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# Football Collective

Stats, Facts & Opinion

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://footballcollective.org.uk/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://footballcollective.org.uk/blog/)
- [Rogers That: Chelsea Induct New Member Into the £100 Million Transfer Club](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rogers-that-chelsea-induct-new-member-into-the-100-million-transfer-club/) - BlueCo, the ownership group of Chelsea, are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to become champions of England once more. Todd Boehly, the principal investor in the consortium, has spent nearly £1.5 billion on transfer fees sitting taking the keys to Stamford Bridge in May 2022. They’ve made plenty in player sales in that
- [Liverpool Eyeing Own Record as They Close in on Earliest Premier League Title Win](https://footballcollective.org.uk/liverpool-eyeing-own-record-as-they-close-in-on-earliest-premier-league-title-win/) - As we look back on the greatest Premier League title races ever, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the drama, tension and jaw-dropping conclusion of the 2011/12 season will ever be beaten. Manchester City needed to beat QPR to win the title ahead of their local rivals Manchester United, but found themselves a goal
- [Football Transfer Fees Explained: How the Money Actually Moves](https://footballcollective.org.uk/football-transfer-fees-explained-how-the-money-actually-moves/) - Most fans see a headline number and assume one club handed another a briefcase of cash. That is not how it works. A football transfer fee is the compensation a buying club pays to release a player from his existing contract, so the selling club terminates that agreement and the player can sign elsewhere. When
- [FIFA Put the World Cup Up for Sale In Latest Act of Football Treachery](https://footballcollective.org.uk/fifa-put-the-world-cup-up-for-sale-in-latest-act-of-football-treachery/) - FIFA are looking to sell a stake in their competitions, including the World Cup, to the highest bidder. In Gianni Infantino’s latest hairbrained scheme, private equity firms in the United States – as well as wealthy benefactors in the Gulf – will be free to make offers and own a share in the World Cup,
- [Not So Super Sub: The Mixed Success of Substituting Players for Penalty Shootouts](https://footballcollective.org.uk/not-so-super-sub-the-mixed-success-of-substituting-players-for-penalty-shootouts/) - There are some things that happen out on the football pitch that have even the most casual observer thinking: ‘what’s that all about?’ During major tournaments, one such peculiarity can rear its head once more: substituting players on/off late into extra time for the specific purpose of them taking a penalty should a shootout ensue
- [Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham Join the Ranks of All-Time Great World Cup Duos](https://footballcollective.org.uk/harry-kane-and-jude-bellingham-join-the-ranks-of-all-time-great-world-cup-duos/) - Spoiler alert: 60 years of hurt did not come to an end at the 2026 World Cup for England. They were certainly well poised at one stage, leading Argentina 1-0 in their semi-final thanks to Anthony Gordon’s back post tap in. But then the Three Lions retreated, Thomas Tuchel made a wave of defensive substitutions
- [How Manchester City’s Record Transfer Has Evolved as Elliot Anderson Signs](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-manchester-citys-record-transfer-has-evolved-as-elliot-anderson-signs/) - New manager, same old spending. Pep Guardiola spent more than £1 billion on new players as head coach of Manchester City; a splurge that perhaps somewhat taints the value of his achievements at the club. His successor, Enzo Maresca, will have a similar war chest to spend while the Abu Dhabi investors remain interested in
- [Could World Cup Hydration Breaks Be Heading for the Premier League?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/could-world-cup-hydration-breaks-be-heading-for-the-premier-league/) - Anyone that has watched an NFL game on TV will be familiar with the exciting action out on the grass… as well as the mind-numbing tedium of the relentless ad breaks that greet each stoppage in play. Give the United States a football World Cup and it’s no surprise that they have followed suit there,
- [Huge Crowds and Messi Magic as Records Tumble at World Cup 2026](https://footballcollective.org.uk/huge-crowds-and-messi-magic-as-records-tumble-at-world-cup-2026/) - With three countries co-hosting the tournament for the first time and a mammoth 104 games to be played in all, the 2026 World Cup had broken records before a ball had even been kicked. This is the biggest and the longest World Cup of all time; a gruelling six-week epic under the hot sun of
