Premier League Teams Fight Fantasy‑League Data Leaks

Alonso is among a growing number of managers who have become increasingly cautious when discussing team news at press conferences. He recently said, “I prefer not to give more information than needed.” At that moment, his side suffered a 3‑0 defeat to Brentford after keeping several injury concerns—including Joao Pedro—under wraps.

The surge in popularity of Fantasy Premier League, a game now played by more than 11 million participants, means many staff members, players and even relatives are also active competitors. By linking leagues or teams to individuals through the game’s public database, insiders can often deduce what is happening behind closed doors at training grounds.

The most high‑profile incident occurred when Jack Grealish was omitted from Aston Villa’s match against Leicester City in February 2021. Leicester’s manager at the time, Brendan Rodgers, admitted he had heard about the issue before the game, while Villa boss Dean Smith reportedly banned club personnel from playing FPL after the 2‑1 loss.

Later that year, Pep Guardiola described the practice as “unethical and unprofessional.” Numerous other clubs—including Arsenal, Liverpool, Leicester and Newcastle—have been linked to suspicious team changes in fantasy leagues, often shared widely on social media or kept within small circles for competitive advantage.

Some top fantasy participants deliberately withhold information to retain an edge. BBC Sport has identified accounts that trackers claim belong to club staff, players and family members across the Premier League. FPL Focal, an expert in locating such accounts, said many more remain undiscovered and that some players have begun using aliases; he has also removed accounts when requested.

Source link