MPL PH S18 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Philippines Esports Official Rulebook | 2H 2026

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 18

Official Rules

August 2026

1. Introduction and Purpose

The Official Rules, including any modifications, updates, amendments, adjustments and/or supplements thereto ("Modifications"), have been adopted by the MPL (as defined in the Team Participation Agreement) in order to codify the rules and standards of conduct that will apply as a condition to participation in the "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League" and "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Development League" ("MPL" and "MDL", or the "League"), including in all pre-season, regular-season, and post-season games, matches and tournaments and all other MPL-organized exhibition matches, promotional events, marketing events, streaming sessions, sponsor events, photo shoots, press conferences and interviews, charitable events, webcasts and chats, media events, opening and closing ceremonies, awards ceremonies and other calendar items in the League Schedule ("League Events"). The Official Rules have been designed to ensure fair play in the League, to preserve the integrity of all League Events, to protect the image and reputation of the League and to create a consistent and high-quality experience for members of the public that attend League Events.

1.1 Applicability and Effectivity

The Official Rules govern the conduct of the Players, including without limitation to, Players (collectively "Players” and each, a "Player"), Head Coach (as defined below), Team Manager (as defined below) and other employees, staff and contractors ("Team Members") of each Team that has been admitted to play in the League ("Team"). In addition to Team Members, the Official Rules also govern the conduct of all direct and indirect owners of entities that own Teams admitted to play in the League (collectively, "Owners" and each, an "Owner"). By following the Official Rules, Team Members and Owners will help to promote long-term fan interest and loyalty, which benefits all participants in the League.

The rules in this document will remain effective until a new set of rules has been made available to the Teams.

The Official Rules shall have a retrospective effect on each Team, and the actions of the Teams and their Team Members in dealing with the League’s officials subsequent to these Official Rules take effect and shall be subjected to these Official Rules.

1.2 Acceptance and Agreement

Each Team Member must, as a condition of participation as a Team Member of a Team in the League, agree to comply at all times with the Official Rules. The League reserves the right to require each Team Member of a Team to complete and sign a Participant Eligibility Form in a form to be provided by the League. Each Owner must, as a condition of their ownership of a Team, agreeto comply at all times with the Official Rules. The documents and files pointed out by the operating committee are also part of the official rules, which all the participating Teams also need to follow.

1.3 Modifications

The field and industry of professional esports competitions are changing rapidly, and the Official Rules will have to evolve in real-time to keep pace with those changes. Accordingly, in its sole discretion, the League (a) may update, amend or supplement the Official Rules from time to time; and (b) may interpret or apply the Official Rules by releasing bulletins, notices, explanatory videos, online postings, e-mail and/or other electronic communications that provide instructions and guidance to Owners and Team Members.

1.4 Interpretation and Use of Appendices

These Official Rules are supplemented by Appendices, Protocols, and SOPs issued by the MPL Operating Committee.

Where these Official Rules expressly reference an Appendix, Protocol, or SOP, such document shall be binding and enforceable as part of these Official Rules.

Where these Official Rules are silent on a specific operational or procedural matter, the applicable Appendix, Protocol, or SOP shall apply.

In the event of any inconsistency, the Official Rules shall prevail unless expressly stated otherwise.

1.5 Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat

All Teams are responsible for their own status in the league to avoid any issues or penalizations due to their lack of knowledge of the content set forth herein. Ignorance of any of these rules does not excuse any individual and they (and their Team) will be penalized fully at the discretion of the Operating Committee at such an event.

1.6 Definition of Terms

1.6.1 Game

An instance of competition on the map designated by the committee that is played until a winner is determined by one of the following methods, whichever occurs first: (a) completion of the final objective (destruction of the enemy Team’s base), (b) Team Surrender, (c) Team Disqualification, or (d) the Operating Committee deems a Team has won in the Operating Committee’s sole and absolute discretion.

1.6.2 Match

A set of games that is played until one Team wins a majority of the total games (e.g., winning two games out of three ("BO3"); winning three games out of five ("BO5"). The winning Team will either receive a win tally in a league format or advance to the next round in a tournament format.

1.6.3 Split (a.k.a. Season)

There will be 2 splits (seasons) every year. Each league consists of different phases per season, whereby MPL includes Regular Season and Playoffs, MDL includes Open Qualifiers, Regular Season and Playoffs.

1.6.4 Independent MDL Teams

Refers to MDL Teams that are not affiliated with MPL. These Teams are (a) directly invited Teams and/or (b) Teams that have qualified from the Open Qualifiers.

1.6.5 Free Agent
Refers to any Player eligible to participate in MPL who:
a.    Has not signed a valid written player agreement with other MPL/MDL Team or a Team in another league, or
b.    Has been released or has a contract that has expired with an MPL/MDL Team or a Team in another league and has not renewed it, or;
c.    Any Player released to Free Agent must meet the condition of having no event contract with any Team. The Team needs to terminate the event contract with the Player before releasing the Player to Free Agent.
 

2. Schedule, Structure, and Prize

2.1 Schedule
The schedule for the MPL PH Season 18 is detailed in the document presented to the Team managers and is located here.
Teams may also visit the MPL official website  to view the complete date and schedule of the league.

2.2 Tournament Structure

2.2.1 Teams' Composition
For MPL PH Season 18, there are eight (8) slots in the MPL regular season, which belong to the franchise teams.

2.2.2 Tournament Format

2.2.2.1 Regular Season
1.    Eight (8) participating Teams of the league will not be divided into groups, conducting a double round-robin format, all best-of-three (BO3) matches. Each Team will play 14 matches per season in a league format against opponents from the same region. Each Team will play against each opponent twice per season. 
2.    The final ranking of the competition will be determined by points.
3.    Regular season match rankings will be determined by points. A Team will earn (one) 1 point for winning a BO3 match and 0 points for losing.

2.2.2.2 Regular Season Tiebreaker Rules

1.    In the event of multiple Teams having tied scores at the end of the regular season, the final rankings of these Teams will be determined based on the following rules:
a.    If multiple Teams have tied scores, they will be ranked based on their Net Game Wins (total Game Wins minus total Game Losses) during the regular season. The Team with more Net Game Wins is considered to have a higher ranking.
b.    If there are Teams with the same Net Game Wins among the tied Teams, their Head-to-head Record will be compared. The Team with more Net Match Wins in the Head-to-head Record will have a higher ranking.
c.    If Net Match Wins in the Head-to-head Record are also the same, the Net Game Wins in the Head-to-head Record will be compared. The Team with more Net Game Wins in the Head-to-head Record will be ranked higher.
d.    If Teams are still tied and both do not need to advance to the playoffs, the Teams that are already qualified for the playoffs or affect playoff qualification will go through tiebreaker matches. 

2.    Specifically, in the case of a tie between two Teams, the Net Game Wins will be compared first, and if they are equal, the Head-to-head Record between those two Teams will determine the ranking.

3.    In the case of a tie between three Teams or more:
a.    First, compare the Net Game Wins of all tied Teams.
b.    If there are Teams with the same Net Game Wins, consider the Net Match Wins in the Head-to-head Record. The Team with more Net Match Wins in the Head-to-head Record will be ranked higher.
c.    If there are Teams with the same Net Match Wins in the Head-to-head Record, then consider the Net Game Wins in the Head-to-head Record. The Team with more Net Game Wins in the Head-to-head Record will be ranked higher.
d.    In the event that the Net Game Wins in the Head-to-Head Record are also equal between the tied participants, additional tiebreaker matches will be conducted to determine the final standings. These matches will be carried out in accordance with the official tiebreaker format outlined in Section 2.2.2.3 of the rulebook, the section below.

2.2.2.3 Regular Season Tiebreaker Format

1.    General Rules
a.    Tiebreaker matches will be held after the regular season and before the start of the playoffs.
b.    The specific dates, times, and locations will be determined by the official authorities.
c.    Tiebreaker matches will follow a best-of-one (BO1) format.
d.    The initial side selection choice will be decided by a coin toss.

2.    Three-Team Tie
a.    In the case of a tie among three Teams, the two Teams with longer total match victory durations (the sum of all match durations in the regular season) will compete in the first tiebreaker match (Match 1). The loser is considered the lowest ranked in the tiebreaker, and the winner will compete against the Team with the shortest total match victory duration in a second tiebreaker match (Match 2). The loser of Match 2 is ranked second in the tiebreaker, and the winner is ranked first. If the total match victory durations are equal, a coin toss will determine the order of matches, following the same pattern.

3.    Four-Team Tie
a.    In the case of a tie among four Teams, the Teams will compete based on their total match victory durations. The first-ranked Team will face the fourth-ranked Team in the first tiebreaker match (Match 1), and the second-ranked Team will face the third-ranked Team in the second tiebreaker match (Match 2). The losers of Matches 1 and 2 will compete in a third tiebreaker match (Match 3) to determine the third and fourth places, and the winners of Matches 1 and 2 will compete in a fourth tiebreaker match (Match 4) to determine the first and second places.

4.    Five-Team Tie
a.    In the case of a tie among five Teams, the two Teams with the longest total match victory durations will compete in the first tiebreaker match (Match 1). The loser is considered the last-ranked Team in the tiebreaker, and the winner advances to the second round of the tiebreaker. In the second round match, the format follows the logic of a four-Team tiebreaker.

5.    Six-Team Tie
a.    In the case of a tie among six Teams, the four Teams with the longest total match victory durations will compete in accordance with the logic of a four-Team tiebreaker. The two losing Teams will compete in another match to determine the fifth and sixth places, while the two winning Teams will follow the logic of a four-Team tiebreaker to compete further.

6.    Seven-Team Tie
a.    In the case of a tie among seven Teams, the two Teams with the longest total match victory durations will compete in the first tiebreaker match (Match 1). The loser is considered the last-ranked Team in the tiebreaker, and the winner advances to the second round of the tiebreaker. In the second-round match, the format follows the logic of a six-Team tiebreaker.

7.    Eight-Team Tie
a.    In the case of a tie among eight Teams, the Teams will compete based on their total match victory durations. The first-ranked Team will face the eighth-ranked Team in the first tiebreaker match (Match 1), the second-ranked Team will face the seventh-ranked Team in the second tiebreaker match (Match 2), and so on, resulting in four tiebreaker matches. The losers of these matches will compete in accordance with the logic of a four-Team tiebreaker to determine the last four places, while the winners will compete according to the logic of a four-Team tiebreaker to determine the top four places.

2.2.2.4 Playoffs
Playoffs matches will be in a best-of-five (BO5) format, with exception of Match 7 (Lower Bracket Finals) & the Grand Finals which will both be in a best-of-seven (BO7) format. The playoffs will follow the following rules (Note: Matches 1 to 8 are only designations for the matches and do not represent the actual order of matches; the final schedule will be determined by the official MPL authorities):
1.    The third-placed Team from the regular season will face the sixth-placed Team (Match 1, i.e., the first round of the playoffs, first match).
2.    The fourth-placed Team from the regular season will face the fifthplaced Team (Match 2, i.e., the first round of the playoffs, second match).
3.    The winner of Match 1 will face the second-placed Team from the regular season (Match 3, i.e., the second round of the playoffs, first match).
4.    The winner of Match 2 will face the first-placed Team from the regular season (Match 4, i.e., the second round of the playoffs, second match).
5.    The loser of Match 3 will face the loser of Match 4 (Match 5, i.e., the lower bracket semi-finals).
6.    The winner of Match 3 will face the winner of Match 4 (Match 6, i.e., the winner's bracket finals).
7.    The winner of Match 5 will face the loser of Match 6 (Match 7, i.e., the lower bracket finals).
8.    The winner of Match 6 will face the winner of Match 7 (Match 8, i.e., the grand finals).

PICTURE….

2.3 Tournament Prizes
Each Team shall respectively be responsible for its own applicable taxes and commission charges that may be imposed with respect to the receipt of any reward or prizes. 
The prizes for Regular Season and/or Playoffs shall be paid to the Teams respectively within one month after the closure of the split and the designated receiving accounts are provided by the Teams (whichever is later).

2.3.1 Regular Season Prize
During the Regular Season, every Team shall receive a reward of $170.00 for each match they play (“Match Allowance”). Also, Teams shall have the opportunity to earn prize money based on their performance in each BO3 match. The total prize for each BO3 Match is $900.00 based on the following formula:
a.    If a Team wins the match by 2-0, the winning Team shall get $900.00 while the loser gets $0.00;
b.    If a Team wins the match 2-1, the winning Team will get $600.00, and the losing Team shall get $300.00.

2.3.2 Final Placement Prize
During the Playoffs at the end of the season, Teams shall have the opportunity to earn prize money based on their performance as outlined below.

2.3.3 Special Prizes

1.    The All-Star Teams (Team 1 and Team 2)
After the regular season ends, the top 2 Players in each role will be selected from the season's participants and will be awarded. A monetary prize of $500.00 each will also be given exclusively to the Players named to All-Star Team 1.

2.    Fans' Choice All-Stars
After the regular season, community voting will determine the Players who will be part of the Fans' Choice All-Stars award. This recognition is a purely honorary title, celebrating outstanding Players as chosen by the community. No monetary rewards will be associated with this award, emphasizing its role as a token of appreciation and acknowledgment from the fans.

3.    Most Improved Player of the Season
After the regular season concludes, the Most Improved Player of the Season will be selected by the MPL Awards Committee and awarded a $500.00 bonus.

4.    Coaching Staff of the Season
After the regular season concludes, the Coaching Team of the Season will be decided by the MPL Awards Committee and awarded a $500.00 bonus.

5.    Regular Season Most Valuable Player (RSMVP)
After the regular season concludes, the RSMVP will be rated by the MPL Awards Committee and awarded a $1,000.00 bonus.

6.    Finals Most Valuable Player (FMVP)
After the conclusion of the Grand Finals, the FMVP will be rated by the MPL Awards Committee and awarded a $1,000.00 bonus.

2.4 MSC Qualification (MLBB Mid-Season Cup)
a.    The MPL PH region has two slots for MSC. The participants of the MPL PH Grand Finals Finals will be the two seeded teams for MPL PH in the MSC for the season of the first half of the year.
b.    All teams qualifying for MSC will automatically agree to and comply with the rules and arrangements of MSC made by the organizing committee.

2.5 M-Series Qualification (MLBB World Championship)
a.    The MPL PH region has two slots for the M-Series. The participants of the MPL PH Grand Finals Finals will be the two seeded teams for MPL PH in the M-Series for the season of the second half of the year.
b.    All teams qualifying for the M-Series will automatically agree to and comply with the rules and arrangements of M-Series made by the organizing committee.

2.6 Major Event Qualification and Participation

a.    Obligation to Participate 
Participation in international events sanctioned by Moonton, including but not limited to the MSC and M-Series ("Major Events"), is a fundamental obligation and benefit of being a franchised team in MPL PH. Teams that qualify for Major Events through MPL PH competition are required to participate unless otherwise approved by the MPL Operating Committee.

b.    Intellectual Property Rights 
All intellectual property rights, licenses, and permissions previously granted to Moonton by teams and players, including team marks, branding, and player name and image likeness rights, shall extend to and remain in effect for the team's participation in, and Moonton's coverage of, all Major Events. Moonton and its designees retain the exclusive right to commercialize all media and marketing rights associated with Major Events, including content featuring participating teams and players.

c.    Major Event Sponsorship Regulations 
Teams acknowledge that separate and potentially stricter sponsorship rules and restrictions may apply to Major Events. These rules may impose additional limitations on team sponsorships and player endorsements for the duration of and in connection with such Major Events, including but not limited to:
▪    Expanded reserved categories beyond those applicable during MPL PH regular season
▪    Specific sponsor blacklists designated by Major Event organizers
▪    Restrictions on sponsor visibility during Major Event broadcasts and activities

Moonton shall provide reasonable notice of applicable Major Event sponsorship regulations prior to the event.

3. Team Member Eligibility

3.1 General Requirements

3.1.1 Team Formation
Each Team is required to maintain the following during the entirety of the the season:

a.    One (1) General Manager;
b.    One (1) Head Coach;
c.    Five (5) Players for their starting lineup ("Starters"); and
d.    At least one (1) up to a maximum of five (5) substitute Players ("Substitute").

The minimum requirement for each Team to legitimately function in the the league is to maintain at least five (5) starter Players and one (1) substitute, along with a manager and a coach. Failure to maintain this minimum standard shall subject the Team to applicable penalties pursuant to the league Penalty Index, which are annexed herein as Appendix A.

3.1.2 Contract Requirements
a.    Signing
The Team shall enter into a legal and effective written contract respectively with every Player (Player Services Agreement, as defined below), coaching staff and general manager on the Team’s Active Roster, copies of which shall be submitted to the Operating Committee for records purposes.

b.     Eligibility Forms

The Team must collect and submit the Participants' Eligibility Forms, provided by the committee, signed by every Player, Coach, and Team Manager to the Operating Committee. Any individual who fails to sign and submit the form before the deadline will not be permitted to participate in the league in any official capacity.

c.      Review and Approval

Any agreement required to be submitted by a Team under this clause shall be reviewed and approved by the Operating Committee.

3.1.3 Team Formation Limitations

a.    No Moonton Employees or Relevant Personnel
Team members shall not be employees of SHANGHAI MOONTON TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD or any of its affiliates, agencies, or other contractors at the start of or at any point during the MPL and/or MDL. "Affiliate" is defined as any person or other entity which owns or controls, is under the ownership or control of, or is under common ownership or control of another party. "Control" shall mean power, through any means, to determine the policies or management of an entity, whether through the power to elect, appoint or approve, directly or indirectly, the directors, officers, managers, or trustees of such an entity or otherwise.

b.    Safety Protocols
As safety protocols for the existed pandemic, all members of the Team roster must be fully vaccinated against COVID 19. Each individual is required to have at least 2 vaccination doses.
Teams are required to submit proof of these vaccinations in one of the following methods:
￮    VaxCertPH
￮    Physical Vaccination Cards
An individual that is currently unvaccinated may still be signed to the Team provided that they complete their doses before the start of the season. Any unvaccinated individual will not be permitted to enter the season's venue and, thus, miss whatever matches they were supposed to participate in. 
Other individuals, like Team staff for social media, content, etc., are also required to submit proofs of vaccination to the Operating Committee.
For the avoidance of doubt, should any Team be in breach of the contract requirements, the said Team shall be penalized accordingly pursuant to the league's Penalty Index, which is annexed herein as Appendix A.

3.2 Player Eligibility

3.2.1 Player Age
A player must be at least sixteen (16) years old to be eligible to participate in MPL. However, teams may sign free agents younger than sixteen, as long as they are not included in the active roster and are not required to strictly follow the team’s full schedule or commitments (e.g., long daily training sessions or mandatory brand endorsements). The team should remain flexible and ensure that all activities are voluntary, keeping in mind the player’s underage status. This rule clearly distinguishes between signing a player and allowing them to participate or be registered.

Additionally, teams must submit the original government-issued ID or passport to verify the player’s age; no other documentation is accepted. Players without these IDs must provide alternative legal documents.

3.2.2 Regional Residency Requirement

a.    Team Formation
At least three (3) out of the five (5) Players on the starting line-up of a Team are required to be citizens of the countries or regions where the MPL/MDL competitions are held (i.e., Philippines).
No more than two (2) non-citizen Players may be listed in the starting lineup of a Team.
A Team may not have more than three (3) non-citizen Players who are living in the country or region during the whole season.

b.    Citizenship
Player is considered a “Citizen” if the Player is a lawful permanent resident in the region or country or a holder of ID cards of the region or country upon the legal status in that region or country.

c.    Single Residency Status
A Player may only be a Citizen of a single country at any point in time.

3.2.3 Work Eligibility
Each Player, Coach, and Team Manager must submit the following documents as proof of identity when participating in any MPL/MDL competitions:

a.    Legal proof of the right to reside in the country or region where the MPL/MDL competition is held (i.e., Philippines) in accordance with local laws;

b.    Permission to work in the country or region of the competition (i.e., Philippines). The Players who are not Citizens of the country or region where the competition is held require a work visa (specific details are determined by local laws).

c.    All Players and Coaches are required to hold a valid Pro Esports License issued by the official sports governing authority in the host country (e.g., the Games and Amusements Board [GAB] in the Philippines) as a prerequisite for participation. Individuals with expired or missing licenses shall be ineligible to compete or access the playing stage.

d.    Registration of a Player, Coach, or Manager during Roster Lock does not constitute confirmation of work eligibility. All required residency, visa, work permit, and licensing documentation must be valid and formally verified by the Operating Committee prior to participation in any official league match, access to the competition stage, or any other official league activity.

3.2.3.1 Foreign Participants
Each Team shall be solely responsible for ensuring that any foreign Player, Coach, or Team Manager obtains and maintains all immigration, employment, work authorization, and professional licensing documents required under Philippine law and this Rulebook.

A foreign participant may be submitted during Roster Lock while the applicable documents are being processed. However, such submission shall be conditional and shall not authorize the individual to perform any official competitive or Team function until all required documents have been issued, remain valid, and have been verified by the MPL Operating Committee.

Processing delays, pending applications, or the prior acceptance of a roster submission shall not excuse the Team’s failure to ensure that the foreign participant is legally eligible and available by the applicable competition deadline. Failure to satisfy these requirements may result in the individual being declared ineligible and the Team being subject to penalties under the Penalty Index.

3.2.4 Participants' Eligibility Agreement
All registered MPL PH and MDL PH players, coaches, and managers must sign the Participants' Eligibility Agreement with the Operating Committee within two (2) weeks after the end of the roster lock submission or the transfer window period. Any delay caused by the team or player will result in a penalty for the team or player in accordance to the league's Penalty Index as annexed herein in Appendix A. Any individual who has not fulfilled this requirement will be deemed ineligible and prohibited from accessing the stage or participating in matches.

3.2.5 Exclusivity & Game Participation Policy
All registered MPL PH and MDL PH players, coaches, and managers must sign the Participants' Eligibility Agreement, This includes Game Exclusivity. Players or staff under contract agrees not to promote, stream nor in anyway or to any extent involve in any cooperation of any other game product hereunder on all social media and streaming platform. 

Prohibited games include, but are not limited to:
 

3.3 Head Coach
Each Team is required to have a head coach who will be considered the official coach of the Team ("Head Coach"). If a team designates a Head Coach, they must undergo registration and approval from the Operating Committee before being published on the official MPL and/or MDL channels.

3.3.1 Registration and Approval
The designation of Head Coach by the Team shall go through the registration and approval formalities with the Operating Committee before being published on the official channels of MPL and/or MDL. Any publishing of such designation by any Team or Team Member before being approved by the committee is prohibited and will be subject to penalties.

3.3.2 Single Capacity
The Head Coach can only represent one Team in one region and cannot be affiliated with more than one Team in any capacity in one MPL/MDL season (including but not limited to not being the Starter, Substitute, or General Manager for any Team).