- [Tired of It: World Cup Exposes Elite Football’s Fatigue Problem Once Again](https://footballcollective.org.uk/tired-of-it-world-cup-exposes-elite-footballs-fatigue-problem-once-again/) - You’ve just played 5,500 minutes of football for your club and country between August and May. And, rather than getting the summer off to relax on a beach of suitably tropical proportions, instead you’re off to represent your country in what is, arguably, football’s most pressurised environment. All eyes are on the players at the
- [IFAB Reveal Football Rule Changes Ahead of the World Cup – Including a Red Card for Mouth Covering](https://footballcollective.org.uk/ifab-reveal-football-rule-changes-ahead-of-the-world-cup-including-a-red-card-for-mouth-covering/) - Players will be shown the red card if they cover their mouths with their hands in a ‘confrontational’ situation. That’s just one of a host of new rules introduced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), football’s ruling party, ahead of the World Cup. They will remain in place across world football thereafter. IFAB have
- [Mastering the Matchday: Which Popular Football Video Games Suit Your Style](https://footballcollective.org.uk/mastering-the-matchday-which-popular-football-video-games-suit-your-style/) - Football games do one thing better than almost any genre: they let you write your own matchday story, whether you’re threading a through ball in stoppage time or plotting a decade-long rebuild. If you play Ultimate Team modes, you already know how vital a healthy club economy can be, including resources like FC 26 coins
- [Arsenal Poised to Earn Nearly £200 Million in Prize Money from Glorious 2025/26 Campaign](https://footballcollective.org.uk/arsenal-poised-to-earn-nearly-200-million-in-prize-money-from-glorious-2025-26-campaign/) - Two cup finals and a Premier League title… now that’s some season for Arsenal. They ended a 22-year wait to get their hands on the EPL trophy after fighting off a late surge from Manchester City, securing a place in the Premier League hall-of-fame. But just as importantly, given how money-orientated modern football is, the
- [Ranking Pep Guardiola Amongst English Football’s Most Successful Managers](https://footballcollective.org.uk/ranking-pep-guardiola-amongst-english-footballs-most-successful-managers/) - I’m the happiest man in the planet to be in this club, this club is just extraordinary. Two days later, it was revealed that Pep Guardiola would be leaving Manchester City after ten years as head coach. What quite happened in those 48 hours only those involved know, but either Guardiola leaves the club as
- [Sheffield Wednesday Join Football’s Zero Points Club](https://footballcollective.org.uk/sheffield-wednesday-join-footballs-zero-points-club/) - The cheers that greeted Sheffield Wednesday’s win over West Brom on the final day of the 2025/26 season were part genuine joy, part irony. The Owls defeated the Baggies 2-1, with Nathaniel Chalobah and Liam Palmer on the scoresheet. In a season of dreadful hardship for the supporters at Hillsborough, you can forgive them their
- [Celtic vs Hearts Joins List of Epic Last Day Title Deciders](https://footballcollective.org.uk/celtic-vs-hearts-joins-list-of-epic-last-day-title-deciders/) - Keen mathematicians will know that there’s 3,330 minutes in 37 games of football. Add into the mix injury time and you’re probably looking at closer to 3,500. And so it’s remarkable that, after approximately 3,500 minutes of football in the Scottish Premiership, just one point separates Hearts and Celtic at the top of the table.
- [36 Is the Magic Number: The Points Tally You Need to Avoid Premier League Relegation](https://footballcollective.org.uk/36-is-the-magic-number-the-points-tally-you-need-to-avoid-premier-league-relegation/) - The Premier League is one of the most predictable football divisions on the planet… hence why hundreds of millions of fans around the globe tune in each week. But there are some trends and patterns that remain the same from one season to the next, including the number of points that need to be won
- [Charting Leicester City’s Remarkable Journey from Premier League Title to League One Torment](https://footballcollective.org.uk/charting-leicester-citys-remarkable-journey-from-premier-league-title-to-league-one-torment/) - It’s amazing that after more than 30 years of Premier League football, new achievements are still being recorded. Not that Leicester City will be particularly chuffed with the trail they have blazed during a particularly torturous 2025/26 campaign… Only twice has a Premier League champion gone on to be relegated from the top tier. The
- [Huge Weekend for Hearts in Scottish Title Race](https://footballcollective.org.uk/huge-weekend-for-hearts-in-scottish-title-race/) - Against all expectations, Edinburgh side Hearts have led the way in the Scottish Premiership for much of the 2025/26 campaign. Much like with Leicester City in the English top flight back in 2015/16, the majority of fans and pundits have been predicting that it can’t last for most of the campaign. However, with May fast
- [Analysing the Favourites’ Chances at the World Cup](https://footballcollective.org.uk/analysing-the-favourites-chances-at-the-world-cup/) - Read how the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup could get on at the tournament.
