1. Tournament Format
Teams will compete in group stages on Saturday 27th July and knockout/championship matches on Sunday 28th July. Tournament formats vary by age group. Please check your schedule on the official Malaysia Cup Series app, available on iOS and Android
2. Draw for Groups
The Tournament Committee will conduct a draw for all age-groups at a date not less than 7 days before the event. A fixture list will then be circulated to all participating teams and published on the official tournament app
3. Players
3.1 Age Cut-Offs
Age group cut-offs for the Penang Cup 2024 are listed below. Please note, all players will be required to show their original IC or passport before they can play.
8 age groups: U5, U7, U9, U11, U13, U15, U17 & Girls U13 & U17.
Boys age group:
- Under 5: Born January 1st 2019 and later
- Under 7: Born January 1st 2017 and later
- Under 9: Born January 1st 2015 and later
- Under 11: Born January 1st 2013 and later
- Under 13: Born January 1st 2011 and later
- Under 15: Born January 1st 2009 and later
- Under 17: Born January 1st 2007 and later
Girls age group:
- Under 13: Born January 1st 2011 and later
- Under 17: Born January 1st 2007 and later
3.2 Player Registration
All players must be registered via the Coaches Dashboard on the Malaysia Cup app before kick off.
Players may play for 1 team only.
On event day, teams are required to report to the admin tent with their whole team no later than 30 minutes before the start of their first match to verify their players.
All players are required to produce their original IC or Passport document when registering on day 1 of the tournament.
Players under the age of 12 with no photo ID may present their original birth certificate as a replacement. All players above the age of 12 must have a valid photo ID displaying their IC or passport number.
After verification by the Penang Cup admin team, players will receive a wristband which they must wear for the duration of the tournament. If a player loses their wristband or takes it off they must re-register and pay a replacement fee of RM10 for a new wristband. Any player that does not have a wristband will not be allowed onto the field of play.
All teams are required to have team kits with player numbers on the back of the jerseys.
4. Match Formats and Rules
Please check the table below for the Penang Cup match formats and general rules for each age group.
| U5 | U7 & G12 | All other age groups | ||
| Playing format | 4 vs 4 | 5 vs 5 | 7 vs 7 | |
| Minimum number of players | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Maximum squad size | 8 | 10 | 12 | |
| Ball size | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Match duration | 1 x 12 minutes | 1 X 16 minutes | 1 x 16 minutes | |
| Offside rule | Not applicable | |||
| Throw ins | Kick/dribble in* | Throw in | Throw in | |
| Shots from kick off | No direct shots from kick off** | |||
| Backpass rule | Does not apply | Applicable | Applicable | |
| Substitutions | Rolling substitutions | |||
*Teams can not shoot directly from the kick in. The ball must be touched by a player on the same team first. If a player shoots directly and it touches a player on the opponent team and goes in the goal a goal kick will be awarded.
**Teams cannot score directly from kick offs (or from kick-ins in the U6 competition). The ball must be touched by another player from the same team before a goal is scored
5. Pitch and Footwear
Playing area is an artificial turf pitch. Players may wear plastic-studded soccer shoes (metal-studded soccer boots are not allowed). Players must wear shin-guards throughout the course of the tournament.
6. Balls
The U5 age group will use Size 3 footballs. Age groups U7–U12 will use size 4 footballs. The U13–U15 age groups will use size 5 footballs.
7. Match Times
Match times vary per age group. Please see the match formats table above for each age group’s match times.
8. Red and Yellow Cards
Players shown a red card are sent off immediately and banned from play for one full match. Yellow cards will not be carried through the tournament.
9. Offside
The offside rule will not be used in this tournament.
10. Scoring from kick-off, goal kicks (and U5 kick-ins)
For all age groups, teams cannot score directly from kick offs or goal kicks. This also applied to kick-ins in the Under 5 competition. The ball must be touched by another player from the same team before a goal is scored.
11. Substitutions
The substitute must wait for the player to leave the pitch before entering
When substituting, the team must notify the referee when the ball is out-of-bounds for the substitution to happen
Substituted players shall be allowed to re-enter during the same match (rolling substitutions)
12. Time Allowance
A maximum of two (2) minutes allowance shall be allowed after the starting whistle by the referee, failing which a walkover may be awarded to the opponents with full points and a registered score of 3-0.
13. Points System
Win: 3 points
Draw: 1 point
Loss: 0 points
14. Teams tied in group stages
In the case that 2 teams are tied at the end of the Group stages, placing will be determined by the following order, in order:
- Best goal difference
- Highest goals for
- Lowest goals against
- Winner of head to head match
- Sudden death penalty shootout
15. Teams tied in Knockout stages
In the event of a tie in the Knockout Stages, matches will move directly to a sudden death penalty shootout. A winner will be decided when 1 team scores and the other fails to score in the same round.
Note: Only players on the pitch at the end of ordinary time may take a penalty.
16. Conduct
Coaches, team managers and supporters shall not question the referee’s decision. The use of foul language and/or aggressive behaviour could lead to a team being removed from the tournament.
All teams are reminded that this is a youth tournament and that positive support is strongly encouraged.
All players, parents, coaches, guardians and supporters should follow the tournament Code of Conduct at all times. Failure to follow the Code of Conduct may result in individuals and/or teams being removed from the tournament. Please click here to read the full Code of Conduct
17. Player Wristbands
Only players with a Penang Cup wristband will be allowed to enter the field of play. Wristbands should be collected from the registration tent on Day 1 of the tournament and must be kept on for the duration of the weekend. If a player loses or removes their wristband they must re-register at the admin tent with their original IC or passport.
18. Team Official Passes
Only coaches/team staff with a Penang Cup lanyard and Team Official Pass will be allowed onto the fields. Each team will receive 2 passes. Please display your Coach Pass clearly at all times when on the field. Individuals without a valid Coach Pass or Player Wristband may not enter the field. No exceptions
19. Act of God
If the field becomes unsuitable for play due to heavy rain, lightning or for any other reasons, the Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on the event or change the format of the event.
20. Bad Weather Protocol
In the event that lightning or bad weather causes a stop in play, a match result will stand if more than 10 minutes of that match has been played. If less than 10 minutes of a match has been played at the time of the stoppage, the remainder of the match will be played once conditions are deemed safe by the organiser.
In the case of severe weather, the organiser reserves the right to amend the schedule and formats in order to complete the tournament according to our principles of safety.
21. Insurance and Risk
A medical team will be on site at both locations to aid injuries, however players must have their own medical insurance. The tournament organisers are not liable for any death, disability, personal injury, loss of property or any other loss howsoever arising from any cause whatsoever at any time during the course of this tournament.
The organising team will take all reasonable precaution, but each player is responsible for his or her personal health and safety upon agreement to participate in this tournament.
22. Jurisdiction
In the event of a protest or dispute, the Tournament Committee shall have sole jurisdiction in settling the matter.