Scoreboard

2012 Competition Rules and Regulations

STRUCTURE: The 19 MLS teams are divided into two conferences:

Eastern Conference – Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kansas City, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC.

Western Conference – Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

SCHEDULE: Each team plays a 34-game regular season schedule; 17 home games, 17 away games.

Western Conference – 24 in-conference + 10 out-of-conference games:

  • Western Conference teams will play each West opponent three times (24 games):

    • West teams will play four conference opponents twice at home and once away
    • They will play the other four conference opponents once at home and twice away.
    • The home and away games will be reversed in 2013.
  • Western Conference teams will play each East opponent once each (10 games):

    • Five of these will be at home and five will be away.
    • The East opponents each team faces at home and away will be reversed in 2013.

Eastern Conference – 25 in-conference + 9 out-of-conference games:

  • Eastern Conference teams will play 25 games against other East teams:

    • East teams will play seven conference opponents three times each (21 games) and
    • Two conference opponents twice each (four games).
  • Eastern Conference teams will play each West opponent once each (9 games):

    • Some will play four at home and five away while others will play five at home and four away.
    • The West opponents each team faces at home and away will be reversed in 2013.

POINT SYSTEM: Teams will receive three points for a win, one point for a tie and zero points for a loss.

REFEREES: All referees in MLS are either USSF (United States Soccer Federation) or CSA (Canadian Soccer Association) National Referees.  All MLS games played in the US will be assigned by USSF and all games played in Canada will be assigned by CSA.

GAME CLOCK: The official game time for all Major League Soccer games will be managed on the field by the referee. If necessary, the referee may also allot extra time (a.k.a. "stoppage time”) at the end of each period (first half, second half, and if applicable, first overtime period and second overtime period during playoff matches) to allow for injuries, time-wasting or other disturbances.

The stadium clock will display the time from 0:00 to 45:00 and from 45:00 to 90:00 (plus stoppage time where applicable in each half). For statistical purposes, the minutes for goals, substitutions, yellow cards, etc., will be listed from the first minute until the 90th minute. A goal scored at 15 minutes 10 seconds will be listed as having been scored in the 16th minute. Events occurring during stoppage time will follow the international norm by being demarcated with a "+" sign and the extra minutes. For example, a goal scored three minutes into first half stoppage time will be officially identified as happening at "48+".

GAME DAY ROSTERS: Each team can nominate 18 players for a game day roster. Teams are allowed three substitutions per game.

CAUTIONS AND SUSPENSIONS: A player will be suspended for one game upon receiving his fifth yellow card – regardless of the nature of the infraction that resulted in his being awarded a yellow card. A second suspension of one game would result after the awarding of an additional three cards, as would a third suspension after the awarding of card number eleven. With the “Good Behavior” incentive, it is possible for a player to have a caution expunged. If a player goes three games without receiving a yellow card, after an initial warning, the player will have one yellow card expunged. A player may take advantage of the “Good Behavior” incentive only once throughout the season.

MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: FORMAT

WHO QUALIFIES: Ten teams, the top five in points from each conference at the end of the regular season, qualify for the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.

The fourth and fifth place teams in each conference will play a single knockout game, the winner of which will advance to the Conference Semifinals and face the first place team in the conference.

The four Conference Semifinals will be decided by two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

The two Conference Championships will be decided by a two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

MLS Cup will be a single championship match hosted by the higher seed. If the score is tied after 90 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

TEAM-STANDINGS TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES
The team awarded the highest position in the MLS standings will be the team with the greatest number of points (three points for a win, one point for a tie, zero points for a loss).  In the event that two teams finish the regular season with an equal number of points, the following system will be used to break the tie:

  1. The highest position shall be awarded to the team with the better win/loss record in current regular season games against all other teams equal in points. (head-to-head competition)
  2. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the greater goal difference against all other teams during the regular season. (goal differential)
  3. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team scoring the greatest number of total goals against all other teams during the regular season. (total goals)
  4. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the procedures described in this section shall be applied only to games played on the road by each team against all other teams during the regular season. (road 1-3)
  5. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the procedures described in this section shall be applied only to games played at home by each team against all other teams during the regular season. (home 1-3)
  6. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the fewest team disciplinary points in the League Fair Play table during the regular season.
  • If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position in the standings shall be determined by the toss of a coin.
  • The first tiebreaker in a three-way tie is also head-to-head, but it is determined via points-per-game versus the other two teams. If two teams are tied in points-per-game head-to-head, the next tie breaker is goal difference.

NOTE: If two teams remain tied after another teams with the same number of points advances during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-team format.