2.1. Organization: The ProLeague is internally structured into four organizational levels. The top level is formed by the so-called areas (Legal&Financial, Website, National Competition, International Competition, and Communication&Idea Development). The individual areas are further divided into segments (e.g., League GER as a segment of the "National Competition" area). The segments form the second level of the organization. Segments, in turn, can consist of individual sections (e.g., German League ONE as a section of the "League GER" segment). These represent the third level. Finally, the so-called tasks are listed on the fourth organizational level. The first three levels cover fixed and regular topics, while tasks always represent one-time processes. A graphical overview of the organizational levels can be viewed at the following link: Organigram

2.2. ProLeague Administration (hereinafter also "Administration" or "Admin Team"): In accordance with the four organizational levels, there are four different administrative positions (Head-Admins, Administrators, Leaders, and Helpers). The Head-Admins, Administrators, and Leaders together form the ProLeague Administration or the Admin Team. A graphical overview of the current responsibilities as well as an outline of rights and duties can be viewed at the following link: Organigram

2.2.1. Head-Admins: The Head-Admins lead the ProLeague and share internal responsibility for the entire project. They are responsible for the individual areas.

2.2.2. Administrators and Leaders: Administrators are responsible for the orderly operation of their assigned segment (e.g., League GER). Leaders are responsible for specific sections (e.g., German League ONE) and handle the tasks due there. Depending on the area of responsibility, Administrators and Leaders have access to various functionalities of the admin panel. Aside from the interface for managing team creation requests and player licenses, the panel includes options for judging matches and resetting matchreports, issuing team and player penalties, sending messages to entire user groups (e.g., all special members of a team and all special members of a league), and team management.

2.2.3. Helpers: For irregular tasks, Helpers are deployed as needed based on the requirements. Their responsibilities and tasks are determined in consultation with the respective Head-Admins, Administrators, or Leaders.

2.3. Staffing: Depending on their position, the members of the ProLeague Administration are responsible for staffing decisions. Head-Admins decide on the filling of all Head-Admin and Admin positions, while Admins decide on the filling of Leader positions within their segment. The respective positions are announced by the aforementioned individuals. Any member of the community can apply for these positions. After determining suitability by the respective ProLeague Administration members, selection procedures (interviews) are conducted.

2.4. Principles: The members of the ProLeague Administration and each deployed Helper act according to the principles of proportionality, confidentiality, and objectivity.

2.4.1. Proportionality: The Administration and each deployed Helper must act and make decisions, especially those that can be made at their discretion under this rulebook, always in compliance with and applying the principle of proportionality. Specifically, actions and decisions by the Administration and Helpers must:

• be purpose-bound based on a legitimate basis,
• be suitable for fulfilling the purpose,
• represent the least intrusive of all purpose-fulfilling actions/decisions (necessity),
• be reasonable in terms of proportionality between action/decision and its potential impact on third parties.

2.4.2. Confidentiality: The Administration and each deployed Helper are bound to confidentiality. Internal meetings must always be handled sensitively, and contents may not be disclosed to third parties. Proven violations can result in immediate exclusion from the Admin Team at the discretion of the Head-Admins.

2.4.3. Objectivity: The interests of the ProLeague always take precedence over the interests of individual Admin Team members. Members of the Admin Team who are involved in content-related matters are excluded from decision-making processes (e.g., in cases where decisions concern a team or player that the Admin is also part of).

4.1. Team: A team is a group of players who participate together in ProLeague competitions.

4.1.1. Every user has the option to create a team. Team creation must be announced via the Discord ticket "Registration" in the ProLeague COM Discord and will be approved by the administration after successful review.

4.1.2. Each team must consist of at least 7 players (competition-dependent, more players may be required).

4.2. Team Name and Parent Organizations: A team has a unique name. Teams may be part of a parent organization and adopt its name.

4.2.1. Team Name Change: A team name change is only allowed once per season. To do this, a team manager must open the "Change Team Name" ticket in the ProLeague COM Discord and provide the following information: 

• The new team name, 
• The short version of the name (less than ten characters), and 
• The abbreviation consisting of exactly three alphanumeric characters. 

The only exception to the limitation on team name changes is when leaving an organization. In this case, the team can revert to the previous team name at any time.

4.2.2. Parent Organizations: Teams from the same parent organization are not allowed to play in the same league. If, due to promotion or relegation, a team from one organization enters a league in which another team from the same organization is playing, or into which this team itself is promoted or relegated, this will result in the forced relegation of the team that was in the lower league in the previous season. An exception exists in the lowest ProLeague division: In this division, two teams from the same organization can compete if this is a result of relegation. This rule is subject to review and may be decided differently by the admin team in individual cases.

4.2.3. Organization Change: If a team wants to leave a parent organization to avoid violating § 4.2.2., this must be reported to the administration at the start of the season. At the same time, it is mandatory that the basic information of the team (e.g., team logo and name) be significantly changed.

4.2.4. Competition Distortion: Only the team from a parent organization that plays in the higher league can participate in tournaments. This applies to the national cup, the SPL, and the competitions of the former IPCC. A team must announce its departure from the parent organization at the beginning of the season to bypass these restrictions for the following season.

4.3. Club Teams: ProClub teams of registered real football clubs that have digitally extended themselves and simultaneously field a team in analog football are referred to as club teams (short: "Club").

4.3.1. It is generally tolerated that clubs participate in official competitions with other EAFC Clubs providers. However, it is not allowed to play under different club names there. An exception applies in this case if an e-sports club is in cooperation with a football club and the e-sports club is a member of the ESBD (eSport-Bund Deutschland) or one of its regional associations (ESVH, e-sport.nrw, etc.).

4.3.2. A player from a club team may only participate in official competitions with the same club as in the ProLeague Championship when playing with other ProClub providers. What constitutes an official competition with other ProClub providers is determined by the ProLeague administration. Exceptions to the first sentence are foreign teams participating with other providers than ProLeague.

4.4.Participation in ProLeague Competitions: All teams can register for participation in ProLeague competitions if they meet the entry requirements for the respective competition (cf. §8 to §13, each under .2 Participants). For each competition, there will be a specific announcement about registration on the respective official Discord servers prior to the start of the competition. This announcement contains all important information about the respective competition and the further process.

4.4.1. Registrations can be rejected by the administration. Possible reasons for rejecting an application/registration are:

• The entry requirements for the respective competition are not met (cf. §8 to §13, each under .2 Participants),
• The new team management partially consists of the management of a recently dissolved team,
• The new team includes more than half of the roster of a recently dissolved team, or
• More than half of the roster of the new team played for the same recently dissolved team.
• The team name or team logo contains racist, offensive, or sexual content.
• The team name is not unique.

4.4.2. In the context of local leagues, the ProLeague administration assumes that further participation in the competition for the coming season is desired if a team does not deregister (implied registration). Therefore, a new registration from existing teams for the upcoming league season is not necessary.

4.4.3. Participation in local leagues obliges participation in local cup competitions.

4.5. Team Page: On the team page of a team on the ProLeague website, the entire team history in the ProLeague, the roster, match schedules, transfers, achievements (also team achievements for previously held competitions are still displayed), penalties, the stream, and the contact details of a team are visible. In the "Squad" tab, the eligibility status of each roster member can be viewed.

4.6. Team Achievements: The champions of the respective highest local leagues and all players who played at least one match for one of these teams in the previous season will receive the team achievement "Champion." The national cup winners and all players who played at least one match for one of these teams in the previous season will receive the team achievement "Cup Winner." The winner of the Champions League and all players registered in the roster at the time of the final who had at least one appearance will receive the team achievement "CL Victory." The winner of the Europa League and all players registered in the roster at the time of the final who had at least one appearance will receive the team achievement "EL Victory." Any promoted teams and all players who played at least one match for the teams in the previous season will receive the team achievement "Promoted."

5.1. Obligation to Display Team Managers (VM)

Each team must appoint at least one main and one co-team manager. At least one of these team managers must be identifiable on the ProLeague Discord servers relevant to the team’s competition (e.g., §8.10.2. or §10.2.2.) as follows:

• Team Name | (Co-) VM Name

The maximum number of VMs in Discord is equal to the number of special members on the ProLeague website: 4.

5.2. Manager Rights: Each team can have up to four team managers who can manage the team on the ProLeague website. The roles of Team Captain, Squad Manager, Appointment Coordinator, and Press Officer all share the same rights. Any team manager can:

• Create and remove team entries for their team on the player market and in spontaneous searches,
• Enter match results for the team and edit match reports for home matches,
• Manage match schedules and transfer requests for the team,
• Edit team information and modify team manager rights,
• Remove users from the team and adjust the purely visual inactivity status of players on their team.

5.3. Responsibilities of a Team Manager

5.3.1. The main VM bears full responsibility for their team.

5.3.2. Each VM is required to regularly familiarize themselves with the ProLeague rules and communicate them within their team.

5.3.3. Each VM must independently and proactively verify that their players are eligible to play (indicated by a green checkmark). This also includes verifying Game IDs.

5.3.4. Each VM ensures smooth communication within the league. It is their responsibility to read messages from admins and relay them to their team.

6.1. Rights of Users / Players

6.1.1. Every registered user of the ProLeague can create player entries on the player market and in spontaneous searches. They can write in the shoutbox and comment on articles and team posts. Furthermore, they can request to join existing teams. They can edit their profile to apply for a player license.

