 are fielded at the start of the games for the

duration of the match. Failure to comply with this provision shall

constituter a breach of the regulation and if a team is found guilty by

the Disciplinary Committee, it shall result in a loss of points. This

restriction will not be applicable during a match in any competitions

where Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League teams, ABC Motsepe

League teams, National First Division teams and Premier Division

teams participate in the same tournament.(This Regulation does not

include Foreign Players) .

2.7 An under 21 shall be a player who is born on or after 1st January 2004.

2.8 The competition shall be played in accordance with the SAFA

Uniform Rules, and these Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League

Regulations, each team shall be limited to registering only three (3)

foreign players per team if they so wish. However, no foreign players

will be eligible or selection for any of the Provincial U-21 squads

selected at the conclusion of Phase 2 of the competition, and no

team shall be allowed to participate at the Inter-Provincial

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Tournament/National Championships with any foreign players.

A “foreign player” is defined as a footballer who is neither a South

African citizen nor a foreign-born national who acquired permanent

residence status in terms of section 25 of the Immigration Act, 2002

(Act 13 of 2002).

The eligibility of players shall otherwise be determined in accordance

with the SAFA Uniform Rules and Regulations, and in the case of

foreign players, such foreign players shall be eligible to participate in

the competition provided the comply with the eligibility requirements

prescribed in the SAFA Uniform Rules and Regulations, and in

addition will be required to produce a valid passport document, a

valid temporary residence permit as contemplated in sections 11 –

23 of the Immigration Act, i.e. a visitor’s permit, a study permit,

business permit, a relative’s permit, work permit, a corporate permit,

an exchange permit, an asylum seeker’s permit or a permanent

residence permit. No registration or participation of foreign players

shall be permitted without compliance with these requirements.

The foreign players concerned who are duly and properly registered

may either be on the bench, or participate on the field of play.

3. Promotion/relegation
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3.1 The promotion of teams to the ABC Motsepe League shall be

determined at the Inter-Regional/Provincial play-offs at the end of the

season.

3.2 The team ending last on the log shall be relegated to the relevant

Men’s League of the particular LFA where the club is affiliated.

3.3 The team ending second and/or third last on the log may also be

relegated depending on the relegation and promotion to, or from, the

ABC Motsepe League.

4. Inter-Regional/Provincial play-offs

4.1 At the end of the season and after Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional

League winner has been verified by SAFA, Inter-Hollywoodbets

Men’s Regional League play-offs shall be held to determine the two

(2) teams to be promoted to the ABC Motsepe League.

4.2 Prior to the commencement of the Inter-Regional/Provincial play-

offs, the Provincial Executive Committee (“PEC”) of the relevant

Province shall confirm that the Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional

League have been duly completed in all the Regions, and that all

disputes have been settled.

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4.3 The Inter-Regional/Provincial play-offs shall be co-ordinated by the

PEC or the person delegated by them to do so, in consultation with

the SAFA Head Office in accordance with the SAFA Uniform

Competition Rules and Regulations, and these Regulations.

4.4 The venue for the play-offs shall be determined by the PEC in

consultation with the Competitions Committee.

5. Format of the Inter-Regional/Provincial play-offs

5.1 After certifying and confirming the respective Hollywoodbets Men’s

Regional League winners for the Province concerned, the PEC in a

particular Province shall determine the format, in consultation with

the Competitions Committee, to determine the two (2) Hollywoodbets

Men’s Regional League teams which will be promoted to the ABC

Motsepe League, and the overall Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional

League winner in that particular Province.

5.2 The winner of the Inter-Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League finals

shall be confirmed as the Provincial Winner of the Hollywoodbets

Men’s Regional League in that particular Province.

6. Discipline at Inter-Regional/Provincial play-offs

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6.1 All disciplinary matters at the Inter-Regional/Provincial play-offs

shall be dealt with by the duly constituted Provincial Disciplinary

Committee (“PDC”) of the relevant host Province.

6.2 A player ordered off the field of play by the referee shall serve an

automatic two (2)-match suspension; and, a player accumulating

three (3)-yellow card cautions shall serve an automatic one (1)-

match suspension.

6.3 Protests and complaints must be lodged with the PEC or the person

duly appointed by the PEC to deal with these matters, within two (2)

hours of the completion of the match with the necessary relevant

protest fee. Protests received after the two (2)-hour deadline will not

be entertained. The PDC shall convene a hearing before the end of

the day to adjudicate on any protest.

Any complaints lodged must be lodged timeously, and before the

next round of matches. Should any complaint be lodged later than

two (2) hours before the next round of matches, such complaint will

not be entertained.

6.4 Where any team challenges the decision of the PDC, such challenge

shall be lodged immediately with the PEC or the person nominated

by the PEC, and the PEC or such nominated person shall

immediately direct that the matter proceed to arbitration, subject to

the payment of the relevant arbitration fee.

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6.5 The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the SAFA

Rules and Regulations, and the arbitrator shall hear and finalise the

matter within twenty-four (24) hours of the referral. The arbitrator

may be any attorney or advocate who has been in practice for no

less than ten (10) years.

For the avoidance of any doubt, a PEC must constitute a panel of

arbitrators for its particular Province as soon as possible, and, in any

event, by no later than a week prior to the Inter-Regional/Provincial

play-offs. Any ruling of the appointed arbitrator shall be final and

binding on all parties, and shall not be subject to an appeal.