3.3.3 Presence
The Head Coach is allowed to be onsite for every Game that their Team participates in.

3.3.4 Change
Changes to Head Coaches must be submitted to the Operating Committee for approval during the Transfer Window Period before the changes can be carried out.
In case of emergency, the head coach may be temporarily registered as a substitute player.

3.4 Coaching Staff
Each team is allowed up to three (3) coaching staff personnel. If a team designates any number of coaching staff personnel, they must undergo registration and approval from the Operating Committee before being published on the official MPL/MDL channels.

3.4.1 Registration and Approval
The designation of a coaching staff by the Team shall go through the registration and approval formalities with the Operating Committee before being published on the official channels of MPL and/or MDL. Any publishing of such designation by any Team or Team Member before being approved by the committee is prohibited and will be subject to penalties.

3.4.2 Single Capacity
Coaching staff can only represent one Team in one region and cannot be affiliated with more than one Team in any capacity in one MPL/MDL season (including but not limited to not being the Starter, Substitute or General Manager for any Team).

3.4.3 Presence
Coaching staff are allowed to be onsite for every game that their team participates in. One coaching staff is allowed to accompany the Head Coach during drafting.

3.5 General Team Manager
Each Team is required to maintain, at all times, one designated Team staff member (the "General Manager"), who is responsible for administering Team commitments associated with weekly League activities including, but not limited to, content requests, game schedule, onsite studio coordination, and weekly update meetings. This same person is responsible for traveling with the team to all events, domestic or international, to uphold these aforementioned duties.

3.5.1 Registration and Approval
The designation of Team Manager by the Team shall go through the registration and approval formalities with the Operating Committee before being published on the official channels of MPL and/or MDL. Any publishing of such designation by any Team or Team Member before being approved by the committee is prohibited and will be subject to penalties.

3.5.2 Single Capacity
The Team Manager can only represent one Team in one region and cannot be affiliated with more than one Team in any capacity in one MPL/MDL season (including but not limited to not being the Starter, Substitute or General Manager for any Team).

3.5.3 Change
Changes to Team Manager must be submitted to the MPL Operating Committee for approval before the changes can be carried out.

3.6 Players' Contract Requirements
All Players on a Team’s Active Roster must have a written contract with the Team they are playing for ("Player Services Agreement").

a.    The term of every Player Services Agreement shall be no less than one (1) Season. Unless extended in accordance with this Section, contract end dates must fall on either the final day of June or the final day of December.
i.    This requirement is intended to ensure that Players whose contracts naturally expire may enter free agency during the applicable Regular Transfer Window. 
ii.    For purposes of this Section, each Season shall run from January 1 to June 30 or from July 1 to December 31 of the applicable calendar year. 
iii.    A Player Services Agreement must remain valid through the conclusion of any official international tournament for which the Team qualifies as a direct result of its participation in that Season, including MSC and the M-Series, together with any related travel, media, administrative, and post-competition obligations. 
iv.    Where an applicable international tournament extends beyond June 30 or December 31, the Player Services Agreement must contain an automatic conditional extension or another binding arrangement sufficient to cover the Player’s participation through the Team’s completion of that tournament. 
v.    Each Team is responsible for securing the necessary contractual coverage before the relevant local Season begins. Qualification for an international tournament shall not oblige the League to grant a roster replacement, exception, or other relief where a Player’s contract expires before the international tournament. 
vi.    Any roster relief or replacement concerning an international tournament shall remain subject to the rules and approval of the applicable international tournament organizer.
Season 18 Transitional Note: The international-tournament contract coverage requirement under this Section shall apply prospectively to Player Services Agreements entered into, renewed, or extended for Season 19 onward. Teams participating in Season 18 are strongly encouraged to secure equivalent contractual coverage but shall not be penalized solely for agreements executed before publication of this requirement.

Season 18 Transitional Note: The international-tournament contract coverage requirement under this Section shall apply prospectively to Player Services Agreements entered into, renewed, or extended for Season 19 onward. Teams participating in Season 18 are strongly encouraged to secure equivalent contractual coverage but shall not be penalized solely for agreements executed before publication of this requirement.

b.    Minimum Salary
Each Team must pay its players, coaches, and team manager the minimum monthly salary required by Philippine Law in accordance with the terms of the applicable Player Services Agreement be it on cash compensations and/or provisions for welfare and housing costs. The Team shall be responsible for paying any insurance or other welfare costs required by the local laws for its players and coaches.

c.    Maximum Salary
The aggregate maximum monthly salary for all Team Members in the Active Roster shall not exceed 900,000 PHP.

d.    Insurance and Welfare
The Team shall be responsible for paying any insurance or other welfare costs required by the local laws for its Players.

For the avoidance of doubt, any Team found to be in contravention of Clause 3 of the Official Rules shall be subject to penalties as provided for in accordance to the MPL Penalty Index.

3.7 Roster Lock Compliance

3.7.1 General Responsibility
Preseason Roster Lock constitutes a Team’s formal commitment to submit and maintain a roster that complies with all applicable roster composition, registration, contractual, eligibility, and documentation requirements.
Each Team is responsible for ensuring that its roster submission is complete, accurate, made in good faith, and supported by genuine commitments from the listed Players and Coaches. Acknowledgment or acceptance of a roster submission by the MPL Operating Committee does not relieve the Team of these responsibilities.

3.7.2 Failure to Meet the Minimum Requirement
A Team that fails to submit the minimum number of Players and Coaches by the Preseason Roster Lock deadline shall be in violation of the roster requirements and may be subject to penalties under the Penalty Index.
The violation occurs upon the expiration of the Roster Lock deadline and shall not be cured solely by submitting additional individuals after the deadline.
The MPL Operating Committee may nevertheless require the Team to complete its roster within a specified period in addition to any penalty imposed.

3.7.3 Invalid or Non-Committal Submissions
For purposes of satisfying the minimum requirement, the MPL Operating Committee may disregard any submitted individual where the Team:
1.     did not obtain the individual’s knowledge or consent before submission; 
2.     had no reasonable basis to believe that the individual intended to join the Team; 
3.     submitted the individual solely as a placeholder or to create the appearance of compliance; 
4.     knew that the individual was unavailable, ineligible, or unwilling to participate; 
5.     remained in materially unresolved negotiations with no reliable commitment from the individual; or 
6.     submitted false, incomplete, misleading, or unauthorized information. 
Where an individual is disregarded under this Section, the Team shall be treated as having failed to submit the required minimum roster and may be subject to additional penalties for misrepresentation or bad-faith conduct.

3.7.4 Continuing Team Responsibility
Acceptance of a roster submission does not constitute confirmation by the MPL Operating Committee that the listed individuals are fully registered, contracted, eligible, or available to compete.
Each Team remains responsible for:
1.     completing all registration and eligibility requirements by the applicable deadlines; 
2.     securing the participation of its submitted Players and Coach; 
3.     maintaining the minimum required roster; and 
4.     ensuring that it can field an eligible lineup from Day 1 of the competition. 
Failure to fulfill these responsibilities may constitute a separate violation in addition to any violation committed at Roster Lock.

3.7.5  Relationship to Roster Lock Hardship Relief
Roster Lock Hardship Relief shall ordinarily be available only to a Team that submitted a compliant minimum roster by the Roster Lock deadline and subsequently lost the availability of a submitted individual due to circumstances outside the Team’s reasonable control.
A Team that failed to satisfy the minimum roster requirement at the deadline shall not qualify for Roster Lock Hardship Relief merely because it later encounters difficulty completing its roster.
The MPL Operating Committee may grant exceptional relief only where extraordinary circumstances made timely compliance impossible despite the Team exercising reasonable diligence and acting in good faith. Any such relief does not automatically remove or waive the original Roster Lock violation.

4. Team Names, Team Logos, and Player Names

4.1 Team Names and Team Logos
a.    Teams are not allowed to have the same or similar names and Team logos cannot be similar-looking and must be unique in design. Moreover, Team names and logos must only contain English characters, numbers, single space between words only, plus sign (+), minus sign (-), underline (_) and single quotes (‘’).
b.    When applying with the Operating Committee for the use of any Team names, the Team shall also provide a short name of the contemplated Team name, length is 2-4 characters, which must only contain English characters, numbers, plus sign (+), minus sign (-), underline (_) and single quotes (‘’). Unless otherwise specified by the Team, the committee is entitled to use, at its own discretion, the full Team name and/or the short Team name on any occasion.
c.    The verification of the images or the names of sponsors are allowed to be shown in Team Logos and Team Names but they cannot be the same as the trademark and the name of the sponsors. Team logos and Team names cannot use any logo with which exists any copyright issues or any logo with which exists any copyright issues.
d.    For franchises that manage both of their MPL and MDL affiliates, the team names and logos must be visually unique but not entirely dissimilar. This provision also includes MPL and MDL team jerseys as they both must maintain a visually unique distinction from one another.

Example:
Overall Franchise Team - X Esports
MPL Team - X Esports
MDL Team - X Esports ADVENT

e.    The committee reserves the final right to approve Team names and logos.

4.2 Player Names
a.    Player names must only contain English characters and numbers only. The length should be 4 to 12 characters. Player Names cannot contain a sponsor's name and cannot contain spaces.
b.    In case of duplicated names, both players may change their respective names after mutual discussion. In the event the mutual discussion is unsuccessful, both players shall consult the Operating Committee, to which the committee shall decide, in its sole and absolute discretion, the respective names of both players.
c.    Players and Coaches In-Game Nicknames must be unique. There cannot be any repetition of the In-Game Nickname within the whole official esports ecosystem. Newly registered MPL/MDL Philippines Players and coaches cannot register In-Game Nicknames that are the same or similar to previously registered In-Game Nickname.
d.    Changing player names during the mid-season is not allowed unless under excruciating circumstances that are reviewed and approved by the league’s Operating Committee. Any request for a player name change must be reviewed and approved by the Operating Committee to ensure it aligns with the established guidelines. Examples of excruciating circumstances are:
i.    A legal name change due to formal legal reasons.
ii.    Offensive or inappropriate connotations of the existing nickname becoming apparent.
iii.    Security concerns, such as doxxing or harassment targeting the player or coach associated with the nickname.

4.3 Common Restrictions
No additional special characters will be allowed for Team names, Logos or Player Names (including underscores, slashes, etc.). Team Names, Logos and Player Names may not contain: vulgarities or obscenities; names related to the hero characters in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang or other similar characters; or other contents that may create confusion.

5. Team Sponsorship
An MPL team has the ability to acquire sponsors. Sponsor names and related information are only allowed to be displayed on team uniforms during a match. If sponsors belong to the following list of restricted sponsor types then the sponsor's company name cannot be displayed during Mobile Legends: Bang Bang games, any documents related to Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, MPL, MDL, or any game, competition, league or tournament related to Moonton. The committee have the ability to update the category list at any time. The following is a nonexclusive list of limited sponsors:

5.1 Prohibited Sponsorship

a.    All Teams are not allowed to accept sponsorship deals from the following categories:
i.    Casinos or gambling websites, apps, campaigns, and products;
ii.    Adult websites and products;
iii.    Firearms and ammunitions;
iv.    Alcohol;
v.    Drugs;
vi.    Tobacco and electronic cigarette products; and
vii.    Any other products that MPL officials consider conflicting with the interests of the league or Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, or products that are in competition with them.

b.    These brands/logo/images are not allowed to appear in ANY form of usage within the team's MLBB asset, digitally, physically or any other association is allowed. No exceptions are allowed for these sets of prohibited sponsors, this includes the Players, Team's marketing materials, & any direct or in-direct co-relations.

5.2 Third-Party Recharge, Payment Platforms, and Third-Party Store Related Sponsors
a.    All Teams and Team Members are allowed to accept sponsorship deals from third party recharge, payment platforms, and third-party store-related categories, but they must comply with the following regulations. MPL officials have the right to impose penalties based on the nature and seriousness of the behavior, and the specific penalties are subject to the officials' decisions:

i.    Elements related to sponsorship deals in these categories must not be displayed on any official team attire or peripherals used in official events, including but not limited to logos, slogans and/or products.
ii.    Under this clause, teams are allowed to design a separate set of attire or peripherals with elements related to sponsorship deals in these categories as required. However, these items are strictly prohibited from being used in the MPL or MPL-represented events, including but not limited to MPL, MDL, MSC, M-Series, and all other third-party events in which MPL and/or MDL Teams participate (including but not limited to pre-match interviews and trials, during matches, post-match interviews, and fan interactions in any activities related to the official event), unless given absolute approval by the Operating Committee.
iii.    Sponsors of third-party payments refer to any entity or institution that provides third-party payment services, including their social media platforms, web pages, products, etc. As long as they include or mention third-party payment services, they are considered sponsors of third-party payments.
iv.    Teams still need to adhere to the application and approval process outlined in section 5.4 of this rulebook.

5.3 Grey Area Sponsors
a.    To maximize the interests of the league and the Teams, sponsorship categories that are difficult to define are collectively referred to as "Grey Area Sponsors." Teams must obtain permission from the league to accept sponsorship deals from such sponsors, and the cooperation must meet the relevant specifications in the "Philippines Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports Grey Area Sponsor Standardization Process":
i.    NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens)
ii.    Blockchain
iii.    Bitcoin/Ethereum or any other cryptocurrency
iv.    Web 3.0

b.    Elements related to sponsorship deals in these categories must not be displayed on any official team attire or peripherals used in official events, including but not limited to logos, slogans and/or products.

c.    Under this clause, Teams are allowed to design a separate set of attire or peripherals with elements related to sponsorship deals in these categories as required. However, these items are strictly prohibited from being used in the MPL or MPL-represented events, including but not limited to MPL, MDL, MSC, M-Series, and all other third-party events in which MPL and/or MDL Teams participate (including but not limited to pre-match interviews and trials, during matches, post-match interviews, and fan interactions in any activities related to the official event), unless given absolute approval by the Operating Committee.

d.    Notwithstanding the above, the Operating Committee will, in their sole & absolute discretion, allow logos, slogans and/or products of the Grey Area Sponsors to be displayed IF these platforms have official licenses by the local authority to operate within the country of Philippines, however, the final approval will still be required by the Operating Committee.

5.4 Application and Approval Process
Before accepting any sponsorships, Teams must submit an application to the Operating Committee to obtain the committee’s approval. The application should include the following information:
a.    Basic information about the sponsor, including but not limited to the company name, logo, and sponsored product categories.
b.    Detailed information on how the team and team members will promote the sponsor.
c.    The Team/Team Member’s way, manner, or pattern to advertise the sponsor (for instance, if the sponsor requires the display of the sponsor’s logo on the Team Members’ T-shirts in the MPL, the design of such T-shirt needs to be provided in the request).

Do take note that it takes 10-15 days before the committee replies. 

5.5 Sponsorship Updates
a.    Changes in Team Sponsorships may only occur during the designated Regular Transfer Window Period by the Operating Committee.

i.    The 2026 2H Transfer Window Period: (GMT+8)
1.    25 August 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
2.    1 September 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
3.    8 September 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
4.    15 September 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
5.    22 September 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
6.    29 September May 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
7.    6 October 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM

ii.    The default mid-season sponsorship lock for all Teams will be as follows: (GMT+8)
1.    25 August 2026; 18:01 PM
2.    1 September 2026; 18:01 PM
3.    8 September 2026; 18:01 PM
4.    15 September 2026; 18:01 PM
5.    22 September 2026; 18:01 PM
6.    29 September 2026; 18:01 PM
7.    6 October 2026; 18:01 PM

b.    A Team Manager or Owner may only sell or manage sponsorships and brand elements for their affiliated team. Team owners are prohibited from granting ownership interests in the team, its owner, or its brand elements to any third party involved in the business of managing or selling MPL/MDL esports teams.

c.    Teams are allowed to submit a formal request to include and/or exclude sponsors in the middle of the season via the sponsorship update submission form & have to formally request to the committee with the relevant details & documents, to the email of operations.mplph@gmail.com with the template given in Appendix G.

d.    Teams are still required to receive approval from the league before being allowed to showcase any imagery of these sponsors/partners in the official league.

5.6 Broadcast and Media Committed/Sponsored Segments

a.    Teams’ full agreement upon any incidental exposure, in-program product placements, and non-direct sales-oriented product handling on MPL PH and MDL PH broadcast segments housed within MPL PH and MDL PH owned channels, regardless of sponsorship category conflicts. No product consumption required from Players and Teams.
Example:
i.    MVP presented by Smart, showcasing a Globe sponsored Player;
ii.    Handcam by Infinix, showcasing a Samsung sponsored Player;
iii.    Cocacola can product placement allocated within the broadcast and media area, in the same frame of a Pepsi sponsored Player.

b.    Teams’ full participation in video segments and creative assets relating to the promotion of the tournament livestream and event attendance, which may use league-sponsored material. These segments will only be utilized during the official league broadcasts and/or presented together with MPL PH and MDL PH promotional intentions.
Example:
i.    Use of Infinix phones on official trailer videos;
ii.    Bite-sized contents involving use of phone for MLBB playing;
iii.    Other creative executions that are subject to creative treatments.

c.    Teams will not be required to do any separate offline activations if they are engaged by a conflicting sponsor that is not part of the league broadcast.

5.7 Logo Usage of MPL PH and MDL PH

5.7.1 Approval Requirement for Promotional Materials

a.    Any use of the MPL PH or MDL PH logos, including derivatives or adaptations, by team sponsors for promotional purposes must first receive written approval from the Operating Committee.

5.7.2 Restricted Use Without Approval
a.    Team sponsors are prohibited from using the MPL PH or MDL PH logos on their promotional materials in any form unless explicitly authorized by the league.
b.    Unauthorized use of league logos may result in penalties for the team, as determined by the Operating Committee outlined in the Appendix A.

5.7.3 Guidelines for Approved Usage
a.    All uses of the logos must comply with the league's branding guidelines, which dictate size, placement, color, and overall presentation. Teams and sponsors must ensure their use adheres to these standards to maintain consistency and professionalism.

b.    Logos must not appear in conjunction with prohibited sponsor categories (as defined in Section 5.1) or on materials that promote products or services conflicting with the league’s interests.

5.7.4 Penalties for Misuse
￮    Unauthorized or inappropriate use of MPL PH or MDL PH logos may result in disciplinary actions, including fines, or other penalties as deemed necessary by the Operating Committee.

5.7.5 Submission Process for Approval
￮    Team sponsors seeking to use MPL PH or MDL PH logos must submit a formal request as outlined in the Team Sponsor Promotion Materials Approval SOP (outlined in Appendix J) detailing the intended use, including drafts of promotional materials, to the Operating Committee. 
￮    Requests must be submitted at least 48 hours prior to the intended usage date to allow sufficient time for review and feedback.

6. Team Ownership and Roster Rules

6.1 Ownership Restrictions
a.    No Team Owner or Team Manager or Affiliate of an Owner may own or control, directly or indirectly, or have a direct (e.g., ownership) or indirect (e.g., a contractual arrangement) financial interest, or be an employee or contractor of, more than one Mobile Legends: Bang Bangs team in MPL/MDL. Any buy-back provision, right of first purchase, or similar interest in a team shall be treated as a controlling interest in such team for the purposes of enforcing ownership restrictions.
b.    The definition of a "Club Sole Owner" is as follows:

i.    "Club Sole Owners"

1.    Company Name: MPL/MDL teams must belong to an independent company entity, multiple teams cannot be managed by a single company.
2.    Team Names and Logos: All MPL/MDL team names and logos must be unique, names cannot be shared, and there cannot be any team names or logos which are subordinate to another team.
3.    Legal Persons/Shareholders: Each MPL/MDL team must have its own individual legal persons/shareholders, multiple teams are not allowed to have the same legal persons/ shareholders belonging to them.
4.    Coaches/Leaders: Each MPL/MDL team can have its own independent coaches/leaders (only in the service of that team), coaches/leaders are not allowed to be members of more than one team.
5.    Team Base: Each MPL/MDL Team must have its own individual "Team Base", a Team Base cannot be used by multiple teams.
6.    Transfer Rules: Every MPL/MDL team must adhere to the league's official transfer system, teams are not allowed to privately allocate or transfer players within their own team.
 

Any other team members that participate in the league through any capacity are not allowed to purchase or attempt to possess/control any other MPL/MDL team through any other means before the end of the league in which they are participating in.
 

The league shall have the right to make final and binding determinations regarding Team ownership, issues relating to the multiple team restriction and other relationships that may otherwise have an adverse impact on the competitive integrity of the league. Any person that petitions for ownership into the MPL/MDL can be denied admission if they are found to have not acted with the professionalism sought by the Operating Committee. Someone seeking admission into the league must meet the highest standards of character and integrity. Candidates who have violated this rule set or attempted to act against the spirit of these rules, even if not formally contracted to the rule set, can be denied admission into the MPL/MDL.

ii.    Naming Rights
Changes in team ownership and partners with naming rights are only allowed before the start of the season and are not permitted during the Transfer Window.

iii.    Partnerships and Club Collaborations
For MPL, club partnerships with external entities, including but not limited to esports organizations, or investment groups, are generally not encouraged and will be subject to extensive review by the MPL Operating Committee. Any proposed partnership will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
1.    Competitive Integrity. The partnership must not compromise the competitive integrity of the MPL. This includes, but is not limited to, avoiding conflicts of interest, undue influence on team operations, and risks of collusion between partnered teams.
2.    Ownership Independence. Any club partnership agreement must not grant controlling interest or decision-making authority to the external entity over team operations, as defined in Section 1 of this rulebook.
3.    Transparency Requirements. Teams entering into partnerships must disclose all relevant details of the agreement to the MPL Operating Committee, including financial terms, contractual obligations, and operational impacts.
4.    League Approval. The MPL Operating Committee retains sole authority to approve or deny any proposed partnership. Denial can be based on concerns over professionalism, compliance with league regulations, or perceived risks to the reputation and integrity of the league.

6.2 Active Roster

6.2.1 Formation
Starters and Substitutes form the "Active Roster". No individual may simultaneously hold two or more of the roles listed above.

6.2.2 Single Team Exclusivity
A Player/Head Coach is only allowed to compete for the one Team that they have an agreement with. A Player/Head Coach will not be allowed to compete for more than one Team simultaneously and therefore cannot be listed on the Active Roster of more than one Team.

6.2.3 Disclosure
The Active Roster will be displayed on the official website of MPL and be updated upon proper filing of documentation. Once a conclusion of the Player Services Agreement is confirmed, the updated Active Roster will be placed on the website. The Active Roster of the Teams on that website will be considered the most up-to-date information that could be applied within a reasonable time.

6.2.4 Player Contract Verification
All official Players of a Team and team staff members in service of a Team must have a written contract, teams that are formed from a group of individuals must submit a group registration form to the Operating Committee. 
An MPL/MDL Player or official team staff members are only allowed to compete or participate for the one Team that they have a contract with. An individual will not be allowed to compete or participate for more than one Organization simultaneously and cannot be listed on the Roster of more than one Team. 
To verify that these Players and team staff members are officially under contract, each Team must submit the Summary Sheet from the Player Agreement ("Summary Sheet") for each individual they wish to designate as under contract, including starters and substitutes. Changes to the Roster may occur as described in Section 7 below. 
Each team is responsible for ensuring that all individuals are free from any other contractual obligations that may prevent them from participating in the MPL/MDL in whatever capacity. Should it come to light that any individual on a team cannot participate in the MPL/MDL despite the official registration and announcement of said individual for the league, teams shall be penalized accordingly.

