NIVO Football Event (in association with Carabao)
Monday 8th December 2025 – 1:00pm-4:30pm – Wembley Stadium
1- The Match will be in two 40-minute halves.
2- The match will start at the designated time. If a team/person is late then they will be substituted. All efforts will be made to try and include anyone late.
3- No injury or stoppage time will be added to the match length.
4- Kick offs will be taken from halfway on the pitch.
5- If the ball crosses a side line, a throw-in will be awarded. Throw-ins must be taken with both feet on the ground and the ball going behind the players head. The referee will make all decisions regarding foul-throws
6- If the ball crosses a goal line (when the ball has not entered the goal), a goal kick or corner kick will be awarded. If the ball is last touched by the attacking team, a goal kick will be awarded. If the ball is last touched by the defending team, a corner kick will be awarded.
7- Goal kicks should be taken from the goal line
8- Opposition players must be a minimum of 2 referee paces from a throw in, goal kick or corner.
9- Opposition players must be a minimum of 4 referee paces from a free kick
10- There are no offside. All players may enter any part of the pitch including outfield players entering goal areas and goalkeepers vacating goal areas. When a goalkeeper leaves the goal area they are treated under the same rules as an outfield player
11- Penalty kicks shall be taken from 6 referees paces from the goal line
12- Goals cannot be scored directly from a throw in or Kick Off
13- There are no head height restrictions
14- No slide tackles are permitted. A free-kick or penalty will be given against any slide tackles
15- If a ball is kicked off the grounds then a player from the team who kicked it out of the grounds must go and collect the ball
Goalkeepers
1- Goalkeepers are allowed out of their areas. Once they leave their area they will be treated as an outfield player 2- The goalkeeper is not permitted to pick up a ball that is passed to him to by his own player
Slide Tackles
1- No slide tackles are permitted in any matches.
2- Players may slide to intercept a ball but they cannot be within 1 metre of an opposition player
3- If a player persistently uses slide tackles they may be yellow or red carded by the referee
4- Ultimately, the referee has the discretion to evaluate each individual incident and decide whether a slide tackle was made
Cards
1- Referees will carry yellow and red cards
2- A player who receives a yellow card will be removed from the match for a period of 4
minutes
3- A player who receives a red card will be removed from the rest of the Match.
Player Equipment
1- Players are strongly advised to wear steel studs, moulded studs or astro turf shoes to avoid limit the risk of injuries from slipping
2- Shin pads are highly recommended but are optional. Players choose to play without shin pads at their own risk.
3- All removable jewellery should be taken off prior to the match starting. The player will be liable for any injury inflicted onto themself, or the opposition, that is caused as a result of jewellery worn in a match
4- It is strongly recommended that glasses are not worn during matches. . The player will be liable for any injury inflicted onto themself, or the opposition, that is caused as a result of glasses worn in a match
5- NIVO will carry a small cash box on match day. We may be able to store items such as phones and keys in the box (depending on room) but we accept no responsibility for the items left with us
Substitutes
1- Teams are permitted to make unlimited substitutions during a match
2- Referees should be informed before any substitution takes place
3- Any player may change with the goalkeeper but the referee should be informed before this takes place
4- Substitutes must stand at least 1 metre from the edge of the pitch at all times
Match abandonment
5- If a match is abandoned the result shall be determined by the referee and league organisers based on the circumstances surrounding the match abandonment.
6- If a match is abandoned due to the actions of a team, they will forfeit the match.
Wembley rules
1- No Slide tackles and sliding for loose balls.
2- No sliding to celebrate goals
3- No kicking goal posts to clean boots.
4- No hanging off the goal posts
Code of conduct:
When participating in the NIVO Football Event, I will:
– Adhere to the rules of the league
– Display good standards of behaviour
– Promote fairness and sporting behaviour
– Respect the referees’ decisions
– Never argue with the referee or publicly criticise them
– Never use offensive, insulting or abusive language
– Support my team-mates and encourage them
– React sportingly to all match outcomes and shake hands with the opposition and referees at the end of the match