MENGO ELITE LEAGUE BINDING RULES
Section (1)
Team formation & guidance
- Teams shall be formed based on the year of entry in Mengo Senior School that is there will be teams from the years; 2002, 2003, 2004… etc
- Members per team and the teams in particular for any year shall be unlimited;
- Each team shall have a composition of 7 members; 6 gents & 1 lady.
- Teams can make an unlimited number of substitutions throughout the game except when there is a break in play and the referee has allowed the substitution;
- Matches last a maximum of 40 minutes; 20 minutes each half with a 5-minute break in between;
- Teams are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their kick-off time to have enough time to prepare for the games. Any late arrivals will either lose minutes from their match or risk losing the match and the points to their opponents;
- A team that delays for 5 minutes from the time of kick-off for the first match day game without appearing on the pitch will have missed and/or absconded from the game;
- In cases where both teams versing each other arrive late but it doesn’t warrant losing the match, the two teams may have some minutes put off their game time.
- In any case that both teams versing each other do not show up for the match and/or don’t show up on the match day, they shall lose 3 points and 2 goals each.
- The number of players that will be in a position to play a match for any team shall not be less than 5 members. Any team having less than this minimum number shall be considered absent on the day.
- Any decisions by the referee must be observed and respected strictly at all times;
Section (2)
Pitch Discipline
- A player given a straight red card shall leave the field of play immediately and miss the next two games as well.
- A player sent off as a result of 2 yellow cards will miss one subsequent game.
- If a player gets another red card in the season, an additional match ban shall be awarded to the player.
- The MELDC (Mengo Elite League Disciplinary Committee) in place may impose a ban on a player beyond the two games mentioned above if the reason for his send-off is considered so.
- Assault and Insult of match officials are strongly prohibited and may attract a one-match ban on review by MELDC. This shall be in addition to the in-match caution imposed by the referee.
- There shall be unlimited substitutions however if a player is sent off, he/she will not be replaced in the same game.
- Provocative behavior and celebrations on and off the pitch shall attract a yellow card.
- Hooliganism on and off the pitch shall not be tolerated and any player, fan, or match official found guilty may be banned or dealt with accordingly by the disciplinary committee. Hooliganism in this case could be; involvement in fights insults in any form, assaults, etc.
- It shall be the responsibility of the team in the league to keep disciplined fans. Indisciplined fans may subject a team to disciplinary measures and the team may be cautioned. It shall only be in extreme situations and repeated occurrences that a team may lose points as a result of indisciplined fans.
Section (3)
Participation Eligibility
- Any team that fields a player that is not an OB/OG of Mengo Senior School shall receive a reduction of 3 points and 2 goals per game that the would-be outsider participated in irrespective of whether the team won or lost the game.
- However one can participate without restriction if he/she falls in ‘the affiliates of the school category” but only after thorough due diligence has been done by the League committee.
- In circumstances where an OB/OG of Mengo Senior School is prohibited by these rules to play any match either through suspension or otherwise, the team in breach shall lose 3 points and 2 goals at once.
- It’s the sole responsibility of each team to find eligible players for a particular game.
- For a year that is not represented by any team in a particular season, its players shall be allowed to join the nearest team preceding their year of entry into Mengo Senior School at senior one level or the nearest team subsequent to their year of entry.
- No team shall be allowed to participate in the League unlesss upon payment of subscription fees which shall be prerequisite for a team to participate in the League.
- The League Committee reserves the right of setting a deadline within which teams are required to pay their respective subscription fees and any team in breach of this deadline shall not be allowed to participate in that season whatsoever.
- Any team that misses/boy cotts and/or absconds from a match day shall lose match day 3 points and 2 goals. These goals shall not be attributed to any player.
- For any team that is disqualified or with-draws from the on-going league, all its match results shall be deemed null and void.
- Each team in the league shall be deemed not to have ever participated in the match with the disqualified or withdrawing team and accordingly all points, goals and decisions shall be withdrawn.
- The money contributed by the withdrawing and/or disqualified team shall be non-refundable upon participation of that team in a season.
Section (4)
On Pitch smartness
- Every player must be in uniform of their respective teams with Mengo League logos, team logos (if any), badges and designs on their uniforms to try and promote the league.
- The League Marketing team shall at an appropriate time provide standard designing and colors of the league logo and/or badges.
- The whole team must bear the same color of Jerseys, shorts and stockings except for the goal keepers who may bear different uniforms.
- Breach of the above-mentioned rules in (i) & (ii) above shall attract a yellow card and the player shall be advised by the referee to change and ensure compliance at that material time.
- Failure to adhere to the referee’s advice above attracts a second yellow card amounting to a send-off.
Section (5)
Determination of champion and positions, transfer, merges & splits.
- `Table positions will be decided by points, then goal difference, then goals scored, then goals against, then head to head amongst the teams in contention.
