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EA SPORTS FC 24 ARENA RIVALS RULESET

1. Eligibility

1.1 Definition
An Arena Rivals participant is a player that is participating in any Belong Arena Rivals fixture. With their participation, the participant states that they understand and accept all rules, both in this document, as well as the overall Arena Rivals ruleset.

1.2 Player Eligibility
Players must be aged 13 years or older in order to play in this tournament.

1.3 Additional Eligibility
The EA SPORTS FC 24 Arena Rivals tournaments will take place on PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Players are encouraged to use their personal accounts for the tournament as there is no guarantee that Arena accounts will be available for any given tournament.

If a player requires a Belong Arena account to use, they must arrive to the Arena with enough time to inform staff they require a Belong account and for the Arena Admins to be able to update the Tournament Admin before check in closes.

Players must also ensure to provide their EA ID when signing up in order to facilitate cross play matches.

If a player’s personal account is suspended or banned for any reason during the Tournament, they will not be eligible to play for the duration of the suspension/ban.

Any names submitted when signing up that do not exactly match a player’s in game name, or are using non alphanumeric characters may result in a player being unable to participate in the tournament.

1.4 Entry Fee
All Arena Rivals activity will be free to enter and carry no cost to the participating player.

1.5 Sign Ups
Players must sign up via the Belong website and register for the relevant fixtures on Challonge.com using the provided links in order to participate.

If players have not completed both registration steps, they will be removed from the tournament.

2. Format
2.1 Overall Format
2.1.1 General
The EA SPORTS FC 24 Arena Rivals tournaments will run as three month long leagues taking place on Wednesday evenings between the following dates from participating Arenas during the hours of 5pm – 8pm.

League One – each Wednesday - 7th–28th February 2023
League Two – each Wednesday - 6th–27th March 2023
League Three - each Wednesday - 3rd–24th April 2023

This will be broken down as below:
5pm-5:45pm – Warm Up and Check In
6pm-8pm – Round Robin fixtures
2.1.2 Format
The EA SPORTS FC 24 Arena Cup will run using Kick Off - Classic Match mode.

The season will run as three separate Round Robin Leagues, each lasting for a single month, with a cap of 24 players each month.

Games will be best of 1 throughout the tournament and half time length will be set to 5 minutes for all games.

Tied results at the end of full time will be resolved via the Golden Goal rule. If this cannot be resolved within this time, the game will go to penalties.

2.1.3 Team Restrictions
Each league will require players to adhere to the team restrictions as laid out below.

League 1 - 4* teams or above excluding Rest of the World

League 2 - 4* teams or below excluding Rest of the World

League 3 - International teams only

Players will be required to choose a team that fits into the above restrictions for the relevant league and use this team for all fixtures during the league.

2.1.4 Scoring
Players will be scored on their positioning at the end of the League each month as laid out below:

1st – 200 points
2nd – 140 points
3rd – 100 points
4th – 80 points
5th – 70 points
6th – 60 points
7th – 50 points
8th – 40 points

This scoring will also be awarded to the Community Leaderboard for the relevant Squad with the addition that any participating players outside of the top 8 will earn 10 points for their Squad.

Seasonal scoring will be an accumulation of players individual scores from all three leagues

2.1.5 Score Reporting
Each player should keep a record of the match score. The winning player from each match will be responsible for reporting scores on Challonge.com and the losing player will be required to verify the score has been reported correctly. Scores should be reported as the final goal total for each player.

In the event that the score has been reported incorrectly, players will be required to raise the issue to the Arena Admin immediately and provide evidence of the correct score.

If players are tied at the end of the league, the winning player will be decided by the following tie breaks in order
1. Wins vs tied opponents
2. Goal difference
3. Total goals scored

2.1.6 Prizing Overview
Once a season, the player per title with the highest accumulative score across all EA SPORTS FC 24 leagues in the season, will be awarded a bespoke, framed jersey featuring their Gamertag. In addition, they will be added to the Arena Rivals Hall of Fame, which can be found at https://www.belong.gg/arena-rivals/hall-of-fame/

At the culmination of each league, the player who achieves the highest score will be awarded a Belong Day Pass.

