NMFL 2026 Competition Regulations

1Authority and participation

1. 1.1The National Minifootball League (NMFL) 2026 is a proposed domestic club competition organised and exclusively governed by BMFA.
2. 1.2BMFA approves participating clubs, the league calendar, venues, match appointments, registrations, sanctions, results, appeals, awards, media and commercial arrangements.
3. 1.3The proposed inaugural format has sixteen clubs: eight in Dhaka and eight in Chattogram. Entry is subject to BMFA licensing and a signed participation agreement.
4. 1.4BMFA may accept, reject, suspend or revoke a club’s entry on documented grounds under its published due-process rules.
5. 1.5No external association, organiser, commercial partner or service provider may issue binding league decisions unless BMFA expressly delegates an administrative task; final authority remains with BMFA.

2Clubs, squads and accreditation

1. 2.1Proposed maximum season registration is 24 players per club and the maximum match list is 15; BMFA approves the final cap before registration opens. An earlier 16-player proposal is superseded for this working draft only.
2. 2.2Only BMFA-accredited players and registered officials may participate or enter the technical area. A maximum of six bench officials is proposed, subject to BMFA confirmation.
3. 2.3Each player provides BMFA-accepted identification and completes in-person or other BMFA-approved identity verification before playing.
4. 2.4All match lists are submitted by BMFA’s published deadline. Substitutes wear contrasting bibs and follow the WMF substitution procedure adopted for this league.
5. 2.5BMFA alone sets registration windows, transfers, foreign-player limits, youth quotas and roster exceptions by written circular.

3Playing rules and match duration

1. 3.1BMFA formally adopts a specified edition of the World Minifootball Federation Rules of the Game for NMFL 2026, including any WMF 2026 amendments that BMFA expressly identifies in a technical circular.
2. 3.2The standard WMF format is six players per team, including one goalkeeper; a match may not start or continue with fewer than four players on the field.
3. 3.3The proposed match duration is two 25-minute halves with a 10-minute interval. BMFA verifies this against the adopted WMF edition and publishes the controlling match-duration rule before kick-off.
4. 3.4Playing-law matters including fouls, restarts, penalties, goalkeeper conduct, substitutions and match-official powers are governed by the adopted WMF technical rules; BMFA does not silently substitute futsal or 11-a-side laws.
5. 3.5BMFA publishes pitch, goal, ball and technical-area specifications, along with venue inspection criteria, before any fixture.
6. 3.6Where the WMF rules permit competition-specific variations, BMFA alone may approve and publish them prospectively.

4Equipment and facilities

1. 4.1Clubs register two contrasting playing kits, with distinguishable goalkeeper and match-official colours and unique jersey numbers.
2. 4.2Shin guards and safe footwear are mandatory; jewellery and unsafe metal-studded footwear are prohibited, subject to the adopted WMF rulebook.
3. 4.3All match venues are inspected and certified by BMFA for field markings, goals, lighting, safe access, medical arrangements and changing facilities.
4. 4.4BMFA issues a footwear and equipment annex after technical review; the former ANMC footwear appendix is withdrawn.

5Player eligibility and safeguarding

1. 5.1Players must be registered with one eligible NMFL club for the applicable window and be free from an active suspension.
2. 5.2BMFA publishes the minimum age and any 14–18 youth-player quota. No under-18 player may be registered without guardian consent and safeguarding compliance.
3. 5.3BMFA sets any foreign-player allowance and verification requirements; an earlier two-overseas-player proposal is not yet binding.
4. 5.4Fielding an ineligible player may result in a 0–5 forfeit and further proportionate sanctions after a BMFA hearing, subject to a published domestic code.

6League structure, points and tie-breaks

1. 6.1First stage: two divisions of eight clubs each, in Dhaka and Chattogram. Each division plays a single round-robin (28 matches); 56 divisional matches in total.
2. 6.2The top four clubs from each division qualify for a proposed eight-team national stage. BMFA alone determines whether this is a super league, knockout or hybrid format and publishes the fixtures and qualification rules.
3. 6.3Points are three for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss.
4. 6.4Proposed tie-break order for two clubs: head-to-head result; overall goal difference; goals scored; lower disciplinary points; BMFA-supervised drawing of lots.
5. 6.5For three or more clubs tied: points, goal difference and goals scored in matches among the tied clubs, then overall goal difference, overall goals scored, disciplinary record and BMFA-supervised drawing of lots.
6. 6.6For tie-breaks only, a yellow card is one point and a direct red or two-yellow dismissal is three points. BMFA publishes suspension thresholds separately.
7. 6.7BMFA publishes the knockout extra-time and shoot-out rules, in line with its adopted WMF technical edition, before the national stage.