- In the event that the teams are still equal when Section 5(a) is taken into consideration, then the matter shall be settled with a penalty shoot-out to determine winner.
- Notice of Transfer shall be given to the League Committee by the team representatives of the player.
- No player who has played for a particular team in a season shall be allowed to cross to another during of that season.
- Transfers must happen within some goodtime (6 hours) before the season commences.
- The Player desiring a transfer shall communicate in writing to his mother team. The team transferring the player into its squad shall have the responsibility of communicating this uprising to the league committee.
- It shall be the responsibility of the league to inquire and clarify from all respective team representatives and the player moving about the authenticity of the transfer.
- Teams merging shall have to communicate to the league committee at least three weeks before the start of the new season.
- The merged teams shall choose to use either one of the old names or choose totally a new name.
- The league shall allow an unlimited number of teams to represent in the league for any particular year of entry subject to these rules and regulations.
Section (6)
Team Records
- Team captains are advised to submit a sheet with the team lineup (most preferably those who have taken part in the game) every after their match.
- Team photos before each and every game are recommended to enhance league management and branding.
Section (7)
Disciplinary measures
The Mengo Elite League Disciplinary Committee (MELDC) Duties and Responsibilities
- The League General Assembly shall appoint a Chairperson who shall constitute the committee with (4) other members of his choice most preferably with a lady for gender equality.
ii) MELDC shall work hand in hand with the League committee and the Central Executive Committe (CEC).
iii) Its decisions shall be reached as follows: –
a. All decisions of the MELDC must involve at least Five (5) members.
b. The MELDC need not meet to make decisions but can communicate via WhatsApp or any other viable plat form.
c. The chairperson shall ensure that no member of the MELDC including themselves has a conflict of interest with the matter at hand. Members shall be advised to recuse themselves from the proceedings of the committee.
d. The MELDC should ensure that confidentiality and impartiality are maintained.
iv) The MELDC shall be responsible for all disciplinary matters involving the league including but not limited to: –
a. On pitch discipline. (During competition)
b. Off pitch discipline. (Pre/post games, training, league activities etc.)
c. Criminal investigations involving the league.
d. It shall be charged with implementing, interpreting and applying the
Mengo League rules.
e. It shall maintain a high level of integrity, consistence, neutrality and
impartiality at all times.
v) Mode of operation of the MELDC
To ensure consistency, it shall follow the following procedure: –
- Any disciplinary matter should be reported in writing to the MELDC Secretary.
- The MELDC shall maintain accurate records of each and every matter lodged with the committee.
- The MELDC shall inform any person or team in writing, against whom the complaint has been preferred within the established time lines.
- MELDC should proceed to investigate the incident or matter.
- The MELDC “if necessary” may interview any parties involved.
- The MELDC shall discuss the matter and impose appropriate in accordance with these rules.
- To maintain consistency the MELDC shall refer to previous matters alongside these rules.
- All written records shall be kept for a minimum of Six (6) years.
- All decisions taken shall be communicated in writing where possible to any persons involved, to the team representatives and/or captains or coaches.
- Any electronically written message shall be deemed sufficient where in these rules there is a requirement for written communication.
Appeal & Petitions Mechanism & Procedures
- Any aggrieved party or team shall in the first instance petition the Mengo League Disciplinary Committee.
- Upon receipt of the decision of the MELDC, if a party or team is dissatisfied with such decision, shall prefer an appeal to the League Committee.
- The decision of the League Committee shall be final whatsoever.
- All petitions by any party shall be written and in clear terms about the complaint and prayers preferred before the relevant committees.
- A petition shall be lodged within 24 hours from the end of match day which is usually Monday and in any other case from the time the complaint arose.
- The MELDC shall inform the party or team (if any) against whom any allegation or petition is preferred of his right to respond within 12 hours from notification.
- The MELDC shall make a decision and communicate it within 48 hours from the receipt of the complaint.
- An Appeal to the League Committee shall be brought within 12 hours after receipt of decision of the committee.
- The League Committee shall make and communicate its decision within 12 hours from receipt of the appeal.
- Decisions of the committee shall be by voting over the matter and majority vote shall prevail.
- Any member of the MELDC shall not be eligible to participate in the decision making at appeal level.
- Any member of the Committee that is barred by conflict of interest in any particular matter shall recuse himself while a decision is being taken.
- In situations where urgency is needed the relevant bodies shall act accordingly to quickly resolve any complaint preferred. The variations in timelines for lodgment of Appeals or complaints and responses shall be communicated to the concerned members in such situations.
Section (9)
Application of General Football rules
- Where these Rules are quite unclear the general international football rules shall
- apply with necessary modifications.
- For the avoidance of doubt, the FIFA rules shall be applied.
WE the undersigned having been entrusted by our respective team members
and/or league members agree to these rules as binding for the good administration
of MENGO ELITE LEAGUE -For and on behalf of the league fraternity.