3. Game Setup
3.1 Game Procedure
Games will be played using Kick Off – Classic Match mode.

Players can communicate with each other directly on start.gg by clicking their match on the bracket and using the chat options. This will be required for players to share their EA ID, which will be used to set up the game and facilitate cross play.

The player at the top of each match on Challonge.com will be responsible for setting up the lobby and inviting the player below.

Players can find their EA ID by going to the Friends menu and navigating to “player search”.

3.2 Settings / Restrictions
3.2.1 Cross Play Settings
Players will be required to have cross play enabled. This can be done by navigating to the Social Settings menu or Ultimate Team Settings menu, matchmaking settings and ensuring cross play is on “yes”.

3.3 Game Settings
3.3.1 Gameplay Settings
Preset: Custom
Shooting
Auto Shots: Off
Assisted Headers: Off
Shot Assistance: Assisted
Timed Finishing: On

Passing
Auto Flair Pass: On
Through Pass Assistance: Assisted
Lobbed Through Pass: Semi
Ground Pass Assistance: Assisted
Cross Assistance: Assisted
Lob Pass Assistance: Assisted
Pass Receiver Lock: Late
Precision Pass Sensitivity: Normal

Defending
Auto Clearances: On
Clearance Assistance: Directional
Jockey: Manual
Defending: Advanced Defending
Pass Block Assistance: On

Switching
Auto Switching: Player Choice
Auto Switching Move Assistance: None
Right Stick Switching: Player Choice
Right Stick Switching Reference: Player Choice
Right Stick Switching Sensitivity: Player Choice
Nex Player Switching: Player Choice
Player Lock: Player Choice
Icon Switching: Player Choice

Dribbling
Contextual Dribbling: Player Choice
Orbit Dribbling: Player Choice

Goalkeeper
Save Assistance: Semi

Controller Preferences
Analog Sprint: Player Choice
Trigger Effect: Player Choice
User Vibration Feedback: Enhanced

3.3.2 Match Settings
Half Length: 5 minutes
Difficulty Level: Professional
Quick Substitutions: Player Choice
Dynamic Time of Day: 12:00PM
Pitch Colour: Player Choice

3.3.3 Camera Settings
Default

3.3.4 Visual Settings
Default

3.3.5 Audio Settings
Default

4. Equipment
Players are provided with a full setup of hardware and peripherals to use during the tournament.

Players have the option of using their own peripherals during each match. Player-owned equipment must be compatible with Belong-provided competition equipment. Belong is not responsible for ensuring Player-owned equipment is in working condition. Belong
reserves the right to inspect all Player-Owned equipment to ensure compliance with rules.

5. Bugs and Glitches
5.1 In Game Bugs
In the event that a bug either naturally occurs or is exploited by one party, players should raise the issue to the Arena Admin immediately and pause play. This will then be raised to the Tournament Admin who will use their discretion to rule whether the use of said bugs had an effect on the match, and if a penalty will incur.

5.2 Rehosting
Rehost rules are specified below, including the conditions in which they will be allowed:

• Any issue before the preparation phase starts (game, software or hardware related)
• Player can't move (unless it's done on purpose) - rehost in the first 30 seconds of the game, if the affected player has not inflicted damage
• Game mechanic not working as intended - rehost up to the first 30 seconds of the action phase, no damage taken by anyone
• Disconnect/hardware problem/software problem - rehost in the first 15 seconds of the game.

Each player can receive up to 1 rehost per match maximum.

In case the above conditions are met, players should instantly request a rehost to the Arena Admin, followed by the reason. Once confirmed, everyone should instantly end the game.