6.3 Submission of Game Day Roster and Substitutions

6.3.1 Designation of Default Starting Roster
At a time designated by the Operating Committee, before the start of each split, each Team must submit their default starting roster to the committee, including five members of the Starters and one to five members of the Substitutes. This will be considered as the initial designation of each team for every game that the MPL League Operations will be defaulting to for each game day and match.
Teams may request to modify these default starting lineups but must be made in advance of any proposed effective date of any such change and this request must be made to the League Operations team.

6.3.2 First Game
a.    By default, League Operations will always assume the initial starting five of each team will be the ones to play and participate in their first game of the day.
b.    To modify the starting lineup, a team must submit their changes officially to League Operations no later than 1 day prior to the start of the broadcast.
i.    During the regular season, the deadline for this submission will be 1 day prior and no later than 18:00 (GMT+8).
ii.    Should a team have a match the next day and should their present day match end late past 18:00, the deadline for lineup modifications will be moved, at the very least, to 23:59 of the same day or, at the very most, the next day at 10:00. League Operations reserves the right as to which deadline would be more appropriate for each individual situation.
iii.    For the playoffs, other than each team's first match of the day, teams are allowed to modify their roster at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the next match on the same day. However, should there be less than 30 minutes left before the next match starts, no more changes will be allowed and a team will default to their starting five.
iv.    (Onsite) For the seating arrangement, players must sit in the seating order specified by the committee.

v.    Should any team fail to submit a request to modify their lineup for their first game, they will no longer be allowed to modify their lineup and will be forced to play on their default starting lineup and seating arrangement.
vi.    Each team lineup will be revealed to each team only two (2) hours before the start of their match on game day.

6.3.3 Onsite Roster Requirement

a.    The team must bring five starting players and at least one substitute player to the venue. If a team cannot bring five starters and one substitute, the player count may be reduced to five starting players only, but only with prior approval from officials. The team must inform the league via email at least three (3) hours before the slated match time, providing sufficient proof of documentation to support the absence of the player(s) or coach(es). Violations of this rule will result in penalties. In extreme cases, officials have the right to compel the team to change the onsite roster when necessary.

b.    The team must have at least one coach and one team manager onsite. However, only two coaching staff members are permitted on stage during matches. These two individuals do not necessarily have to include the head coach, as long as they are part of the designated coaching staff. Violations of this rule will result in penalties. In extreme cases, officials have the right to compel the team to change the onsite roster when necessary.

6.3.4 Emergency Protocol

a.    Teams are expected to relay any and all information to tournament officials should one of their players experience any form of illness, injury, or affliction as soon and as early as possible before the start of their next official match.

b.    At this point, tournament officials will confirm with the team if the member in question is capable of proceeding with their match. If answered in the negative and if the member is part of the submitted starting lineup for their match, they must be able to submit proof by way of a doctor's note, pictures of the illness, injury, or affliction (if physically visible), and the steps to be taken to help said member.

c.    At any point, the Operating Committee may choose to waive these requirements should the situation speak for itself and time is of the essence.The team will then be allowed to substitute the member in question beyond the lineup submission deadline and within a reasonable timeframe to be indicated by tournament officials.

d.    In the event of an emergency, a Team will be given certain time to find an immediate Substitute upon approval of the Operating Committee. In cases where a team is unable to find a substitute player within 2 hours of the competition commencement, the Team will forfeit. The Operating Committee will determine if an event qualifies as an emergency. A substitute player may be the head coach or any eligible free agent that is not connected to any official MPL/MDL team in any capacity. Should the substitute player chosen be a free agent, they must also satisfy the requirements stipulated in Player Eligibility of Team Member Eligibility.

e.    This provision will only ever be used should a team have no eligible substitutes due to causes beyond their control and should there be no other recourse available.

6.3.5 COVID-19 Protocol

Should a player included in the submitted lineup for a match be found to have tested positive for COVID-19, the team is expected to follow the provisions set forth in the "First Game" mentioned above. The player that tested positive must be immediately put into quarantine and replaced by any viable substitute on their team. The team must then cooperate fully with the Operating Committee as to the adjusted safety protocols required for them to be able to enter the venue.
Should more than half of a team test positive for COVID-19 or should there be enough members that test positive on a team that reduces their possible active roster to less than five (5) players, the team will be allowed to play from their bootcamp. However, all online play rules found in this document will then be applicable to them and must be stringently followed.
As for the opposing team, they will still be required to attend their match from the venue, but the rules that apply will remain to be onsite for them.

6.3.6 Substitutions during Match
A Team may substitute Players between Games of a Match. The Team must notify an official referee and have the substitute approved no later than five (5) minutes after the end of the game. For example, if a Team wishes to substitute a Player(s) in for the next Game, then the General Manager must notify and seek approval from an official referee no later than five (5) minutes following Game 1.
The "end of a game" is defined as both teams reaching the post-game results screen and after being given the signal from referees that both teams may leave the stage and the fifth (5th) player of each team enters the Player Waiting Room. Once this scenario occurs, the five-minute timer shall be started by a referee.

6.4 Third-Party Tournaments
In order to unify the uniqueness and value of the MPL PH and MDL PH, policies are imposed on teams who want to join third-party MLBB tournaments:
a.    MPL PH and MDL PH teams can only apply to join tournaments that have been granted Moonton's approval. Tournaments can apply for third-party tournament approval through this link: https://play.mobilelegends.com/thirdpartytournament/homeii. 
b.    If a team wants to attend the third-party tournament which is approved by Moonton, the team needs to send an official application for it to the Operating Committee at least one (1) week before the tournament.
c.    MPL PH/MDL PH will still be the priority for teams if any conflict arises between the league and third-party tournaments.
d.    Teams are not allowed to attend third-party tournaments without official approval.
e.    This policy is valid all the time. Even during season/split breaks.

7. Official Roster Changes

7.1 General Roster Change Rules
Teams are authorized to use three (3) methods to make changes to their Active Roster: (1) executing player transfers, (2) signing and terminating contracts with players, and (3) implementing individual player movements. All changes to Active Roster shall be approved by the MPL Operating Committee before they will be considered effective.

7.1.1 No Effect on Contractual Obligations
Each Team shall be responsible for making any and all payments to its Players which are required by its Player Services Agreements. No voluntary change to the Active Roster shall relieve a Team of its contractual obligation to pay its Players the minimum salary as prescribed in the Official Rules.

7.1.2 No Contract Violations
Any change to the Active Roster which violates any provision of a Player Services Agreement shall be ineffective, and the General Manager of any Team that is seeking a Player transfer shall have the responsibility to ensure that all proper approvals are sought and procured before the change would be considered to take effect.

7.1.3 Notification of Termination
Teams are not allowed to unilaterally terminate Player Service Agreements arbitrarily. If the Team has proper reasons to terminate the Player Services Agreement, it shall notify the MPL officials at least two (2) weeks before the termination.

7.1.4 Active Roster Requirement
No change to the Active Roster shall relieve a Team of the requirement to maintain a minimum Active Roster including five (5) Starters and one (1) Substitute during the Regular Season. If a Team falls below one Substitute on its Active Roster, it will be subject to penalties, unless given permission to drop below the minimum at the discretion of the MPL officials.

7.1.5 Applicable Scope
This Section is intended only to govern Active Roster changes voluntarily made by Teams and does not address mandatory Player substitutions which may be required by the Operating Committee as a result of the death or disability of a Player or the suspension or banning of a Player by the MPL officials as a result of the violation of the Official Rules.

7.1.6 Contract Records
All Player Services Agreements must be submitted to the Operating Committee for official recording. Agreements that are not recorded with the committee will be considered invalid. If a Player Services Agreement has been properly recorded, Teams or Players may report any violations to the MPL officials, who will enforce penalties on the defaulting parties in accordance with the league's penalty index.

7.1.7 Roster Change Periods Allowed
Teams may submit anytime within the week for roster change requests, but the Committee will only process every Monday/Tuesday

7.1.7.1 Mid-Season Roster Changes

i.    Mid-season roster changes are allowed during a the regular season transfer window announced by the Operating Committee.

1.    The 2026 2H Transfer Window Period: (GMT+8)
a.    25 August 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
b.    1 September 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
c.    8 September 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
d.    15 September 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
e.    22 September 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
f.    29 September May 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM
g.    6 October 2026; 10:00 AM until 18:00 PM

2.    The default mid-season roster lock for all Teams will be as follows: (GMT+8)
a.    25 August 2026; 18:01 PM
b.    1 September 2026; 18:01 PM
c.    8 September 2026; 18:01 PM
d.    15 September 2026; 18:01 PM
e.    22 September 2026; 18:01 PM
f.    29 September 2026; 18:01 PM
g.    6 October 2026; 18:01 PM

ii.    All changes must be submitted to and approved by the Operating Committee before they are considered effective.

iii.    Any Player added to the roster mid-season must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the Official Rules.

iv.    Teams must maintain the minimum Active Roster requirements, including five (5) Starters and one (1) Substitute, at all times.

7.1.7.2 Off-Season Roster Changes

i.    Off-season roster changes can be made after the conclusion of the split and prior to the roster lock deadline for the upcoming season.

ii.    During this period, teams have the flexibility to rebuild their rosters, subject to approval from the Operating Committee.

iii.    Teams may use this time to sign new players, release existing players, and renegotiate contracts, provided all actions comply with the Official Rules and Player Services Agreements.

7.1.8 Effectivity Date
Upon approval by the MPL Operating Committee, a roster change will take effect immediately unless a later effective date is specified in the Request Form. However, regardless of the specified date, the effective date of any roster change during a tournament period must comply with the league's Regular Transfer Window deadlines.
For the roster changes during the Transfer Window, the process is as follows:

a.    Submission of the Request Form. 

i.    The window for submission will only be on Transfer Window and only during the time period of 10:00 - 18:00. Any submission past 18:00 will be regarded as pending and processing to be continued on the next Transfer Window.
ii.    The processing will take approximately one (1) working day.
iii.    After processing is complete, the MPL Operating Committee will confirm with the Team and make announcements concerning the changes to other teams in the league for transparency. The Teams involved for the roster change would also be required to make an official statement and upload the same to the Team’s social media channels as an announcement.
iv.    A transferred individual will become eligible to compete in the MPL starting the week following approval by the MPL Operating Committee. For MDL, the individual will be eligible to compete in the following week after receiving approval from the MDL Operating Committee.

1.    The official announcement for the transfers will be conducted on the same day that the transfer has become official.
2.    Teams may not announce on their socials ahead of the league but may submit a social media plan to be approved by the MPL Operating Committee, if so desired.
3.    Should the league have any changes to the transfer announcement plans, the league shall ensure coordination with the teams.

7.2 Global Anti-Poaching and Anti-Interference Policies
During the period when the Player/Coach has not completed its Player Services Agreements, Teams can only carry out transactions and negotiations through the Player's/Coach's Team. Any private communication with individuals regarding trades will be regarded as a violation of global anti-poaching and anti-interference policies. The MPL Operating Committee reserves the right to carry out penalties to the appropriate extent in the event of the aforementioned situation in accordance with the league's penalty index. The table below shows an illustrative example of what constitutes poaching:
 

 For the avoidance of doubt, the committee shall in their sole and absolute discretion decide, based on the circumstances and reasonability, if a Team has violated any anti-poaching rules in accordance to this Official Rules.

7.3 Transfer Information Sharing and Confidentiality
•    To support professional integrity and transparency across regions, the Official League has established an International MPL Transfer Group, which includes representatives from various MPL regions. Each MPL PH Team is allowed to appoint one official representative to participate in this group. 
￮    The purpose of this group is to centralize and secure sensitive transfer information, ensuring that all teams have a clear and verified point of contact (PIC) for any loan or transfer discussions.
￮    This process helps prevent poaching, miscommunication, and unauthorized outreach between teams and players.
￮    All discussions, documents, and communications within this group are considered strictly confidential.
￮    Disclosure of any information from this group to external parties, including but not limited to media, fans, players, or other teams, for personal gain or competitive advantage, is strictly prohibited.
￮    Violation of this confidentiality will result in penalty

7.4 Player Transfers
A Team may transfer Players held on its Active Roster, provided that the details of the trade, including copies of all written agreements, are submitted to the MPL officials for approval in written form. The trade between Teams must be completed before the end of the Transfer Window of a split through mail or written form. The MPL officials will not approve any trades which exceed this period. Inter-Club player trade rules are as follows:

7.4.1 Quantity
a.    MPL/MDL teams may process transfers as much as possible provided that the provisions on contract requirements found herein are strictly followed.
b.    Naturally, MPL/MDL Teams may not exceed the maximum roster capacity of 10 Players on each Team, and the minimum roster requirement pursuant to these Official Rules must also be strictly followed.

7.4.2 Cross-Regional Player Trading
According to the requirements as provided in the Official Rules, Players can be traded across regions.

7.4.3 Transaction Requirements
Only the transaction involving Players on Active Roster shall seek the approval of the MPL/MDL officials.

7.4.4 League Approval
Player transfer requests must be submitted to the Operating Committee by the Teams in advance, in writing, and approved by the committee, in writing, before becoming effective. The transfer request approval process consists of the MPL Operating Committee confirming that the trades are occurring within the approved Transfer Window and must meet all qualifications and other rules.

7.4.5 Request Form
The request must be made using the Transfer Approval Request Form as provided by the MPL/MDL Operating Committee that must contain the following information:
1.    Names of all Teams involved;
2.    Names of all General Managers involved;
3.    Personal names and Player Names of all Players involved and their status as Starter/Substitute;
4.    Description of transfer;
5.    The amount of any compensation being paid by one Team to another as a part of any consideration;
6.    Requested effective date of the trade (if necessary);
7.    General Manager’s Signature. The General Manager of each Team involved in a trade or a series of trades must sign the Transfer Approval Request Form. Unsigned Transfer Approval Request Forms will not be processed by the general Operating Committee.

7.4.6 Trading Relationship Restriction
During the valid period of the Player Services Agreement, trades will only be limited to a trading relationship between the Teams. The Team which the Player belongs to reserves the right to refuse another to have trade negotiations with the Players themselves or a third party.

7.4.7 Regular Season Player Transfers
Player Transfer requests during the Transfer Window period must be submitted to the MPL/MDL Operating Committee by the Teams in advance, in writing. This will then require full and official approval from the Operating Committee before becoming effective. The movement request approval process consists of the committee confirming that the movements are occurring within the approved Transfer Window and must meet all qualifications and other rules. If a team wants to move their players, they need to submit several data below to be approved by the MPL Operating Committee:
a.    Transfer Approval Request Form
b.    The team needs to submit the new player data (biography, achievement, background, contract, visa (if player is foreign), and using the official forms prepared by the Operating Committee

7.4.8 Player Transfer through Loaning
Player transfers through loaning are permitted only during the off-season roster changes and are not allowed during the mid-season roster changes. The loaning of players must comply with all transfer rules outlined in these Official Rules and requires approval from the MPL Operating Committee. Teams wishing to loan players during the off-season must submit the Loan Transfer Request Form, which includes the following information:
1.    Names of all Teams involved in the loan agreement;
2.    Names of the General Managers involved in the loan agreement;
3.    Personal names and Player Names of the Players being loaned;
4.    Terms of the loan agreement, including duration, any compensation, and any additional conditions;
5.    Requested effective date of the loan transfer;
6.    General Manager’s Signature.
The loan transfer will only become effective upon the approval of the MPL Operating Committee, and it must comply with all relevant contractual and roster rules.

7.5 Coaching Staff Transfers

7.5.1 Period
Similar to the Transfer Window of Players during the Regular Season.

7.5.2 Frequency
Similar frequency limitations as with Player Transfers during the Transfer Window of Players during the Regular Season.

7.5.3 General Limitations
Coaching staff may not exceed the maximum capacity for a Team for a transfer to proceed.

7.5.4 Transaction Requirements
All Teams coaching staff must meet the requirements of the league they are transferring to contained herein.

7.5.5 League Approval
Coaching staff transfer requests must be submitted to the Operating Committee by the Teams in advance, in writing, and approved by the committee, in writing, before becoming effective. The transfer request approval process consists of the MPL Operating Committee confirming that the trades are occurring within the approved Transfer Window and must meet all qualifications and other rules.

7.5.6 Request Form
Team needs to submit the new coach data (biography, achievement, background, contract, salary and visa, if required, etc) using the form the MPL Operating Committee prepared aside from the Transfer Approval Request Form. 

7.6 Free Agent Signings
The provisions on free agency in these rules are designed to promote team continuity, prevent last-minute roster changes that damage team identity and cohesion, protect tournament integrity, and enhance fan enjoyment of the league's tournament play. To that end, the committee has established strict limitations on free agent signings:
￮    Free agent signings are not permitted for MPL Teams during the Mid-Season Roster Changes. 
Changes to MPL rosters during the mid-season must occur through transfers, promotions, or demotions, as outlined in section 7.1. of this rulebook. But, Reactivating players from the inactive list is allowed. However, the inactive roster must be submitted and included whenever the roster management deadline is passed.
￮    Free Agent coaches may be signed at any time during the roster transfer window, as long as the signing adheres to the league’s approval process outlined in Section 7.5.4
For MDL Teams, free agent signings are allowed, but only during designated periods or windows approved by the MPL Operating Committee. This flexibility allows MDL Teams to strengthen their rosters while maintaining the integrity of the league and its competitions. A Team may sign free agents for MDL as follows:

7.6.1 Free Agent
Refers to an individual eligible to participate in MPL who:
a.    Has not signed a valid written player agreement with other MPL/MDL Team or a Team in another league, or
b.    Has been released or has a contract that has expired with an MPL/MDL Team or a Team in another league and has not renewed it, or
c.    Any Player released to Free Agent must meet the condition of having no event contract with any Team. The Team needs to terminate the event contract with the Player before releasing the Player to Free Agent.

7.6.2 Free Agent Period
Teams may only sign a Free Agent during the Off-Season Roster Changes period. Signing Free Agents during the active season is strictly prohibited, regardless of the circumstances. The table below provides illustrative examples of free agent signing scenarios and their corresponding analysis, along with whether they are permitted or not:

 7.6.3 Active Roster Requirement
Free Agent signings do not relieve a Team of the requirement to maintain an Active Roster, including but not limited to a minimum of five (5) Starters and one (1) Substitute during the Regular Season.

7.6.4 League Approval
Free Agent signing requests must be submitted by a Team in advance, in writing, and approved by the MPL official, in writing, before becoming effective. Free Agent signing procedures must comply with all other requirements and rules. The approval will include a behavior check that can include in-game and out-of-game behavior.

7.7 Player Inactive Status
A Player may be placed on Inactive Status by their Team under specific circumstances, such as injury, personal reasons, or other valid conditions that prevent the Player from fulfilling their regular duties. Players on Inactive Status are not considered part of the Active Roster and are not eligible to participate in official matches or events during this period. However, even though the Player is not part of the Active Roster, they remain under contract with the Team and are not considered a free agent.

7.7.1 Contractual Obligations
The Player's contract remains in effect during the Inactive Status, and the Team is still obligated to meet any contractual obligations, unless otherwise agreed.

7.7.2 Ineligibility for Active Roster
A Player who starts the season with Inactive Status may return to the Active Roster during mid-season. However, if a Player attains Inactive Status while the season is ongoing, they must remain inactive for the rest of the season and cannot rejoin the Active Roster.

7.7.3 MPL Operating Committee Approval
Any changes to the Player's status or attempts to return to the Active Roster (if applicable) require the approval of the MPL Operating Committee, following the submission of appropriate documentation confirming the Player's readiness to resume participation.

7.8 Player Releases

7.8.1 Voluntary Player Releases
Teams may release Players and/or Coaches at their discretion, provided they comply with the terms and conditions outlined in the Player Services Agreement.
Teams must notify the MPL Operating Committee of the release by submitting an official Individual Release Request Form.

7.8.2 Contractual Obligations
Teams remain responsible for fulfilling any outstanding contractual obligations to the released Player/Coach, including but not limited to the payment of any owed salary or benefits.

7.8.3 League Approval
The release of a Player must be approved by the MPL Operating Committee before it is effective. Any disputes arising from Player releases, including contractual obligations, will be handled per the Official Rules and the league’s penalty index.

7.9 Player Retirement
If Players are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations, they can negotiate with the Teams to terminate the Player Services Agreements or choose to retire from the Teams. Retired Players may only participate in the MPL competitions after the completion of one (1) calendar year from the date of the Retired Player’s retirement (for instance, if a Player retired in 01 July 2025, then the Retired Player may only participate from 02 July 2026 onwards). Retiring Players must carry out retirement procedures of which the types are divided into the following categories.

7.9.1 Negotiated Retirement
Players negotiate and carry out the retirement procedure through their Team, together with an official from the MPL Operating Committee.

7.9.2 Unauthorized Retirement
Unauthorized retirement refers to a player’s unilateral departure from a team without completing the official retirement procedure. Such declarations are invalid for roster and eligibility purposes and do not exempt the player from league obligations.
Players who carry out an unauthorized retirement may be deemed ineligible to participate in MPL/MDL competitions for a period of three hundred and sixty five (365) days, subject to review by the Operating Committee.

7.10 Comparison Between Player Releases and Player Retirement
To clarify the distinctions between Player Releases and Player Retirement, the following table provides a detailed comparison:
 

 7.11 Player Movements

7.11.1 Promotion (Upward Movement)
a.    MPL teams can apply during the season to promote players from their affiliated MDL teams to MPL teams, provided that the promoted players meet the qualifications and other participation requirements of MPL.
b.    The promotion process should be completed before the official mid-season roster lock. After promotion, the number of players in the MDL team must still meet the minimum team size requirements set by MDL officials.
c.    The service fee paid to promoted players must not be lower than the minimum standard set by MPL/MDL officials. If the team pays a service fee higher than this standard to the promoted player, the team must also submit an additional service fee confirmation document signed by both parties to MPL/MDL officials for record-keeping.
d.    For teams that do not comply with the above rules, officials have the right to reject promotion applications or take corresponding punitive measures.

7.11.2 Demotion (Downward Movement)
a.    MPL teams can apply during the season to demote players from their team to their affiliated MDL teams, provided that the demoted players meet the qualifications and other participation requirements of MDL.
b.    The demotion process should be completed before the official mid-season roster lock. After demotion, the number of players in the MPL team must still meet the minimum team size requirements set by MPL officials.
c.    Teams and demoted players can, on mutually agreed terms, modify the player service agreement, but the team must not, on the grounds of demotion, refuse to fulfill its contractual obligations or engage in behavior that diminishes the benefits and treatment of demoted players, which would be detrimental to the interests of the demoted player.