6.1.2. Every user (player) can join a team or create a team (see § 4.1.1.).

6.1.3. Every player who is part of a team can leave it via the team page.

6.1.4. Every player can become a VM (Team Manager) of a team.

6.2. (currently vacant)

6.3. Username: Every user (player) has a unique account name and a unique Game ID.

6.3.1. Account Name Changes: Changing the account name on the ProLeague website is only possible to remove a team tag. A name change is possible in exchange for a service for the community (e.g., contribution to the editorial team or similar).

6.3.2. Game ID Changes can only be made from Monday to Friday (11:59 PM CET) during a match week. ID changes must, however, be made at the latest by the day before the first appearance (for official mid-week matches) or by Friday (11:59 PM CET) of the current match week (for official Sunday matches). The player affected by the change may only participate in official matches if this timeframe is adhered to.

6.4. Active: A player is defined as “active” if they have played at least two matches for the team in the previous season. Players who joined the roster later than three weeks before the end of the season are not considered “active.”

6.5. Player Profile: The player profile of every player displays personal achievements, personal statistics, club history, market value, and personal penalty catalog.

6.6. Player Achievements: The best players of each league receive individual awards for their profile: Top Goal Scorer, Top Scorer, Top Assists Provider, Top Defender, Top Goalkeeper, and MVP.

7.1. Transfers: A transfer refers to a player joining a team.

7.1.1. To join a team, the player must submit a team join request on the team page of the receiving team (button “Join Team”). A special member of the receiving team must accept the player’s join request. The team join request must occur within the time periods described in §7.1.2.

7.1.2. Transfers can be made from Monday to Friday (11:59 PM) during a match week. The team join request must be submitted on the ProLeague website by the day before the first match (for midweek official matches) or by Friday (11:59 PM) of the current match week (for official Sunday matches). The transferred player may only participate in official matches if they have obtained a valid license (see §7.2).

7.1.3. (currently vacant)

7.1.4. A player who has joined a team (transfer) is obligated to remain with the team until the end of the season. An exception to this is granted in the following case:

• A player may join another team during the current season if they have not played a official match for their current/previous team for 15 consecutive days and if they have not joined more than three teams during the current season. The term "join" refers to the definition outlined in §7.1.1.

7.1.5. After the end of a season, transfers are allowed without restrictions until the start of the new season (season start is the Monday before the first official match).

7.2. Licensing: A player is only eligible to play when:

• The player fulfills the regulations of §7.1,
• The competition-responsible member of administration has accepted the license request and assigned the license tag that corresponds to the competition the player is registered for (indicated by a green checkmark + assigned license tag).

The administration may revoke an already granted eligibility to play in specific individual cases.

7.2.1. License Tag: Through various license tags, playing licenses can be distributed separately for the following competitions and entitle the respective player to participate in:

• National and international leagues and cups: GER, TUR, ITA, ESP, POL, FRA, INT, BGR
• The Super ProLeague: SPL
• The competitions of the former IPCC: IPCC

7.2.2. License tags are generally distributed upon each player’s entry into a team by the competition-responsible member of the administration of the national league of this team so that the player can participate in all competitions in which their new team participates (distribution of all possible tags). If certain licenses are not to be distributed, this must be reported via a ticket in the national Discord.

7.2.3. The subsequent removal of existing license tags from players in a team’s roster is not possible.

7.3. Exceptions: In exceptional cases (especially when the existence of a team is at risk), a team can request exceptions to §7.1 and §7.2 from the ProLeague administration.

7.4. Team Takeover: A group of players may not take over a team’s starting position. Each case is individually reviewed by the ProLeague administration.

8.1. Structure of National and International Leagues:

8.1.1. League Size

The number of teams per league may vary depending on the number of new applicants and team dissolutions. Which team plays in which league is determined according to §4 and §8.

8.2. Participants:

8.3. Season Format

8.3.1. Each team in a league plays twice against every other team in the league per season (league format). Each team has one home match and one away match against each opponent.

8.3.2. A match lasts 90 minutes plus additional time. In league matches, there is no extra time or penalty shootout. The winner of a match receives 3 points, and the loser receives 0 points. If the match ends in a draw, both teams receive 1 point each.

8.3.3. If multiple teams have the same number of points at the end of the season, goal difference determines the placement. If this is also equal, the number of goals scored determines the placement. If there is still no clear result, the following criteria apply in order:

1. Head-to-head match,
2. Playoff matches until a winner is determined.

8.3.4. Draw: The fixture list for national and international leagues is randomly generated by the ProLeague website.

8.4. Champion: The team that achieves the highest ranking in the highest league according to § 8.3.2. and § 8.3.3. is the champion of the respective league.

8.5. Promotion and Relegation / League Allocation for New Season: 

8.6. Scheduling:

Match schedules for competitions, including dates and times, can be found on the ProLeague website under the "Match Schedule" tab in the team profile or the official schedule: Schedule. This schedule is updated continuously. In case of doubt or discrepancies, the dates on the ProLeague website take precedence.

8.7. Match of the Week

8.8. Special Match Rules

8.9. (currently vacant)

8.10. Miscellaneous:

8.10.1. Support: The match reports of the leagues are reviewed in detail by the ProLeague administration responsible for the competition. Therefore, a protest is generally not necessary. In case of issues, a support ticket should always be submitted in the national Discord (see §20.2).

8.10.2. Discord Requirement: All participants must provide at least one representative in the respective Discord server and be reachable during official matches.

9.1. Structure of the National Cup:

9.2. Participants:

9.3. Season Format

9.3.1. The National Cup is played in a Knock-Out format. The number of participating teams determines the number of knockout rounds. The losers of the semifinals compete against each other in a third-place match. The winners of the semifinals play the final.

9.3.2. (Currently vacant)

9.3.3. One match is played per cup round. If the match ends in a draw, extra time is played, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary. Due to the possibility of extra time and penalty shootouts, sufficient time should be allocated for scheduling

9.3.4. In each cup round, the matchups and home advantage are redrawn. The team listed at the top of the bracket or mentioned first always has home advantage.

9.4. Winner: The team that wins the last round, i.e., the final, is the cup winner.

9.5. (currently vacant)

9.6. Scheduling: A separate deadline is set for each cup round. If the cup match cannot be played within this timeframe, §9.6.1 applies. The final is played on the "Day of the Finals."

Which matches of a competition are scheduled for which date/time period can be found on the ProLeague website under the "Match Schedule" tab in the team profile or the official schedule: Schedule. This schedule is continuously updated. In case of discrepancies, the scheduling on the ProLeague website takes precedence.

9.6.1. Failure to play a cup match within the specified week will result in the disqualification of both teams and penalties for both teams as per §19.2.f. If only one team is responsible for the failure, only that team will be sanctioned. The burden of proof lies with the claimant.

9.7. Match of the Week

9.8. Match Rules

9.8.1. The card rule does not apply in the National Cup.

9.9. (Currently vacant)

9.10. Miscellaneous

9.10.1. The match reports of the cups are reviewed in detail by the ProLeague administration responsible for the competition. Therefore, a protest is generally not necessary. In case of issues, a support ticket should always be submitted in the national Discord (see §20.2).

9.10.2. Discord Requirement: All participants must have at least one representative in the national Discord server and be reachable during official matches.

10.1. Structure of the SPL: The Super Pro League (SPL) is the ProLeague's prize money competition. The winner of the SPL is determined through a league phase (divided into two parallel divisions), Wildcard Playoffs, and a subsequent knockout stage (consisting of quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals). The organization of the SPL takes place on the official "ProLeague COM" Discord (https://discord.gg/trfAYfk).

10.1.1. The SPL is played with 24 teams. These 24 teams are evenly distributed into two divisions at the start. The distribution of teams across the divisions is announced by the ProLeague Administration in advance of the SPL start.

10.2. Participants:

10.2.1. All teams registered on the ProLeague website are eligible to participate.

10.2.2. Minimum Number of Players: Each team participating in the SPL must start a match with at least eleven licensed players.

10.2.3. (currently vacant)

10.3. Season Format

10.3.1. SPL Format

10.3.2. (currently vacant)

10.3.3. In case two or more teams are tied in points during the league phase, rankings are determined in the following order:

1. Points
2. Goal Difference
3. Goals Scored
4. Points in head-to-head matches
5. Goal Difference in head-to-head matches
6. Goals Scored in head-to-head matches
7. Penalty points (red cards count as 2)

If a tie still exists, the ProLeague Administration decides how to determine the ranking.

10.3.4. Draw: The SPL schedule is randomly generated by the ProLeague website unless otherwise specified. Exceptions include the situations mentioned in §10.3.1 that require a draw.

10.4. SPL Winner

10.4.1. The team that wins the final at the end of the knockout stage is declared the SPL winner.

10.4.2. (Currently vacant)

10.5. Promotion and Relegation / League Assignment for the New Season

The league assignment is announced by the ProLeague Administration via an article or Discord announcement.

10.6. Match Scheduling: SPL matches can be freely scheduled within the designated match weeks (Monday to Sunday).

Details about match dates and times can be found on the ProLeague website under the "Match Schedule" tab in the team profile or the official schedule: Schedule. This schedule is regularly updated. In case of discrepancies, the schedule on the ProLeague website takes precedence.

10.6.1. (currently vacant)

10.7. Match of the Week

10.7.1. SPL matches can be selected as "Match of the Week" starting from the knockout stage (see §14.5).

10.7.2. Match dates are coordinated with the teams by the administration and finalized thereafter.

10.8. Match Rules

10.8.1. Transfers: No transfers are allowed during the quarterfinals, semifinals, or finals of the SPL. Players transferred during these match weeks will not be eligible for the remaining SPL matches.

10.9. Match Reporting

10.9.1. Unlike §17.3, both teams have 48 hours to report the match result on the ProLeague website.

10.9.2. Unlike §17.6, only the ID screenshot and the link to the VOD of the official match need to be provided in the SPL result report.

