Matches and strategy: Line-up restrictions from the board

For matches in the league and group stages of tournaments it is important to play with a strong team even if the match result is not important for your own team. In these matches the board may veto a line-up you created if they think it is too weak.

You will probably never get this message if you try to win all your matches. If the board does refuse your line-up then this article can help you understand what you have to change.

Which matches are checked by the board?

The board only checks matches in your national league and in the group stage of the international tournaments.

Youth matches, friendlies and knockout matches are never checked.

What is and isn't allowed for the matches that are checked by the board?

- If the line-up you created is on average one star stronger than the best 11 players of your opponent then the line-up is always allowed. This means you have a lot of freedom when you are expected still to win the match.

- Using any of your best 6 defenders, best 5 midfielders, best 3 forwards and best keeper is always allowed.

- A loaned player can always be used.

- For all other players, the selected player is compared with the best player you could have used on that position. The 3rd defender in your line-up is compared with the 3rd best defender in your team. The 2nd best forward in your line-up is compared with the 2nd best forward in your team, etc. Each player that is one full star weaker than the player he is compared with counts as a "weak player". Your line-up can contain no more than 3 weak players.

Youth players will have half their youth bonus added for this comparison. For example, an 6-8 star youth player will count as a 7 star player.

- If you plan a substitution of a player for another player then the weakest of the two players is used for the comparison described above.

Does this mean that everything the board allows is really allowed?

No. The main rule is that you should never lose matches on purpose. You can still make line-ups that almost guarantee you will lose, for example by using a very bad keeper and no central defenders.

Doing this is not allowed.

Losing on purpose, for example to help a friend, is match fixing and this is not allowed. If we notice this, points can be subtracted from both teams and/or a fine can be issued.