- [Forest and Southampton Could Join Unique Club of Teams Playing in Europe from the Championship](https://footballcollective.org.uk/forest-and-southampton-could-join-unique-club-of-teams-playing-in-europe-from-the-championship/) - Playing in continental competition is the pinnacle of club football in Europe. But success in UEFA’s tournaments can sometimes lead to a conflict of form in the Premier League – with potentially disastrous consequences. Take Nottingham Forest. They are into the Europa League semi-finals following a fine victory over two legs against FC Porto. Meanwhile,
- [The Staggering State of EFL Club Finances: Is English Football Heading for Catastrophe?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-staggering-state-of-efl-club-finances-is-english-football-heading-for-catastrophe/) - Success… at any cost. That’s generally not the mantra of a business with a long and fruitful future, but in football it has increasingly become the norm over the past few decades. And while the poison of success at any cost had been exclusive to the Premier League for many years, now – in the
- [UEFA Highlight FIFA’s World Cup Greed by Freezing Ticket Prices for EURO 2028](https://footballcollective.org.uk/uefa-highlight-fifas-world-cup-greed-by-freezing-ticket-prices-for-euro-2028/) - Fans attending some games at EURO 2028 will be able watch their teams for as little as £26 – a complete contrast to the farce that has engulfed World Cup 2026 in North America. UEFA have taken the decision to freeze ticket prices from EURO 2024… perhaps as a direct response to FIFA’s shenanigans, which
- [Leeds Edge West Ham in Thriller to Complete Semi-Final Lineup](https://footballcollective.org.uk/leeds-edge-west-ham-in-thriller-to-complete-semi-final-lineup/) - Leeds United don’t like to make things easy for themselves. After a hard-fought match they were 2-0 up going into stoppage time and looking like they were heading comfortably for their first FA Cup semi final in 39 years. However, West Ham had other ideas and scored twice in the mammoth 11 minutes of added
- [78 is the New 48: Roy Hodgson Is Back in Football… But He Isn’t the Oldest Manager Around](https://footballcollective.org.uk/78-is-the-new-48-roy-hodgson-is-back-in-football-but-he-isnt-the-oldest-manager-around/) - Giving up on the thing you love isn’t easy. Even so, at the age of 78, you would have thought that full-time employment was a long way from your mind. But not for Roy Hodgson, who has made a sensational return to football management at the age of 78. The former England head coach will
- [Senegal Sensationally Stripped of AFCON Title… Two Months After the Final](https://footballcollective.org.uk/senegal-sensationally-stripped-of-afcon-title-two-months-after-the-final/) - The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has set an extraordinary precedent by stripping the champions of its flagship tournament of their title… two months after the final took place. Officials for Caf have declared that Senegal’s decision to walk off the pitch in the middle of their final against Morocco has been viewed as them
- [This Is the Monumental Cost of Premier League Relegation… Could It Spell Disaster for Tottenham?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/this-is-the-monumental-cost-of-premier-league-relegation-could-it-spell-disaster-for-tottenham/) - Every once in a while, the unthinkable happens in football. From Leicester City’s Premier League title triumph in 2015/16 to Greece’s unlikely victory at EURO 2004, one of the beautiful game’s true gifts to the world is that, despite some evidence to the contrary, almost anything can happen. Like Tottenham getting relegated from the Premier
- [Is This the Harshest Sacking in Football? Flamengo Dismiss Filipe Luis After 8-0 Win](https://footballcollective.org.uk/is-this-the-harshest-sacking-in-football-flamengo-dismiss-filipe-luis-after-8-0-win/) - After winning seven trophies in 18 months as head coach of Brazilian side Flamengo, you would think that Filipe Luis’ job was untouchable. And you’d surely double-down on that notion after Flamengo had gone out and thrashed Madureira by a scoreline of 8-0 – sweeping into the final of the Carioca, which is the state
- [Gateshead and Truro City Break Record for Longest Away Day in English Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/gateshead-and-truro-city-break-record-for-longest-away-day-in-english-football/) - It’s game day. You wake up, have a stretch, put the kettle on and plan your day ahead – which presumably entails watching your team win 3-0. The supporters of Gateshead FC probably went through a similar ritual to that ahead of their National League contest with Truro City on February 21, 2026… albeit at
- [The Insider’s Guide to Securing Your Seat at the Emirates Stadium](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-insiders-guide-to-securing-your-seat-at-the-emirates-stadium/) - When it comes to experiencing elite football in North London, nothing compares to the atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium on matchday. The roar of the crowd, the choreography in the stands and the precision on the pitch combine to create an event that transcends sport. For supporters planning their visit, understanding the correct and legitimate