7.11.3 Free Agent to MDL to MPL

a.    Free Agent Signing to MDL
i.    MDL teams can sign Free Agents during the season, provided the Free Agent meets the eligibility and participation requirements outlined by MDL officials.
ii.    The signing process must be completed before the official mid-season roster lock and adhere to the MDL roster size limitations.
iii.    The signed Free Agent must be registered with MDL officials, and the player's service agreement must meet or exceed the minimum standards set by the MDL and stay in MDL for at least a week.

b.    Promotion from MDL to MPL for Free Agents
i.    A Free Agent initially signed by an MDL team may be promoted to the MPL team within the same organization, provided that:
1.    The Free Agent has been officially registered and has stayed on the MDL for at least one (1) whole week prior to promotion.
2.    The promotion application is submitted within the designated Transfer Window or mid-season roster lock deadline.
3.    The promoted Free Agent meets the MPL's eligibility criteria, including age, residency, and other participation requirements.

7.11.4 Limitations
Player movements must not cause the MPL or MDL rosters to violate the minimum or maximum roster size requirements.

7.11.5 Review Duration
For mid-season promotion and demotion applications, officials will complete the review within one (1) working day.

7.11.6 Role Reclassification 
A registered Team Member may be reclassified between Player and Team Official during the Season subject to approval by the MPL Operating Committee.
￮    A Team Member reclassified from Player to Team Official or vice versa may not revert to their previous classification within the same Regular Season.
￮    A Team Member registered as a Player shall not be permitted to perform Team Official duties (including draft participation) unless officially reclassified and approved.

8. Match Process

8.1 Schedule Modifications
The MPL officials may, at its sole discretion, re-order the schedule of matches within a given day and/or change the date of an MPL match to a different date or otherwise modify the schedule of matches. In the event that the MPL official modifies a match schedule, it will notify all Teams at the earliest convenience.

8.2 Boot Camp Play Area Requirements (Online)
Applicability
The requirements in this section apply only to matches designated by the MPL Operating Committee as online or remote matches.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, all MPL matches are conducted onsite, and teams are not required to maintain or operate online boot camp play areas during onsite competition.

8.2.1 Basic Structure
a.    There must be two (2) playing areas. One serves as the primary playing area for an entire participating team during official matches and a secondary playing area for participating players in quarantine.
b.    Each playing area must have webcam access for observation conducted by the MPL Operating Committee.
c.    Playing areas must have sufficient lighting by default so as not to obscure players' faces and actions.
d.    Playing areas must be equipped with at least one (1) mic to serve as the main mode of contact with the MPL Operating Committee.

8.2.2 Usage
a.    Webcams must be able to capture most, if not all, of the playing areas' encompassing space and the main entrance/exit must be visible.
b.    The mic for each playing area must be manned by the coach, manager, or team captain to be able to quickly align issues or requests that crop up before, during, and after official matches.
c.    By default, coaches and other staff must not be in the playing areas after draft and must be visibly seen exiting the room.
i.    Should coaches need to hear their team comms during the game, they may coordinate with the MPL Operating Committee on how to proceed with this before the season starts.
Provided that extensive inspections and planning have occurred between the teams and the Operating Committee, the committee reserves the right to waive any of the basic requirements above or may add to it at any point due to limitations, circumstances, or situations on a case by case basis per team.

8.3 Match Preparation
All members of a Team's roster that are slated to participate in a match must be ready to participate in time for MPL PH League Operations' pre-match preparations, starting with the players' phone logins and ping test.
"Ready," in context of this rule, is the indicative status that all participating players are in full attendance at the venue, wherever it may be, and are able to fully comply and commit with any and all instructions from the tournament staff.
By default, pre-match preparations of the tournament staff will commence at least an hour and a half before the start of a match. Teams will be considered late if they are unable to fully comply with the start of these preparations.
For online matches, teams must be located in a singular location where referees can observe them via webcam through Discord or other means. Once called for their match, all participating players must be seen and fully visible in the video feed.

8.4 Referees 
8.4.1 Authority and Conduct
Referees are appointed by the MPL Operating Committee and are responsible for enforcing the Official Rules and ensuring fair and orderly match operations.
Referees are expected to perform their duties impartially, professionally, and without bias. Any conflicts of interest must be disclosed to the Operating Committee.

8.4.2 Neutrality and Independence
Referees shall not favor or prejudice any player, team, or organization and shall not allow personal relationships or external information to influence official rulings.

8.4.3 Attire and Procedures
Referees must comply with official procedures, protocols, and attire requirements as determined by the MPL Operating Committee.

8.4.4 Oversight
Referee performance and conduct are subject to internal review by the MPL Operating Committee in accordance with established evaluation and risk management frameworks.

8.5 Player Appeals
Any concerns or appeals raised by players or teams regarding match rulings must be communicated through the designated referee in accordance with established procedures.
Referees may escalate matters to the MPL Operating Committee where clarification, review, or guidance is required. Referees shall not independently negotiate or grant requests that fall outside their delegated authority.
Decisions made by referees during a match remain in effect unless reviewed or overruled by the MPL Operating Committee.

8.6 Final Authority
The MPL Operating Committee retains final authority over the interpretation and application of the Official Rules, protocols, and procedures throughout the season.
Any unresolved matters requiring intervention shall be determined by the MPL Operating Committee in accordance with league governance standards.

8.7 General Match Procedures

8.7.1 Pre-Match Readiness
All Teams must be ready to participate in official matches in accordance with league schedules and pre-match procedures.
A Team is considered ready when:
￮    its submitted starting lineup is present in full;
￮    all participating players are available to comply with pre-match preparations; and
￮    the Team is capable of commencing the match at the scheduled broadcast start time.
Unless otherwise notified, pre-match preparations will begin approximately ninety (90) minutes prior to a Team’s scheduled match time.
Failure to meet pre-match readiness requirements may result in penalties or other consequences in accordance with the Penalty Index.

8.7.2 Team Tardiness
A Team will be considered late if it is unable to comply with pre-match readiness requirements at the scheduled start of pre-match preparations.
Additional penalties may apply where:
￮    the Team arrives within a limited window prior to match start;
￮    the Team is unable to field its full submitted starting lineup at match start; or
￮    the Team’s tardiness materially disrupts match operations or broadcast schedules.
All penalties related to tardiness shall be applied in accordance with the Penalty Index.

8.7.3 Failure to Field Intended Lineup
Teams are expected to field their submitted starting lineup for the first game of a match.
Where a Team is unable or unwilling to field its intended lineup at match start, the Team may be subject to penalties in accordance with the Penalty Index, regardless of whether the match proceeds.

8.7.4 Pause and Technical Interruption Procedures
All pauses, technical interruptions, and related requests during a match shall be governed exclusively by the Pause & Technical Interruption Protocol (PTIP) found within the MPL Operational Guidelines issued by the MPL Operating Committee.
Pause requests must be initiated, communicated, and administered strictly in accordance with the PTIP. Any pause request that does not comply with the procedures, signaling requirements, or conditions set forth in the PTIP shall be deemed invalid or unreasonable, regardless of intent.
Teams, players, coaches, and other team staff are deemed to have full knowledge of, and to have agreed to comply with, the PTIP for the duration of the season.
Unreasonable pauses, abuse of pause privileges, or failure to comply with PTIP procedures may result in penalties, forfeiture, or other disciplinary action in accordance with the Penalty Index.
Referees may pause or resume a match where necessary to preserve competitive integrity, subject to oversight by the MPL Operating Committee and in accordance with the PTIP.

8.8 Gambling Prohibition
a.    The MPL strictly prohibits all forms of gambling or betting related to league matches, events, or activities. This includes, but is not limited to, wagering money, items of value, or services on match outcomes, performance metrics, in-game achievements, or any other aspect of league events.
b.    All rules prohibiting Gambling on Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, as provided in this Official Rules, shall apply to Players, Coaches, Team Managers, Referees, and Game Observers without limitation.
Prohibited activities include:
i.    Direct Participation in Gambling:
▪    Players, Coaches, or Team Staff placing bets on their own matches or other MPL/MDL matches, whether for or against their Team.
ii.    Endorsement of Gambling Activities:
▪    Promoting, endorsing, or advertising gambling platforms or activities through any medium, including social media, in-game actions, or live streams.
iii.    Betting by Proxy:
▪    Arranging for a third party to place bets on behalf of Players, Coaches, or Team Staff to circumvent the prohibition.
Illustrative Example:
 

9. Match Environment, Setup, and Gameplay Rules
This section defines the competitive game environment, match setup requirements, and gameplay rules applicable to all MPL matches. Detailed operational procedures may be governed by applicable SOPs and protocols issued by the MPL Operating Committee.

9.1 Competitive Patch and Game Version
The MPL Operating Committee will determine the game version and patch to be used for official matches and will notify Teams in advance.
Teams are required to compete on the designated game version as specified by the Operating Committee, regardless of the live or public server version.

9.2 Banning of New/Remade Heroes
On the online servers, some remade Heroes, and Heroes that have newly been added will be prohibited from use within a week of being updated. The specific match prohibitions and usage times will be notified by the Operating Committee. As for Heroes that are known to cause glitches, members of the MPL operating committee will prohibit their usage for Matches for a period of time according to the seriousness of the glitch, and the teams must strictly comply with the committee’s notifications. Should there be a situation where a hero is scheduled to be unbanned after the start of the playoffs, the hero will be banned for the entirety of the playoffs instead.
Example: Hero A was released on March 1, 2025, so Hero A becomes eligible to be used in all Matches on March 8, 2025.

9.3 Pre-Match Setup

9.3.1 Match Accounts
During the Match, in tournament server, all heroes and skins can be used for free. All teams need to ensure that all their players have already set their accounts into tournament server before they reach the tournament venue. This includes but is not limited to In-Game Nickname adjustment and Team name adjustment. 
MPL matches will be conducted on a local tournament server or the official game server. Teams would need to ensure that they have server IDs ready. If the MPL Operating Committee discover that any players have not done the necessary preparation or made adjustments while on match area, the league would have to implement the penalty system set by the league.

9.3.2 Setup Time
Players will have designated blocks of time prior to their match time to ensure they are fully prepared. The MPL Operating Committee will inform Players and Teams of their scheduled setup time and duration as part of their match schedule. The MPL official may change the schedule at any time. Setup time is considered to have begun once Players enter the match area, at which point they are not allowed to leave without permission of the on-site Referee. Setup is comprised of the following:
￮    Ensuring the quality of all MPL-provided equipment
￮    Connecting and calibrating devices
￮    Ensuring proper function of voice chat system
￮    Setting up emblem and battle spells pages
￮    Adjusting in-game settings
￮    Limited in-game warm up

9.3.3 Seating Arrangement
For the seating arrangement, players must sit in the seating order specified by the committee in section 6.3.2 of this rulebook. Applicable only for venue matches.

9.3.4 Technical Failure of Equipment
If a Player encounters any equipment problems during any phase of the setup process, Player must alert and notify the MPL official immediately.

9.3.5 Technical Support
The MPL officials will be available to assist with the setup process and troubleshoot any problems encountered during the pre-match setup period.

9.3.6 Timelines of Match Start
It is expected that Players will resolve any issues with the setup process within the allotted time and that match will begin at the scheduled time. Delays due to setup problems may be permitted, at the sole discretion of the MPL officials. Penalties for tardiness may be assessed at the discretion of the committee.

9.3.7 Acknowledgment of Pre-Match Testing
Approximately five (5) minutes before the match is scheduled to begin, a Referee will confirm with each Player that their setup is complete.

9.3.8 Player Ready State
Once all ten Players in a Match have confirmed completion of setup, Players may not alter their emblem pages or enter a warm up game.
Once players have confirmed that they are ready, when the game starts, they may no longer protest any issues with their in-game settings whether by way of interface, setups for emblems and battle spell pages, or phone settings. All players must continue the game as is.

9.3.9 Game Lobby Creation
The MPL officials will decide how the official game lobby will be created. Players will be directed by the Referee to join a game lobby as soon as testing has been completed, in their seating order.

9.3.10 Disqualification
If a team is unable to ensure that a full five (5) members of their team can participate in the game, it will be deemed as a complete match loss by the MPL officials. The winning team will be granted the maximum points (e.g. 1:0 for BO1, 2:0 for BO3, 3:0 for BO5). No other data of a lost game will be recorded.

9.4 Game Setup

9.4.1 Start of Pick / Ban Process
Once all ten Players have reported to the official game lobby, a Referee will request confirmation that both Teams are ready for the pick/ban phase (as defined and described below). Once both Teams confirm readiness, a Referee will instruct the OB to start the game.

9.4.2 Recording of Pick/Ban Process
Picks/bans will proceed through the client's Tournament Mode feature. If picks/bans are completed substantially in advance of game setup, at the instruction and discretion of the MPL officials, the MPL officials will record the official picks/bans and manually abort the game start.

9.4.3 General Game Settings
•    Rotation Map Rules
a.    The Rotation Map system shall be implemented using the active map pool available in the tournament, replacing the standard battlefield as the default tournament map selection. At the start of the season, the active rotation map pool consists of the following maps:
i.    Dangerous Grass
ii.    Broken Walls
iii.    Flying Cloud
iv.    Expanding River

b.    A Map Cycle consists of one use of each map in the active rotation map pool. Once a map has been selected for a Game, it shall be removed from the available map pool and may not be selected again during the same Map Cycle. Where all maps have been used, or where the applicable Match format expressly requires a new Map Cycle, all maps shall be returned to the available map pool. Map selection shall then continue in accordance with the applicable Regular Season, Playoffs, or Grand Finals rules below.

c.    The active rotation map pool may be modified, replaced, or reverted by official MLBB game updates or tournament updates released by the game publisher during the season. Should such changes occur, the MPL Operating Committee shall adopt the applicable official map pool for all subsequent matches and notify Teams accordingly.
Regular Season (BO3)
a.    The Home Team shall select the map for Game 1.
b.    The Away Team shall select the map for Game 2.
c.    The Home Team shall select the the third and final map.
Playoffs (BO5)
a.    The Bo3 process shall apply for the first three games.
b.    For the fourth game, the final map shall be used.
c.    For the fifth game, a new map cycle shall be used where all rotation maps shall be returned to the available map pool. The Home team shall have choice for this game. 
Grand Finals (BO7)
a.    The Bo5 process shall apply for the first five games.
b.    For the sixth game, the Away team shall choose from the remaining three maps.
c.    For the seventh game, the Home team shall choose from the remaining two maps.
Teams and players are required to comply with the active map rotation and any map assignment determined or confirmed by tournament officials.
In the event of technical limitations, client behavior, or system issues that prevent the intended map from being selected or loaded in the game lobby, tournament officials may designate an alternative map selection method, including randomization or defaulting to a singular map, which shall be deemed final and binding.
No remakes or disputes shall be granted on the basis of map preference, selection method, or unintended client behavior, except where official remake procedures are triggered in accordance with Rule 10.3.6
•    Team Size: 5
•    Allow Spectators: Lobby Only
•    Game Type: Draft Pick
•    In special circumstances, players are required to make certain configuration adjustments according to the league's official requirements. This includes but is not limited to:
a.    Graphics quality, frame rate, etc.
b.    Configuration of in-game items (such as battlefield emotes)

9.4.4 Pick/Ban Phase & Side Selection

9.4.4.1 Draft Pick
The observer will select Draft Pick. After Draft has started, the starting Players of each Team can't be substituted. Players can use any hero within the Team's draft (heroes prohibited by the committee can't be used).
Teams are prohibited from not banning a hero during the draft phase unless they have been granted permission by the MPL Operating Committee. Teams must request permission at least two hours prior to their match. The committee reserves the right to refuse the request, especially if the reason for the request is deemed detrimental to the integrity of the league.
•    If a Team does not ban a hero during the ban phase, the team will be given a warning by their assigned marshal. If the Team does not ban another hero, they will be given a penalty and their marshals will be warning them about keeping the integrity of the competition and marshals will be watching for further actions that may suggest that they are not taking the match seriously or deliberately losing the game.

9.4.4.2 Restrictions on Gameplay Elements
Restrictions may be added at any time before or during a Match, if there are known bugs with any items, heroes, skins, emblems, or battle spells, or for any other reason as determined at the discretion of the MPL official.

9.4.4.3 Side Selection

1.    During the regular season, each team fights with one another twice. Each time they face off against one another, each team will be designated as the "Home" or "Away" team. A team designated as "Home" will be placed on the left side of the stage and will always have priority for in-game side selection. The "Away" team will have side selection priority for the next game as if they had lost a traditional coin flip.

a.    Each team will play as the Home and Away team at least once for each matchup, guaranteeing that both teams will have primary side selection priority once throughout the season against one another.

b.    Should a 3rd game be necessary, the Home team will once again receive the side selection priority.

c.    Side selection choice must be given to the MPL Operating Committee at least two (2) hours before the start of a team's first game, synchronized with the lineup reveal for each team but it should be revealed to the opposing team at least 10 minutes before Game 1. Liaison Officers and Referees will follow up on the side selection and will guide the team appropriately to the timed deadline. Should a Team fail to give their side selection in time, they will default to 1st pick.
i.    Note that lineups of each team must be given before the Team that has side selection rights choice makes their choice.
ii.    Once the lineups has been given to both teams, the Team with side selection rights must make their decision within five (5) minutes.
iii.    Should a Team fail to confirm their choice within the time limit, they will then be defaulted to 1st pick.

d.    In between games, the Team with side selection priority will have a time limit of three (3) minutes to provide their choice to the MPL Operating Committee. Should a Team fail to give their side selection in time, they will default to 1st pick.

e.    In the Playoffs, the higher-ranked seed will always be regarded as the Home team in their matches. Side selection designation will then alternate every game, similar to the regular season's mechanics. This applies even to the Grand Finals.

2.    Play-Ins and Playoffs

a.    The higher-ranked seed will always be regarded as the Home team in their matches. Side selection designation will then alternate every game, similar to the MPL's regular season mechanics. This applies even to the Grand Finals.

9.4.4.4 Selection Error
In the event of an erroneously-selected hero pick or ban caused by personal reason, the erroneous selection shall be deemed irrevocable. If it is caused by a technical reason or malfunction of the Game, the Team who has committed the error must notify a referee immediately. Player POV footage shall be reviewed and the Head Match Operator shall have final decision on whatever resolution is concluded.
If a Team has already reported a selection error caused by a technical reason, but the draft proceeds before play can be paused, the draft shall be reset and restarted. All picks and bans made prior to the reported selection error shall remain unchanged, while all subsequent picks and bans shall be conducted again.

9.4.4.5 Trading Heroes
Teams must complete all Heroes trades before the countdown ends during the Trading Phase, otherwise will be subject to any disadvantages or consequences arising therefrom.

9.4.4.6 Game Start After Pick/Ban
A Game will start immediately after the pick/ban process is complete, unless otherwise stated by the MPL Operating Committee. At this point, the committee will remove any printed materials from the Match Area, including any notes written by Team Members. Players are not allowed to quit a Game during the time between the completion of picks/bans and game launch, also known as "Free Time."

9.4.4.7 Controlled Game Start
In the event of an error in-game start or a decision by MPL to separate the pick/ban process from the game start, the MPL Operating Committee may start the Game in a controlled manner. Players will select Heroes in accordance with the previous valid completed pick/ban process.

9.4.4.8 Slow Client Load
If a bug, disconnect, or any other failure occurs that interrupts the loading process and prevents a Player from joining a Game upon game start, the Game must be immediately paused until all ten Players are connected to the Game.

9.4.4.9 In-Game Chat
Players may make use of in-game chat for the purposes of strategy and personal timers. However, the MPL Operating Committee reserves the right to forbid the use of in-game chat if it is found to be necessary and may continue to forbid it for the rest of the season.

9.4.4.10 Quick Chat
Use of Quick Chat that has [All] Function is prohibited to be used by any team throughout the match.

10. Match Integrity, Interruptions, and Restarts

10.1 Definition of Terms

10.1.1  Unintentional Disconnection
An Unintentional Disconnection occurs when a Player loses connection to the Game due to an issue involving the Game client, competition device, network, server, venue infrastructure, or another technical condition not caused by an unauthorized action of the Player.

10.1.2 Intentional Disconnection
An Intentional Disconnection occurs when a Player loses connection to the Game as a result of a deliberate or unauthorized action under the Player’s control, including but not limited to:
1.     manually exiting or closing the Game; 
2.     powering off or restarting the competition device; 
3.     disabling or interfering with the device’s network connection; or 
4.     disconnecting or interfering with competition equipment. 
For purposes of rule enforcement, any such unauthorized action shall be deemed intentional regardless of the Player’s stated purpose, unless the action was expressly authorized by an MPL Official or directly resulted from a technical malfunction beyond the Player’s control.

10.1.3 Server Crash
A Server Crash occurs when all Players lose connection to a Game, or when the active Match session becomes unavailable, due to a failure of the game server or Match Server.
A failure affecting the venue network, internet connection, power supply, or other supporting infrastructure shall not be considered a Server Crash unless the MPL Operating Committee determines that the failure originated from the applicable server system.

10.1.4 Verifiable Incident
A Verifiable Incident is an event or condition other than a Bug whose occurrence and relevant effects on a Game can be reasonably confirmed through one or more reliable sources, including but not limited to:
1.     direct observation by an MPL Official; 
2.     Player point-of-view footage; 
3.     observer or broadcast footage; 
4.     system records or technical examination; or 
5.     other evidence deemed reliable by the MPL Operating Committee. 
A Verifiable Incident may include, without limitation:
1.     an error or delay by an MPL Official, including an improper resumption of play or failure to execute a valid pause request promptly; 
2.     a Hardware Malfunction; 
3.     a Server Crash or Network or Infrastructure Failure; 
4.     unauthorized third-party interference; 
5.     an extraordinary venue, environmental, or physical disruption; or 
6.     another unforeseen event that directly affects live play. 
Ordinary competition conditions, subjective distraction, or an unsupported claim of lost concentration shall not constitute a Verifiable Incident unless the incident and its material effects can be reasonably confirmed.
For purposes of the Time Rewind Protocol, a Verifiable Incident may be considered in the same manner as a Verifiable Bug where it causes or is reasonably likely to cause a material competitive disadvantage. The MPL Operating Committee shall apply the relevant provisions concerning Dead-Ball State, Cost, recoverability, competitive impact, and available remedies.

A Verifiable Incident is not required to be classified as a General Bug or Critical Bug.

10.1.5 Bug
A Bug is an error, defect, or unintended behavior in the Game, Game client, or official game data that causes any Game mechanic, statistic, visual element, control, interaction, or recorded information to function or appear incorrectly or abnormally.
Hardware malfunctions, network failures, server failures, and external conditions shall not by themselves be considered Bugs, although such incidents may occur together with or cause an abnormality in the Game.
For purposes of this Rulebook:
•    Verifiable Bug and Informed Bug describe the status of a Bug; 
•    General Bug and Critical Bug describe the severity of a Bug; and 
•     a Terminal Situation describes an operational determination regarding whether the Game can continue or be restored.