10.10. Miscellaneous

10.10.1. Support: SPL match reports are not reviewed in detail. In case of problems or protests, a support ticket must always be submitted on the ProLeague COM Discord (see §20.2).

10.10.2. Discord Requirement: All SPL participants must have at least one representative in the official ProLeague COM Discord (https://discord.gg/trfAYfk) and be reachable during official matches.

10.10.3. Financial Responsibility: The special member registering a team for the SPL must designate a financial representative for the team and a substitute. This representative is responsible for ensuring that any potential buy-in amount is paid and will receive any prize money won. If the financial representative leaves the team, a new representative must be appointed. Prize money can only be paid to financial representatives who are still part of the team's roster at the time of the final match.

11.1. Structure: As a continuation of the formerly independent IPCC, the ProLeague organizes international club tournaments. The organization of these competitions takes place on the official "ProLeague COM" Discord: https://discord.gg/trfAYfk. Two parallel tournaments are held per season: the Champions League (CL) and the Europa League (EL). Each of these tournaments is conducted with 24 participants. Both tournaments consist of a group stage followed by a knockout stage.

11.2. Participants: Which teams participate in the individual competitions is determined according to the following rules in §§11.2 and 11.5:

11.2.1. Eligible Teams

11.2.1.1. To participate in the club tournaments, a team (cf. §4) must be an Eligible Team and play in the national or international league it wants to represent.

11.2.1.2. A team is considered an “Eligible Team” for a national league if a large proportion of the team's players share the nationality of the national league it intends to represent.

11.2.1.3. Teams that do not meet the requirements of §11.2.1.1 (e.g., because the team lacks a significant proportion of one nationality or because no corresponding national league exists) may qualify for the club tournaments via the international league.

11.2.1.4. Once a team is considered an “Eligible Team” for a league, it cannot change this status unless significant changes to the roster composition occur.

11.2.1.5. Whether a participating team meets the requirements outlined in §§11.2.1.1 to 11.2.1.3 will be verified by the administration during the registration process for the club tournaments prior to each season.

11.2.2. Allocation of Participation Slots

11.2.2.1. Primarily, each national and international league of the ProLeague is allocated a certain number of the 24 slots. Additionally, the administration may allocate slots to other leagues/teams with which there is collaboration. How the assigned slots are distributed among Eligible Teams within a league is at the discretion of that league. The allocation of the 24 slots is determined according to the following rules:

11.2.2.2. Guaranteed slots:

• Both the current CL champion and the current EL champion receive a guaranteed spot in the following Champions League season. This spot is independent of the league the team competed for and is exclusively granted to the team, even if it leaves the league.
• Each of the leagues mentioned in §11.2.2.1 receives a certain number of guaranteed slots:
• Leagues with more than 12 Eligible Teams receive 2 (CL) + 2 (EL) guaranteed slots.
• Leagues with more than 10 Eligible Teams receive 1+2 guaranteed slots.
• Leagues with more than 8 Eligible Teams receive 1+1 guaranteed slots.
• Leagues with more than 6 Eligible Teams receive 0+1 guaranteed slots.
• The number of “Eligible Teams” is based on the status at the end of the last season. For newly established leagues or leagues joining the ProLeague for the first time, the number of guaranteed slots is determined based on the expected number of Eligible Teams at the league's start.

11.2.2.3. Performance-Based slots:

If all 24 slots per competition are not filled after allocating the guaranteed slots, additional slots are awarded based on performance using the Community Ranking (§11.5.1.).

11.2.2.4. Each league can receive a maximum of 4+4 total slots. However, the guaranteed CL slots for the reigning CL and EL champions are not included in this limit and are considered separately.

11.2.2.5. Teams assigned a slot by their respective league must utilize it.

11.2.3. Tournament Registration: Registration for the club tournaments takes place in the designated channel on the official “ProLeague COM” server within the specified timeframe. Only teams from a national or international league that have been assigned a spot according to §11.2.2. by their league can register. During registration, teams must provide their team name, primary team manager, an assistant, and their stream link.

11.2.4. Teams disqualified or excluded due to penalties (e.g., disqualification or administrative decisions) from the previous competition are not eligible to participate in the new season. The competition administrator may, at their discretion, allow such teams to participate.

11.2.5. The minimum number of players for the club tournaments of the former IPCC is 7. If the opponent agrees, it is always possible to play with fewer players. To ensure compliance in case of protests, evidence (e.g., a screenshot of the agreement in chat) should be available.

11.3. Season Format

11.3.1. Tournament Format

11.3.1.1. Group Stage

• The group stage of the CL and EL consists of 6 groups of 4 teams each. Each team plays a home and an away match against every other team in its group, resulting in a total of 6 matches per team. Each match is considered an independent match where points can be earned: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. The team listed first on the ProLeague website for each matchday (on the left) has home advantage.
• The team with the most points at the end of the group stage is declared the group winner. The second-highest scoring team is the runner-up, and so on.
• The best teams from the group stage advance to the knockout round. The group winner and runner-up from the CL and EL groups advance to the respective round of 16. The four best third-placed teams from the CL groups also advance to the CL round of 16, while the other two third-placed teams advance to the EL round of 16. The two best third-placed teams from the EL groups also advance to the EL round of 16.

11.3.1.2. Knockout Stage

Each competition features a round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. In each knockout round, a home and an away match are played (regular time, no extra time or penalties). The team listed first on the ProLeague website (on the left) has home advantage. The team with more goals after both matches advances to the next round. If the aggregate score is tied, a third match is played to determine the winner (extra time and penalties if necessary).

11.3.2. (currently vacant)

11.3.3. In case two or more teams in the group stage have the same number of points, rankings are determined in the following order:

1. Points
2. Goal difference
3. Goals scored
4. Points in head-to-head matches
5. Goal difference in head-to-head matches
6. Goals scored in head-to-head matches
7. Penalty points (red cards count as 2 penalty points)

11.3.4. Draws: Draws are conducted before each group stage and each knockout round. All draws are streamed live, with information published on the “ProLeague COM” Discord.

11.3.4.1. Group Stage

For the group stage, teams are drawn from four pots, each containing six teams. Apart from the reigning CL and EL champions (guaranteed spot in Pot 1), all teams are assigned to pots based on the Club Ranking (§11.5.2.). Each group contains one team from each pot. Teams from the same league cannot be drawn into the same group.

11.3.4.2. Knockout Stage

The round of 16 draw uses two pots. In the CL, Pot 1 consists of group winners and the two best group runners-up, while Pot 2 consists of the remaining group runners-up and the four best third-placed teams. In the EL, Pot 1 consists of group winners and the two worst CL third-placed teams, while Pot 2 consists of EL runners-up and the two best EL third-placed teams. Teams from the same league or group cannot face each other in the round of 16.

11.4. Winner: The team that wins the final at the end of a knockout stage is declared the winner of the respective tournament.

11.5. Rankings

11.5.1. Community Ranking (LINK)

11.5.1.1. The Community Ranking is used to evaluate the performance of each participating league and its teams in the club tournaments - Champions League and Europa League. The ranking is based on the so-called "Two-Season Average Coefficient" (hereinafter referred to as the "Average Coefficient"), which is determined for each league by the administration at the end of a season based on the two preceding seasons. The league with the highest Average Coefficient is ranked first, followed by the league with the second-highest Average Coefficient, and so on. In the event that multiple leagues have the same Average Coefficient, the league whose team achieved a higher coefficient in the most recent season is ranked higher.

11.5.1.2. Calculation of the "Two-Season Average Coefficient"

• The "Two-Season Average Coefficient" is calculated as follows: (Coefficient from the last season + Coefficient from the second-to-last season) / 2.
• The coefficient per season is calculated as the sum of all points earned by the teams of the respective league, divided by the total number of teams representing that league in the Champions League and the Europa League during the season being evaluated. The points for Europa League results of the respective league are multiplied by 0.75.
• Point system:
• Each team is awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss.
• Teams that reach the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals, or win the Champions League or Europa League are awarded additional points for advancing to the respective knockout stage: 0.5 points for reaching the Round of 16 (qualifying from the group stage), 1 additional point for reaching the Quarterfinals, 1.5 additional points for reaching the Semifinals, and 2 more points for reaching the Finals. The winner receives 2 extra points.
• No points are awarded for wins or draws by forfeit/judging matches of any kind.

11.5.2. Club Ranking (LINK)

The club ranking is based on the points that individual teams have earned over the past two seasons (§11.5.1.2). The club with the highest average points over the last two seasons is ranked first. The team with the second-highest average points is ranked second, and so on. If a team did not participate in one of the past seasons, their points are also divided by two.

11.6. Scheduling

11.6.1. General Rules for Scheduling

11.6.1.1. The match dates for the Champions League and Europa League are initially pre-scheduled by the administration for Thursday of a match week. These dates are expressly considered recommendations and not fixed match dates.

11.6.1.2. The administration uses the following time slots:

Winter Time

• Match 1: 21:55 GMT+1
• Match 2: 22:15 GMT+1
• (Match 3: 22:35 GMT+1)

Summer Time

• Match 1: 21:55 GMT+2
• Match 2: 22:15 GMT+2
• (Match 3: 22:35 GMT+2)

Note: The time slot for Match 3 is only necessary if a third match needs to be played during the knockout stage.

11.6.1.3. Matches pre-scheduled by the administration under §§11.6.1.1. and 11.6.1.2. may be rescheduled until the following Wednesday at the latest. To do this, timely contact with the respective opponent is required.