If a match is interrupted then it should be continued where it left off, by re-host. If a game is to be replayed due to a rehost, players must choose the same teams as prior to the rehost.
6. General Infractions and Player Conduct
6.1 Reporting Infractions
In the case of any behaviour that contradicts the below rules, the issue should be reported to the Arena Admin as soon as possible. The Arena Admin will refer to the ruleset to determine if an infraction has taken place and raise to the Tournament Admin if required.
The Tournament Admin has final say in all decisions.

Once a ruling has been communicated, players are required to continue with their games, unless explicitly told not to. Any players/teams refusing to start games due to disagreement with an outcome will face a forfeit for the game in question.

Any rulings enacted by the Tournament Admin are final. If a player/ team repeatedly challenges any decisions and refuses to accept outcomes, Belong reserves the right to disqualify the player/team from the tournament and withhold any prizes.

6.2 Player Conduct
Penalty: Disqualification
Players are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship and act respectfully towards all other participants as well as any staff involved in the running of the tournament. If players are found to be acting in an inappropriate manner they will forfeit their current games and run the risk of being disqualified from the tournament.
This will be based on a case by case basis and the Tournament Admin will have the final say.

6.3 Discrimination
Penalty: Disqualification
Any players found to be behaving in a discriminatory manner towards any other party involved in the tournament, either by their actions or language, will be immediately disqualified from the tournament and their case will be reviewed by the Tournament Organisers. Depending on the severity of the incident, this may lead to a permanent ban from Belong activity/locations.
All situations that are raised regarding this policy will be based on a case by case basis with the Tournament Admin’s decision being final.

6.4 Use of Cheats and Exploits
Penalty: Disqualification
If a player is found to be exploiting known vulnerabilities, or using any methods to modify the game to gain an advantage, they will be immediately disqualified from the tournament. Their case will then be reviewed by the tournament administration and could result in a ban from all future Belong activity and locations.

6.5 Use of Ringers
Penalty: Disqualification
All player entries must be accurate for the individual taking part. If a player is found to have someone playing in their place without authorisation from the Tournament Admin, they will be immediately disqualified from the tournament.

6.6 Collusion
Penalty: Disqualification
If players are found to be acting in bad faith by working together outside of the established rules to change the outcome of a game, all involved parties will be immediately disqualified. Examples of this are a player/team purposefully losing a fixture, or players working together outside of their team structure laid out by the tournament rules.

6.7 Impersonating Belong Staff
Penalty: Disqualification
Anyone found to be impersonating Belong Staff, either in communication with other players, or legitimate staff, will be immediately disqualified from the tournament.

6.8 Advertising Third-party Content
Penalty: Disqualification
Any advertisements that have not been explicitly received written approval by Belong are not permitted throughout the tournament. If a player is found to be advertising services without having first received authorisation to do so, they will be immediately disqualified from the tournament.

6.9 Gambling
Penalty: Disqualification
Gambling or betting on any part of a match, including the outcome, is not permitted. If players are found to be engaging in gambling as a participant, they will be immediately disqualified from the tournament.

7. Title Specific Infractions

7.1 Failure to Start
Penalty: Game Loss
Players must be ready to play at the start of the fixture.
If a fixture has not started 10 minutes after the scheduled start time due to a player or team not being in attendance and ready, then they will lose the game. If the series is comprised of sets, the player will continue to forfeit games for each further 5 minutes that they are not ready until the set is lost.
In the case of technical issues, players must contact an Admin who will help them resolve the issue. In the case of technical issues, the representative will decide and relay the decision to each player. Players will not be forced to forfeit any games due to technical issues.

7.2 Not Adhering to Team Restrictions
Penalty: Game Loss
If a player is found to be using a team that does not match the format as laid out in 4.1.3, they will forfeit their current match. This also applies for any players who are found to be changing teams to deviate from their initially chosen team at the start of a League.

If a player is found to be repeatedly breaking this rule, they may face disqualification from the tournament.

7.3 Rehosts/ Intentional Disconnects
Penalty: Game Loss
Giving an invalid reason for a rehost, or leaving the match before having approval to do so will
lead to instant game loss to the player that uses it.
If the player breaks this rule again in the same match, they will lose the set.