7Matchday operations and officials

1. 7.1BMFA alone appoints referees, match observers, commissioners, timekeepers and other match officials through its approved processes.
2. 7.2Match officials and observers report at least 60 minutes before kick-off; clubs submit their team lists and identity evidence as directed by BMFA.
3. 7.3The referee exercises independent on-field playing-law authority under the adopted WMF Rules of the Game; BMFA retains all competition administration and post-match adjudication authority.
4. 7.4Official match reports record the score, player participation, cautions, dismissals, incidents and any interruptions; BMFA ratifies and publishes league results.
5. 7.5A team arriving more than 10 minutes late may forfeit 0–5, subject to a BMFA force-majeure determination and due process.

8Discipline, protests and appeals

1. 8.1BMFA constitutes its own Disciplinary Committee and independent appeal process; neither ANMC nor another outside tournament committee decides NMFL cases.
2. 8.2BMFA publishes sanctions, yellow-card accumulation rules, match suspensions, misconduct classifications, protest deadlines and fees before the competition.
3. 8.3Affected parties receive notice of allegations, an opportunity to respond, written reasons and the appeal route provided by BMFA regulations.
4. 8.4Integrity breaches, discrimination, abuse, violence, match manipulation and unauthorised player registration may be sanctioned under BMFA’s published code and applicable law.
5. 8.5BMFA’s final internal appellate determination governs domestic competition administration, subject to applicable legal rights.

9Safety, medical and insurance

1. 9.1BMFA approves a minimum matchday medical plan, qualified first-aid personnel, an emergency transport pathway and incident reporting procedures.
2. 9.2Each club complies with BMFA player insurance and medical clearance requirements; BMFA discloses event-level coverage and exclusions.
3. 9.3Unsafe venues or conditions may lead BMFA or an authorised referee to suspend play, consistent with the adopted WMF Rules of the Game.

10Postponement and force majeure

1. 10.1BMFA alone may reschedule or relocate fixtures for weather, security, venue failure, public emergency or other justified cause.
2. 10.2Where practicable, an interrupted match resumes with the score and circumstances recorded at interruption; BMFA decides a replay, continuation or outcome under a published procedure.
3. 10.3BMFA issues written decisions considering fairness, match integrity, elapsed time and evidence from officials.

11Awards and commercial rights

1. 11.1BMFA awards the championship trophy, runner-up award, medals and any individual prizes under its published awards policy.
2. 11.2BMFA alone controls the league name, competition branding, sponsorship inventory, broadcast permissions, official statistics and commercial authorisations, subject to existing lawful rights.
3. 11.3Any contractor may provide services only under a separate BMFA-approved agreement and has no independent regulatory or disciplinary authority.

12Interpretation, amendments and effective date

1. 12.1BMFA issues the final competition regulations, the adopted WMF rulebook edition and technical circulars before the first match.
2. 12.2For playing-law interpretation, the expressly adopted WMF technical rules apply; for domestic league structure and administration, the BMFA regulations govern, subject to applicable law.
3. 12.3BMFA alone may clarify or amend these regulations by written circular. Changes are not retroactive unless required by law or essential to safety and fairness.
4. 12.4This working draft becomes binding only after formal BMFA approval, publication and circulation to clubs.

Appendix A: technical adoption checklist

• Specify the adopted WMF Rules of the Game edition and applicable 2026 updates.
• Approve 6-a-side pitch, goals, ball, surface, substitution zones and technical area.
• Confirm 25 + 25 match timing, half-time, stoppage and disciplinary playing laws.
• Approve player cap, minimum age, youth and overseas-player quotas.
• Confirm national stage format, knockout tie-breaks, suspensions and appeal procedures.
• Approve venue safety, referee appointment, insurance and club licensing.