10.1.5.1 Verifiable Bug
A Verifiable Bug is a Bug whose occurrence and relevant effects can be reasonably confirmed through one or more reliable sources, including but not limited to:
1.     direct observation by an MPL Official; 
2.     Player point-of-view footage; 
3.     observer or broadcast footage; 
4.     Game logs, replay data, or system records; 
5.     technical examination or diagnosis; or 
6.     other evidence deemed reliable by the MPL Operating Committee. 
The MPL Operating Committee shall have final authority to determine whether a reported Bug is verifiable.

10.1.5.2 Informed Bug
An Informed Bug is a Bug known to the League and communicated to Teams before the relevant Match or competition period.
Depending on the nature of the Bug, the MPL Operating Committee may implement preventive or mitigating measures, including but not limited to:
1.     restricting or banning affected Heroes; 
2.     restricting affected Skins; 
3.     restricting affected in-game Equipment, features, or interactions; or 
4.     issuing specific instructions governing continued play. 
The disclosed behavior of an Informed Bug shall not ordinarily constitute grounds for a rewind, restart, remake, or rematch, provided that:
1.     the incident remains within the scope of the behavior disclosed to Teams; and 
2.     all required preventive or mitigating measures were properly followed. 
The MPL Operating Committee may take further action where the actual incident materially differs from the disclosed behavior, exceeds its anticipated competitive effect, or otherwise threatens competitive integrity.

10.1.5.3 General Bug
A General Bug is a Verifiable Bug with a limited competitive effect that does not materially impair a Player’s ability to compete, materially alter the Game state, or reasonably affect the outcome of the Game.
General Bugs may include, without limitation:
1.     incorrect or abnormal visual displays; 
2.     incorrect display of statistics or information; 
3.     limited animation or interface defects; or 
4.     Game mechanic abnormalities that may be played through or otherwise resolved without materially affecting competitive fairness.

10.1.5.4 Critical Bug
A Critical Bug is a Verifiable Bug that:
1.     materially impairs a Player’s ability to compete at a professional level; 
2.     materially alters a Hero, statistic, Game mechanic, interaction, or Game state; 
3.     causes a significant competitive disadvantage to either Team; or 
4.     is reasonably likely to materially influence the outcome of the Game. 
Any Bug falling outside this definition shall not be considered a Critical Bug.
The MPL Operating Committee shall have final authority to determine whether a Bug is a Critical Bug based on the circumstances and available evidence.

10.1.5.5 Other Verifiable Incidents
Where an incident is not a Bug but is determined to be a Verifiable Incident, the MPL Operating Committee may authorize Time Rewind where the incident directly affected live play and caused a material competitive disadvantage to either Team.
The MPL Operating Committee shall determine:
1.     when the incident occurred; 
2.     when the incident began materially affecting live play; 
3.     whether the incident was reported or observed promptly; 
4.     whether the affected Player or Team complied with all applicable procedures; 
5.     whether the incident resulted from an act or omission of an MPL Official, competition equipment, venue infrastructure, a third party, or another external condition; 
6.     whether the cause of the incident has been fixed, removed, or otherwise resolved; 
7.     whether an appropriate Dead-Ball State or other reliable recovery point exists; 
8.     whether Time Rewind would create or erase any Cost; 
9.     whether strategic information revealed after the proposed recovery point would materially affect competitive fairness; and 
10.     whether Time Rewind, continued play, restart, or remake would best preserve competitive integrity.

 
The MPL Operating Committee may apply the procedure for a General Bug where the incident had a limited competitive effect and may apply the procedure for a Critical Bug where the incident caused a significant competitive disadvantage or materially affected the Game state.

The existence of Cost shall not automatically prevent Time Rewind where the disadvantage resulted from an error or delay by an MPL Official or another condition outside the affected Team’s reasonable control. The MPL Operating Committee shall compare the competitive harm caused by the incident against the Cost and disruption that would result from Time Rewind.

Where an MPL Official improperly resumes play, or fails to execute a valid and timely pause request, the relevant recovery point may be determined from:
1.     the point immediately before the improper resumption; 
2.     the time at which the valid pause request should reasonably have been acted upon; or 
3.     another reliable point before the resulting competitive disadvantage occurred. 
A Team shall not be entitled to Time Rewind where the incident was caused, manufactured, or materially worsened by that Team, except where the MPL Operating Committee determines that intervention remains necessary to preserve competitive integrity.
Where a Verifiable Incident involves an immediate health or safety risk, the Game shall first be stopped and the relevant hazard addressed in accordance with Sections 10.4.4 and 10.4.8. Time Rewind or another competitive remedy may be considered only after the MPL Operating Committee determines that play can safely resume.
If no reliable and competitively fair recovery point exists, or if the underlying incident cannot be resolved sufficiently to permit continued play, the MPL Operating Committee may declare a Terminal Situation or exercise any other authority available under Section 10.4.

10.1.5.6 Terminal Situation
A Terminal Situation is an operational determination that a Game cannot be fairly resumed, restored, or continued due to a Bug or related technical failure and must therefore proceed under the applicable remake protocol.
A Terminal Situation may include, without limitation, circumstances where:
1.     the Game cannot be restored through available technical means; 
2.     the Bug or its trigger condition cannot be removed, prevented, or reasonably avoided; 
3.     no reliable or competitively fair Game state can be recovered; 
4.     continued play would materially compromise competitive integrity; or 
5.     the MPL Operating Committee otherwise determines that the Game cannot fairly continue. 
Environmental hazards, natural disasters, security concerns, and other external conditions shall remain governed by Section 10.4.8.

10.1.5.7 Prompt Reporting
Prompt Reporting requires a Player who notices or experiences a suspected Bug, disconnection, hardware malfunction, network issue, or other abnormal condition affecting the Game to immediately request a pause and notify the designated Referee in accordance with the Pause and Technical Interruption Protocol.
Failure to report an incident promptly may:
1.     limit the remedies available to the affected Team; 
2.     result in the Players being instructed to continue playing; or 
3.     result in penalties where the delay constitutes a violation of the Pause and Technical Interruption Protocol.

10.1.6 Hardware Malfunction
A Hardware Malfunction is a failure or abnormal performance of any physical device or equipment used for competition or Match operations that affects or may reasonably affect a Player’s ability to compete or the League’s ability to operate the Match.
Hardware Malfunctions may involve, without limitation:
1.     competition mobile devices; 
2.     hosting or observer computers; 
3.     displays or monitors; 
4.     chargers, cables, or power equipment; 
5.     audio equipment or peripherals; or 
6.     other venue or competition hardware. 
A Game Bug, network instability, or server or service failure shall not by itself constitute a Hardware Malfunction unless the MPL Operating Committee confirms that the incident originated from a physical hardware failure.

10.1.7 Time Rewind (Definition)
Time Rewind is the use of an authorized Game recovery tool or process to restore an ongoing Game to an earlier recoverable Game state.
A Time Rewind resumes the same Game from the selected recovery point and shall not, by itself, be considered a restart or remake.
The MPL Operating Committee shall determine:
1.     whether Time Rewind is technically available; 
2.     whether Time Rewind can restore a reliable and competitively fair Game state; 
3.     the appropriate Game state to which the Game will be restored; and 
4.     whether the Bug or other condition that caused the interruption can be fixed, removed, or reasonably avoided following the Time Rewind. 
The availability of a recoverable Game state does not automatically require the use of Time Rewind. Its use shall remain subject to the applicable Time Rewind protocol and the final determination of the MPL Operating Committee.

10.1.7.1 Dead-Ball State
A Dead-Ball State is a recoverable point in a Game at which neither Team is heavily engaged with the other or irreversibly committed to an immediate engagement. Limited interaction between the Teams may still be present.

When determining the appropriate Dead-Ball State, the MPL Operating Committee should select a recoverable point as close as reasonably possible to the occurrence of the Bug or the situation that triggered it. Where technically feasible, the selected point should preserve approximately one second before the relevant interaction or event occurs.

The objective is to preserve Player and Team agency. An engagement may remain possible following the Time Rewind, but the selected recovery point sthould not make the engagement effectively unavoidable solely because of the restoration.

Where no ideal Dead-Ball State exists, the MPL Operating Committee shall select the closest reliable and competitively fair recovery point available before the Bug occurred. In doing so, the Committee shall seek to minimize the removal or alteration of meaningful competitive preparation or accrued advantage, including but not limited to:
1.     Hero and Team positioning; 
2.     rotations and movement; 
3.     lane pressure and minion-wave state; 
4.     bush control and available map information; 
5.     objective preparation or control; 
6.     zoning or defensive setup; and 
7.     other material strategic preparation established before the Bug. 
The MPL Operating Committee shall have final authority to determine the appropriate Dead-Ball State.

10.1.7.2 Cost
Cost means a material competitive event, resource expenditure, or accrued advantage occurring after a proposed Dead-Ball State that would be erased, restored, repeated, or materially altered by the use of Time Rewind.
Cost includes, without limitation:
1.     the death of any Hero; 
2.     the destruction of a Turret, Base structure, or other material structure; 
3.     the securing of the Turtle, Lord, or another material map objective; 
4.     an objective or structure already in the process of being secured or destroyed where, based on the current Game state and Team positioning, completion is reasonably certain without meaningful opposition; 
5.     the use of an Ultimate Skill whose unmodified Level 1 cooldown is no less than seventy seconds; 
6.     the use of a Battle Spell whose unmodified base cooldown is no less than one hundred twenty seconds; 
7.     the use of an active Equipment Skill whose unmodified base cooldown is no less than one hundred seconds; or 
8.     any other event, resource expenditure, or competitive development that the MPL Operating Committee determines would materially affect either Team if erased or altered by Time Rewind. 
For purposes of determining Cost under Items 5 to 7:
1.     the current skill level shall not be considered; 
2.     the remaining cooldown at the time of the Bug or pause shall not be considered; and 
3.     cooldown changes resulting from Emblems, Equipment, buffs, temporary effects, or other cooldown-modifying effects shall not be considered. 
An intentional attempt by a Player or Team to use an Ultimate Skill, Battle Spell, active Equipment Skill, or other resource outside the ordinary course of competitive play for the purpose of creating or increasing Cost shall not be recognized as Cost.
The circumstances listed above are non-exhaustive. The MPL Operating Committee shall determine whether Cost exists based on the actual competitive effect of the proposed Time Rewind, and its determination shall be final.

10.2 Network or Infrastructure Failure
A Network or Infrastructure Failure is a failure, interruption, or material instability affecting the venue internet connection, local network, power supply, Match hosting environment, or other supporting technical infrastructure.

A Network or Infrastructure Failure shall not by itself be classified as a Bug, Hardware Malfunction, or Server Crash, although the same incident may involve more than one classification where supported by the available evidence.

10.3 Game of Record
A game of record ("GOR") refers to a Game where all ten Players have loaded and which has progressed to a point of meaningful interaction between opposing Teams. Once a Game attains GOR status, the period ends in which incidental restarts may be permitted and a Game will be considered as "official" from that point onward. After the establishment of GOR, Game restarts will be allowed only under limited conditions. Examples of conditions which establish GOR are as follows:
a.    Any attack or ability is landed on minions, jungle creeps, structures, or enemy heroes.
b.    Line-of-sight is established between Players on opposing Teams.
c.    Setting foot, establishing vision or targeting skillshot ability in an opponent's jungle by either Team, which includes either leaving the river or entering brush connected to enemy jungle.
d.    Game timer reaches 35 seconds (00:00:35).

10.4 Match Interruptions and Stoppage of Play
All entries under this section are governed by the Pause and Technical Interruption Protocol (PTIP) found in the MPL and MDL Operational Guidelines unless otherwise stated.

10.4.1 Stoppage Authority
The MPL Operating Committee and designated Referees have the authority to pause, stop, resume, restart, remake, or terminate a Game or Match at any time where necessary to preserve competitive integrity, player safety, or orderly match operations.
Referees may exercise this authority during live play, draft, or pre-game phases, subject to oversight by the MPL Operating Committee.

10.4.2 Player-Initiated Interruptions
Players may request a pause or stoppage only in accordance with the Pause & Technical Interruption Protocol (PTIP).
Any interruption request that does not comply with the PTIP—including improper signaling, delayed reporting, or misuse of pause privileges—may be deemed unreasonable and subject to penalties in accordance with the Penalty Index.
Intentional disconnections or actions that result in disconnection without proper notification or compliance with the PTIP do not obligate the MPL Operating Committee to grant a pause or stoppage. Detailed in section 8.7.4.

10.4.3 Communication and Conduct During Interruptions
During any pause or stoppage, Players, Coaches, and Team Staff must comply with all communication and conduct restrictions defined in the PTIP.
Failure to comply with these restrictions may result in warnings, penalties, or further disciplinary action, regardless of the underlying reason for the interruption.

10.4.4 Health, Safety, and Player Incapacitation 
Player health and safety take priority over match continuation.
If a Player becomes unable to continue participation due to illness, injury, or other incapacitating condition, the MPL Operating Committee may determine that:
•    the Game is forfeited;
•    the Match proceeds with a substitute, if permitted under roster rules; or
•    the Match is postponed or remade, where appropriate.
Teams are responsible for ensuring that Players are fit to compete. Pre-existing or undisclosed conditions that result in repeated or avoidable interruptions may be subject to penalties or forfeiture, at the discretion of the MPL Operating Committee.
Detailed medical, emergency, and evaluation procedures are governed by the PTIP.

10.4.5 Time Rewind (SOP)
Where a suspected Bug or other Verifiable Incident occurs during a Game, the MPL Operating Committee shall assess the matter in accordance with this Section and the Pause and Technical Interruption Protocol.
Before a Time Rewind is considered, the MPL Operating Committee shall determine:
1.     whether the incident was reported in accordance with the Prompt Reporting requirements; 
2.     whether the reported matter is a Verifiable Bug or Verifiable Incident;
3.     whether the Bug was previously disclosed to Teams as an Informed Bug; 
4.     whether the Bug constitutes a General Bug or Critical Bug; 
5.     whether either Team suffered a material competitive disadvantage; 
6.     whether Time Rewind can restore a reliable and competitively fair Game state; 
7.     whether Time Rewind will fix the Bug or reasonably avoid the condition that triggered it; and 
8.     whether the proposed Time Rewind would create or erase any Cost. 
Failure to report a suspected Bug promptly may limit or remove the availability of Time Rewind, particularly where continued play has created additional Cost or made a reliable recovery point unavailable. The MPL Operating Committee may nevertheless intervene where the incident was independently observed by an MPL Official or where intervention is necessary to preserve competitive integrity.
Where the incident is not determined to be a Verifiable Bug, Time Rewind shall not be used under this Section. The MPL Operating Committee may still take action under the applicable provisions governing disconnections, hardware malfunctions, infrastructure failures, or other interruptions.
Where a Bug was disclosed as an Informed Bug, the disclosed behavior shall ordinarily be played through and shall not constitute grounds for Time Rewind, provided that:
1.     the incident remains within the scope of the behavior disclosed to Teams; and 
2.     all preventive or mitigating measures issued by the MPL Operating Committee were properly followed. 
Where the actual behavior materially differs from the disclosed Bug, exceeds its anticipated competitive effect, or occurs despite compliance with all required mitigating measures, the incident shall be assessed as a General Bug or Critical Bug under this Section.
If the incident occurs before a Game of Record has been established, the MPL Operating Committee may order an incidental restart instead of applying the Time Rewind protocol.
The MPL Operating Committee may request information or a position from an affected Team when evaluating the appropriate remedy. However, no Team has the unilateral right to demand, refuse, prevent, or veto a Time Rewind, restart, or remake.

10.4.5.1 General Bug
Where the incident is determined to be a General Bug, the MPL Operating Committee shall identify the appropriate Dead-Ball State and determine whether using Time Rewind would create or erase any Cost.

10.4.5.2 General Bug With Cost
Where Cost exists, Time Rewind shall ordinarily not be used to remedy a General Bug.
Once the MPL Operating Committee determines that the Game may fairly continue, Players shall be instructed to resume and play through the Bug, subject to any technical adjustment, instruction, or mitigating measure considered necessary.
If the Bug cannot reasonably be played through without materially compromising competitive fairness, the MPL Operating Committee shall reassess whether the incident constitutes a Critical Bug.

10.4.5.3 General Bug Without Cost
Where no Cost exists, the MPL Operating Committee shall determine:
1.     whether Time Rewind can restore the Game to a reliable and competitively fair state; 
2.     whether the selected recovery point will fix the Bug or reasonably avoid the condition that triggered it; 
3.     whether either Team suffered a material competitive disadvantage as a result of the Bug; and 
4.     whether Time Rewind would provide a more proportionate remedy than continuing the Game from the current state. 
Time Rewind shall not be used where:
1.     the restored Game state cannot be confirmed as reliable; 
2.     the Bug would remain present after restoration; 
3.     the condition that triggered the Bug is reasonably likely to occur again; 
4.     neither Team suffered a material competitive disadvantage; or 
5.     the competitive disruption caused by Time Rewind would be greater than the disadvantage caused by the Bug. 
Where the MPL Operating Committee determines that Time Rewind is the appropriate remedy, the Game shall be restored to the selected Dead-Ball State.
If an ideal Dead-Ball State is unavailable, the MPL Operating Committee may use the nearest reliable and competitively fair recovery point before the Bug occurred, in accordance with Section 10.1.8.1.
Where no suitable recovery point exists, the Game shall continue from its current state unless the incident is reassessed as a Critical Bug.

10.4.5.4 Critical Bug
Where the incident is determined to be a Critical Bug, the MPL Operating Committee shall determine:
1.     whether Time Rewind can restore the Game to a reliable and competitively fair state; 
2.     whether Time Rewind will fix the Bug or reasonably avoid the condition that triggered it; 
3.     whether either or both Teams suffered a material competitive disadvantage; 
4.     what Cost would be created, erased, restored, or repeated by the proposed Time Rewind; 
5.     what strategic information was revealed after the proposed recovery point; and 
6.     whether Time Rewind, continued play, or a remake would best preserve competitive integrity. 
Strategic information considered under this Section may include, without limitation:
•     Hero positions and movements; 
•     rotations and intended engagements; 
•     Ultimate Skill, Battle Spell, and active Equipment Skill usage; 
•     objective attempts or preparation; 
•     Team positioning and formation; 
•     bush occupancy and map information; 
•     concealed strategies or tactical decisions; and 
•     any other information that Players would retain despite the restoration of the Game state. 

The existence of Cost shall not automatically prevent Time Rewind in the case of a Critical Bug. The MPL Operating Committee may authorize Time Rewind where the competitive harm created by the Bug would be greater than the Cost or disruption created by the restoration.

Where Time Rewind cannot reliably restore the Game, cannot fix or avoid the Bug, or would create a less competitively fair result than a remake, the incident shall constitute a Terminal Situation.

If the MPL Operating Committee determines that the competitive harm created by Time Rewind would be greater than the competitive harm created by voiding and remaking the Game, the remake protocol shall apply.

Where Time Rewind is determined to be the most competitively fair remedy, the Game shall be restored to the appropriate Dead-Ball State or, where no ideal Dead-Ball State exists, the nearest reliable and competitively fair recovery point before the Bug occurred.

10.4.5.5 Other Verifiable Incidents
Where an incident is not a Bug but is determined to be a Verifiable Incident, the MPL Operating Committee may authorize Time Rewind where the incident directly affected live play and caused a material competitive disadvantage to either Team.
The MPL Operating Committee shall determine:
1.     when the incident occurred; 
2.     when the incident began materially affecting live play; 
3.     whether the incident was reported or observed promptly; 
4.     whether the affected Player or Team complied with all applicable procedures; 
5.     whether the incident resulted from an act or omission of an MPL Official, competition equipment, venue infrastructure, a third party, or another external condition; 
6.     whether the cause of the incident has been fixed, removed, or otherwise resolved; 
7.     whether an appropriate Dead-Ball State or other reliable recovery point exists; 
8.     whether Time Rewind would create or erase any Cost; 
9.     whether strategic information revealed after the proposed recovery point would materially affect competitive fairness; and 
10.     whether Time Rewind, continued play, restart, or remake would best preserve competitive integrity. 

The MPL Operating Committee may apply the procedure for a General Bug where the incident had a limited competitive effect and may apply the procedure for a Critical Bug where the incident caused a significant competitive disadvantage or materially affected the Game state.

The existence of Cost shall not automatically prevent Time Rewind where the disadvantage resulted from an error or delay by an MPL Official or another condition outside the affected Team’s reasonable control. The MPL Operating Committee shall compare the competitive harm caused by the incident against the Cost and disruption that would result from Time Rewind.
Where an MPL Official improperly resumes play, or fails to execute a valid and timely pause request, the relevant recovery point may be determined from:
1.     the point immediately before the improper resumption; 
2.     the time at which the valid pause request should reasonably have been acted upon; or 
3.     another reliable point before the resulting competitive disadvantage occurred. 

A Team shall not be entitled to Time Rewind where the incident was caused, manufactured, or materially worsened by that Team, except where the MPL Operating Committee determines that intervention remains necessary to preserve competitive integrity.

Where a Verifiable Incident involves an immediate health or safety risk, the Game shall first be stopped and the relevant hazard addressed in accordance with Sections 10.4.4 and 10.4.8. Time Rewind or another competitive remedy may be considered only after the MPL Operating Committee determines that play can safely resume.

If no reliable and competitively fair recovery point exists, or if the underlying incident cannot be resolved sufficiently to permit continued play, the MPL Operating Committee may declare a Terminal Situation or exercise any other authority available under Section 10.4.

10.4.5.6 Selection and Disclosure of the Recovery Point
The MPL Operating Committee shall have sole authority to select the recovery point used for Time Rewind.

In selecting the recovery point, the MPL Operating Committee shall consider:
1.     the time at which the Bug occurred; 
2.     the time at which the Bug began materially affecting the Game; 
3.     whether the Bug or its effects were already present before becoming visible to Players or Officials; 
4.     the proximity of the proposed recovery point to the Bug; 
5.     whether the recovery point preserves meaningful Player and Team agency; 
6.     whether any engagement would become effectively unavoidable following restoration; 
7.     the Cost created or erased by the proposed recovery point; and 
8.     any strategic information revealed during the period that would be removed from the Game state.

 
The exact recovery point shall not be disclosed to either Team before execution unless disclosure is operationally necessary to carry out the Time Rewind.

The MPL Operating Committee is not required to select the recovery point requested or proposed by any Team.

10.4.5.7 Execution of Time Rewind
Once the MPL Operating Committee authorizes Time Rewind:
1.     the decision shall take effect immediately; 
2.     the consent of either Team shall not be required; 
3.     neither Team may interfere with, delay, or attempt to prevent the procedure; 
4.     Players and Team Members must comply with all Referee instructions and communication restrictions; 
5.     the designated technical personnel shall restore the Game to the selected recovery point; and 
6.     play shall not resume until the restored Game state has been verified and clearance has been granted by the MPL Operating Committee or designated Referee. 