11.6.1.4. In the case of rescheduling under §11.6.1.3., the respective team managers must post an update with information about the new match date in the “match-agreements” channel on the Discord server and mutually confirm it.

11.6.1.5. If no mutual agreement on a new match date can be reached, the administration will set a match date.

11.6.1.6. Information on which matches of a competition are scheduled for which date/time period can be found on the ProLeague website under the “Match Dates” tab in the team profile or the official schedule: Schedule. This schedule is generally kept up to date continuously. However, in cases of doubt or discrepancies, the scheduling on the ProLeague website takes precedence.

11.6.2. Notwithstanding §14.2.2, if a team cannot be present at the scheduled start time, the opponent must be informed of the delay no later than 10 minutes after the scheduled start time (see §15.3.6). A notification made later than 10 minutes after the scheduled start time is considered a “no-show.”

11.6.3. (currently vacant)

11.6.4. The scheduled start time mentioned in §14.4 exclusively refers to the match date agreed upon by the teams (§11.6.1.3.) or set by the administration in the case of §11.6.1.5. The match date pre-scheduled by the administration under §11.6.1.1. and §11.6.1.2. is expressly excluded.

11.6.5. In the spirit of fair play, not every second should be counted. Especially not when invitations have already been sent or the match has been terminated in accordance with the rules (§11.8.1.). Waiting precisely 10 minutes (e.g., using an atomic clock) to claim a victory by default is not the intention of the rules in §11.6.2. and §11.6.4.

11.7. Match of the Week: Matches of the club tournaments of the former IPCC cannot be selected as Match of the Week.

11.8. Rules

11.8.1. In deviation from §15.3.10. leaving a match within the first 10 in-game minutes due to technical issues is allowed.

11.9. Match Reporting

11.9.1. In deviation from §17.3. both teams have 48 hours to report the match result on the ProLeague website.

11.9.2. In deviation from §17.6. only the ID screenshot and the link to the VOD of the official match must be provided as part of the match reporting for the former IPCC club tournaments.

11.10. Miscellaneous

11.10.1. The match reports for the club tournaments are not reviewed in detail. In case of issues or protests, a support ticket must always be created in the ProLeague COM Discord (see §20.2).

11.10.2. Discord Requirement: All participants in the former IPCC club tournaments must have at least one representative in the official ProLeague COM Discord (https://discord.gg/trfAYfk) and be reachable during official matches.

12.1. Structure: As a continuation of the formerly independent IPCC, the ProLeague organizes international national team tournaments. The organization of these competitions takes place on the official "ProLeague COM" Discord server: https://discord.gg/trfAYfk. Three separate tournaments are held: the Nations League, the Euro Cup, and the World Cup. The Nations League is conducted in a league format. The other tournaments feature a group stage followed by a knockout round. Due to technical requirements, the Discord server (e.g., for roster submission) plays a larger role in national team tournaments.

12.2. Participants

12.2.1. National Teams

12.2.1.1. Participation in national team tournaments is exclusively reserved for national teams. A group of players from a nation representing that nation in the tournaments is referred to as a national team. The rules and explanations in §4 regarding teams generally do not apply to national teams.

12.2.1.1.1. National teams are not created on the ProLeague website like other teams. The creation of national teams on the ProLeague website is the responsibility of the ProLeague Administration. Each national team has a team account created by the administration (e.g., "IPCC Germany"). Access to these accounts is provided to the national team managers by the administration.

12.2.1.1.2. National teams are given a unique name distributed by the administration and are designated as “IPCC Nation” (e.g., "IPCC Germany").

12.2.1.1.3. Official national teams of registered real football associations are subject to regulations analogous to those for club teams (see §4.3).

12.2.1.1.4. Registration/creation of new national teams is carried out in accordance with §12.2.3. Only one national team per nation may participate in the tournaments at a time. If multiple national teams from the same nation attempt to register, the ProLeague Administration will decide which team is accepted.

12.2.1.1.5. Unlike §4.5., the eligibility status of individual players in national teams cannot be viewed on the ProLeague website. Player eligibility is determined through the designated Discord channels.

12.2.1.1.6. Team achievements, such as winning a national team tournament, are not displayed in the national team's profile.

12.2.1.2. A national team must have at least one national team manager, who serves as the point of contact during tournaments. The rules and explanations in §5 regarding team managers apply only partially to national team managers.

12.2.1.2.1. The managerial rights described in §5.1. are granted only to the team account on the ProLeague website since national team managers themselves cannot be listed on the roster there (cf. §12.2.1.3.). In the organizational Discord server, managerial rights are granted to the designated national team managers.

12.2.1.2.2. The display requirements in §5.2. also apply to national team managers in conjunction with §12.10.2.

12.2.1.2.3. The responsibilities of a team manager as outlined in §5.3. also apply to national team managers. The requirement to check the eligibility “green checkmark” (cf. §5.3.3.) does not apply. Instead, national team managers must ensure that the nationality requirements (cf. §12.2.1.4.) for their entire roster are met and that all national team players are correctly reported in the designated Discord channel (cf. §12.2.1.3.2.).

12.2.1.2.4. National team managers may be removed from their position for serious rule violations.

12.2.1.2.5. National team managers should work closely with the leadership of the national league/community they represent, if applicable.

12.2.1.3. A national team can only consist of players belonging to that nation. A player belongs to a nation if they meet the nationality requirements (§12.2.1.4.). The rules and explanations in §§6 and 7 regarding users/players and their transfers/licenses do not largely apply to national teams.

12.2.1.3.1. The rights outlined in §6.1. do not apply to national teams. Players cannot join national teams on the ProLeague website. Due to the lack of statistics for national team matches on the ProLeague website, the regulations/explanations in §§6.4, 6.5, and 6.6. (e.g., player achievements for winning a national team tournament) also do not apply.

12.2.1.3.2. The rules and explanations in §7 regarding transfers and licensing also do not apply to national teams. Roster submissions for national team tournaments are handled on the official "ProLeague COM" Discord server as follows:

• Before the tournament, the current roster (including Game-IDs, cf. §15.2. sentence 2) must be submitted during registration in the designated "competition-application" channel.
• Adding or removing players during the tournament is allowed via the “transfers-during-the-tournament” subforum in the “competition application” Discord channels. Player additions must occur at least one day before the first official match.
• All roster submissions, player additions, and removals must strictly adhere to the deadlines and designated Discord channels. Late submissions or notifications via private messages, tickets, or website roster additions are invalid, rendering the players ineligible to play. Using ineligible players will result in team penalties as outlined in §18.5.1.A.

12.2.1.4. Players belong to a nation if they meet one of the following three nationality requirements:

• Jus soli: "Right of the soil" – A player born within the territory of a nation belongs to that nation.
• Jus sanguinis: "Right of blood" – A player whose parents hold the nationality of a nation belongs to that nation.
• A player currently residing in the territory of a nation belongs to that nation.

Players meeting nationality requirements for multiple nations must choose one nation per EAFC edition.

12.2.1.4.1. The national team manager must prove their eligibility under §12.2.1.4. when forming/registering the team.

12.2.1.4.2. Players are not required to prove their nationality under §12.2.1.4. unless disputes arise. In such cases, the responsible member of the ProLeague administration will decide whether a player is eligible, and proof may be required.

12.3. Competition Procedures

12.3.1. Tournament Procedures (Euro Cup & World Cup)

12.3.1.1. Group Stage

• The group stage consists of a number of teams per group or groups adapted to the number of participants. Each team competes against every other team in its group in a home and away match. Each group match is considered an independent match where points can be scored. Each team receives: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. The home team is the team listed first (on the left) on the ProLeague website for the respective matchday.
• The team that has collected the most points at the end of all group stage matches is referred to as the group winner. The team with the second most points is called the group runner-up, and so on.
• The best teams from the group stage advance to the knockout stage. The number of teams advancing to the knockout stage depends on the number of participants.
• The number of groups, the number of teams per group, and the number of teams advancing to the knockout stage will be announced by the administration prior to the tournament.

12.3.1.2. Knockout Stage

Each competition includes at least semifinals and finals. Depending on the number of participants, quarterfinals and round of 16 may also be required. The number of knockout rounds to be played will be announced by the administration before the respective tournament. In each knockout round, a home and an away match will be played (regular playing time, no extra time or penalty shootout). The home team is the team listed first (on the left) on the ProLeague website for the respective matchday. The team that scores more goals across both matches advances to the next round. If no team has scored more goals after both matches, a third match will be played. This third match must produce a winner. The home team for the third match is the team that was the home team in the first match. If the third match still ends without a winner, extra time or even a penalty shootout will be required.

12.3.2. Nations League Procedures

12.3.2.1. The Nations League is played in a league system.

12.3.2.2. Each team competes in a home and away match against every other team.

12.3.2.3. Each match is considered an independent match where points can be scored. Each team receives: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.

12.3.2.4. The home team is the team listed first (on the left) on the ProLeague website for the respective matchday.

12.3.2.5. The team that has collected the most points at the end of all matches ranks first. The team with the second most points ranks second, and so on.

12.3.3. If two or more teams in the tournament group stage or in the Nations League table have the same number of points, the ranking is determined in the following order:

1. Points
2. Goal difference
3. Goals scored
4. Points in direct comparison
5. Goal difference in direct comparison
6. Goals scored in direct comparison
7. Penalty points in the group (red cards count as 2 penalty points)

12.3.4. Draw Before each group stage and each knockout round, a draw will take place. Each draw will be streamed live. Information about the draw will be published on the “ProLeague COM” Discord. The schedule for the Nations League is not drawn but is randomly generated by the ProLeague website.

