CODE OF CONDUCT, ETHICS AND SPORTSMANSHIP

1. Statement of values and mission

The Code of Conduct, Ethics and Sportsmanship establishes the basic standards of behaviour that must be respected throughout the tournament. Its purpose is to ensure that all participants can enjoy a safe, inclusive competition based on the values of sport.

We understand youth football not only as a competition, but also as an opportunity to learn, live together, share experiences and interact with teams and people from different cultures. For this reason, respect, sportsmanship, positive coexistence and Fair Play are fundamental and form part of the conditions of participation in the tournament.

No form of physical or verbal violence, racism, discrimination, harassment, sporting fraud or behaviour that may cause harm to people, facilities or the normal running of the tournament will be tolerated. All participants, coaches, team officials, accompanying persons and members of the organisation must contribute to maintaining an environment of respect, safety and positive coexistence, as well as taking care of the facilities and spaces that form part of the event.

2. Specific Commitments

The conduct of each individual contributes to projecting the image and values of their club. Sports organisations are responsible for promoting and ensuring compliance with this Code by their players, coaching staff, team officials and accompanying persons, without prejudice to the individual responsibility that may apply in each case.

A. Players

Fair Play and sportsmanship: Compete with a commitment to sporting integrity, the physical well-being of opponents and respectful treatment of teammates, opponents and spectators.
Respect for referees and tournament staff: Treat referees, coordinators and tournament staff with the utmost respect and consideration, and cooperate with their instructions at all times.
Respectful behaviour: Behave appropriately and respectfully both on and off the pitch, refraining from provocation, mocking, simulation, offensive gestures or the use of offensive or degrading language.
Care of facilities: Use changing rooms, pitches and all other spaces made available during the tournament responsibly.

B. Coaching Staff

Educational leadership: Act at all times as role models of respect, self-control, maturity and sportsmanship for their players, families and supporters.
Responsibility for prevention and intervention: Actively and responsibly intervene to prevent, contain or correct any unsporting behaviour, incident or lack of respect by their players, coaching staff or accompanying persons.
Respect for referees and tournament staff: Treat referees, coordinators and tournament staff with respect and consideration, and cooperate with their instructions at all times.
Integrity and compliance with the rules: Ensure the accuracy and truthfulness of all documentation provided, including participants' identities and ages, comply with the tournament regulations and refrain from any attempt to deceive or commit competitive fraud.
Responsibility for the team: Inform players, families and accompanying persons of the tournament rules and actively promote compliance with them throughout the competition.

C. Supporters

Positive and inclusive support: Support teams in a healthy and respectful manner, without insults, derogatory comments, pressure or offensive behaviour directed at players, coaches, referees or tournament staff.
Respect for restricted areas: Remain exclusively within the areas designated for spectators. Access to the pitch, technical area, changing-room tunnel and operational areas is prohibited unless expressly authorised by the organisation.
Positive coexistence between supporters: Maintain cordial and respectful relations between different groups of supporters, avoiding chants, gestures or attitudes that encourage confrontation, violence or contempt.
Being a positive role model for minors: Remember that their behaviour forms part of the players' educational and sporting experience and act at all times as positive role models for them.

3. Disciplinary measures

Failure to comply with this Code may result in disciplinary measures being taken by the organisation. The applicable measure will be determined according to the seriousness of the conduct, its impact, the circumstances in which it occurred and, where applicable, any previous incidents or repeated offences. Measures may be applied individually or to the relevant team, category or organisation, depending on the nature and scope of the conduct.

A. Minor offences

Minor offences are considered to be breaches of the rules of coexistence or the normal operation of the tournament that do not have a significant impact on the competition, the environment, the image of the event or third parties.

They may include behaviour that causes a temporary and minor disruption to the normal running of activities or to the sporting environment.

Applicable measures:

Verbal or written warning.
Recording of the incident in the organisation's disciplinary record.
Other corrective measures that the organisation considers appropriate to the nature of the conduct.

B. Serious offences

Serious offences are considered to be behaviours that significantly disrupt order, the running of matches or the positive atmosphere of the tournament, as well as conduct constituting a serious lack of respect towards referees or the organisation.

They include, but are not limited to: acts of insubordination or confrontation; repeated disrespectful behaviour; offensive or provocative chants; incidents involving members of the supporters; unauthorised entry into restricted areas or technical areas; any attempt to deceive or manipulate organisational procedures; and repeated offences involving disrespect or previously sanctioned unsporting behaviour.

Applicable measures:

Temporary suspension from participating in one or two editions of the tournament for the players, coaches or team officials involved.
Exclusion of the affected team or category from the following edition of the tournament.
Preventive limitation of the maximum number of teams that the club may register.
Other organisational or disciplinary measures proportionate to the seriousness of the conduct.

C. Very serious offences

Very serious offences are considered to be acts that seriously threaten the physical or moral integrity of individuals, peaceful coexistence, the integrity of the competition, the facilities or the fundamental principles of sport.

They include, but are not limited to, any form of violence, serious physical or verbal aggression, threats, coercion or intimidation; any conduct, expression, gesture or chant of a racist, xenophobic, sexist or degrading nature; participation in mass brawls or fights; identity fraud, falsification of documents or any form of sporting fraud; as well as acts of vandalism, theft or intentional damage to property, facilities or accommodation.

Applicable measures:

Exclusion of the responsible individual from the tournament, which may be permanent.
Suspension of the relevant category/team for a period of two or more editions.
Refusal to admit the organisation to future editions, which may apply to all of its categories, for a period of one to three editions or indefinitely in cases of particular seriousness.
Limitation or refusal of future registrations by the organisation where there are serious previous incidents which, in the organisation's judgement, may compromise safety, positive coexistence or the proper running of the tournament.

The organisation may adopt precautionary or preventive measures when necessary to ensure the safety of individuals or the normal running of the tournament, without such measures prejudging the final decision regarding the incident.

4. Responsibility of participating organisations

The participating club or organisation undertakes to inform its players, coaching staff, team officials, families and accompanying persons of this Code and to actively promote compliance with it.

The organisation may take the overall conduct of an organisation into account when assessing its participation in future editions, particularly where there is a history of serious or repeated breaches.

Individual responsibility for specific conduct does not exclude the possibility of taking measures against the relevant team or organisation when the circumstances, repetition of the incidents or collective involvement so justify.

5. Aceptación y vinculación

Completing the tournament registration constitutes the express acceptance of this Code of Conduct, Ethics and Sportsmanship by the participating club or organisation.
The organisation undertakes to make these rules known to all persons associated with its teams and to cooperate with the organisation in ensuring compliance with them.
Decisions taken by the organisation in application of this Code, including those relating to an organisation's participation in future editions, shall apply in accordance with the terms established in the relevant decision.
Exclusion from or refusal of participation due to a breach of this Code shall not entitle the club or organisation to any refund or financial compensation for expenses incurred or commitments undertaken.
The organisation may assess the specific circumstances of each case and apply the appropriate measures in proportion to the seriousness of the conduct.