7. National Championships

7.1 The National Championships shall be held under the auspices of the

SAFA Competitions Committee which shall appoint a host centre,

and a Local Organising Committee (“LOC”) which shall be co-

ordinated by the PEC or a person nominated by the PEC to do so.

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7.2 The Competitions Committee member of the relevant Province shall

be the chairperson of the LOC, and the President of the host Region

shall be the vice-chairperson of the LOC, and they shall be

responsible for ensuring that preparations for the National

Championships proceed smoothly.

8. Format and procedures for the National Championships

8.1 The National Championships shall consist of a round-robin Group

Phase divided into Group A and Group B streams followed by a

knock-out phase.

8.2 The two (2) top teams in each Group shall qualify for the semi-finals

to determine the finalists who shall play in the final to determine the

National champion.

8.3 Each team shall consist of eighteen (18) players and two (2) officials

representing a particular Provincial team at the National

Championships.

8.4 Only players registered to participate in the Hollywoodbets Men’s

Regional League, lower Leagues (LFA) and the USSA – Football

Leagues shall be permitted to participate in the National

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Championships. (No ABC Motsepe League players shall be

eligible to participate).

8.5 Each player shall be required to produce the following documents for

registration at the National Championships:

8.5.1 Player registration cards as issued by the respective SAFA

Regions, and student cards for the USSA – Football team.

8.5.2 South African green identity documents or valid passports.

8.6 Three (3) points shall be awarded for a win and one (1) for a draw

and no points for a loss at the National Championships.

8.7 The Group winner shall be determined by the team with the most

number of points. If two (2) teams end with the same number of

points, the Group winner will be determined by goal difference, and

thereafter by the highest number of goals, if it is still tied. If still equal

after the goal tally, the Group winner shall be determined by a once-

off match which shall be decided on penalties if the score is still tied

after ninety (90) minutes.

8.8 The match shall be for the duration of two (2) equal periods of forty-

five (45) minutes with an interval of fifteen (15) minutes.

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8.9 During the knock-out stages when the score is a draw, then

penalties shall be taken to determine the winner. (The shall be no

Extra Time Played)

8.10 Substitutions will be allowed in accordance with the FIFA Rules, i.e.

only three (3) substitutes will be allowed.

8.11 A FIFA-approved size five (5) ball shall be used at all times during

official matches.

8.12 The SAFA Referees’ Committee shall nominate the referees as well

as the referees’ convenor for the National Championships.

9. Discipline and disputes at the National Championships

9.1 All disciplinary matters at the National Championships shall be dealt

with by the National Disciplinary Committee (“NDC”) sitting at the

relevant host Province.

9.2 A player ordered off the field of play shall serve an automatic two (2)-

match suspension, and a player accumulating three (3) yellow cards

shall serve an automatic one (1)-match suspension.

9.3 Protests and complaints must be lodged with the Competitions

Director within two (2) hours of the completion of the match

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accompanied by the relevant protest/complaint fee.

Protests/complaints received after the deadline will deem to be

invalid, and shall not be entertained. The NDC shall convene a

hearing before the end of the day to adjudicate any

protest/complaint.

9.4 Where a team is dissatisfied with the outcome of a disciplinary

hearing, such an appeal shall be referred directly to arbitration

subject to the payment of a relevant arbitration fee.

9.5 The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the SAFA

Rules and Regulations, and shall be final and binding.

The arbitration shall hear and finalise any appeal within twenty-four

(24) hours of the lodging of the appeal. The ruling of the arbitrator

shall be final and binding, and shall not be subject to any further

appeal.

10. Administration of the Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League

10.1 Each Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League shall be governed in

terms of the Uniform Rules and Regulations of SAFA, and shall be

administered by the Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League

Competitions Coordinator who shall be appointed by the

Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League Executive Committee.

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10.2 The Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League Competitions

Coordinator shall prepare all the fixtures, collate all the results, and

forward these to the PEC or the person nominated by the PEC to

attend to these matters, and to the Director of Competitions at the

SAFA Head Office.

10.3 The Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League Competitions

Coordinator shall coordinate all disciplinary matters, and shall ensure

that all matters are finalised within twenty-one (21) days within a

particular Province.

10.4 The Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League Competitions Coordinator shall

assist all participating clubs with the registration of players.

10.5 The Director of Competitions or the person delegated by him/her to

do so, shall direct all correspondence to all clubs in a particular

Province. The Director of Competitions shall also copy the

Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League Competitions Coordinator

where he/she communicates directly with a club in a particular

Province.

10.6 The PEC or someone nominated by them to do so, shall monitor the

administration of each Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League, and

shall render assistance where necessary in order to ensure

compliance with these Regulations, and the SAFA Uniform Rules

and Regulations.
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11. Registration of teams and players

11.1 The entry form to register a team must be submitted along with the

affiliation fee to be paid by each team by no later than August in

each year. Teams failing to pay the stipulated fee on or before the

due date may not be permitted to participate in the competition.

11.2 Registration of players shall be effected in accordance with the SAFA

Competition Uniform Rules and Regulations. The maximum number

of players to be registered per team is twenty-two (22). Where one

(1) or more players is/are registered after the initial twenty-two (22),

a fee of R40.00 (forty rand) is payable for each additional player so

registered.

11.3 Each team shall ensure that five (5) officials are registered. No

additional costs will be levied for this.

11.4 Three (3) foreign players may be registered per team only at

Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League and Inter-

Regional/Provincial level as indicated above.