12.4. Winners:

12.4.1. Tournaments: The team that wins the final at the end of a knockout stage is declared the winner of the respective competition.

12.4.2. Nations League: The team that has collected the most points at the end of all matches is ranked first and crowned the winner of the Nations League.

12.5. Rankings

12.5.1. (currently vacant)

12.5.2. (currently vacant)

12.5.3. The national team ranking is based on the results of national teams in the previous tournaments of a year, so that for each competition, one completed tournament is included in the ranking (i.e., each ranking includes the results of the most recently completed Nations League, Euro Cup, World Cup, and Confed Cup). Here, the procedure explained in §11.5.1.2. also applies. The national team with the highest average points during this period is ranked first. The national team with the second-highest average points is ranked second, and so on. If a national team did not participate in one of the past seasons, their points are also halved.

12.6. Scheduling

12.6.1. General Rules for Scheduling

12.6.1.1. The match dates for national team tournaments are preliminarily scheduled by the administration on either Wednesday or Sunday of a match week, depending on the region from which the competing national teams geographically originate. These match dates are explicitly considered recommendations and not fixed match dates.

12.6.1.1.1. If the time zone difference between the two opponents is less than 4 hours, the standard match day is Wednesday of a match week. This is typically the case when national teams from the same region play against each other (e.g., Americas vs. Americas -> Wednesday).

12.6.1.1.2. If the time zone difference between the two opponents is more than 4 hours, the standard match day is Sunday (e.g., Americas vs. Asia -> Sunday).

12.6.1.2. The administration uses the following time slots for preliminary scheduling (times in GMT+1 during winter time or GMT+2 during summer time):

12.6.1.3. Match dates preliminarily scheduled by the administration according to §§12.6.1.1. and 12.6.1.2. may be rescheduled until the following Tuesday. To do so, timely contact with the respective opponent must be made.

12.6.1.4. In the case of rescheduling according to §12.6.1.3., the respective national team managers must post a message with information about the new match date in the "match-agreements" channel on the Discord server and confirm it mutually.

12.6.1.5. If no mutual agreement on a date can be reached, the administration will set a match date.

12.6.1.6. Which matches of a competition are planned for which date/period can be found on the ProLeague website under the "Match Dates" tab in the team profile or the official schedule: Schedule. This schedule is regularly updated. In case of doubt or discrepancies, however, the scheduling on the ProLeague website takes precedence.

12.6.2. Deviating from §14.2.2., if a team cannot start at the scheduled time, the opponent must be informed of the delay no later than 10 minutes after the scheduled start time (see §15.3.6.). A notification made later than 10 minutes after the scheduled start time is considered a "no-show."

12.6.3. (currently vacant)

12.6.4. The scheduled start time mentioned in §14.4. refers exclusively to the match date agreed upon by the teams (§12.6.1.3.) or set by the administration in the case of §12.6.1.5. The match date preliminarily scheduled by the administration according to §12.6.1.1. and §12.6.1.2. is explicitly not included.

12.6.5. In the spirit of fair play, every second should not be strictly enforced. Especially if invitations have already been sent or the match was aborted in accordance with the rules (§12.8.2.), waiting exactly 10 minutes (e.g., with an atomic clock) to claim a win "by default" is not the intention of the rules in §12.6.2. and §12.6.4.

12.7. Match of the Week: Matches from the national team tournaments of the former IPCC cannot be selected as the Match of the Week.

12.8. Match Rules:

12.8.1. Deviating from §15.2, sentence 1, players are eligible to play in national team tournaments if the requirements of §12.2.1.3.2 are met.

12.8.2. Deviating from §15.3.10, leaving the match due to technical problems is allowed during the first 10 in-game minutes of an official match.

12.8.3. Deviating from §15.6, no card rule applies to national team tournaments.

12.9. Match Reporting:

12.9.1. Deviating from §17.2, due to the absence of players in the roster on the ProLeague website, neither the lineup, goals, assists, nor MVP need to be reported accurately during the match reporting for national team tournaments. Instead of actual players, the team account/bot must be selected in all cases.

12.9.2. Deviating from §17.3, both teams have 48 hours to report the match result on the ProLeague website.

12.9.3. Deviating from §17.6, only the ID screenshot and the link to the VOD of the official match need to be uploaded during the match reporting for national team tournaments of the former IPCC.

12.10. Miscellaneous:

12.10.1. Match reports for national team tournaments are not reviewed in detail. For issues or protests, submit a support ticket via the ProLeague COM Discord (cf. §20.2.).

12.10.2. Discord Requirement: All participants in national team tournaments must provide at least one representative on the official ProLeague COM Discord (https://discord.gg/trfAYfk) and remain reachable during matches.

The evening tournaments, in cooperation with the creators of the BomberCup, are managed, regulated, and conducted by the creators themselves. This rulebook does not apply to the evening tournaments. The rules of the BomberCup can be requested from the organizers and are also visible in the WhatsApp group used for organization.

14.1. General Information: The match schedules (date + time) for competitions taking place on the ProLeague platform are defined in the competition paragraphs:

• The match schedules for national leagues are defined in § 8.6. 
• The match schedules for national cups are defined in § 9.6.  
• The match schedules for the SPL are defined in § 10.6.
• The match schedules for the club tournaments of the former IPCC are defined in § 11.6.
• The match schedules for the national team tournaments of the former IPCC are defined in § 12.6.
• The match schedules for evening tournaments are defined in § 1.4.5.

14.2. Obligation to adhere to match schedules

14.2.1. Official matches must generally begin on the scheduled start time.

14.2.2. If a team is unable to begin an official match on the scheduled start time, the opponent must be informed no later than 5 minutes after the scheduled start time (see §15.3.6.). A delay notification to the opponent

1. made later than 5 minutes but no later than 10 minutes after the scheduled start time is considered a "late notification."
2. made later than 10 minutes after the scheduled start time is considered a "no-show".

14.2.3. An official match must begin no later than 10 minutes after the scheduled start time.

1. If an official match cannot begin within 10 minutes after the scheduled start time and neither team is at fault as per §14.2.2.B, the responsible ProLeague Administration member must be contacted, and a rescheduling must be agreed upon. The match must be made up no later than the second subsequent regular match date of the competition (see ".6 Scheduling" in the competition paragraphs).
2. If an official match begins later than 10 minutes after the scheduled start time, it is considered a "delayed start", which will result in penalties for both teams as per §18.4.I.

14.2.4. The burden of proof for a late notification or delayed match start lies with the claimant. In the spirit of fair play, every second of delay should not be taken into account when sending invitations, especially if invitations have already been sent or the match has been properly interrupted as per §15.3.10. Waiting exactly 10 minutes, for example with an atomic clock, to claim a win by "forfeit" is not the purpose of §14.2.

14.3. (currently vacant)

14.4. Canceling/Rescheduling Matches in Advance

14.4.1. A single official match scheduled on a day with multiple matches cannot be canceled/rescheduled in advance. Exceptions will be examined and decided on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the respective responsible member of the ProLeague Administration.

14.4.2. Canceling/rescheduling all official matches on a day with scheduled matches is possible in advance if the minimum player count required for the competition cannot be met (see §8.2.5., §9.2.4., §10.2.2., §11.2.5., or §12.2.5.) and the following requirements are met:

• The affected team has contacted all upcoming opponents via Discord at least 8 hours before the scheduled start time of the first official match of that day and has informed the responsible ProLeague Administration member via a ticket.
• The affected team has provided a reason, which has been approved by the responsible ProLeague Administration member. The approval by the ProLeague Administration member does not require public communication.

14.4.3. Matches cannot be canceled or rescheduled in the last two match weeks of a competition.

14.4.4. If a team cancels/reschedules a match under false pretenses, the ProLeague Administration reserves the right to impose sanctions on the team, up to and including competition expulsion.

14.4.5. Matches canceled/rescheduled in advance must be made up no later than the second subsequent standard match date of the competition.

14.5. Match of the Week

14.5.1. The Match of the Week is a special match organized and scheduled by ProLeague. This match is chosen by the ProLeague community and takes place, if compatible with the general interests of ProLeague, outside the regular match schedule.

14.5.2. The match date for the Match of the Week is regulated in the individual competition paragraphs (under .7 “Match of the Week”) or is determined by the ProLeague Administration. Rescheduling is not allowed for matches selected as Match of the Week.

14.5.3. Whether matches in a competition can be selected as Match of the Week is determined by the ProLeague Administration and is outlined in the respective competition paragraphs (under .7 “Match of the Week”).

14.5.4. (currently vacant)

14.5.5. Participation in the Match of the Week is mandatory for ProLeague teams. This also includes final matches designated as Match of the Week.

14.5.6. To ensure smooth execution, the selected teams will be informed by the ProLeague Administration about their participation in the Match of the Week via a message. The participating teams will also receive a document in this message, which must be completed and returned to the ProLeague Administration by the specified deadline (as stated in the message).

14.5.7. Teams participating in the Match of the Week are both required to provide a stream with the following settings:

• Audio: The menu music and commentator must be disabled, as well as any non-FIFA sounds. Stadium sounds for chants, ball contacts, and referee whistles must be enabled.
• Video: The stream must run stably at a resolution of at least 720p and 30 FPS. Custom overlays must be disabled for Match of the Week matches.

Reminder: The following match rules apply to every competition organized by ProLeague unless exceptions are made within the rules of the respective competitions (§ 8 to § 13).

15.1 Minimum Number of Players: The minimum number of players is regulated in the respective competition paragraphs.

15.1.1. Any-Player: The use of the "Any-Player" is allowed.

15.2. Player Eligibility: Only players who have registered on the ProLeague website, joined a team according to § 7.1., and received a license as per § 7.2. are eligible to play.

