Referee's Guide to SAFA Laws of the Game Senior 2026/27

• IFAB Laws of the Game: all SAFA official competition matches are played under the Laws (SAFA Competitions Uniform Rule 6.1). The current edition is 2026/27, in force from 1 July 2026.
• SAFA Competitions Uniform Rules (approved 25 June 2016): bind the Men's and Women's Provincial and Regional Leagues and the SAFA Junior Football Leagues (U13 and U15).
• SAFA Disciplinary Code (18 August 2012): sets minimum sanctions after the match.

Match format under the Uniform Rules:

• 2 x 45 minutes, with added time at the referee's discretion (Rule 7.1).
• Half-time interval of 15 minutes, which can only be changed with the referee's consent (Rules 7.2-7.3).
• Up to 7 substitutes on the bench (Rule 5.6).
• League points: 3 for a win, 1 for a draw (Rule 32.1).

All referees and assistant referees must hold a SAFA registration card (Rule 31.1).

Under the SAFA Competitions Uniform Rules and the Laws of the Game:

• Team sheets at least 45 minutes before kick-off: 11 starters and up to 7 substitutes with registration numbers, and the team officials in the technical area (Rule 10).
• Registration cards must be available one hour before kick-off. Check every player's card in the presence of both teams' representatives and the players. No card, no play, without exception (Rule 11).
• Benches: no more than 7 substitutes and 5 team officials, who must hold SAFA registration cards. Remove anyone without a card or over the limit from the field (Rules 5.6, 6.2, 6.3).
• Objections: if a team objects to an opposing player before kick-off, it must be in writing on the team sheet, handed to you with the senior assistant referee present, countersigned by the opposing captain, and endorsed in your report (Rule 18.2).
• Kit (Law 4): inspect players before kick-off and substitutes before they enter. Shinguards must be covered by socks; remove anything dangerous.
• Colours: if they could cause confusion, the visiting team changes; goalkeepers must contrast (Rule 29).
• Match commissioner: where one is appointed, both teams attend a pre-match meeting at least 60 minutes before kick-off (Rule 30).

SAFA Competitions Uniform Rule 28 gives no grace period, and referees may not relax it. A team commits an offence if it is not:

• in the change rooms 60 minutes before kick-off
• available with every player 30 minutes before kick-off for the card inspection
• on the field 5 minutes before kick-off

The only exception is when kick-off is delayed by an earlier match sanctioned by SAFA that the SAFA office knows about.

If the match isn't played because a team was late or didn't arrive, that team forfeits the match points and may be charged with misconduct. A vehicle breakdown or not finding the venue is no defence.

Your report is conclusive proof of the offence, unless the offending team submits its own report conceding the walkover. Record arrival times and what happened accurately.

SAFA Competitions Uniform Rule 31:

• Each match is appointed a referee and two assistant referees, plus a fourth official where circumstances permit. Officials are appointed from the relevant panels by the Referees Appointments Committee, and must carry their appointment card or SMS and their SAFA registration card.
• If the appointed referee has not arrived 15 minutes before kick-off, the two teams must appoint another SAFA-accredited referee by mutual consent.
• If the teams can't agree, the match does not go ahead, and disciplinary steps may be taken against the match official(s) concerned.
• A substitute referee appointed this way has the same powers and status as an officially appointed referee.

Under the SAFA Competitions Uniform Rules:

• The referee is the sole judge of whether a match is postponed or abandoned because the ground is unsuitable through bad weather or any other factor (Rule 8.4).
• In circumstances a designated SAFA official considers extraordinary, that official may order a postponement, but only if it is announced before 12h00 on match day (Rule 8.7).
• Weather postponements are re-fixtured by SAFA (Rule 8.9).
• If a floodlit match is abandoned because of a power failure, SAFA reschedules it (Rule 5.5.2). Minimum lighting for night matches is 200 lux (Rule 8.2).
• Fields of play must be 100-120 m long and 68-75 m wide (Rule 8.3).
• The home team supplies a FIFA-approved match ball; you may accept the away team's ball if the home team can't provide one of suitable quality (Rule 8.5).

Under Law 5, you may also stop, suspend or abandon a match for outside interference, for example if the floodlights are inadequate.

