1.General Provisions

Question 1

1.1.1 Where is The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) registered?

Answer 1

The Commercial Register of the Canton of Zurich in accordance with art. 60 ff. of the Swiss Civil Code.

Question 2

1.1.2 Where are FIFA’s headquarters?

Answer 2

Zurich (Switzerland), may only be transferred to another location following a resolution passed by the Congress.

Question 3

1.2. What is objective (a) of FIFA?

Answer 3

To improve the game of football constantly and promote it globally in the light of its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values, particularly through youth and development programmes.

Question 4

1.2. What is objective (b) of FIFA?

Answer 4

(b) to organise its own international competitions

Question 5

1.2. What is objective (c) of FIFA?

Answer 5

(c) to draw up regulations and provisions governing the game of football and related matters and to ensure their enforcement;

Question 6

1.2. What is objective (d) of FIFA?

Answer 6

d) to control every type of association football by taking appropriate steps to prevent infringements of the Statutes, regulations or decisions of FIFA or of the Laws of the Game;

Question 7

1.2. What is objective (e) of FIFA?

Answer 7

(e) to use its efforts to ensure that the game of football is available to and resourced for all who wish to participate, regardless of gender or age;

Question 8

1.2. What is objective (f) of FIFA?

Answer 8

(f) to promote the development of women’s football and the full participation of women at all levels of football governance;

Question 9

1.2. What is objective (g) of FIFA?

Answer 9

(g) to promote integrity, ethics and fair play with a view to preventing all methods or practices, such as corruption, doping or match manipulation, which might jeopardise the integrity of matches, competitions, players, officials and member associations or give rise to abuse of association football.

Question 10

1.3 What is FIFA’s statute on human rights?

Answer 10

FIFA is committed to respecting all internationally recognised human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights.

Question 11

1.4.1 What is FIFA’s statute on non-discrimination and equality?

Answer 11

Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group of people on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.

Question 12

1.4.2 What is FIFA’s statute on neutrality?

Answer 12

FIFA remains neutral in matters of politics and religion. Exceptions may be made with regard to matters affected by FIFA’s statutory objectives.

Question 13

1.5.1 Where (which parties) will FIFA’s promote friendly relations?

Answer 13

FIFA shall promote friendly relations:

(a) between and among member associations, confederations, clubs, officials and players;

(b) in society for humanitarian objectives.

Question 14

1.5.1 Who will FIFA’s provide institutional means for dispute resolution to?

Answer 14

FIFA shall provide the necessary institutional means to resolve any dispute that may arise between or among member associations, confederations, clubs, officials and players

Question 15

1.6 What is FIFA’s statute on players?

Answer 15

The Council shall regulate the status of players and the provisions for their transfer, as well as questions relating to these matters, in particular the encouragement of player training by clubs and the protection of representative teams, in the form of special regulations from time to time.

Question 16

1.7.1 Who do member associations need to play in compliance with?

Answer 16

Each member association shall play association football in compliance with the Laws of the Game issued by The IFAB. Only The IFAB may lay down and alter the Laws of the Game.

Question 17

1.7.2 Where is the IFAB (International Football Association Board) headquartered and who are members?

Answer 17

The IFAB is an association in accordance with Swiss law with its
headquarters located in Zurich (Switzerland). The members of The IFAB are FIFA and the four British associations.

Question 18

1.7.3 What do the statutes of the IFAB govern?

Answer 18

The organisation, duties and responsibilities of The IFAB

Question 19

1.7.4 Who do futsal member associations need to play in compliance with?

Answer 19

Each member association shall play futsal in accordance with the Futsal Laws of the Game, as issued by the Council.

Question 20

1.7.5 Who do beach soccer member associations need to play in compliance with?

Answer 20

Each member association shall play beach soccer in accordance with the Beach Soccer Laws of the Game, as issued by the Council

Question 21

1.8.1 What must bodies and officials observe in their activities?

Answer 21

All bodies and officials must observe the Statutes, regulations, decisions and Code of Ethics of FIFA in their activities.

Question 22

1.8.2 When may executive bodies of member associations be removed from office?

Answer 22

Executive bodies of member associations may under exceptional circumstances be removed from office by the Council in consultation with the relevant confederation and replaced by a normalisation committee for a specific period of time.

Question 23

1.8.3 What is every person and organisation in the game of football obliged to observe?

Answer 23

the Statutes and regulations of FIFA as well as the principles of fair play

Question 24

1.9. What are the official languages of FIFA?

Answer 24

Arabic, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of FIFA. Minutes, official correspondence, regulations, decisions and announcements are published in English, French and Spanish and, when deemed necessary, in Arabic, German, Russian and/or Portuguese. If there is any divergence in the wording, the English text shall be authoritative. Member associations are responsible for translations into the language(s) of their country

Question 25

1.9.2 How are interpreters used at Congress?

Answer 25

At the Congress, qualified interpreters shall translate into the official FIFA languages. Delegates may speak in their mother tongue if they ensure interpretation into one of the official FIFA languages by a qualified interpreter.