As Cat says, to see your friends matches they will need to be on the same server.
You add 'non-fb friends' in game. They are already on the same server or you would not be able to add them.
fb friends exist outwith the game so if they play the game they can be either on the same server (and you can see the matches) or on a different server (and you can't see the matches nor get them in your competitions).
Referrals/Gifting before they start the game is a way of pulling them to your server - more successful if you are their only T11 playing friend.
I have a guy in my league with 2 teams in the league.I also had an alt (referral) team that got drawn in my main team's league in Season 3 or 4 - so I did a takeover to avoid that conflict of interest.