Law 5 (2026/27):

• If a player is only slightly injured, let play continue until the ball is out of play.
• Stop play only if a player is seriously injured, and make sure the player is removed from the field.
• An injured player may not be treated on the field. Where an injury stops play or delays the restart, the player must leave and may only come back one minute after play restarts (running clock): from the touchline if the ball is in play, or from any boundary line if it is out of play.
• Exceptions (the player need not leave): an injured goalkeeper; a goalkeeper and outfield player collide; team-mates collide; a severe injury; an injury from a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off (if assessment is quick); or the injured player is taking an awarded penalty kick.
• A bleeding player must leave and can only return on your signal once the bleeding has stopped and there is no blood on their kit.
• If you are going to caution or send off an injured player who must leave, show the card before they leave.
• If play was stopped only for an injury not caused by an offence, restart with a dropped ball.

Concussion: competitions may use additional permanent concussion substitutions under the IFAB protocol: each team may use one concussion substitute, regardless of how many normal substitutions it has made, and the player replaced takes no further part.

On the day (Law 5, 2026/27)

• You may stop, suspend or abandon the match for offences or outside interference. If an object thrown by a spectator hits a match official, player or team official, you may let play continue, or stop, suspend or abandon the match, depending on how serious it is.
• Caution or send off players and substitutes for dissent, offensive or abusive language or gestures, and violent conduct. Team officials can be warned, cautioned or sent off from the technical area.

What the SAFA Competitions Uniform Rules say (Rule 24)

• A team commits misconduct if it fails to protect match officials against violence or any other abuse before, during or after a match.
• A team is responsible for its supporters: pitch invasions, throwing objects, violence, and insulting or assaulting match officials are all misconduct. A team is presumed guilty unless it shows the spectators were not its supporters.
• A player or official who assaults, threatens, intimidates or insults a match official commits misconduct.

Sanctions: the Disciplinary Code sets minimum bans for a direct red card for unsporting conduct towards a match official (4 matches), assault (6 months) and spitting (12 months).

Report every incident in full in your match report within 48 hours.

Law 5 (2026/27): the referee keeps a record of the match and gives the appropriate authorities a match report, including disciplinary action and any other incidents before, during or after the match.

SAFA Competitions Uniform Rule 31.5: referees must submit a full and detailed report on each game to SAFA's CEO or the designated SAFA official within 48 hours of the match.

Include:

• every caution and sending-off, and any team official ordered off
• any objection to a player that was endorsed on the team sheet before kick-off
• late arrival, walkovers and abandonments
• crowd or team misbehaviour, and any abuse of match officials

Why it matters:

• Facts in match officials' reports are presumed to be accurate at disciplinary hearings, though they can be disproved (Uniform Rule 23.8; Disciplinary Code art. 99). Where officials' reports conflict and can't be reconciled, the referee's version prevails.
• Match officials are obliged to report infringements that come to their notice (Disciplinary Code art. 109).
• The other match officials must report serious misconduct that happened out of your view, and tell you they are doing so (Law 6).

In SAFA official competitions, the Uniform Rules impose automatic suspensions, so your report must record every card accurately:

The SAFA Disciplinary Code (18 August 2012) sets minimum overall suspensions for some direct red cards, including the automatic ban:

Involvement in a brawl carries a suspension of at least 6 matches. Fines may also be imposed.

Not against decisions connected with play.

• Law 5: the referee's decisions on facts connected with play, including whether a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.
• SAFA Competitions Uniform Rule 18.5: a protest can't be made against the referee's or assistant referees' decisions on the field of play.
• Rule 19.5: a complaint can't be made against match officials' decisions connected with play, unless it alleges corruption.
• Rule 23.16: TV and video recordings may be used at a disciplinary hearing, but they don't affect any decision of fact taken by the match officials.

Teams can protest about eligibility (for example a suspended or unregistered player). That objection must be made in writing on the team sheet before kick-off, handed to you in the presence of the senior assistant referee and countersigned by the opposing captain, and you must endorse it in your report.

IFAB Laws 2026/27 ("Notes and modifications"): for youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, national associations such as SAFA may modify:

• the size of the field, the ball and the goals
• the length of the two (equal) halves
• the number of players
• the use of return substitutes
• the use of temporary dismissals (sin bins) for some or all cautions
• the captain's armband requirements

SAFA (or the competition) decides the age limits and which lowest-level competitions count as "grassroots". These options must be in the competition rules before you use them.

Sin bins, where adopted: show the yellow card and point with both arms to the dismissal area. The period is the same for every offence, 10-15% of playing time (for example 10 minutes in a 90-minute match), and starts when play restarts.

SAFA's grassroots recommendations (ages 6-12):

• refereeing must be educational
• no offside in 4v4 and 5v5; in 7v7 and 9v9, offside applies only inside lines 8 m and 13 m from the goal line
• in 7v7 and 9v9, "informative" refereeing from off the pitch, without a whistle