Forfeit (sport)

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In various sports, a forfeit is a method in which a match automatically ends, and the forfeiting team loses.

There are two distinct forms of forfeiture. One occurs when a team is unable (or refuses) to meet the basic standards for playing the game, either before the game begins or as a result of actions that happen during the match. In such a case, the team not forfeiting wins the match. Another is punitive forfeiture, in which a team has been found to have broken the rules of a sanctioning body during a match they have won and must have the results stricken from the record; whether or not the other team receives a win in such a case depends on the rules of that body and/or whether or not they were in compliance with the rules - if neither team was in compliance with the rules and/or the rules do not allow a losing team to be credited for a win in such a manner then the result is either a double forfeit and/or otherwise recorded as a loss for both teams.