Before resuming play, the MPL Operating Committee shall confirm, to the extent reasonably possible, that:
1.     all Players are properly connected; 
2.     the restored Game state corresponds to the selected recovery point; 
3.     the relevant Bug is no longer present or its trigger condition has been avoided; 
4.     no additional technical issue prevents continued play; and 
5.     all Players have been instructed and are ready to resume. 

The restored Game state shall supersede all Game events occurring after the selected recovery point. Any kills, deaths, objectives, structures, resource expenditures, statistics, or other Game events erased by the Time Rewind shall have no official effect except where otherwise expressly determined by the MPL Operating Committee.

Knowledge retained by Players from the erased period cannot itself be removed. The MPL Operating Committee shall therefore consider such retained information when selecting the recovery point and determining whether Time Rewind remains competitively fair.

10.4.5.8 Failed or Unreliable Time Rewind
If the Time Rewind process fails, restores an incorrect or unreliable Game state, or fails to remove or avoid the Bug, the Game shall remain paused while the MPL Operating Committee reassesses the available remedies.
The MPL Operating Committee may:
1.     attempt restoration to another available recovery point; 
2.     implement an additional technical or operational measure; 
3.     instruct the Players to continue from a verified restored state; 
4.     declare a Terminal Situation; or 
5.     take any other action authorized under Section 10.4. 
A failed Time Rewind attempt does not require the MPL Operating Committee to make another attempt where doing so would create further uncertainty, Cost, delay, or competitive harm.

10.4.5.9 Terminal Situation
Where an incident constitutes a Terminal Situation, the MPL Operating Committee shall apply the applicable remake protocol.

A Terminal Situation may be declared where:
1.     no reliable or competitively fair recovery point is available; 
2.     Time Rewind cannot technically restore the Game; 
3.     the restored state cannot be verified; 
4.     the Bug remains present after restoration; 
5.     the condition that triggered the Bug cannot reasonably be avoided; 
6.     the information or Cost erased by Time Rewind would materially compromise competitive integrity; 
7.     continued play would materially compromise competitive integrity; or 
8.     the MPL Operating Committee otherwise determines that the Game cannot fairly be resumed or continued.

10.4.6 Resumption of Play
A Game may be resumed only after clearance has been granted by the MPL Operating Committee or designated Referee and all Players are confirmed ready to continue.
Resumption procedures, confirmations, and signaling requirements are governed by the PTIP.

10.4.7 Remakes and Restarts
The MPL Operating Committee has sole discretion to determine whether a Game or Match shall be restarted, remade, or continued following an interruption.
In making such determinations, the Committee may consider, without limitation:
•    whether a Game of Record (GOR) has been established;
•    the nature and severity of any bug, disconnection, or technical failure;
•    the competitive impact on either Team; and
•    the feasibility of restoring fair play conditions.

10.4.8 Retention of Game State
Where a Game is restarted or remade, the MPL Operating Committee shall determine whether any elements of the Game state—including picks, bans, heroes, maps, or settings—are retained or reset.
 

No retention of Game state is guaranteed once a Game has reached GOR unless expressly authorized by the MPL Operating Committee.

10.4.9 Environmental and External Conditions
Matches may be interrupted, restarted, postponed, or terminated due to external conditions that materially affect fairness, safety, or broadcast integrity, including but not limited to:
•    venue disruptions;
•    environmental hazards;
•    technical infrastructure failures; or
•    security concerns.

10.4.10 Final Determination
All decisions regarding stoppage, resumption, remakes, restarts, forfeitures, or match outcomes under this Section are final and binding, subject only to internal review by the MPL Operating Committee. 

10.5 Postponement
In the event of a technical difficulty which leads the MPL Operating Committee to declare a restart, they, in their sole discretion, may request a rematch or postponement of the game.

10.6 Post-Game Determination

10.6.1 Result Confirmation
The MPL Operating Committee, through its designated Referees, shall confirm and officially record the result of each Game upon completion.

10.6.2 Results of Forfeiture
Games or Matches won by forfeiture shall be recorded using the minimum score necessary for victory (e.g., 1–0 for BO1, 2–0 for BO3, 3–0 for BO5). No additional in-game statistics shall be recorded for forfeited Games or Matches.

10.6.3 Authority of Record
Once recorded by the MPL Operating Committee, Game and Match results are final unless otherwise determined under Section 10.4.

10.7 Post-Match Obligations and Conduct

10.7.1 Result Acknowledgment
Following the conclusion of a Match, Team captains, coaches, or managers may be required to acknowledge the official Match result in a manner designated by the MPL Operating Committee.

10.7.2 Post-Match Obligations
Players and Team Members must comply with all reasonable post-match obligations as directed by the MPL Operating Committee, including but not limited to media appearances, interviews, or administrative requirements.

10.7.3 Controlled Movement and Access
While under league supervision, Match participants must comply with all movement, access, and conduct requirements established by the MPL Operating Committee. Unauthorized deviation from designated procedures or access to restricted areas may result in disciplinary action.

10.7.4 Operational Procedures
Detailed post-match procedures, timelines, and logistical requirements are governed by applicable SOPs and operational protocols issued by the MPL Operating Committee.

11. Player Equipment

11.1 MPL-Provided Equipment
a.    The MPL Operating Committee will provide, and MPL players will exclusively use, equipment in the following categories to MPL players for all official onsite MPL matches. No other personal devices will be allowed in the tournament area. The equipment includes, but are not limited to:
▪    Gaming Phone
▪    Headsets and/or Earbuds and/or Microphones
▪    Tables and Chairs
▪    If the match is online, the player can use their own equipment limited to their mobile phones and earphones.
▪    League-approved wearable devices, if applicable.

b.    Within the match area, players are not allowed to bring any headphones, earbuds and/or microphones that have not been provided by the committee without the approval of the MPL Operating Committee. All player-owned or team-owned equipment must be submitted to the committee in advance for approval. Unapproved equipment or equipment that is suspected by the Operating Committee of providing an unfair competitive advantage will not be permitted for use, and players will be required to use equipment that is provided by the league instead.

c.    Within the Match Area and only during the Draft Phase, a Coach may use one tablet or other mobile device solely for drafting purposes, subject to prior screening and approval by League personnel.

Permission to use a device is an operational allowance and does not replace pen and paper as the standard drafting method. The MPL Operating Committee may prohibit, restrict, or withdraw the use of any device at any time due to technical, security, commercial, venue, production, or operational considerations.

No manufacturer logo, product branding, Team sponsor branding, sticker, case design, or other commercial mark may be visibly displayed on the device while it is on stage unless expressly approved by the MPL Operating Committee.

Teams shall be responsible for concealing all unapproved branding using a method approved by the MPL Operating Committee. The MPL Operating Committee may instead require the use of a League-provided cover, wrap, case, decal, device, or other branding treatment. Teams must not remove, alter, obscure, or replace any League-approved branding applied to the device.

The MPL Operating Committee retains the exclusive right to designate, apply, or authorize any branding associated with devices used during the Draft Phase, including requiring the use of an officially designated, League-provided, or sponsor-provided device.

Where a device cannot be adequately screened, approved, or concealed, the Team shall not be permitted to use it and must immediately proceed using pen and paper. Each Team must therefore have pen and paper readily available, and the rejection, malfunction, removal, or unavailability of a device shall not entitle the Team to delay the Draft Phase.

Once the Draft Phase has concluded, all non-Match devices must be removed from the stage. Failure to comply with this Section, whether intentional or accidental, may result in penalties.

d.    At their discretion, the MPL Operating Committee may disallow the use of any individual piece of equipment for reasons relating to tournament security, safety or operational efficiency or effectiveness.

e.    No player-owned or team-owned hardware or equipment may be brought into the match area if it features or displays any name, likeness or logo of a company or brand which is a competitor of the MPL

.
f.    The Players hereby agree to adhere to the Infinix Tournament Phone SOP and Risk Management which is annexed herewith this Official Rule as Appendix F.

11.2 Replacement of Equipment
If equipment or technical problems are suspected by the MPL Operating Committee at any time, a Player or the MPL Operating Committee may request a technical review of the situation. A league technician will diagnose and troubleshoot problems, as needed.

Technicians may advise that the specific piece of equipment be replaced at their sole discretion should they find anything wrong. Decisions regarding the replacement of any equipment are solely at the discretion of the MPL Operating Committee. If a Player wishes to use personal replacement equipment, the Player must use equipment which has been pre-approved by MPL Operating Committee otherwise they will be provided replacement equipment by the MPL Operating Committee.

11.2.1 Phone Replacement
Teams must always use the official tournament phones provided by the league. Should a player experience issues that a league technician or Referee confirms to be true on their phone, they will be given a replacement tournament phone.
However, in the event that no replacement tournament phones are available, the MPL Operating Committee may grant the use of their personal phones for tournament play, provided that tournament officials have been able to screen, test, and clear said phone for use. Teams must take due diligence and reasonable care on behalf of the players by doing the following:
•    Submitting a list of mobile phones that players may use as a backup to tournament officials.
•    Bringing said devices to the MPL tech rehearsals before the start of the season for tournament officials to inspect.
•    Once cleared by officials, teams must bring these phones during their game days.
Should it not be possible to replace a compromised tournament phone with any of the abovementioned methods, the MPL Operating Committee, at their sole and absolute discretion, may decide to bring in an unprecedented mobile phone to continue the game, remake the game and regard this as a critical bug, or choose to postpone the match.

11.2.2 Official Wearable Devices
a.    MPL officials may require players to wear league-approved wearable devices during official matches for competition, broadcast, or content-related purposes.
b.    All official wearable devices used in matches shall be:
a. Provided, owned, and controlled exclusively by MPL officials;
b. Inspected, configured, and sealed by MPL officials prior to use;
c. Free from any player-accessible communication, computation, storage, display, or feedback functions.
c.    Players are strictly prohibited from:
a. Operating, interacting with, adjusting, or removing any official wearable device during a match;
b. Accessing or viewing any data collected by the wearable device;
c. Bringing, wearing, or substituting any personal wearable devices.
d.    Data collected through official wearable devices shall be transmitted exclusively to MPL systems and may only be used for league-approved purposes, including but not limited to broadcast presentation and content production.
e.    Referees reserve the right to inspect, activate, deactivate, or remove any official wearable device at any time to ensure competitive integrity and compliance.

11.2.3 App & Usage

i.    Approved Applications Only
Players are prohibited from installing, accessing, or using any applications other than those provided or expressly authorized by the MPL Operating Committee on league-issued devices.
ii.    Voice Chat
Voice communication shall be provided only through the native systems and league-approved headsets. Use of third-party voice communication software is prohibited unless expressly authorized by the MPL Operating Committee under special circumstances.
iii.    External Content and Services
Players are prohibited from accessing, viewing, or interacting with any social media platforms, streaming services, websites, messaging services, or other external content while using MPL-provided devices.
iv.    This prohibition applies regardless of access method, including but not limited to:
•    in-game menus or interfaces;
•    embedded services, advertisements, or integrations;
•    application programming interfaces (APIs);
•    system overlays or background services; or
•    any other technical workaround that enables access to non-MLBB content while the MLBB client is running.
v.    Responsibility for Indirect Access
Players are responsible for immediately exiting or avoiding any external content that becomes accessible through unintended or unforeseen technical behavior. Continued access or interaction shall be deemed a violation of this rule.
vi.    Non-Essential Equipment
It is prohibited to connect or use any non-essential equipment or peripherals with league-provided devices unless expressly approved by the MPL Operating Committee.
Violations of this section may result in penalties in accordance with the Penalty Index.

11.3 Client Accounts
Players will have match server accounts provided for them by the league. It is the players' responsibility to configure their account to their preferences. The account's Gaming Name must be set only to the player's official tournament handle, as approved by the MPL. The team name and team ID need to be officially submitted before the set date, and cannot be changed after the submission.

11.4 Tournament Equipment and Stage Defaults

11.4.1 Audio Equipment
a.    Pink Noise
Default pink noise levels will be dictated by the MPL Operating Committee and will be considered generic for all teams participating. Pink noise levels may be increased but may not be decreased from the default threshold set by the Operating Committee.
b.    Communications Audio
No defaults for comms and teams are free to set these however they see fit with assistance from referees and other league staff.

11.4.2 Audio Controls
Players will be required to maintain volume levels above minimum settings, which will be clearly marked on the controls. The MPL Operating Committee may require players to adjust their volume levels higher if the official determines, at their sole discretion, that volume levels are too low.

Headphones must be placed directly on a player's ears, and must remain there for the duration of the game. Players are not permitted to obstruct the placement of headphones by any method or place any item, including hats, scarves or other articles of clothing, between the headphones and the player's ears.

11.4.3 Tournament Phone Status
a.    In-game Settings
Settings must be completed during the allotted time given during the pre-match procedures. All players are responsible for the accuracy of their settings and all consequences related to the lack thereof once their games begin.
b.    UI Settings
Settings must be completed during the allotted time given during the pre-match procedures. All players are responsible for the accuracy of their settings and all consequences related to the lack thereof once their games begin.

11.4.4 Equipment Tampering After Preparation Time
Players may not touch or handle another teammate's owned or provided equipment after the allotted preparation time. Players who require assistance with their equipment should ask for assistance from the MPL Operating Committee.

11.5 Player and Coach Apparel
a.    Players must wear official team uniforms during all MPL matches and prematch and post-match interviews by the league which also includes Media Day, Player Summit, or any League Obligation. If no team requirement exists, players must wear pants and closed-toe shoes, as well as visible team-branded apparel, on their upper body, during the entirety of any MPL event or appearance. All participating players must wear matching apparel during the game. Specifically, for pants, players must wear black.
i.    The matching apparel includes shirts, jerseys, and pants. For the avoidance of doubt, short pants, sweatpants, athletic pants, and/or pajama pants will generally not be considered appropriate attire. Jerseys and all other apparel worn during such times are subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section, and are subject to the review and discretion of the MPL official.
b.    Coaches must don what can be considered fully business casual attire or smart casual attire complemented by their official team jacket. No other form of attire is permissible.
c.    Players and Coaches must avoid chewing gum, hats, sunglasses, eyecatching necklaces and pendants while at the match area.
d.    Players and coaches must not wear any clothing, accessories, or ornaments that feature brands and/or intellectual property (IP) materials not approved by the MPL officials. This includes logos, slogans, copyrighted designs, or any other IP that has not been explicitly authorized. Additionally, food and/or beverages are not allowed to be brought onto the stage.
e.    Team Members may wear apparel with multiple logos, patches or promotional language. The MPL official reserves the right at all times to impose a ban on objectionable or offensive apparel:
i.    Containing any false, unsubstantiated, or unwarranted claims for any product or service, or testimonials, that the MPL official, in its sole and absolute discretion, considers unethical.
ii.    Advertising any non "over the counter" drug, tobacco product, firearm, handgun or ammunition.
iii.    Containing any material constituting or relating to any activities which are illegal in any MPL region, including but not limited to, a lottery or an enterprise, service or product that abets, assists or promotes gambling.
iv.    Containing any material that is defamatory, obscene, profane, vulgar, repulsive or offensive, or that describes or depicts any internal bodily functions or symptomatic results of internal conditions, or refers to matters which are not considered socially acceptable topics. 
v.    Advertising any pornographic website or pornographic products. 
vi.    Containing any trademark, copyrighted material or other elements of intellectual property that is used without the owner's consent or that may give rise to, or subject MPL or its affiliates to, any claim of infringement, misappropriation, or other form of unfair competition.
vii.    Disparaging or libeling any opposing Team or Player or any other person, entity or product.
viii.    The league official reserves the right to refuse entry or continued participation in the match to any Team Member who does not comply with the aforementioned apparel rules.

12. Venue, Competition Area Layout, and Other Restrictions

12.1 Stage (Onsite)
The stage onsite is considered the play area where official MPL games are to be conducted. Under no circumstances are other people allowed on stage outside of players of the next/current match and official MPL staff. Certain concessions may be made for other individuals provided that they have been cleared by the Operating Committee. The Teams hereby agree to adhere to the league's Stage SOP and Timings, as annexed in these Official Rules in Appendix D.

12.2 Match Area (Online)
The "match area" consists of the area immediately viewable by the team camera. During match play, the presence of team members in the match area is restricted solely to the players of the Teams in play.

12.3 Wireless Devices
Wireless devices, including mobile phones and tablets, are not allowed in the match area. Certain devices may be allowed in the match area provided that it has been thoroughly checked and cleared by the Operating Committee and will not affect the tournament integrity in any way.

12.4 Food and Drink Restrictions
No food is allowed in the match areas. Drinks are permitted in the match area provided that these are all in containers with no branding and will not be cumbersome to keep on the official match tables. The MPL Operating Committee reserves the right to reject any drinks to be brought into the match area.

12.5 Backstage Match Waiting Area
This area is the designated area for teams that are about to have a match or currently having a match. All team staff are expected to stay in the general area while their team's match is ongoing. Hospitality staff will be on standby for any team needs for this duration.

12.5.1  Non-Competing Organization Waiver for Other Staff
All team staff members must sign and submit the eligibility form sent by the committee, to be officially included in the team list. To use an official team staff ID, those listed must also sign a waiver—administered by the Security Team, supervised by the operating committee during match days—confirming they are not simultaneously affiliated with or contracted by any other esports organization competing in the MPL, MDL, or any other local or International Tournament. This signed waiver is a mandatory requirement before any official team staff ID can be issued.

12.6 General Waiting Rooms/Holding Rooms
Other Teams that are slated to have their next match while awaiting the current match to finish will each have a holding room to stay in. In these general waiting rooms, Team will be attended to by hospitality staff for any needs and referees will prep them for their upcoming match.

12.7 Media Room
This area will be the designated interview room for media that are in the venue. Interviews may be requested from certain teams before or after their matches. Hospitality staff will be sure to update and guide teams accordingly to this room should it be necessary.

12.8 Crowd Control
Every team is obliged to cooperate with the MPL Operating Committee to actively manage fans on-site and guide fans to watch the match in order. Arranging or assisting (whether intentional or not) fans to disturb the order is strictly prohibited. The team shall be held responsible for consequences caused by the ill management of fans.

12.9 Rehearsals Obligation
Teams are required to come into technical rehearsals whenever deemed necessary by the MPL Operating Committee. This includes, but is not limited to, dress rehearsals, tech rehearsals, show openings, and award ceremonies.

Baseline Procedure:
a.    Schedules for any rehearsals shall be sent to teams at least one (1) week in advance.
b.    Teams must commit the chosen representative/s, either due to the request of the MPL Operating committee or if given a choice, within one day after the schedule has been aligned.
c.    Should a team's representative be incapable of participating, teams shall be enjoined to commit a proper stand-in. These stand-ins must be part of the currently recognized roster of the season. No other stand-ins will be allowed.
d.    Should a stand-in be committed instead, said stand-in must be capable of relaying and aligning information from the rehearsal. Each team shall be responsible for their own capabilities on event days.

In the absence of a schedule, as a general rule, teams will be asked to come in at least one (1) or two (2) hours earlier before the start of the broadcast for their match during the playoffs or a two to three (2-3) lead time during the regular season before broadcast days begin.

12.10 League and Match Days Obligation
For the avoidance of doubt, each Team and their Players and coaching staff shall be obligated to attend the following and ensure each Team’s participation in the following League and Match Day Obligations, as and when required by the MPL Operating Committee at their sole and absolute discretion, as follows:

a.    League Obligations
i.    Media Days (Asset Day, Promo Day);
ii.    Regular Season Player Summit;
iii.    Playoffs Player Summit;
iv.    Playoffs Opening;
v.    Phone Testing Days;
vi.    Regular Season Opening;
vii.    Regular Season Closing;
viii.    Grand Finals Opening;
ix.    Press Conferences;
x.    Promotional Guestings;
xi.    Media Committed/Sponsored Segments;
xii.    Team Participation on Emergency Protocols;
xiii.    Player Mic Check Participation; and
xiv.    Tournament Phone Testing.

b.    Official League Meetings
i.    Pre-Season Meeting/Briefing;
ii.    Weekly Meetings; and
iii.    Post-Season Meeting.

c.    Match Day Obligations
i.    Post-Match Media Interviews; 
ii.    Pre-Match Social Media, Content, Marketing Shoots & Interviews;
iii.    Post-Match Social Media, Content, Marketing Shoots & Interviews; and
iv.    Scheduled Meet & Greets.

13. Code of Conduct

13.1 Competition Conduct

13.1.1 Unfair Play
The following actions will be considered unfair play and will be subject to penalties at the discretion of the MPL Operating Committee, in accordance to the league's Penalty Index, which is annexed herein this Official Rule as Appendix A.

13.1.1.1 Collusion
Collusion is defined as any agreement among two (2) or more Players, Head Coaches, Teams, and/or confederates to disadvantage opposing Players. Collusion includes, but is not limited to, acts such as:
i.    Soft play is defined as any agreement among two (2) or more Players to not damage, impede or otherwise play to a reasonable standard of competition in a Game.
ii.    Pre-arranging to split prize money and/or any other form of compensation.
iii.    Sending or receiving signals, electronic or otherwise, from a confederate to/from a Player.
iv.    Deliberately losing a Game for prize money, or for any other reason, or attempting to induce another Player to do so.

13.1.1.2 Competitive Integrity
Teams are expected to play at their best at all times within any Game, and to avoid any behavior inconsistent with the principles of good sportsmanship, honesty, or fair play. For the sake of clarity, team composition and the pick/ban phase will not be considered when determining whether this rule has been violated.

13.1.1.3 Hacking
Hacking is defined as any modification of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang game client by any Player, Team or person acting on behalf of a Player or a Team.

13.1.1.4 Exploiting
Exploiting is defined as intentionally using any in-game bug to seek an advantage. Exploiting includes, but is not limited to, acts such as: glitches in buying items, glitches in neutral minion interactions, glitches in Heroes ability performance, or any other game function that, in the sole determination of the MPL officials, is not functioning as intended.

13.1.1.5 Spectator Monitors
Players who are playing in a Game are not permitted to look at or attempt to look at any screen or device that is displaying an observer level view of that Game (i.e., that is or is capable of showing a neutral view of the map).

13.1.1.6 Ringing
Playing under another Player's account or soliciting, inducing, encouraging or directing someone else to play under another Player's account.

13.1.1.7 Cheating Methods
The use of any kind of cheating device and/or cheat program, or any similar cheating method such as signaling devices, hand signals, etc.

13.1.1.8 Intentional Disconnection
An intentional disconnection without a proper and explicitly-stated reason.

13.1.1.9 MPL Official Discretion
Any other further act, failure to act, or behavior which, in the sole judgment of the MPL official, violates these Rules and/or the standards of integrity established by MPL for competitive game play.