7.4 Harassing or Distracting Opponents
Penalty: Game Loss
Any players found to be intentionally attempting to harass or distract any other player in the tournament to gain advantage will forfeit their current game. Repeated instances will lead to disqualification.

7.5 Inappropriate Profiles
Penalty: Game Loss
Any players with any publicly accessible information that is deemed inappropriate will forfeit all games until the profile is deemed to be acceptable by an Admin.
In the event of extremely offensive content, the player will be immediately disqualified and banned from attending future Belong tournaments.

7.6 Unlisted Punishments
Penalty: At Admin Discretion
If an Admin or player believes a rule has been broken and there is no assigned punishment for it, they must contact the representative as soon as possible with details and evidence. The representative will judge the case and assign a punishment if required

8. Adjustment to Ruleset
The Administration reserves the right to adjust the above ruleset where appropriate in order to ensure fair play and retain competitive integrity. In the event that the Ruleset requires any alterations, this will be clearly indicated on the Belong website and announced via the Belong social platforms.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR EA SPORTS FC 24 ARENA RIVALS

1. ACCEPTANCE: By entering this tournament, you agree you have read and accept these terms and conditions. You agree to abide by all rules set out in the respective ruleset for each tournament you participate in. We reserve the right to verify any entries and winners and may refuse to award prizes where we have reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a breach of these terms and conditions. You can access these terms and conditions at any time during the tournament at www.belong.gg. We suggest that you keep a copy of these terms for your own records. You agree for Belong to contact you via provided contact details regarding the tournament.

2. ELIGIBILITY: You must be of the appropriate age for the game(s) you are signing up to play, based on the PEGI rating of the game, or any age restrictions we have determined in our sole discretion where a game is not PEGI rated. We may ask you for proof of age and disqualify you from participation in the tournament if you are unable to provide such proof. The minimum age to enter any other tournament is 13+ unless the game is rated 18+ or we deem it to be rated 18+ in which case you must be 18 to enter. You must have an active GAME Reward account in which you have registered your age, valid email address, and location so we can contact you if you are a winner. You are not eligible to enter this competition if you, or a member of your immediate family (which means parents, children, siblings, spouse and life partners), are an employee, contractor or sub-contractor of GAME Retail Limited or any of part of FRASERS GROUP or any of their advertising or promotion agencies working within a participating location or organisation of Arena Rivals. The details you provide upon registration for the competition must match the details associated with your Reward Account. You promise that all the personal information you provide to GAME in connection with this competition shall be complete and accurate.

3. HOW TO ENTER: You can enter the EA SPORTS FC 24 Arena Rivals tournaments by visiting participating Belong arenas on the below dates:

• League One – each Wednesday - 7th–28th February 2023
• League Two – each Wednesday - 6th–27th March 2023
• League Three - each Wednesday - 3rd–24th April 2023
You promise that your entry is original and owned by you, and you have not borrowed or copied it (in whole or in part) from anyone else or asked anyone to participate on your behalf.

You promise that your entry is original and owned by you, and you have not borrowed or copied it (in whole or in part) from anyone else or asked anyone to participate on your behalf.

4. INVALID ENTRIES: Any entry made or attempted to be made to the tournament in a manner which in our reasonable opinion is contrary to these terms and conditions or by its nature unfair to other participants will be invalid and may result in your disqualification from the tournament. Examples of entries or behaviour which are not allowed include fraudulent entries, bulk entries, automated entries, entries made on behalf of another person, cheating (including a person participating in the tournament on your behalf), hacking, deception (including tampering with the challenge settings which will result in immediate disqualification from the entire tournament), use of robots or other automated programmes. We will not accept illegible or incomplete entries.

5. REFUNDS: You are no longer eligible for a refund if a fixture your team was due to play has been given a result. Even if you or the team didn’t play or were disqualified for whatever reason.

6. SELECTION OF WINNERS: The winners for the tournaments will be determined in accordance with the tournament rules. Our decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the selection of the winners of this tournament.

