37. THE HELLENIC LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP, SUPPLEMENTARY CUP & RESERVE SECTION CHALLENGE CUP RULES

37.1         The names of the Competitions shall be The Hellenic League Challenge Cup Competition, The Hellenic League Supplementary Cup Competition and The Hellenic League Reserve Section Challenge Cup Competition (hereinafter referred to as The Hellenic League Challenge Cup Competition).

37.2         The Cups shall be competed for annually and all Clubs in membership of The Hellenic League shall enter The Hellenic Football League Challenge Cup Competition. All Clubs who are defeated in the Preliminary or First Round of the Challenge Cup shall enter The Hellenic Football League Supplementary Cup Competition. All reserve teams in membership of The Hellenic League Reserve Section shall enter The Hellenic Football League Reserve Section Challenge Cup Competition.

37.3         Trophies presented to the League shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the competition as Trustees.

37.4         The entire management and control of the Competition shall be vested in the Management Committee of The Hellenic Football League, who shall conduct it in accordance with the Rules, Byelaws and Regulations of The Football Association. The Management Committee shall have the power to deal with any matters for which no specific provision is made in these Rules. The competitions shall be conducted on the knockout principle.

37.5         Except as specifically provided for in these Rules, the Rules of The Hellenic Football League shall apply to this Competition.

37.6         All players eligible to play for a Club in League Matches shall be eligible to play in The Hellenic Football League Challenge Cup Competition and The Hellenic Football League Supplementary Cup Competition, providing his registration form has been received and accepted by the Registration Secretary in accordance with Competition Rule 6.3. No player shall be allowed to play for more than one competing Club in either competition in any one season. A transferred or re-registered player may not play for his new club in either competition if he has already played in either cup competition for his previous club/clubs. When a Semi-Final or Final is played over more than one match, only players who are eligible to play in the first match will be eligible for subsequent matches.

37.7         All players eligible to play for a Club in Reserve Section League Matches shall be eligible to play in The Hellenic Football League Reserve Section Challenge Cup Competition provided that: No player shall be allowed to play for more than one competing Club in the same season without the permission of the Management Committee. This includes a player who may have played for a Club in the Challenge Cup Competition or Supplementary Cup Competition.

37.8         No player shall be eligible to play in the Semi-Final or Final unless he has played in one of the previous rounds, or has played in not less than TWO (2) of his Club’s Reserve League fixtures played at the date of the Semi-Final or Final Tie or unless permission has been granted by the Management Committee.

37.9         Any player who has played in either the Challenge Cup Competition or Supplementary Cup Competition shall be termed a “restricted player” and no Club shall play more than FIVE such “restricted” players in any one match.

37.10       His registration form has been received and accepted by the Registration Secretary at least seven (7) days prior to playing.

37.11       If upon an objection being raised by a Club or otherwise, the Management Committee have any doubt as to the qualifications of a player taking part in the Competition, they shall have power to call upon the Club of which he is a member or for which he shall have played, to prove to the satisfaction of the Committee that he is qualified according to these rules. A Club playing an ineligible player shall be struck out of the Competition and the tie awarded to its opponents.

37.12       The Clubs shall be drawn in pairs, the first Club of each pair drawn to have choice of ground for the Tie. Clubs must play their full available strength in all Ties and Clubs winning these Ties must continue to compete until the Final has been played. All necessary byes shall be given in the First Round.

37.13       In the Reserve Section Cup the first round may consist of regional mini-leagues played in accordance with League Rules. The top two teams from each mini-league will then progress to a knock out competition in accordance with the Cup Rule 7a.

37.14   When a Club, not having facilities enabling them to charge admission to their ground, is   drawn to play at Home, the game must be played on their opponents’ ground. Semi-Final Ties shall be played on a Home and Away basis and the provisions of Rule 10a and 12 shall apply. All Final Ties shall be played on a ground selected by the Management Committee, as a single match, and a result obtained under the provisions of Cup Rule 10a.

37.15   The date and kick off time of all matches including Replays shall be fixed by the Management Committee, ties shall be played as the Management Committee may determine. The Competition Secretary, in writing, will notify each Club of the draw. A Club failing to keep its engagements on the date fixed by the Management Committee will be liable to a fine, unless a written explanation that is acceptable to the Management Committee is given within 48 hours of the time of the kick-off (Sundays excluded) shall be struck from the Competition.

37.16   The duration of each Tie shall be ninety minutes and the interval at half time shall not exceed ten minutes. Half an hour of extra time shall be played in all matches, up to the Semi-Final Ties, when a result has not been obtained within ninety minutes. In all ties up to the Semi-Final if a result is not obtained after 90 minutes and extra time the tie will be decided by the taking of penalty kicks carried out in accordance with the procedure set out by the International Board Decision and shown in the Laws of the game. If the score is still a draw at the end of extra time in a Final that is played as one match, the second leg of a Semi-Final or Final played as two matches, a result shall be obtained by the taking of penalty kicks, as previously indicated.

37.17   When a Tie is played on a home and away basis, the two games shall be regarded as a single fixture played with extra time in the second game and if scores are still level a result shall be obtained by the taking of penalty kicks. Should play have extended beyond ninety minutes, but extra time not completed, the match shall be replayed on the ground of the away Club, or on such a ground as the Management Committee shall determine, unless the away Club is guilty of causing a late start, due to circumstances within their control. In the Final Tie, extra time shall be played if required.

37.18   In any match in which extra time may be played, the time of kick-off shall be half an hour earlier unless the venue of the match has a floodlighting system that has been approved by The Management Committee.

37.19   Clubs must not mutually arrange to play a match in lieu of a Cup Tie without the special permission of the Management Committee.

Custody of Trophy

37.20   The Club winning the Final Tie shall hold the Cup for the ensuing year, an agreement similar to that specified in League Rule 19 being required. Plaques or medals will be presented to the winners and runners-up.

37.21       The Home Club in all ties prior to the final shall keep its own gate receipts and pay all match expenses. Arrangements for final ties will be the responsibility of the League Management Committee who will pre-determine all reasonable match expenses with the hosting club.

37.22       The fees allowed by the League for the Match Officials in the Reserve Section Challenge Cup Semi-Final Ties shall be the same as those allowed in all other Semi-Final Ties

37.23   Will be in accordance with League rule 7

37.24   The minimum charges for all Challenge Cup Ties shall be £3.

37.25 All communications must be addressed to the General Secretary of The Hellenic League who shall conduct the relevant correspondence of the Competitions.