13.1.2 Insulting Behavior
A Team Member may not take any gesture directed to an opponent, fan, or official, or incite any other individual(s) to do the same, which is disparaging to a person's race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or cognitive ability (or disability as to whatever is applicable).
Additionally, excessive profanity or obscene gestures directed at an opponent, fan, or official, or inciting any other individual(s) to do the same will be harshly penalized, intentional or not. This applies to before, during, and after the match, and beyond.

13.1.3 Studio Interference
No Team Member may touch or otherwise interfere with lights, cameras or other studio equipment. Team Members may not stand on chairs, tables or other studio equipment. Team Members must follow all instructions of MPL studio personnel.

13.1.4 Unauthorized Communications
All mobile phones, tablets and other voice-enabled and/or "ringing" electronic devices must be removed from the play area before the Game. Players may not text/email or use social media while in the match area. During the Match, communication by a Starter shall be limited to the Players on the Starter's Team.

13.1.5 Professional Manner
Players are expected to compete in a professional manner. Throwing a match, halting play without cause, or showing a flagrant lack of effort will be construed as a violation of player conduct, and will result in match penalties, forfeit and disqualification from the League.

13.1.6 Contest Manner
a.    All MPL players must sit upright during online contests when livestreaming, and may not put their feet on the seat, sit cross-legged or act in an otherwise unseemly manner. Mobile phones must also only be used on the desktop.
b.    Competitors and team members must respect the backstage order; refrain from making loud noises, fool around or negatively affect other teams’ preparations; and shall keep the team lounge clean and tidy.
c.    During the contest, competitors are not allowed to stand-up or leave their seats without the referee’s permission. In the case of special circumstances, players should raise their hand and obtain permission from the referee.
d.    Before the start and after the finish of a series contest, competitors from both teams shall take to the center of the stage and fistbump/shake hands (right hand) as a mark of respect. They shall then return to their team zone after shaking hands.
e.    No team member shall maliciously commit any act that negatively affects the contest during the contest period.

13.1.7 Identity
A Player may not cover his or her face or attempt to conceal his or her identity from the MPL official. The MPL officials must be able to distinguish the identity of each Player at all times and may instruct Players to remove any material that inhibits the identification of Players or is a distraction to other Players or the MPL officials.

13.2 Etiquette and Social Media Speech
League participants (including but not limited to: clubs, players, coaches or other team members) in any place (including online and offline private and public places, including but not limited to games clients, game platforms, social software, social media, live broadcast platforms, media reports, etc.) must comply with the norms required by this chapter, and must not make any discriminatory (including race, color, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion beliefs, political opinions, etc.); derogatory personality of others (including but not limited to: name, portrait, reputation, honor, privacy, etc.); content that is excessive or morally controversial, fabricated facts, and any other speech or behavior that may affect the league, MPL PH/MDL PH official and its related parties (including but not limited to league sponsors, other participants) caused damage; negative impact and risk remarks. Otherwise, officials have the right to make severe punishments based on the nature and consequences of the behavior.

The above-mentioned speech acts include but are not limited to:

13.2.1 Prohibited Gestures
Any action that is generally considered to be insulting or any action prohibited by MPL PH/MDL PH is forbidden to be shown in any place (including online and offline private and public places, including but not limited to games clients, game platforms, social software, social media, live broadcast platforms, media reports, etc.)
These poses include, but are not limited to, a list below:
•    The middle finger
•    The nazi salute
•    Any form of gang signs
•    Gestures involving the male or female genitalia
•    Gestures implying anything sexual in nature
•    Hand seal pose
•    Any hand signs or gestures that are intentionally political in nature
At the discretion of the tournament operating committee, this list may be expanded whenever necessary at any point in time.

13.2.2 Abusive Behavior
Abuse (including but not limited to the MPL officials, opposing Team Members, or audience members) on any occasion (including but not limited to social media, live streaming) and at any time will not be tolerated. Repeated etiquette violations, including but not limited to touching another Player's cellphone, body or property will result in penalties. Team Members and their guests (if any) must treat all individuals attending a Match with respect.

13.2.3 Profane and Hostile Speech
A Team Member may not use language that is obscene, foul, vulgar, insulting, threatening, abusive, libelous, slanderous, defamatory or otherwise offensive or objectionable; or promote or incite hatred or discriminatory conduct, in or near the Match Area, at any time. A Team Member may not use any facilities, services or equipment provided or made available by MPL or its contractors to post, transmit, disseminate or otherwise make available any such prohibited communications. A Team Member may not use this type of language on social media or during any public-facing events such as streaming.

13.2.3.1 Hate speech: 
Involves using insulting, offensive, defamatory, or discriminatory language against others or groups based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, or using such language without reason in public places (including but not limited to social media or live event broadcasts) or inciting discrimination and hatred based on the mentioned characteristics.

1.    Verbal Insults: This includes but is not limited to using rude, discriminatory, aggressive, or provocative language towards other players, referees, or spectators. Example: Calling an opponent derogatory names or using offensive language during a match.
2.    Inappropriate Comments: Making inappropriate comments, including but not limited to racism, sexism, or discrimination based on sexual orientation, which violates moral and public decency standards. Examples of potential inappropriate comments should also be provided. Example: Making a sexist remark during an interview or posting a racist comment on social media.
a.    Improper statements include those made onground, during broadcasts, on social media, or in any other public setting.
b.    It is required to add that, without permission, the posting of content on official team social media that mentions other individuals and causes a negative impact is prohibited.

13.2.4 Defamation Towards the Organizers
Statements Regarding Moonton, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, MPL and/or MDL, Team Members may not give, make, issue, authorize or endorse any statement or action having, or designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interest of MPL, MDL, Moonton or its affiliates, or Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the officials.

13.2.5 Releasing Information without Approval
Teams will be asked to submit paperwork for approval or visibility throughout the MPL. This paperwork is necessary for maintaining expectations throughout the MPL. Early announcements can disrupt the competitive scouting a Team would use to create strategies for upcoming Matches. For this reason, if a Team Member has been told not to release information, as it may undermine the competitive process, and the Team Member proceeds to release said information, then the Team Member and/or Team will be subject to penalties.

13.2.6 Confidentiality
A Team Member may not disclose any confidential information provided by MPL officials, the MPL or any affiliate of the MPL/MDL, by any method of communication, including all social media channels.

13.2.7 Social Media Account Responsibility
All League participants—including players, coaches, team managers, and other team-affiliated staff—are responsible for the content posted on both official team social media pages and their personal social media accounts where they are publicly or professionally associated with the League or their team.

The Official Rules extend to all such accounts and platforms. Posts must maintain professionalism and shall not:
￮    Display, promote, or link to prohibited items, services, or brands (e.g., unapproved sponsors, gambling, performance-enhancing substances) as defined in Rule 5.1
￮    Share confidential or internal team or league matters
￮    Use league affiliation for personal, political, or controversial messaging
￮    Engage in content that reflects poorly on the League, its partners, or its participants
Any violation will be subject to penalties under the League’s Penalty Index, including mandatory takedown requests, suspensions, or disqualification in severe cases.

13.3 Unprofessional Behavior

13.3.1 Responsibility Under Code
Unless expressly stated otherwise, offenses and infringements of the Official Rules are punishable, whether or not they were committed intentionally. Attempts to commit such offenses or infringements are also punishable.

13.3.2 Harassment
Harassment is forbidden. Harassment is defined as systematic, hostile and repeated acts taking place over a considerable period of time, or a singular egregious instance, which is/are intended to isolate or ostracize a person and/or affect the dignity of the person.

13.3.3 Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is forbidden. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances. The assessment is based on whether a reasonable person would regard the conduct as undesirable or offensive. There is zero tolerance for any sexual threats/coercion or the promise of advantages in exchange for sexual favors.

13.3.4 Discrimination and Denigration
Team Members may not offend the dignity or integrity of a country, private person or group of people through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigrating words or actions on account of race, skin color, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, financial status, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason.

13.3.5 Criminal Activity
A Team Member may not engage in any activity which is prohibited by common law, statute, or treaty and which leads to or may be reasonably deemed likely to lead to conviction in any court of competent jurisdiction.

13.3.6 Behavior Contrary to Morality
Team members can't participate in any actions considered by the MPL officials to be immoral, disgraceful or contrary to traditional morals and ethics.

13.3.7 Bribery
No Team Member may offer any gift or reward to a Player, Coach, Manager, MPL official, Moonton employee, or person connected with or employed by another MPL/MDL Team for services promised, rendered, or to be rendered in defeating or attempting to defeat a competing Team.

13.3.8 No Poaching or Tampering
No Team Member or Affiliate of a Team may solicit, lure, or make an offer of employment to any official Coach or Player who is signed to any MPL/MDL Team, nor encourage any such official Coach or Player to breach or otherwise terminate a contract with said Team. An official Coach or Player may not solicit a Team to violate this rule. An official Coach or Player may express publicly their desire to leave the Team and encourage any and all interested parties to contact their management (i.e. a general statement aimed at the entire marketplace) after obtaining the consent of the Team. But, to be clear, the Head Coach or Player may not entice a Team directly to reach out to their management or attempt to violate their contractual obligations (i.e. a Player cannot contact or callout a Team and suggest that they inquire about the Player). Violations of this rule shall be subject to penalties, at the discretion of the MPL officials. To inquire about the status of an official coach or Player from another Team, Managers must contact the management of the Team that the Player and/or official coach is currently contracted with. The inquiring Team must provide visibility to the MPL officials before being able to discuss the contract with a Player.

13.3.9 Gifts
No Team Member may accept any gift, reward or compensation for services promised, rendered, or to be rendered in connection with competitive play of the Game, including services related to defeating or attempting to defeat a competing Team or services designed to throw or fix a Match or Game. The sole exception to this rule shall be in the case of performance-based compensation paid to a Team Member by a Team's official sponsor or owner.

13.3.10 Non-Compliance
No Team Member may refuse or fail to apply the reasonable instructions or decisions of the MPL officials.

13.3.11 Match Fixing
No Team Member may offer, agree, conspire, or attempt to influence the outcome of a Game or Match by any means that are prohibited by law or these Rules. Any team or player has the responsibility to report any match-fixing activities to the league. Teams or players who have knowledge of match fixing but have not reported it to the league will be deemed as an accessory to the violation and shall be penalized by the league.

13.3.12 Detrimental Service
Team Members cannot take part in any event or business which is related to boosting/piloting, unofficial top-up platform, account selling, etc. Additionally, promoting, endorsing, or advertising any such detrimental services is strictly prohibited. Any Teams or Players have the responsibility to report any team members detrimental service to the league and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Teams or Players who have knowledge of detrimental service but have not reported it to the league will be deemed as an accessory to the violation and shall be penalized by the league.

13.3.13 Document or Miscellaneous Requests
Documentation or other reasonable items may be required at various times throughout the season as requested by the MPL officials. If the documentation is not completed to the standards set by the MPL then a Team may be subject to penalties. Penalties may be imposed if the items requested are not received and completed at the required time.

13.3.14 Smoking and Alcohol
No team or its members are allowed to supply or use tobacco products and alcohol (including alcoholic beverages) in non-smoking areas of any match venue. Vaping is considered the same as smoking. For onsite matches, the match area or any area captured by official cameras are considered non-smoking areas.

13.3.15 Account Transaction
Any Team Members are not allowed to transfer the account and benefit from it. MPL officials will not solve any issues caused by account transactions. People who made the transaction will be penalized.

13.3.16 Piloting
Any MPL/MDL Team Members are not allowed to pilot for other teams in MPL PH/MDL PH or other Players in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

13.3.17 Defiance of League Authority
Team Members must respect and comply with the authority, decisions, disciplinary processes, and sanctions of the MPL Operating Committee.

A Team Member shall not, through public or private statements or conduct:
1.     openly declare or demonstrate an intention to disregard, violate, or circumvent the Official Rules or an MPL decision; 
2.     characterize a monetary penalty or other sanction as permission, a fee, or an acceptable cost for committing or repeating a violation; 
3.     threaten or indicate an intention to repeat prohibited conduct because the Team Member believes they can absorb the applicable penalty; 
4.     encourage another person to disregard or violate an MPL decision or disciplinary sanction; 
5.     deliberately obstruct, ridicule, or undermine an ongoing disciplinary process in a manner that materially diminishes its authority or intended corrective effect; or 
6.     otherwise engage in open defiance of the MPL Operating Committee’s lawful authority under this Rulebook. 
A violation of this Section may be penalized separately from the underlying conduct or violation to which the statement or act relates.
Nothing in this Section prohibits a Team Member from:
1.     requesting clarification concerning a rule or potential sanction; 
2.     submitting an appeal or request for internal review; 
3.     expressing disagreement or criticism in good faith; 
4.     disputing an allegation or presenting a defense; or 
5.     discussing the proportionality or application of a penalty without indicating an intention to disregard the Rules or repeat the prohibited conduct. 
The MPL Operating Committee shall consider the context, wording, audience, timing, and apparent intent of the statement or conduct when determining whether it constitutes open defiance.

13.4 Association with Gambling
No Team Member or MPL/MDL official from the MPL/MDL Operating Committee may take part, either directly or indirectly, in betting or gambling ("gambling") in any MLBB related-matches as expounded on the section 8.8 of this Rulebook.
 

Further to the above, any Player associated with any gambling sponsors shall be required to serve a 90-day cooldown period prior to being eligible to participate in MPL PH/MDL PH. The said gambling sponsors shall not be allowed to use the images of the Players for any purposes whatsoever. In the event of non-compliance of this Clause 13.4, the Player and the Team (in the league’s sole and absolute discretion) shall be penalized in accordance to the provisions of the Penalty Index.

13.5 Team Conduct

13.5.1 Team Activities
Before any team’s player partake in a non-official marketing/commercial activities by third party entities, an official notice to the league would need to be submitted. Permission would need to be obtained from the league for activities such as show matches or anything that is related to MLBB game. Any team activities should not directly or indirectly affect the league image in a negative way. Violators will be subjected to penalties.

13.5.2 Media Shoot Activities
The MPL would have requirements throughout the season for teams and their personnel to conduct and participate in a league sanctioned media shoot. This includes but is not limited to profile shoot, video shoot etc. Teams and Players need to cooperate with the league to complete such requirements within the timeline and other requirements set by the league. Any misconduct such as lateness during the activity will be subjected to league penalties.

13.6 Indirect Violation
Any Teams or Players are not allowed to directly or through any third parties, entice, encourage, assist, force, etc. anyone to break the rules and regulations of the league.

14. Compliance with Penalty Rules

14.1 Subjection to Penalty
a.    Any person found to have engaged in or attempted to engage in any act that the MPL officials believe, in their sole and absolute discretion, that constitutes unfair play, will be subject to penalties in accordance with the league's Penalty Index as annexed herein this Official Rules as Annexure A. The nature and extent of the penalties imposed due to such acts shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the league officials.
b.    When the circumstances of the violation are significantly minor or the circumstances are particularly serious, the MPL Operating Committee has the right to make any penalties outside the scope of the penalties specified in the league's Penalty Index based on the consequences of the specific violation.

14.2 Penalties
a.    Upon discovery of any Team Member committing any violations of these Rules, the MPL officials may, without limitation of its authority, issue the following penalties:
i.    Verbal or written warning(s).
ii.    Fine(s) or confiscation of prize.
iii.    Suspension(s) for attending MLBB official tournaments.
iv.    Disqualification(s) for MPL PH/MDL PH.
v.    Restricted access to MPL PH venues.
vi.    Restrict participation in activities related to MPL PH/MDL PH.
vii.    Disqualification for any personal rewards selection.
viii.    Suspension for whole career.
ix.    Any other punishment deemed fit by the authority of the MPL.

b.    Upon discovery of any Team or Organization committing any violations of these Rules, the MPL officials may, without limitation of its authority, issue the following penalties:
i.    Verbal or written warning(s).
ii.    Loss of side selection for current or future game(s).
iii.    Loss of ban for current or future game(s).
iv.    Fine(s) and/or revenue sharing confiscation.
v.    Loss of game(s).
vi.    Loss of match(es).
vii.    Transfer transactions and/or new player registration rejections;
viii.    Suspension(s) for attending MLBB official tournaments.
ix.    Disqualification(s) for MPL PH/MDL PH.
x.    Disqualification for any team rewards selection.
xi.    Any other punishment deemed fit by the authority of the MPL.

c.    Repeated infractions are subject to escalating penalties, up to, and including, disqualification from future participation in the MPL/MDL. It should be noted that penalties may not always be imposed in a successive manner. The MPL officials, in its sole discretion, for example, can disqualify a Player for a first offense if the action of said Player is deemed egregious enough to be worthy of disqualification by the MPL officials.

d.    Penalties that state a listed amount of time for discipline will only apply to competition months. Competition months are defined as the months in which MPL professional competitions are taking place.

e.    Infractions will be governed by the league Penalty Index, which can be found in the Appendix A.

f.    Penalty counts will be tracked and monitored by the committee on an annual basis throughout the esports calendar year.

14.3 Penalties for Policy Breach
If the officials determine that a Team or Team Member has violated the Official Rules, or other rules of MPL, the MPL officials or the Operating committee may assign penalties at their sole discretion.

14.4 Player/Team Behavior Investigation
If the MPL official determines that a Team or Team Member has violated the Code of Conduct, or other Official Rules, the MPL officials may contact the Team or Team Member to discuss the investigation, the Team or Team Member is obligated to tell the truth. If a Team or Team Member withholds information or misleads the officials creating an obstruction to the investigation, then the Team and/or Team Member is subject to penalties.

14.5 Recidivism and Prior Disciplinary History
Disciplinary records shall not automatically reset or expire upon the conclusion of a Season, Stage, Tournament, or competition year.
 

When determining the appropriate penalty for a violation, the MPL Operating Committee may consider any previous warning, penalty, suspension, corrective instruction, or other disciplinary action imposed upon the offending Player, Coach, Team Member, or Team.
 

A violation may be treated as a Repeat Offense where the offender has previously committed the same or a substantially similar violation, regardless of whether the previous violation occurred during a different Season, Stage, Tournament, or while the offender was registered with another Team.
Where the previous violation is not the same or substantially similar, the offender’s prior disciplinary history may nevertheless be treated as an aggravating circumstance where it demonstrates:
1.     repeated disregard for League rules or official instructions; 
2.     failure to correct conduct following a prior warning or penalty; 
3.     a continuing pattern of disruptive, dishonest, reckless, or unsportsmanlike behavior; or 
4.     prior knowledge of the League’s standards and disciplinary procedures. 
In determining the weight to be given to prior disciplinary history, the MPL Operating Committee may consider:
1.     the nature and severity of the previous and current violations; 
2.     the similarity between the violations; 
3.     the number and frequency of previous violations; 
4.     the time elapsed since the previous disciplinary action; 
5.     the offender’s compliance with previous penalties or corrective measures; and 
6.     any evidence of corrective conduct or continued misconduct. 
Prior disciplinary history may justify:
1.     advancement to a higher penalty tier; 
2.     removal of a warning or other first-offense remedy; 
3.     imposition of additional conditions or corrective measures; or 
4.     a more severe penalty than would ordinarily apply to an isolated first violation. 
The MPL Operating Committee shall retain discretion to determine the relevance and weight of prior disciplinary history based on the circumstances of each case.

14.6 Right to Publish
The MPL officials shall have the right to publish a declaration stating that a Team and/or a Team Member has been penalized. Any Team Members and/or Team which may be referenced in such declaration hereby waive any right of legal action against the MDL, MPL, Moonton, and/or any of their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, agents, or contractors.

14.7 Appeal
In the event that a Team/Team Member who is subject to penalties has doubts about the MPL official’s decisions for the penalties, the Team/Team Member may file an appeal against the decisions with the MPL through email. The appeal will be reviewed by the Operating Committee.

14.8 Other Penalization Principles
a.    Should any teams or players of the league violate rule 14.4, the Operating Committee has the right to implement penalties based on the actions of the team or player in question as per interpreted by the league. The league maintains the right to set the penalty whereby the severity may range based on the actions of the violators beyond the penalties stated in the rules and regulation.
b.    Other than league penalties as per stated in the rules and regulation document, if the violation infringes or any law, the league has the right to turn over the violator and related information to local legal entities.

14.9 Recognition and Portability of Sanctions

14.9.1  Recognition of Sanctions
Any suspension, disqualification, restriction, or other competitive sanction imposed by an MPL regional league or an officially recognized MLBB governing body shall be recognized and enforceable across applicable MPL and MDL competitions.
A recognized sanction shall be enforced according to:
1.     the terms of the final disciplinary decision; 
2.     any applicable rules of the issuing league or governing body; and 
3.     any subsequent written clarification issued by the authority that imposed the sanction. 
Where the commencement, duration, scope, or expiration of an externally imposed sanction is unclear, the MPL Operating Committee may seek clarification from the issuing authority before determining how the sanction shall be enforced within its competition.

14.9.2 Portability of Individual Sanctions
A sanction imposed on an individual shall follow that individual regardless of:
1.     the Team or Organization with which they are affiliated; 
2.     transfer to another MPL or MDL competition; 
3.     movement to another participating region; 
4.     a change in competitive role or title; or 
5.     the conclusion of the Season during which the sanction was imposed. 
Changing Teams, Organizations, regions, or roles shall not nullify, reduce, or otherwise alter an outstanding sanction unless expressly authorized by the MPL Operating Committee or the authority that imposed the sanction.
 

A sanction imposed directly upon a Team or Organization shall remain attached to that Team or Organization unless the disciplinary decision expressly provides otherwise.

14.9.3 Outstanding Match-Based and Game-Based Sanctions
Any unserved portion of a sanction imposed for a specified number of Matches or Games shall carry over between Seasons until it is served or expires under Section 14.10.
This includes, without limitation:
1.     Match or Game suspensions; 
2.     loss of side selection; 
3.     stage or competition-area restrictions; 
4.     restrictions on performing a designated role; and 
5.     any other sanction measured through official Matches or Games. 
Unless the disciplinary decision provides otherwise, a Match-based or Game-based sanction attached to an individual shall be served only during an official Match or Game in which that individual:
1.     is included in the official Match roster or Game lineup; or 
2.     would otherwise be eligible to perform the role affected by the sanction. 
A Match or Game that is postponed, cancelled, remade before reaching Game of Record, or forfeited without play shall not count toward service unless otherwise determined by the MPL Operating Committee.

14.9.4 Sanctions Affecting Team Rights
Where a sanction imposed on an individual is enforced through the loss of a Team right or competitive benefit, the remaining sanction shall follow the individual and apply to the Team with which that individual is registered when the sanction is served.

For example, where a Player has two remaining Games of side-selection loss, those losses shall apply to the next two eligible Games in which the Player is included in the official lineup, regardless of whether the Player has transferred to another Team.

Before Roster Lock, the registering Team shall exercise reasonable diligence to identify and disclose any outstanding sanction applicable to the individual. The MPL Operating Committee shall, where reasonably practicable, verify the sanction and inform the Team of its remaining scope and expected competitive effect.

