Match Management
Every match in 4league moves through a defined lifecycle, from scheduling to final confirmation. Organizers, referees, and team managers each have specific capabilities at each stage. This guide covers everything from scheduling to live score mode to handling disputes.
Match Lifecycle
Every match goes through a series of states. Understanding these states helps you know what actions are available at each point.
Scheduled → Started → Finished
| State | What it means | Who can act |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled | Match has a date and time but has not started. Lineups can be set. | Organizer, Team Manager, Referee |
| Started | Match is underway. Live events (goals, cards, subs) can be added. | Organizer, Referee |
| Finished | Final score confirmed. Stats are locked and standings updated. | Organizer can reset or edit if needed |
| Postponed | Match rescheduled. A new date must be set by the organizer. | Organizer |
Postponing Matches
When circumstances prevent a match from taking place on its scheduled date, an organizer can postpone it rather than cancelling.
Open the match
Navigate to the match from the competition schedule or the calendar view.
Tap "Postpone"
Select this option from the match actions menu. The match state changes to Postponed.
Set a new date
Choose the rescheduled date and time. All team managers and connected players receive a notification with the new date.
A match is scheduled for Saturday at 4 PM. Overnight rain makes the pitch unplayable. The organizer opens the match at 8 AM, taps "Postpone", and sets the new date to the following Saturday. Both team managers and all connected players receive a push notification immediately.
Resetting Results
If a score was entered incorrectly, an organizer can reset a finished match back to Started state, correct the events, and re-confirm the result. This recalculates standings automatically.
Resetting a match result recalculates standings and top scorer tables. Notify team managers before making corrections to avoid confusion.
Score Entry
Final Score
The simplest way to record a match. After the game, open the match and enter the score for each team. Tap "Confirm" to finish the match and update standings.
Half-Time Score
Optionally record the half-time score. This is displayed on the match detail page and in match statistics but does not affect the final standings calculation.
Penalty Shootouts
For cup matches that end in a draw, penalty shootout results can be entered separately from the regular 90-minute score.
A cup semi-final ends 2–2 after 90 minutes. The organizer enters the regular score as 2–2. In the penalty section, he enters Team A 4 – Team B 2. The match page shows "Team A wins 4–2 on penalties" and Team A advances to the final.
Match Events
Match events give depth to match records, power individual player stats, and make the match timeline a useful story for fans and coaches alike.
Supported Event Types
| Event | Required fields | Effect on stats |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Minute, scorer, optional assist | +1 goal for scorer, +1 assist for assistant |
| Yellow card | Minute, player | +1 yellow for player and team disciplinary record |
| Red card | Minute, player | +1 red for player; player suspended per competition rules |
| Second yellow (red) | Minute, player | Counts as both a yellow and a red |
| Substitution | Minute, player out, player in | Updates minutes played for both players |
Minute 23: Goal by Player A (assist Player B) — score 1–0. Minute 45: Yellow card to Player C. Minute 60: Substitution — Player D replaces Player E. Minute 78: Red card to Player F. Minute 89: Goal by Player G — score 1–1. Each event is entered as it happens and is immediately visible to all fans following the match.
Events can be added after the match is finished as well as during live mode. If you missed logging a goal during the game, you can add it retrospectively and the stats will update.
Live Score Mode
Live Score Mode transforms 4league into a real-time scoreboard. Fans following the competition see events within seconds of them being entered.
How Live Mode Works
Start live mode at kick-off
Open the match and tap "Start Live". The match status changes to Started and the live indicator appears for all followers.
Add events in real time
Tap the event type (goal, card, substitution), enter the minute and relevant players, and confirm. The event broadcasts immediately.
Track possession
The possession tracker lets the referee or organizer log which team is controlling the ball. This is updated throughout the match and shown as a percentage.
End the match
Tap "End Match" to finish live mode. Confirm the final score and all events are locked.
Referee Ion starts live mode at kick-off. As events happen, he adds them instantly from the sideline. Fans following from home see score updates within seconds. At half-time, possession shows 55%–45% in favour of the home team. The final whistle triggers an end-of-match notification to all followers.
Live Score Mode can be operated by the competition organizer or an assigned referee. Team managers can view live events but cannot add them unless granted organizer-level access.
Lineups & Formations
Before a match starts, team managers and organizers can set the formation and assign players to positions. This data feeds into match statistics and provides a tactical record of the game.
Setting a Lineup
Open the match lineup screen
Available from the match detail page before the match starts.
Select a formation
Choose from standard formations (4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2, etc.) using the formation picker.
Assign players to positions
Tap each position on the pitch view and select the player from your squad list.
Mark the captain and substitutes
Designate one player as captain. Add up to 7 substitutes to the bench.
Coach Elena opens the lineup screen 30 minutes before kick-off. She selects 4-4-2, assigns all 11 starters to their positions, marks the goalkeeper as captain, and lists 5 substitutes. The lineup is saved and visible to fans browsing the match page.
Match Video Links
Organizers can attach a video link to any match. This is useful for leagues that broadcast matches on YouTube or stream via other platforms.
Open match settings
Navigate to the match detail page and tap the Edit or Settings button.
Paste the video URL
Enter a YouTube, Twitch, or other stream URL into the Video Link field.
Save and notify
Save the match. A "Watch Live" button now appears on the match detail page for all users.
The organizer of a county cup adds the YouTube live stream link one hour before kick-off. Fans browsing the match in the app see a "Watch Live" button. Tapping it opens the stream directly without leaving the app.
Match Acceptance & Disputes
After a match result is submitted, team managers can accept or dispute the outcome. This provides a fair way to handle errors or controversial decisions before results become final.
Acceptance Flow
Result submitted by organizer or referee
Both team managers receive a notification that a result has been recorded and is pending their acceptance.
Team manager accepts or disputes
If accepted by both sides, the result is confirmed. If disputed, the organizer is alerted to review.
Organizer resolves the dispute
The organizer reviews the match, corrects events if necessary, and re-confirms the result. Both teams are notified of the resolution.
After a heated match, Team B believes the recorded score is incorrect — the organizer entered 3–1 but Team B's manager insists one goal was offside and should not count. Team B taps "Dispute" and writes a brief note. The organizer reviews the match events, consults the referee, and confirms the original 3–1 score. Team B is notified and the result is finalised.
The organizer always has final authority over match results. A dispute flags the result for review but does not automatically change anything until the organizer makes a decision.