In addition, a valid Game-ID must be stored in the player profile. A valid Game-ID is one where the in-game ID matches exactly with the Game-ID listed in the player profile on the ProLeague website. Proper capitalization is currently excluded from this requirement. Note: The Game-ID on XBOX must include the unique identifier but omit the hashtag (e.g., XBOX-ID JonnyEsbeck#9999 becomes Game-ID JonnyEsbeck9999). Using another player’s account is prohibited (§ 15.2.1. Account sharing).

15.2.1. Account Sharing: If account sharing is suspected, a meeting will be held with the relevant ProLeague Administration member, the team’s manager, and the affected player. If the suspicion is confirmed, the team and player will be penalized under §18.5.1.B. If multiple players/managers are involved, they will also be sanctioned as determined by the administration.

15.2.2. Alias Usage: In all ProLeague competitions (evening/spontaneous tournaments may have different rules), the "Alias" name of the player-pro must be set in such a way that the alias can clearly be assigned to the Game-ID.

15.2.3. Bot Alias: Bots must be labeled as "BOT" or "KI."

15.3. Match Invitations (General)

15.3.1. The team with home advantage always has the right to invite the opponent to the official match. This is done using the ProClub Friendly Match. Exceptions to home advantage are regulated in § 15.3.3.

15.3.2. Troubleshooting: During the "invite bug," it sometimes happens that the guest team cannot be found or does not receive the home team’s invitation due to technical issues. The following solutions are recommended: 

• Change the captain,
• Reset the lobby (all players exit the ProClub mode and reload it only when all players are in the EA SPORTS FC main menu).

15.3.3. Waiving Home Advantage: The right to invite can be transferred to the guest team if: 

• The home team cannot find the guest team during the friendly match search,
• The home team cannot invite the guest team due to other technical reasons,
• The guest team demonstrably does not receive the invitation.

The home and guest teams must mutually agree to transfer the invitation rights to the guest team.

15.3.4. Creating a Replacement Club: If the home team is unsuccessful after applying the measures in § 15.3.2. and does not agree to transfer home advantage under § 15.3.3., the team with the most user-controlled players in the official match must create a replacement club. If both teams field the same number of user-controlled players, the guest team must create the replacement club. The right to invite remains with the home team.

15.3.5. (currently vacant)

15.3.6. The teams must contact each other at the start of the match. A simple “Hey” or vague message to just one listed team manager of the opposing team does not constitute a valid attempt. The following communication order is recommended: 1. Discord,  2. ProLeague website.

15.3.7. Approved Stadiums: Only certain stadiums are permitted in all ProLeague competitions. Stadiums with restricted visibility, shadows or problematic camera work are not permitted.

15.3.8. (currently vacant)

15.3.9. Colors in Custom Kits: When using custom kits, the two kits must be visually distinguishable. If there is uncertainty, the responsible ProLeague Administration member will decide.

15.3.10. Match Interruptions: The 5-minute rule applies: During the first five in-game minutes, a match interruption is allowed if a player is disconnected or the game is unplayable due to lag, graphic bugs, or other issues. The match will restart. Any goals, assists, own goals, yellow, or red cards from the interrupted match are carried over to the new match’s report. A red card from the interrupted match also applies to the rematch; the affected player must receive another red card immediately to restore the numerical disadvantage. The opponent must cooperate.

15.4. (currently vacant)

15.5. Streaming Obligation: Each team participating in ProLeague competitions must stream their official matches on a suitable platform. Streams must remain available for free viewing for 72 hours after the match. A current stream link must be provided in the team profile on the ProLeague website. If another player streams, this alternative stream link must be shared upon request by another team manager.

15.6. Card Rule: If a player receives a yellow-red or red card, they are suspended for the first match of the following matchweek (this refers to the numbering within the competition, not the scheduling order). If a player receives multiple red cards within a matchweek, the suspension is extended by one match per red card. If a suspension falls on a an already judged match, it is applied to the next unplayed match instead.

Examples:

• If a player receives a yellow-red or red card during a 3-match matchday, they are suspended for the first match of the following matchweek.
• Matchdays 4, 5, and 6 occur over one weekend. The player receives a yellow-red or red card on Matchday 4, 5, or 6 → Suspended on Matchday 7, regardless of when that match is played. This also applies to 2-match or 4-match weekends.
• A red card in both matches 11 and 12 in the same 2-match week → Suspended for matches 13 and 14 (first matchday of the next week and one additional match suspension).
• A red card in matches 13, 14, and 15 in the same 3-match week → Suspended for matches 16, 17, and 18 (first matchday of the next week and two additional match suspensions).
• Matchdays 24, 25, and 26 occur over one weekend, and Matchdays 27, 28, and 29 over the next. A player receives a red card on Matchday 26. The opponent for Matchday 27 has left the league, so the match was pre-decided. → Normally, the player would be suspended for Matchday 27. Due to the exception, this suspension is applied to Matchday 28.

15.6.1. Rematch: A red card in the main or deciding match also applies to a rematch. Therefore, no other player on the team, who did not play previously, may take the position of the suspended player.

15.6.2. Judged matches: Matches that have already been judged do not count towards serving a suspension (red card suspension, league suspension). If a match where a suspension was served is later judged by the system under §19, it is considered served.

15.6.3. Season Transition: Card suspensions are reset after each season and do not carry over to the next season.

15.7. Bug Exploitation: Any form of bug exploitation is prohibited.

15.7.1. Goalkeeper Blocking: Blocking the goalkeeper is prohibited, e.g., during set pieces and goal kicks (player runs into the goalkeeper). Conversely, goalkeepers are also prohibited from provoking a block.

15.7.2. Interference in Set Pieces:

Any interference during set pieces is prohibited. This includes, in particular:

• Failure to maintain the 9.15m distance during set pieces using player animations,
• Interference with the kicker by obstructing the run-up or blocking the path,
• Intentional pushing / knocking down / tackling an opponent to the ground,
• Similar obstructions of the opponent.

15.8. Gamebreaking Bugs: In case of bugs, for which none of the teams are responsible and which severely disrupt the match, the following rules apply: If the bug occurs in the first half of the match, the entire match must be replayed. If the bug occurs in the second half, everything from the first half is included in the final match report, and the second half is replayed. The submitted screenshots must correspondingly be made at halftime of the rematch.

15.8.1. The next opponent must be informed about the delay before restarting.

15.9. Respectful Behavior / Fair Play / Sportsmanship: Respectful and fair behavior towards the opponent is expected in all official ProLeague matches.

15.10. Unsportsmanlike Behavior: Unsportsmanlike behavior (such as time-wasting) of any kind is prohibited and will be examined and sanctioned individually by the administration.

15.11. Match Fixing in ProLeague:

15.11.1. Any player, official, or admin who influences the course or outcome of a ProLeague competition in favor of the opponent, resulting in an unlawful financial gain through a public ProLeague-related sports bet, will be sanctioned with a ProLeague ban. The duration of the ban is at the discretion of the administration and is at least one year.

15.11.2. ProLeague competitions include all esports events managed and organized by ProLeague. This specifically includes all matches in national leagues, national cups, the ProLeague Cup, the Hall of Fame Challenge, and the Super ProLeague (SPL).

15.11.3. An official in the sense of §15.11 is anyone who decides on the use and instruction of players in a ProLeague competition.

15.12. Height Restrictions: To improve the competition, all players must configure their virtual Pro during official matches to comply with the following height restrictions:

15.12.1. Teams using a 3-defender or 5-defender formation are allowed to play with 3 central defenders (CB) with a maximum height of 1.87m. The remaining players on the team may have a heigth of up to 1.82m. Goalkeepers are not subject to height restrictions.

15.12.2. Teams playing with a 4-defender formation are allowed to have 2 center backs (CB) with a height of up to 1.87m. Additionally, either 1 full-back (FB) or 1 central defensive midfielder (CDM) on the team may have a height of up to 1.87m. If the chosen formation does not include a defensive midfielder (CDM) (e.g., 4-3-3 flat), either 1 fullback (FB) or 1 central midfielder (CM) may have a maximum height of 1.87m. The remaining players on the team may have a height of up to 1.82m. Goalkeepers are not subject to height restrictions.

15.12.3. The option between a fullback (FB) and a midfielder exists exclusively for the 4-defender formation.

15.12.4. The height restrictions mentioned above must be configured exclusively using the metric system when setting up the virtual Pro. When using the imperial system (feet and inches), the appropriate conversions must be made. Note: 6 feet and 0 inches = 1.8288m does not meet the 1.82m restriction and is therefore not allowed. 6 feet and 2 inches = 1.8796m does not meet the 1.87m restriction and is therefore not allowed.

15.12.5. The height restrictions do not apply to bots, as their height cannot be adjusted.

15.12.6. Proof of compliance with the above height restrictions must be provided in the metric system. To do so, the heights of all field players on the team must be shown in the stream (see §15.5.). For this, the streamer (note: only the in-game captain can view the heights) should open the "Team Management" menu during the halftime break and display the heights of all field players on their team. A recording of the official match showing compliance with the height restrictions is also acceptable if it clearly indicates which match it pertains to. We recommend that teams agree before the match to verify compliance with the height restrictions prior to kickoff.

16.1. Prohibition of Any Game Modifications: All modifications to EA SPORTS FC are prohibited. The timing of the modification is irrelevant, meaning that any modifications are forbidden even outside the gameplay of the ProLeague. Modifications include any visual and technical changes, regardless of whether they provide an advantage to the user or not.

