1. Fanbantanet League Rules / Management 1.1 The league structure 1.2 League season dates 1.3 Reporting of games / results 1.4 League table / point scoring 1.5 League table location 1.6 Tournament Hosting 1.7 Discipline of teams 2. Fanbantanet Game Rules - guidelines for all teams 2.1 Arranging games 2.2 League or Friendly 2.3 Eligible players 2.4 Referees / officials 2.5 Regional leagues / IFA KO Cup 2.6 Racism, racist abuse and pro-diversity Rule 1 - Fanbantanet League Rules / Management 1.1 The Fanbantanet League is open to any bonafide Internet side.  The Fanbantanet League is open to one team per each participating club. The Fanbantanet League structure for season 2007/8 is based upon teams playing a maximum of 20 games for league purposes and a six team playoff system to decide the Fanbantanet League Champions as follows: Stage One    * Elimination Semi-final A: 3rd vs 6th    * Elimination Semi-final B: 4th vs 5th Stage Two    * Elimination Final: Winners of Elimination Semi-final A vs Winners of Elimination Semi-final B    * Qualification Match: 1st vs 2nd Stage Three    * Final Qualifier: Winners of Elimination Final vs Losers of Qualification Match Stage Four    * Grand Final: Winners of Qualification Match vs Winners of Final Qualifier 1.2 The Fanbantanet league season starts on 4th August 2007 and ends on 8th June 2008 in order for us to use a Play Off system between the top six teams (date and venue to be announced but provisionally 5th July 2008 at a neutral ground). 1.3 Fanbantanet League games must be advised to the worldnet list prior to them being played by the previously agreed format and following the game results likewise must be emailed to the list within 28 days of the fixture being played. The agreed format for sending results remains unaltered . It is important that the date is included in the message. NB: To ensure that we spot results please send them in the subject field as follows e.g. [RESULT Sheff Wed 0-5 Leeds 25/01/08] This system will be subject to change when our new arrangements with Fanbanta and Fixtures Live are confirmed, probably in October 2007 1.4 Points are allocated by the 'agreed' format of teams receiving 3 points for winning a match, 2 points for drawing a match and 1 point for losing a match. The league table is sequenced by Points, Goal Difference, Goals Scored and otherwise alphabetically. Teams can only be played twice for league purposes. 1.5 The Fanbantanet League table is hosted this season on the IFA website at www.internetfootball.org.uk This system will be subject to change when our new arrangements with Fanbanta and Fixtures Live are confirmed, probably in October 2007 1.6 Teams may host their own tournaments, they will will get NO additional points for doing so. Tournaments should be open to all (within geographical constraints), they should be advertised in advance on the list. Tournament matches will not be classed as League fixtures. 1.7 It is the responsibility of the team to ensure that all players and supporters follow the agreed standards of behaviour both on and off the field. In the case of on the field activities it is expected that team managers / captains will remove the offending players from the field of play for the remainder of the game period. This is no place for hotheads. People wishing to behave in such manner should seek their entertainment elsewhere. Teams have agreed to be responsible for their own teams actions so therefore there will be no need for any intervention by the Fanbantanet League committee. There will be no warnings on behaviour, if the committee feel the need to act they will do with draconian effects to sides. This should not happen because you are all going to get on with it in the spirit it deserves. Rule 2 Fanbantanet Game Rules - guidelines for all teams 2.1 Matches are normally proposed via email between team organisers, 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Typically the home team organiser will invite the away team to play in the morning on a day when their supported clubs are playing each other in the afternoon, or where the away team's supported club is in the area that afternoon. Organisers will then canvas their respective mailing lists for available players, and if both receive enough interest then the proposed match will go ahead. 2.2 The option of whether games are classified as League games or friendlies is normally by agreement of both sides. Where teams are playing the same opponents for the third time with two 'League' games already counting it will automatically be deemed a friendly. A game cannot now be a League game for one side and a friendly for the opposition. All games will be deemed League games unless specifically requested to be excluded from the table in advance. Friendly games are to be encouraged to help sides develop especially new sides. 2.3 Players selected to play in Fanbantanet League games must be list members. The use of "Ringers", ie non-list members, is frowned upon. The Fanbantanet League recognises that in exceptional circumstances, (eg where a team would otherwise have to pull out on the eve of a match or tournament), organisers may have no alternative other than to use one or two non-list members in order to meet their commitment to play. In such circumstances, the Fanbantanet League will not seek to penalise a team.However, if in the opinion of the IFA, an organiser has given preference to "ringers" over list-members in a deliberate attempt to improve the quality of his team, then this will be punishable with a points deduction. The Fanbantanet League may make random enquiries on mailing lists during the course of the season to insure that competing team organisers have given all list-members regardless of ability, every opportunity and encouragement to play. The use of players on loan from other mailing list teams is encouraged. This helps to foster relations between teams and encourages the inter-mingling of fans, which is what Internet football is all about. 2.4 Internet football is renowned for the friendly spirit in which matches are played. Although we do not specify a qualified referee, the use of one allows players to concentrate on the game and for the game to progress smoothly. In the absence of a qulaified referee, where both teams have a full complement of players and substitutes, each team will referee a half each. Players are reminded that such referees will make mistakes but will have made an honest decision. Dissent is unnecessary and in contradiction to the spirit in which games are normally played. Common sense and honesty is called for on behalf of the players in order to assist the referee. Without linesmen, a referee is not going to be able to make a split second, fractional offside decision. It is generally accepted that only "very obvious" offside decisions can be given, and where there is no referee of any description, it is not feasible to play the offside rule. 2.5 Regional Leagues / Fanbantanet KO Cup The growth of proposed 'regional' Leagues and the commitment to the Fanbantanet KO Cup is to be encouraged and should complement the national League. Games played subject to 'regionalised rules' where possible should be allowable for inclusion in the main League table. Fanbantanet Cup games are to count towards the League if teams request it. 2.6 Racism, racist abuse and pro-diversity Any incidence of racism or racist abuse will not be tolerated under any circumstances.  It is EVERY participant's duty to ensure that the teams and individual participants are not subject to any form of racism or racist abuse.  We gladly welcome all participants regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. Any participant or team that fails to extend this welcome to their fellow participants is not welcome at any of our other activities.