Chelsea Issues Warning to Staff Over Fantasy Premier League Leaks
Chelsea has issued a caution to its staff regarding the potential unintentional disclosure of team news through Fantasy Premier League, particularly following the recent injury to Joao Pedro that appeared to have leaked through team selections.
The club sent an email reminding employees of the risks associated with using insider information while engaging in Fantasy Premier League or other public gaming platforms, where selecting certain players might indicate who is injured or returning to form.
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It followed leaks before the 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham, where Pedro was unexpectedly absent due to what has been confirmed as a quad injury.
Several notable Fantasy Premier League content creators indicated that forward Morgan Rogers and some Chelsea staff members had removed Pedro from their Fantasy Premier League teams ahead of the match at Stamford Bridge, even though no official announcement had been made regarding his fitness.
After the game, Xabi Alonso responded to queries from BBC Sport about the situation, stating he was unaware of these developments. He remarked, “I am not into the fantasy team thing, so I didn’t know that.”
Since joining Chelsea in the summer, the 44-year-old has generally taken a cautious approach when discussing injury matters during press conferences.
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Chelsea has previously faced issues with leaks. Under former manager Liam Rosenior, the team lineups were revealed prior to both legs of the Champions League against Paris St-Germain.
Additionally, it was disclosed that former defender Marc Cucurella’s barber had shared on social media that Pedro and Cole Palmer would miss a trip to Brighton last season after discussing the issue.
Regarding Fantasy Premier League, Chelsea does not anticipate imposing further restrictions, viewing the incident as a unique case that can be addressed through increased awareness among staff and players.
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Numerous instances have surfaced, suggesting players from clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Leicester, and Newcastle made public changes to their teams, while BBC Sport has identified accounts believed to be associated with high-profile players and figures at various clubs in the league.
A prominent example occurred when details about the absence of then Aston Villa forward Jack Grealish’s omission from a match against Leicester City became public knowledge in February 2021. Brendan Rodgers, then the manager of Leicester, later admitted he had heard rumors concerning Grealish’s injury prior to the match, which Leicester won.
More than 11 million individuals reportedly participate in Fantasy Premier League, which has grown to be an essential part of the overall football landscape.
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Despite the presence of strict gambling regulations, the Premier League does not provide specific guidance to clubs regarding the involvement of team personnel in Fantasy Premier League. Consequently, individual clubs typically manage these matters on their own.