16.1.1. Allowed Modifications: The following variables may be modified through the game files:

• DIRECTX_SELECT
• FORCE_REGIONALIZATION_COLOR
• FORCE_INTRO_CONFETTI
• FORCE_FAN_FLAGS
• FORCE_TEAM_BANNERS
• USE_LANGUAGE_SELECT
• DEFAULT_LANGUAGE
• AUTO_LAUNCH

The ProLeague bears no responsibility for the manipulation of game files.

16.1.2. Body Glitch: In certain versions of EA SPORTS FC, the so-called body glitch occurred. If a player is found using this glitch, they will receive a warning. Upon a second occurrence, intentional manipulation will be assumed. If the administration does not suspect intentional use of the body glitch, the penalty will be determined as follows:

• First offense: Warning
• Second offense: Two match weeks suspension
• Third offense: Punishment under §16.2.

16.2. Violation of the prohibition of modifications: Players convicted and found guilty under §16.1 will receive a ProLeague ban, the severity and duration of which will be determined by the administration based on the seriousness of the offense. The minimum ban is until the end of the current EA SPORTS FC version at the time of the manipulation. In less severe cases (e.g., visual modifications), a reduced ProLeague ban may be imposed at the discretion of the administration, but no less than until the end of the current season at the time of the offense. A repeated violation of §16.1 will result in a lifetime ProLeague ban.

16.3. Partial Violation of the prohibition of modifications: Players found partially guilty under §16.1 will receive a ProLeague ban determined by the administration based on the severity of the offense, with a maximum duration of one year.

16.4. Judging matches: In cases where a player is proven to have made a modification under § 16.1., affected matches in which the convicted player had a specific opportunity to make a modification or there is evidence that the convicted player used a modification may be judged against the team for which the player actively participated, following the judging matches guidelines under § 19.2.

16.5. Mitigating Circumstances: The discretionary penalty (duration of the ProLeague ban) may be reduced if the player found guilty under §16.2 or partially guilty under §16.3 voluntarily provides information that helps uncover a manipulation under §16.1 related to their actions.

16.6. Obligation to Report Modifications: Anyone who becomes aware of a manipulation under §16.1 must report it to the administration immediately. Intentional non-reporting or concealing of facts related to modifications under §16.1 will be punished at the discretion of the ProLeague administration with a ProLeague ban of up to one year.

16.7. Fabrication of False Evidence of Modifications: Anyone who intentionally reports a player for violating §16.1 using or fabricating false information/facts (e.g., forging evidence, screenshots, videos, etc.) will be punished with a ProLeague ban at the discretion of the administration. The minimum duration of this penalty is one year.

16.8. Public Allegations of Modifications: Publicly made cheat allegations that objectively damage the reputation of a team or player are prohibited. The administration will decide on the appropriate penalty at its discretion and on a case-by-case basis, depending on the extent of the allegation and the resulting reputational damage. The maximum duration of a ProLeague ban under §16.8 is one year.

16.9. Overview of Suspended Players: Special members can inquire with the ProLeague administration about which players are banned from ProLeague participation.

16.10. (currently vacant)

17.1. The result of a match is entered on the ProLeague website in the team section under match schedules.

17.2. The result entry must follow the guidelines provided in the TUTORIAL. This includes providing correct information regarding the result, lineup, MVP, goals, assists, and cards (yellow cards are irrelevant) according to the uploaded screenshots. Players who achieve the highest in-game rating for their respective teams are automatically designated as MVP. If multiple players receive the same rating, the team may decide which of these players receives the MVP designation. Screenshots according to § 17.6. must be uploaded at the designated locations with readable quality.

17.2.1. The following assignments apply when entering the lineup:

• GK: Any player positioned as GK at the end of the match.
• LB: Any player positioned as LB or LWB at the end of the match.
• CB: Any player positioned as LCB, CB, or RCB at the end of the match.
• RB: Any player positioned as RB or RWB at the end of the match.
• CDM: Any player positioned as LDM, CDM, or RDM at the end of the match.
• CM: Any player positioned as LCM, CM, or RCM at the end of the match.
• LM: Any player positioned as LM at the end of the match.
• RM: Any player positioned as RM at the end of the match.
• CAM: Any player positioned as LAM, CAM, or RAM at the end of the match.
• LW: Any player positioned as LW at the end of the match.
• RW: Any player positioned as RW at the end of the match.
• ST: Any player positioned as ST, CF, LS, or RS at the end of the match.

17.3. The match reporting is done independently by each team, regardless of the opponent's reporting. Both the home and away teams are required to enter the match result within 24 hours of the match (e.g., a match played on Sunday at 9:00 PM must be entered by Monday at 9:00 PM). If, for technical reasons, the entire matchday needs to be resetted, the team that initially entered the result correctly will be given 24 hours after the reset to re-enter the match. The responsible ProLeague administration member will immediately inform the team about the reset.

17.4. If problems or discrepancies arise when reporting the result, the situation must be explained immediately via a ticket (including the reason). An extension of the entry deadline is possible in individual cases at the discretion of the responsible ProLeague administration member.

17.5. If a computer-controlled bot, which took over a position due to a player's disconnection, scores goals, provides assists, or receives red cards, these will be attributed to the human player. The entry will reflect as if the player participated in the entire match. Upon submission of evidence for the disconnection to the responsible ProLeague administration member, the removal of the cards can be requested.

17.6. The following screenshots are required:

The home team must create screenshots of:

1. Match Info (Overview)
2. Player Performance (includes players, MVP, assists, and goals)
3. Event Screen (optional in general but mandatory in case of a red card)

The away team must create screenshots of:

1. Player Performance (includes players, MVP, assists, and goals)
2. Player ID List
3. Event Screen (optional in general but mandatory in case of a red card)

In the case of a draw, enough players should remain in the match on both sides to allow sufficient time for taking the necessary screenshots. Both teams may only leave the match after confirming that all screenshots have been taken.

Only legible screenshots or clearly readable photos from EA SPORTS FC or recordings are accepted.

17.7. Entry for Penalty Shootouts: If a winner needs to be determined via penalty shootout, the following procedure applies: If the match ends in a draw after 120 minutes (e.g., 2:2), both teams enter the scorers, assists, and respective MVPs as usual. The overall result (after penalty shootout) is entered as 3:2. The bot is entered as the scorer of the decisive goal.

18.1. The ProLeague has various methods of imposing penalties. Penalties can affect both players and teams.

18.2. Penalties are divided into warnings, Penalty Points (referred to as PP hereafter), and punishments. While warnings generally consist of a conversation between the responsible ProLeague Administration member and the team leader or player, PPs have indirect consequences, and punishments have direct consequences. PPs are listed in the team profile and lead to different consequences when accumulated (see § 18.5.3 and § 18.5.4). PPs are considered separately for each competition.

18.3. Warnings

The following violations lead to a warning, which can be issued verbally or listed in the team or player profile:

1. Alias does not match Game ID (see § 15.2.2.)
2. Bot alias is not "BOT" or "KI" (see § 15.2.3.)
3. (currently vacant)
4. Using custom jerseys with similar colors (see § 15.3.9.)
5. No representatives on Discord for official matches (see § 8.10.2, 9.10.2, 10.10.2, 11.10.2, and 12.10.2.)
6. Insufficient contact attempt prior to an official match (see § 15.3.6.)
7. (currently vacant)
8. Using an unauthorized stadium (see § 15.3.7.)
9. A club team failed to provide an interview partner with camera and microphone for "Match of the Week" (see § 8.7.3.)
10. A club team disabled clip creation for league streams, failed to integrate the official ProLeague Championship logo, or did not include the league name in the stream title (see § 8.8.)

Most of the violations listed above result in warnings for the offending teams. Violations of points A and E lead to warnings for the offending player.

18.4. Penalty Points (PP)

The following violations result in at least one PP being listed in the team profile at the discretion of the responsible Administration member:

1. Disrespectful behavior / lack of fair play / unsportsmanlike conduct (burden of proof lies with the complainant) (see § 15.9.)
2. (currently vacant)
3. Failure to meet deadlines for individual match schedules (see § 9.6., 10.6.1, 11.6., and 12.6.)
4. Timely but incorrect communication of match cancellations (see § 14.4.2)
5. Failure to report or non-compliant match reporting (see § 17.2.)
6. Failure to meet the deadline for match entry (see § 17.3.)
7. Non-participation in "Match of the Week" (see § 14.5.5.)
8. Warnings starting from the fourth warning (three warnings without PP) (see § 18.3.)
9. Late reporting (see § 14.2.2.A) or late match start (see § 14.2.3.B)
10. Leaving a match early in a draw (without consulting the opposing team, preventing the other team from taking screenshots) (see § 17.6.)
11. Rescheduling outside deadlines or without coordination with the responsible ProLeague Administration member (see § 14.2.3.A and § 14.4.5.)
12. Violation of stream regulations (see § 15.5.)
13. Exploitation of bugs (e.g., blocking the goalkeeper, manipulating the wall in free kicks) (see § 15.7.)

18.4.1. Addition to 18.4.A. Individual penalties in the form of match bans lasting up to four weeks may be imposed on players who violate § 15.9 at the discretion of the ProLeague Administration. In the case of repeated violations, the maximum duration can be increased to eight weeks.

18.4.2. Penalty Points - Gradation

For repeated violations of the same rule, the number of PP per violation is increased as described below. The PP gradation applies per competition and follows this maximum structure:

• For A, B, C, D, L, M: 2 PP (2nd violation) - 3 PP (3rd violation) - 4 PP (every additional violation),
• For E, F, H, I: 1 PP - 2 PP - 4 PP,
• For G: 1 PP & 1 league point deduction - 2 PP & 1 league point deduction - 3 PP & 2 league point deductions,
• For J, K: 1 PP - 1 PP - 1 PP.

