The Second Jiangsu Provincial Football Development Key Cities Confrontation Tournament is coming! On September 16, the "Competition Regulations for the Second Jiangsu Provincial Football Development Key Cities Confrontation Tournament" was released. In late November, Nanjing and Suzhou will send representative teams to compete for the championship.

What are the participation qualifications, competition rules, and prize settings? Scroll down to find out ↓↓↓

According to the regulations, this tournament is hosted by the Jiangsu Provincial Sports Bureau, and jointly organized by the Nanjing Sports Bureau, Suzhou Sports Bureau, Jiangsu Football Association, and Jiangsu Sports Industry Group Co., Ltd.

The tournament adopts a home-and-away two-leg format. The first leg is scheduled for November 22 at 19:35 at Nanjing Olympic Sports Center Stadium, while the second leg will be held on November 29 at 19:35 at Suzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

Regarding participation qualifications, the regulations set clear requirements for both players and officials. Players must be born between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 2009, and must meet at least one condition related to the city they represent, such as household registration, social insurance, student status, or ID card locality. Additionally, each match must feature no fewer than 5 players born after January 1, 2003, highlighting the tournament's emphasis on developing young talent.

For officials, head coaches must hold valid AFC/Chinese Football Association B-level or higher coaching certificates, assistant coaches must possess C-level or higher certificates, team doctors need practicing physician qualifications, and team leaders must be designated responsible officials from municipal sports bureaus.

In terms of competition rules, the tournament follows the latest FIFA Laws of the Game. Matches last 90 minutes (45 minutes per half with a halftime break not exceeding 15 minutes), and each team can make 7 substitutions per match through 3 substitution procedures (with additional substitutions allowed during halftime).

In the two-leg competition, the team with more goals wins; if goals are equal, the team with more away goals advances; if away goals are also tied, the winner is determined by penalty shootout. Additionally, players or officials who accumulate 2 yellow cards or receive 1 red card during the tournament will be automatically suspended for 1 match.

For prize settings, the champion team will receive a championship trophy, prize money, and medals, while the runner-up team will receive runner-up medals. Individual awards include "Best Player Award," "Best Scorer Award," and "Best Goalkeeper Award," and match referees will also receive commemorative trophies.

Tournament technical officials (including match supervisors, referee supervisors, and referees) will be recommended by the Jiangsu Football Association and announced after approval by the Jiangsu Provincial Sports Bureau.

This tournament aims to promote exchanges and competition among key football development cities within the province and enhance regional football standards. Related preparatory work will proceed in an orderly manner, and any unfinished matters will be announced separately. The final interpretation rights of the tournament regulations belong to the Jiangsu Provincial Sports Bureau.

Last November, the first Jiangsu Football Development Key Cities Confrontation Tournament was held. After fierce competition, the Suzhou team won the championship with a total score of 1:0 over two legs.