Where literal enforcement would impose a clearly disproportionate burden upon a new Team that was not involved in the original violation, the MPL Operating Committee may convert the remaining sanction into an equivalent personal restriction, provided that the conversion does not materially reduce the intended disciplinary effect.

Such conversion may include:
1.     temporary Match or Game ineligibility; 
2.     restriction from the stage or competition area; 
3.     restriction from performing the affected role; or 
4.     another proportionate personal sanction. 

14.10 Commencement, Service, and Expiration of Sanctions

14.10.1 General Commencement
Unless otherwise stated in the final disciplinary decision, a suspension shall commence upon the official registration of the sanctioned individual in an applicable MPL or MDL competition.
Time elapsed while the individual is not officially registered shall not count as service of the suspension. However, such time may count toward the expiration period established under this Section.
The MPL Operating Committee shall determine whether an individual has satisfied the registration and service requirements applicable to the sanction.

14.10.2 Eligible Season
For purposes of this Section, an Eligible Season means a Season during which the sanctioned individual could reasonably have been registered in an applicable MPL or MDL competition but for the sanction.
The first Eligible Season shall ordinarily be the first Season beginning after the issuance of the final disciplinary decision.
 

Where the disciplinary decision was issued after registration for the immediately following Season was no longer reasonably available, the MPL Operating Committee may designate the next Season as the first Eligible Season.
 

A Season may be excluded from the calculation where:
1.     the applicable competition was cancelled or did not operate; 
2.     the individual was independently ineligible for reasons unrelated to the sanction; 
3.     registration was not reasonably available to the individual; or 
4.     another circumstance made it unreasonable to treat the Season as eligible. 

The MPL Operating Committee shall have final authority to determine whether a Season qualifies as an Eligible Season.

14.10.3 Service of Season-Based Suspensions
A suspension imposed for one or more Seasons shall ordinarily be served only during a Season in which the sanctioned individual:
1.     is officially registered in an applicable MPL or MDL competition; 
2.     would otherwise be eligible to perform the restricted role; and 
3.     remains subject to the restrictions imposed by the disciplinary decision. 
Where the individual’s registration is withdrawn, terminated, or otherwise ends before completion of the Season, the MPL Operating Committee shall determine whether the Season, or any portion of it, counts toward service.
A Team may knowingly register a suspended individual for the purpose of allowing the suspension to be served, provided that:
1.     the registration is valid and made in good faith; 
2.     all applicable roster, registration, and disclosure requirements are satisfied; 
3.     the individual does not perform any prohibited function during the suspension; and 
4.     the arrangement does not otherwise constitute an attempt to evade or manipulate the sanction. 
Such registration shall not, by itself, constitute sanction evasion.

14.10.4 Expiration of Season-Based Suspensions
Unless the final disciplinary decision expressly provides otherwise, an unserved season-based suspension imposed under this Rulebook shall expire at the conclusion of the fourth consecutive Eligible Season beginning with the first Eligible Season following the issuance of the sanction.

Accordingly:
1.     if the individual registers before the expiration period ends, the suspension must be served according to its terms; 
2.     if the individual remains unregistered throughout the expiration period, the remaining suspension shall expire at the conclusion of the fourth Eligible Season; and 
3.     expiration shall remove the remaining participation restriction but shall not erase the underlying disciplinary finding or record. 
The default expiration period shall not apply to:
1.     permanent bans; 
2.     indefinite suspensions; 
3.     integrity-related disqualifications, including sanctions involving match manipulation or comparable serious misconduct; 
4.     sanctions expressly designated as non-expiring; or 
5.     sanctions for which a different expiration period is stated in the final disciplinary decision. 

For a sanction imposed by another MPL regional league or recognized governing body, expiration shall ordinarily be determined according to the terms established by the issuing authority.

Where an externally imposed sanction contains no clear expiration rule, the MPL Operating Committee may, after consultation with the issuing authority, establish a reasonable period for local enforcement based on the sanction’s nature, severity, intended effect, and proportionality.

14.10.5 Service and Expiration of Match-Based or Game-Based Sanctions
A Match-based or Game-based sanction shall remain outstanding until:
1.     the required number of eligible Matches or Games has been served; 
2.     the MPL Operating Committee converts or modifies the sanction under this Rulebook; 
3.     the sanction expires; or 
4.     the sanction is otherwise lifted by the authority that imposed it. 
Unless the final disciplinary decision expressly provides otherwise, any unserved Match-based or Game-based sanction shall expire at the conclusion of the second consecutive Eligible Season following its imposition.
The conclusion of a Season shall not, by itself, erase any remaining Matches or Games from the sanction.

14.10.6 Disclosure of Outstanding Sanctions
Before registering or transferring an individual with an outstanding sanction, the individual must disclose the sanction to the prospective Team and the MPL Operating Committee.
Before approving the registration, the MPL Operating Committee shall, where reasonably practicable, inform the registering Team of:
1.     the nature of the sanction; 
2.     the remaining duration, Matches, or Games to be served; 
3.     the conditions under which the sanction will be served; 
4.     how the sanction may affect the registering Team; and 
5.     the applicable expiration period. 
Failure to disclose a known outstanding sanction, or the submission of false or misleading information concerning a sanction, may constitute a separate violation.

14.10.7 Effect of Service or Expiration on Disciplinary History
Completion or expiration of a sanction shall not erase the underlying violation, disciplinary finding, or historical record.
The prior violation may continue to be considered under the applicable provisions concerning:
1.     repeat offenses; 
2.     recidivism; 
3.     aggravating circumstances; 
4.     pattern of misconduct; and 
5.     future sanction determination. 
Where an individual has been placed under Recidivism Status, that status shall ordinarily remain in effect for:
1.     the remainder of the Season in which the relevant violation occurred; and 
2.     one full subsequent Eligible Season during which the individual is officially registered and commits no further penalizable violation. 
 

A Season during which the individual is not registered shall not ordinarily qualify as the required clean Season.
 

Any further violation committed during the clean-season period shall reset the period and may result in further escalation.
 

Upon completion of one full clean Season, the individual shall no longer be subject to automatic escalation solely because of Recidivism Status. The underlying disciplinary history shall nevertheless remain on record and may still be considered where relevant.

14.11  Prohibition of Sanction Evasion
Any individual, Team, or Organization subject to a penalty, suspension, restriction, or other disciplinary action under these Rules shall not, directly or indirectly, attempt to evade, circumvent, reduce, manipulate, or nullify the effect of the sanction.

Prohibited conduct includes, without limitation:

1.     participating in official Matches, Games, drafts, or Match preparation while under restriction; 
2.     entering a restricted competition area or venue while access is prohibited; 
3.     performing functions substantially similar to a restricted role under a different title or capacity; 
4.     acting through intermediaries, substitutes, undisclosed representatives, or other third parties to perform restricted activities; 
5.     re-registering under another Team, Organization, role, identity, or region for the purpose of avoiding enforcement; 
6.     using false, nominal, sham, or deliberately manipulated registration or deregistration arrangements to affect the commencement, service, or expiration of a sanction; 
7.     concealing or misrepresenting an outstanding sanction during registration or transfer; 
8.     instructing, assisting, or facilitating another person or Team in circumventing a sanction; or 
9.     otherwise engaging in conduct intended to preserve the practical benefit of an activity that the sanction was intended to prohibit. 

The MPL Operating Committee reserves the right to determine whether any registration, deregistration, transfer, role change, delay, or other arrangement constitutes an attempt to circumvent the intended duration or effect of a sanction.

The following shall not, by themselves, constitute sanction evasion:
1.     the lawful expiration of an unserved sanction under Section 14.10; 
2.     a valid Team decision not to register or field a sanctioned individual; 
3.     the good-faith registration of an individual for the purpose of serving a suspension in accordance with Section 14.10.3; or 
4.     a transfer or role change that does not interfere with enforcement of the sanction. 
Any attempt to evade or circumvent a sanction may result in additional penalties, including extension, reinstatement, conversion, or escalation of the original sanction.

14.12 Exceptional Roster Relief Following Sanctions

14.12.1 Eligibility for Relief
Where the enforcement of one or more suspensions or other individual sanctions causes a Team to:
1.     fall below an applicable minimum roster requirement; 
2.     become unable to field an eligible lineup; or 
3.     become unable to satisfy a required coaching or Team-staff position, 
the Team may apply to the MPL Operating Committee for exceptional roster relief.

Relief under this Section is intended to preserve the Team’s ability to participate in the competition without reducing, delaying, or otherwise interfering with the enforcement of the underlying sanctions.

14.12.2 Available Relief
Where relief is approved, the MPL Operating Committee may authorize one or more of the following:
1.     the temporary registration of replacement Players, Coaches, or other required Team personnel; 
2.     a temporary waiver of the applicable minimum roster requirement; 
3.     permission for the Team to exceed the normal maximum roster limit while sanctioned individuals remain registered; 
4.     registration outside an otherwise applicable transfer or registration period; or 
5.     another limited roster measure necessary to maintain competition operations. 

Relief shall ordinarily be limited to the number of individuals reasonably necessary to restore roster compliance or allow the Team to field an eligible lineup.

Any replacement individual must independently satisfy all applicable eligibility, contractual, registration, and competitive-integrity requirements unless the MPL Operating Committee expressly waives a specific administrative requirement.

14.12.3 Continued Registration of Sanctioned Individuals
A sanctioned individual may remain officially registered while serving a suspension in accordance with Section 14.10.

Where the continued registration of a sanctioned individual would prevent the Team from registering the personnel necessary to restore compliance, the MPL Operating Committee may temporarily exclude that individual from the calculation of the Team’s maximum roster limit.

Such exclusion:
1.     does not remove the individual from the Team’s registered roster; 
2.     does not reduce or interrupt the service of the sanction; 
3.     does not authorize the individual to perform any restricted function; and 
4.     does not grant the Team permanent additional roster capacity.

14.12.4 Application and Review
A Team requesting relief must notify the MPL Operating Committee promptly after learning that enforcement of the sanction will affect its roster compliance or ability to compete.

The Team must provide:
1.     the identity and status of each sanctioned individual; 
2.     the effect of the sanctions on the Team’s roster and eligible lineup; 
3.     the identity and eligibility information of any proposed replacement; 
4.     the duration and form of relief requested; and 
5.     any other information required by the MPL Operating Committee. 
The MPL Operating Committee may consider:
1.     the number and duration of the sanctions; 
2.     the Team’s remaining eligible personnel; 
3.     the timing of the sanctions in relation to Roster Lock, transfer periods, and scheduled Matches; 
4.     whether the Team or its representatives contributed to the circumstances resulting in the sanctions; 
5.     whether the requested arrangement creates an unreasonable competitive advantage; and 
6.     whether another less disruptive measure is available.

14.12.5 Effect on Liability and Discipline
Approval of exceptional roster relief shall not:
1.     reduce, suspend, or remove any underlying sanction; 
2.     excuse the conduct that resulted in the sanctions; 
3.     prevent further disciplinary action against the Team or sanctioned individuals; 
4.     establish that the Team was not responsible for the underlying violations; or 
5.     prevent the imposition of additional Team penalties where appropriate. 
Where the Team’s conduct contributed to the circumstances requiring relief, the MPL Operating Committee may grant relief solely to preserve competition operations while separately imposing or maintaining the appropriate penalties.

14.12.6 Duration and Roster Normalization
Any relief granted under this Section shall be temporary and subject to the conditions and duration stated by the MPL Operating Committee.
When the circumstances supporting the relief cease to exist, the Team must return to the normal roster limits and requirements by the deadline specified by the MPL Operating Committee, ordinarily during the next applicable transfer or registration period.
Where sanctioned individuals become eligible at different times, the MPL Operating Committee may establish separate deadlines or conditions for the gradual normalization of the roster.
The MPL Operating Committee may require the Team to:
1.     remove or deregister temporary replacement personnel; 
2.     formally retain and regularize replacement personnel under the normal roster rules; 
3.     select which individuals will remain on the roster; or 
4.     take another measure necessary to restore compliance. 
Failure to normalize the roster within the prescribed period may constitute a separate violation.

14.12.7 No Automatic Entitlement
Exceptional roster relief is not automatic and shall be granted only where the MPL Operating Committee determines that it is necessary and proportionate to preserve orderly competition operations.
 

A Team may not use this Section to obtain additional roster flexibility, retain unnecessary replacement personnel, or otherwise secure a competitive advantage unrelated to the enforcement of the sanctions.
 

All determinations under this Section shall be final and binding, subject only to internal review by the MPL Operating Committee.

14.13 Limitations During Suspension

14.13.1 Prohibition on Competitive Participation
Unless otherwise stated in the disciplinary decision, a suspended Player, Coach, or Analyst shall not perform, assist with, or substitute for any competitive Team role during the period of suspension.

A suspended individual shall not:
1.     participate in an official Game, Match, or draft; 
2.     be submitted as part of an active lineup; 
3.     provide coaching, analysis, scouting, draft preparation, strategic advice, or other competitive assistance; 
4.     communicate tactical or competitive information to Players, Coaches, Analysts, or other Team Members during an official Match; or 
5.     perform substantially similar functions under another role, title, or capacity. 
A suspended Player may not serve temporarily or informally as a Coach or Analyst. A suspended Coach or Analyst may not assume another competitive Team role during the suspension.

14.13.2 Match-Day Access Restrictions
On a Match Day involving their Team, a suspended individual shall not enter or remain in:
1.     the competition stage; 
2.     the Aquarium or designated Player waiting area beside the stage; 
3.     backstage competition areas; or 
4.     any other restricted area designated for active Players, Coaches, Analysts, Referees, or Match operations. 
The suspended individual may not accompany the active lineup after the Team is called from its waiting room to proceed toward the competition area.

14.13.3 Permitted Attendance and Activities
Unless the disciplinary decision imposes additional restrictions, a suspended individual may:
1.     enter and attend the venue as an authorized Team Member or spectator; 
2.     accompany the Team to the venue; 
3.     remain in the Team holding room before the Team is called to the competition area; 
4.     participate in ordinary social, promotional, or non-competitive Team activities; and 
5.     engage in personal activities outside the venue. 
Such attendance or participation shall not be used to provide direct or indirect competitive assistance or otherwise circumvent the intended effect of the suspension.

14.13.4 Communication During Matches
From the time the Team is called from its waiting room to proceed to the competition area until the conclusion of the Match and the Team’s return from the restricted competition area, a suspended individual shall not communicate with the active Players, Coaches, or Analysts for any competitive purpose, whether in person, electronically, or through another person.

14.13.5  Sanction Evasion
Any attempt by a suspended individual or Team to disguise, reassign, or continue the individual’s restricted duties may constitute sanction evasion under Section 14.11 and may result in additional penalties.
This gives the substitute Player the same treatment as everyone else: they may still attend and remain part of the Team socially, but they cannot be converted into a spare Analyst or Coach while suspended.

14.14 Good Faith and Discretionary Determinations
The MPL and its Operating Committee may, at its discretion, grant exceptions, extensions, or procedural accommodations where circumstances arise outside a Team’s reasonable control.
 

In evaluating such requests, the Operating Committee may consider the totality of the circumstances, including but not limited to:
•    The timing of the request;
•    The Team’s prior conduct and compliance history;
•    Whether reasonable diligence was exercised;
•    Whether the circumstances were foreseeable or preventable; and
•    Whether the request appears to be made in good faith.

Requests found to be based on misrepresentation, omission of material facts, or patterns of conduct intended to circumvent league rules may be denied and may result in penalties.

The granting of an exception in one instance shall not establish precedent or entitle any Team to similar relief in future cases.

14.15 Franchise Responsibility in League-Related Activities

14.15.1 Scope of Responsibility
Teams and Organizations are responsible for the conduct of their Players, Coaches, Team Members, employees, officers, managers, contractors, agents, designated community representatives, and other persons authorized to act on their behalf in connection with any League-related activity.

For purposes of this Section, a League-related activity includes, without limitation:
1.     MPL or MDL competitions; 
2.     League-operated or League-sanctioned community tournaments; 
3.     sponsor activations and partner programs; 
4.     fan, promotional, media, and public-engagement activities; 
5.     official events, festivals, broadcasts, and appearances; and 
6.     any other activity in which a Team, Organization, or franchise participates by reason of its affiliation with the League. 

The obligations under this Rulebook apply to such activities even where the participating individuals are not members of the Team’s official competitive roster.

14.15.2 Duty to Preserve League Operations
Teams, Organizations, and their representatives must act in a manner that does not unreasonably obstruct, disrupt, undermine, or place at material risk the orderly operation of any League-related activity.

Prohibited conduct includes, without limitation:
1.     organizing, encouraging, coordinating, or threatening a boycott, withdrawal, refusal to participate, or other collective disruption as a means of pressuring the League, an MPL Operating Committee, a sponsor, or another participating entity; 
2.     inducing another Team, Organization, representative, or participant to abandon or disrupt a League-related activity; 
3.     interfering with the execution of an official League decision after that decision has been communicated; 
4.     using League participants, community members, fan representatives, or affiliated personnel as leverage in a dispute with the League; 
5.     knowingly creating or escalating a situation that materially threatens sponsor obligations, contractual deliverables, broadcast operations, event operations, or the League’s reputation; 
6.     withholding material information concerning an intended withdrawal, protest, or disruption where timely disclosure would reasonably allow the League to address the matter; or 
7.     directing or permitting another person to engage in conduct that would violate this Section if performed directly by the Team or Organization. 
A threatened disruption may constitute a violation even where the threatened action is not ultimately carried out.

14.15.3 Complaints and Good-Faith Objections
Nothing in this Section prevents a Team, Organization, or representative from raising a good-faith concern, protest, eligibility question, rules dispute, or request for review through the channels designated by the MPL Operating Committee.
 

Such concerns must be raised promptly, accurately, and in a manner that allows the League a reasonable opportunity to review and resolve the matter.

The following shall not, by themselves, constitute violations:
1.     submitting a formal protest or request for clarification; 
2.     expressing disagreement with an official decision through appropriate internal channels; 
3.     requesting reconsideration or internal review; or 
4.     declining participation where withdrawal is expressly permitted by the applicable rules and is communicated within the required period. 
However, disagreement with an official decision does not authorize a Team or representative to coerce, threaten, or disrupt League operations.

14.15.4 Organizational Accountability
A Team or Organization shall be responsible for the conduct of any person acting or appearing to act on its behalf in connection with a League-related activity, including its employees, managers, contractors, agents, community representatives, and other designated personnel.

Where such a representative commits a violation under this Section, any applicable monetary, administrative, or organizational penalty shall be imposed upon the Team or Organization represented by that individual.

The Team or Organization shall remain responsible regardless of whether the conduct was expressly authorized or previously known by its senior management. However, the MPL Operating Committee may consider the following when determining the severity of the penalty:
1.     whether the conduct was authorized, directed, approved, or encouraged by the Team or Organization; 
2.     whether the representative acted within their assigned role or apparent authority; 
3.     whether the Team or Organization knew or reasonably should have known of the conduct; 
4.     whether adequate supervision and internal communication were exercised; 
5.     whether the Team or Organization promptly prevented, corrected, or disavowed the conduct after learning of it; 
6.     whether the Team or Organization cooperated with the League’s investigation and response; and 
7.     whether the conduct formed part of a broader or coordinated action involving multiple representatives or Teams. 

Where the responsible individual is a Player, Coach, or other registered participant directly subject to this Rulebook, the MPL Operating Committee may also impose an applicable individual competitive sanction.

For representatives who are not directly subject to individual competitive sanctions under this Rulebook, the Team or Organization shall be responsible for determining and implementing any appropriate internal disciplinary or personnel action.

The MPL Operating Committee may require the Team or Organization to:
1.     provide written confirmation of the corrective action taken; 
2.     replace the individual as its designated representative for League-related activities; 
3.     prevent the individual from representing the Team or Organization in specified League activities; or 
4.     implement additional supervision, approval, or internal communication procedures.

14.15.5 Authorized Representation and Escalation
Each Team or Organization must ensure that persons assigned to League-related activities understand:
1.     the scope of their authority; 
2.     the official channels for raising disputes or operational concerns; 
3.     the persons within the Team or Organization who must be consulted before any withdrawal or refusal to participate is communicated; and 
4.     the consequences of disrupting a League-related activity. 
 

The MPL Operating Committee may require each Team or Organization to identify the representatives authorized to make commitments, submit protests, communicate withdrawals, or otherwise act on behalf of the franchise.

A representative who lacks the authority to withdraw a Team or franchise from an activity must not represent that such withdrawal has been approved.

14.15.6 Penalties
Violations of this Section may result in penalties against the responsible individual, Team, or Organization under the Penalty Index.

In determining the appropriate penalty, the MPL Operating Committee may consider:
1.     whether the conduct involved an actual or threatened disruption; 
2.     the number of Teams, participants, or activities affected; 
3.     the risk or actual harm caused to sponsors, partners, broadcasts, events, or League operations; 
4.     whether the conduct was coordinated or encouraged across multiple Teams; 
5.     whether the conduct was deliberate, reckless, or repeated; 
6.     the timing of the conduct and the League’s ability to mitigate its effects; 
7.     whether the responsible party voluntarily corrected the situation; and 
8.     any prior disciplinary history. 

The MPL Operating Committee may also require corrective measures, including written assurances, replacement of designated representatives, revised internal approval procedures, or other measures necessary to prevent recurrence.

15. Spirit of the Rules

15.1 Finality of Decisions
All decisions regarding the interpretation of these rules, player eligibility, scheduling and staging of the MPL, and penalties for misconduct, lie solely with the MPL, the decisions of which are final. Committee decisions with respect to these Rules cannot be appealed and shall not give rise to any claim for monetary damages or any other legal or equitable remedy.

15.2 Rule Changes
These Rules may be amended, modified or supplemented by the Operating Committee, from time to time, in order to ensure fair play and the integrity of the league.

15.3 Best Interests of the League
The MPL and its Operating Committees, at all times, will act with the necessary authority to preserve the best interests of the league. This power is not constrained by the lack of any specific language in this document. The Operating Committee may use any form of punitive actions at their disposal against any entity whose conduct is not within the confines of the best interests of the league.

16. Reservation of Rights
League Operations reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the MPL competition, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures, human error or any other factor within or outside of League Operations’ control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the competition, as determined by League Operations. If the competition is so terminated, League Operations reserves the right to determine the winners of said competition from among all non-suspect, eligible Participants.

Appendices

Appendix A
S18 MPL PH Penalty Index

Appendix B 
MPL PH S17 Participants Eligibility Form

Appendix C
MPL PH S17 Participants Eligibility Form

Appendix D
Stage SOP

Timings SOP

Appendix E
League Ops On-Ground SOP

Appendix F
Tournament Phone and Risk Management SOP

Appendix G
[MDL/MPL PH] Sponsorship Update SOP 

Appendix H
[MPL/MDL] Official Roster Change SOP

Roster Lock Hardship Relief Procedure