18.4.3 Suspension of Gradation Levels: If similar penalties leading to PPs were issued to the penalized player or team in the previous season, the Administration may skip the first gradation level at its discretion.

18.5. Punishments

18.5.1. Team Penalties

The following violations result in PPs and judging individual matches (see § 19.2). These apply exclusively to the competition in which the rule was violated:

1. Using a player without valid eligibility (see § 15.2, first sentence) (3 PP and judging the game)
2. Account sharing (see § 15.2.1.) (3 PP and judging the game, minimum 4-month ban for the player). Judging the game extends to all matches where account sharing can be proven.
3. Starting a match with fewer than the minimum required players (see § 15.1.) (1 PP and judging the game)
4. Failure to show up for a scheduled match (see § 14.2.2.B) (1 PP and judging the game, burden of proof lies with the complainant).
5. Failure to show up for multiple scheduled matches on the same day (see § 14.2.2.B) (3 PP and judging the game, burden of proof lies with the complainant).
6. If both teams fail to show up for a scheduled match, the match is scored 0:0, and each team loses one point in the table.
7. Fair play violations or unsportsmanlike behavior (see § 15.9 ff.) affecting match results. Depending on the severity, the ProLeague Administration may impose penalties including PPs, rematches, or judging the game against the violating team.
8. Playing despite a suspension (red card) (see § 15.6.) (2 PP and judging the game)
9. Violation of size limitations (see § 15.12.) (1 PP and judging the game, burden of proof lies with the complainant)
10. Leaving a official match early after the 5th minute and before the end of the match (see § 15.3.10.) (1 PP and judging the game)
11. (currently vacant)
12. Match cancellation or rescheduling less than 8 hours before the first scheduled match (see § 14.4.2) (1 PP and judging the game, burden of proof lies with the complainant).
13. Non-participation in Challenge Matches by existing teams (see § 8.5.2.) (dependent on future league affiliation, sufficient PPs to trigger complex sanctions under § 18.5.3 A after two additional PPs).
14. Non-participation in Challenge Matches by new applicants (see § 8.5.2.) (placement as low as possible on the replacement list).

18.5.2. Player Penalties

The following violations lead to player penalties:

1. Errors in Game ID (see § 15.2, second sentence ff.)
• First violation: Notation in the player profile + warning
• Second violation: Notation in the player profile + 1 match ban
• Each additional violation: Notation in the player profile + 2 match bans
2. From the fourth warning (three warnings without penalty) (see § 18.3): Notation in the player profile + 1 match ban

18.5.3. Complex Punishments

The following violations lead to complex sanctions. Penalty Points are accumulated separately per competition:

1. Accumulation of nine PP (League GER: Championship 1-3, League ONE and TWO; SPL; IPCC) or twelve PP (League GER: League THREE; League INT) or fifteen (League GER: League FOUR): One point deduction,
2. Accumulation of thirteen PP (League GER: Championship 1-3, League ONE and TWO; SPL; IPCC) or sixteen PP (League GER: League THREE; League INT) or twenty (League GER: League FOUR): Three points deduction.
3. For accumulations exceeding thirteen PP (League GER: Championship 1-3, League ONE and TWO; SPL; IPCC), sixteen PP (League GER: League THREE; League INT), or twenty PP (League GER: League FOUR): 3 points deduction. For every additional 2 PP, 3 more points are deducted.
4. Use of modifications (see § 16.) (ban/suspension according to §§ 16.1. ff.)
5. Violation of team regulations (see § 4.3.):
1. A player is in the roster of another team of the same nationality in a competition of another provider during the ongoing ProLeague Championship season without having played actively (2 match ban for the player from the point of determination + the player is eligible again only after leaving the other team).
2. A player is in the roster of another team of the same nationality in a competition of another provider during the ongoing ProLeague Championship season and has played actively (10 match ban for the player from the point of determination + judging the games against the team in which the affected player played while being active in another team + the player is eligible again only after leaving the other team). The individual evaluation of matches can only be demanded via protest within the deadlines of § 20.2. Without protest, the individual evaluation is waived, but the remaining penalties remain in place.
6. Premature withdrawal from the ProLeague Championship due to dissolution/withdrawal (fine of EUR 238.00).

18.5.4. Decision on Team Continuation

The following lead to an administrative decision on whether a team may continue participating in the ProLeague or be excluded:

1. Accumulation of 13 PP (Championship 1-3, League ONE and TWO) or 16 PP (League THREE) or 20 PP (League FOUR).
2. Violation of minimum player requirements (see § 4.1.2.)
3. Violation of team takeover rules (see § 7.4.)

It is up to the Admin Team to allow the affected team to continue participating in the ProLeague under conditions. The conditions are determined at the discretion of the Admins.

18.5.5. Communication Channel Bans

18.5.5.1. Communication channels as defined in § 18.5.5.f. include: All channels available on the ProLeague website, such as shoutbox, team posts, forum threads, news comments, and private messages, as well as all content on ProLeague Discord servers and other media managed by the ProLeague Administration. Communication outside of channels managed by the ProLeague Administration may also be considered at the Administration's discretion.

18.5.5.2. The following violations may lead to temporary bans from ProLeague communication channels at the discretion of the PL Admins:

• Insults/public hate against one or more players or teams,
• Provocations,
• Abuse,
• Disrespect,
• Spam,
• Distribution of National Socialist, racist, or similar hateful content (violation of § 4 Terms of Use, which will also result in severe penalties for the perpetrator).

18.5.5.3. The violations mentioned in § 18.5.5.2. lead stepwise to temporary, increasing suspensions. The duration of each suspension can be taken from the following table:

Stage                                     Violation of § 18.5.5.                                Duration of Suspension

1.                                         First Violation                                        24 hours

2.                                         Second Violation                                        1 week

3.                                         Third Violation                                        1 month

4.                                         From the fourth violation                                    At least 6 months (Admin decision)

From stage 3, the administration reserves the right to also ban the suspended user from other communication channels (e.g., forum). The decision is made on a case-by-case basis. Sections §§ 18.5.5.4. and 18.5.5.5. remain unaffected by this regulation.

18.5.5.4. Upon a user's fourth violation of § 18.5.5.2., a permanent ban from the shoutbox can be imposed. The decision is made by the administration based on an individual assessment and at their own discretion.

18.5.5.5. In particularly severe cases of violation of § 18.5.5.2., sanctions beyond §§ 18.5.5.3., such as temporary ProLeague or official match bans, may be imposed at the discretion of the administration.

18.6. Overview of banned players: An overview of player bans can be found on the ProLeague site under the respective league's "Bans" tab. Additionally, each player's profile shows which penalties have been issued.

19.1. Judging matches in case of team dissolution/disqualification 

19.1.1. In the event of a team dissolution/disqualification, the following procedure applies: 

• If a team is dissolved/disqualified before the start of the season (Monday before the 1st season match), it will be replaced by the highest-ranked team (the first non-promoted team from the next lower league of the previous season). If a team from the lowest league is dissolved/disqualified before the start of the season, it will be replaced by a backup team (if available).
• Within leagues or groups (regardless of the league/group format), a dissolved/disqualified team will not be replaced after the competition has started. If dissolution/disqualification occurs in the first half of the season/groupstage, all matches of the affected team will be judged as 2:0 in favor of the opposing team. If dissolution/disqualification occurs in the second half of the season/groupstage, only the matches of the second half will be judged 2:0 in favor of the opposing teams. The results of the first half remain valid in this case.
• In the context of knockout matches (any form of knockout system), the judging will be based solely on the results of the current round. Disqualified/dissolved teams will not be considered in the rankings and will not be replaced by other teams.

19.1.2. In special circumstances (e.g., multiple team dissolutions/disqualifications in a league), the administration reserves the right to adjust league sizes and promote one or more teams to the next higher league. 

19.2. Judging matches in case of rule violations

19.2.1. In the case of a rule violation, judging a single match may occur. The team violating a rule will be referred to as the violating team.

19.2.2. In the event of a rule violation resulting in judging a single match, the respective match will be judged by the responsible administrator or, in representation, by the head admins.

19.2.3. When judging a single match, judging takes place as follows:

• If the match has not yet been played: 2:0 against the violating team.
• If the match has already been played, it will also be scored 2:0 against the violating team unless the actual result is more favorable for the other team.

19.2.4. If a match must be judged against both teams according to § 19.2., the result will be set at 0:0 and both teams will have the point deducted that they received for the draw.

20.1. If assistance from a member of the ProLeague Admin team is required regarding the rulebook or other questions, the members of the Admin team can be contacted at any time using the Discord ticket system.

20.2. Protest: A protest (reporting a rule violation) can only be submitted within 48 hours of the start of the match. Beyond this period, the protest will not be considered. It is solely the responsibility of team managers (authorized representatives in the Discord channel) to ensure that protests are submitted in time. The team filing the protest bears the burden of proof and must provide evidence within the 48-hour window.

The 48-hour rule is generally applicable unless explicitly overridden by individual paragraphs.

All protests must be reported via a Discord ticket. Private messages to members of the ProLeague Administration are not sufficient.

20.3. General Clause: Regarding this rulebook, the administration reserves the right to evaluate individual decisions as exceptions. These exceptions will be explained in detail in the form of an announcement.

20.4. Shoutbox: Stream links in the shoutbox that do not belong to an EA SPORTS FC stream are tolerated, provided they contribute to strengthening the community. Any content posted in the shoutbox is available to ProLeague for creating content.