Lincolnshire FA are absolutely thrilled to be able to announce the 2024 edition of the Football v Homophobia Festival, which will once again be hosted at Lincoln City FC's LNER Stadium. 

The event will take place on Sunday 11th February 2024, and like last year - the event will be comprised of a 6-a-side, mixed gender tournament followed by a Q&A panel with exclusive guest speakers from the world of football.

The 6-a-side festival will run from 1pm to 3pm on the 3G astro pitches, adjacent to the LNER Stadium. The Q&A panel will follow this from 3:30pm to 6:30pm in the Legend's Lounge, opposite the astro and next door to Lincoln City Foundation. 

The event is open to all teams, and it's encouraged that those participating in the playing aspect of the day also join us in Lincoln City’s Legends Lounge to listen to our exciting collection of guest speakers - of whom will be announced in due course.

If you'd rather just attend the Q&A panel in the 200 Club from 3:30pm to 6:30pm - click here to register your attendance for FREE.

Entry this year is just £10 per team, and teams must have a mix of genders in their squad. Players must be at least 16 years old.

To download an entry form, click here

Completed entry forms must be sent to Jordan.Mason@lincolnshirefa.com by Monday 5th February 2024. 

An overview of the rules and guidelines for the 6-a-side festival are below:

Teams 

• All players must be 16 or over.
  
  
• A maximum of six players are permitted on the pitch at any one time, with five outfield players and one Goalkeeper.
   
• A maximum of four substitutes are permitted, making a maximum squad size of 10.
  
  
• At least two genders must be represented on each team, with a minimum of three players from two different genders. For example, a team may have 7 male players, as long as the remaining three players identify as female, non-binary, agender, or any other gender identity.
  
  
• At least two gender identities must be represented for each team on the pitch at any one time.
   
• The Goalkeeper may be changed during a game but at a stoppage in play and with the referee being notified.
   
• The referee must be notified when a team choose to make a substitution, which must be made during a break in play.
  
  
• Teams may make an unlimited number of substitutes. Abuse of this rule to waste time may result in action by the referee, such as a card being shown or not allowing substitute to be made.

General Play

• Kick-ins are taken instead of throw-ins. However, kick-ins are all indirect.
  
  
• Goalkeepers are permitted to pick the ball up from back passes.
  
  
• All free kicks are direct. The defending team must retreat a minimum of 5 yards from the ball.
  
  
• Players are allowed in the penalty area and the goalkeepers is allowed out of the penalty area.
  
  
• Goalkeepers can either throw, roll, or put the ball down to kick. Drop kicks are not permitted.
  
  
• After a goal is scored, play is resumed by a goal kick.
  
  
• Size Five balls will be used.

Format of the Festival

• Teams will compete within two groups. The two winners of each group will go forward into a semi-final and subsequent final.
  
  
• In group stage fixtures, 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 for a loss.
  
  
• If two teams are level on points following the group stages, the team with the highest goal difference will go through to the knockout stages. If they are still level, the team with the highest number of goals scored will go through.
  
  
• If a knockout stage game ends as a tie, there will be 3 minutes of extra time played.
   
• If the scores are still level, there will be a penalty shootout to decide the winner of the game. 5 penalties are taken, followed by sudden death.
  
  
• Matches played will be between 10 minutes and 20 minutes in length, depending on the number of teams entered.
   
• Pitches will be marked out as 5-a-side pitches. Both 3G and grass surfaces are suitable, as long as the 3G surface is registered on the pitch register.

Fouls, Discipline and Sanctions

• No slide tackles are permitted, however sliding to intercept the ball is permitted at the referee’s discretion.
  
  
• If a yellow card is shown to a player, that player must leave the pitch for three minutes and the team will continue with one player less.
  
  
• If a red card is shown, then the player will leave the pitch and not return for the remainder of the game.
  
  
• The offside rule is not utilised.
  
  
• Otherwise, the normal laws of the game will be enforced and the referee’s decision is final.
  
  
• All match officials will be affiliated through Lincolnshire FA or another County Football Association.

Safety and Footwear

• No jewellery to be worn.
   
• No blades or metal studs to be worn.
   
• Shin Pads are to be worn at all times (NO shin pads, NO play).

Safeguarding

• The Lincolnshire FA Designated Safeguarding Officer is the Safeguarding Lead for this event. The event Lead will also have an in-date DBS and in-date Safeguarding qualifications.
  
  
• Lincolnshire FA may utilise photographs or other media on the day. Where this is the case, all participants will be notified beforehand, and consents obtained where necessary (such as for those aged under 18)

The Football v Homophobia Festival features as part of Lincolnshire FA's programme for February's month of action, which also features two LGBTQ+ Workshops for Lincolnshire clubs and organisations to attend, free of charge, to learn how to make their footballing environment as LGBTQ+ inclusive as possible. 

Anyone interested in joining the LGBTQ+ Workshops, which are hosted online via Microsoft Teams, can register here.

To be one of the first to receive the latest grassroots football news from Lincolnshire, and to receive exclusive offers and discounts from Lincolnshire FA partners – click here