7. PRIZE: There will be regular prizes awarded throughout a season as follows:

• The winner of each fixture: A Belong Day Pass

• The winner of each season: A framed, bespoke Belong jersey featuring the winner’s Gamertag and the player featured in the Belong Hall of Fame.

Jersey prizes will be fulfilled once a season has culminated.

We may substitute prizes of equal or greater value. Non-cash prizes have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for cash. Prizes are not transferable. Prizes may be considered a taxable benefit and the winner will be directly responsible for any taxes payable on their prize. Only one prize will be awarded to each winner. Team based prizes will be split evenly amongst the team unless all team members agree in writing to any other split.

8. OWNERSHIP OF YOUR ENTRY: You own your entry, including any copyright in your entry. By entering the tournament, you agree that GAME (including our group and affiliate companies) may edit, publish and use your entry in any and all media (including print and online) for promotion and news purposes, both during and after the tournament, without any payment to you.

9. NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS: We will notify the winners at the end of the tournament.

10. DELIVERY OF PRIZE: You will be contacted within 30 days via the email that you provided on the sign-up form to provide your bank details for any cash prizes. Physical prizes will be provided in store.

11. CANCELLATION: We reserve the right to cancel any tournament if the minimum entry requirements are not met. The minimum entry requirements are details on each tournament’s respective ruleset.

12. LIST OF WINNERS: You may request the last name and county of the prize winners by sending a stamped addressed envelope to BELONG ESPORTS Tournament, Game Retail Limited, Unity House, Telford Road, Basingstoke, RG21 6YJ. By entering this tournament, you give us permission to make available your last name and county if you win.

13. FINAL DECISION: Our decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the selection of the winner of this tournament.

14. CONSENT TO USE NAME AND IMAGE: We may require the winners to participate in publicity or advertising. By entering this tournament, you agree that we may use your name and/or image for these purposes and that you will not be paid.

15. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION: When you give us the information we ask you for as part of the tournament, we’ll use it as needed to conduct the tournament as we’ve described in these terms. We may also use it for other reasons, but we’ll ask for your permission before we do. We will process, use and store your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy which can be found at www.game.co.uk/privacypolicy

16. OUR LIABILITY TO YOU: We accept liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or that of our employees and agents. We do not seek to exclude liability for fraud by us or our employees or agents. For any other loss or damage, we will only be liable for losses which are a reasonably foreseeable consequence of our negligence or breach of these terms and conditions, up to a maximum of £100. Losses are foreseeable where they could be contemplated by you and us at the time of you entering this tournament.

16. WHAT WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR: We are not responsible for:
a) losses not caused by our breach or negligence
b) indirect losses – these are losses which are a side effect of the main loss or damage and which are not reasonably foreseeable by you and us at the time of you entering this tournament
c) entries lost, delayed, damaged or corrupted where such loss, delay, damage or corruption is caused by events outside of our reasonable control
d) technical failures or errors affecting communication lines, website availability or systems errors where these are not within our reasonable control, or
e) any failure to provide the tournament, the prize(s) or to meet any of our obligations under these terms and conditions where that failure arise because of events outside of our reasonable control.

17. LIABILITY OF THIRD PARTIES: You acknowledge that some prizes are provided by a third party not related to GAME. We are not responsible for the performance of any third party involved in this tournament or the provision of the prizes and will not be liable for any act or omission of a third party, although we will endeavour to minimise the effect to you of any third party's failure. Third party terms may apply to prizes details of which can be provided upon request.

18. DISPUTES: If you wish to take court proceedings against GAME you must do so within the United Kingdom. The law of the part of the United Kingdom of which you are a resident shall apply, for example, if you live in England the laws of England shall apply and if you live in Scotland the laws of Scotland shall apply.

19. DETAILS OF PROMOTER: This tournament is run by Game Retail Limited (“GAME”) a company registered in England and Wales. Our registered address is Unity House, Telford Road, Basingstoke, RG21 6YJ.