- [From Non League to the Champions League: Antoine Semenyo to Join a Very Exclusive Club](https://footballcollective.org.uk/from-non-league-to-the-champions-league-antoine-semenyo-to-join-a-very-exclusive-club/) - From the mud-splattered pitches of non league in front of one man and his dog, to the pristine turf of the Champions League knockout phase in front of 50,000; football is a sport unlike any other in creating a unique pathway for its players. Rejection and the school of hard knocks are an inevitability, given
- [James Milner Makes Premier League History in Career of Remarkable Longevity](https://footballcollective.org.uk/james-milner-makes-premier-league-history-in-career-of-remarkable-longevity/) - Ah yes, 2002. Tobey Maguire was Spiderman, Gareth Gates topped the music charts and Juicy Couture’s velour tracksuits were all the rage, somehow. Meanwhile, a young whippersnapper named James Milner was making his professional football debut for Leeds United. Fast forward 24 years and Milner is no longer a whippersnapper. But he is still a
- [Real Madrid and Barcelona Top Deloitte Football Rich List as Premier League Clubs Slump](https://footballcollective.org.uk/real-madrid-and-barcelona-top-deloitte-football-rich-list-as-premier-league-clubs-slump/) - The release of Deloitte’s annual Football Money League has revealed that English Premier League clubs are being left eating the dust of the beautiful game’s two revenue-generating monsters, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Real Madrid topped the standings for a third consecutive year, hauling in £975 million in revenue during the 2024/25 season – a
- [Mateta Fails the Dreaded Football Medical to Miss Out on Dream Move to AC Milan](https://footballcollective.org.uk/mateta-fails-the-dreaded-football-medical-to-miss-out-on-dream-move-to-ac-milan/) - In a lovely, utopian world, footballers would be treated as human beings – with the same needs and desires as the rest of us. Meanwhile, here on Planet Earth, the truth is that a professional footballer is often considered – by their club, their coaches and even their fans – as an asset, who can
- [Money Talks in the Champions League as SIX Premier League Clubs Eye Knockout Phase](https://footballcollective.org.uk/money-talks-in-the-champions-league-as-six-premier-league-clubs-eye-knockout-phase/) - Money doesn’t buy you happiness, so the old saying goes. But it can certainly buy you success in football. English Premier League clubs have once again dominated the group phase of the Champions League, to the point that five of them finished inside the top eight places in the standings – securing them automatic passage
- [Rise of the Bore Draw: Why Are So Many Premier League Games Ending 0-0?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rise-of-the-bore-draw-why-are-so-many-premier-league-games-ending-0-0/) - For years now, the number of goals scored in football games at the highest level – on average – has been on the rise. Well, that looks set to come to a crashing halt in the 2025/26 season, with a remarkable number of goalless draws adding to an overall decrease in goals being scored. After
- [Manchester United Have Spent £65 Million Sacking Managers Since 2013](https://footballcollective.org.uk/manchester-united-have-spent-65-million-sacking-managers-since-2013/) - In the summer of 2025, Manchester United revealed the signing of Slovenian striker, Benjamin Sesko, from RB Leipzig. The fee was for an initial £66 million, which could climb to £77 million based on various add ons. Sesko was identified as the number nine that could finally fire Manchester United to glory… and ease the
- [The Fletchers Miss Out on Chance to Join Premier League’s Father-Son Combinations](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-fletchers-miss-out-on-chance-to-join-premier-leagues-father-son-combinations/) - In the end, it wasn’t meant to be. Darren Fletcher was appointed as Manchester United’s caretaker manager in January 2026, after the Red Devils hierarchy decided to dispense with the services of Ruben Amorim. It presented Fletcher with a unique opportunity, as his sons – Jack and Tyler – had been knocking on the door
- [Nancy’s 33 Days of Hell at Celtic Join List of Football’s Shortest Managerial Reigns](https://footballcollective.org.uk/nancys-33-days-of-hell-at-celtic-join-list-of-footballs-shortest-managerial-reigns/) - You don’t have to search Google too hard to find tawdry tales of perilously short managerial reigns. You’ll find Leroy Rosenior – father of Chelsea boss Liam – and his ten minutes (that is not a typo) in charge of Torquay United in May 2007… the Gulls were then immediately taken over by a new
- [James Milner Joins Premier League’s 40s Club and Closes in on All-Time Appearances Record](https://footballcollective.org.uk/james-milner-joins-premier-leagues-40s-club-and-closes-in-on-all-time-appearances-record/) - It was a very happy birthday to James Milner on January 4, 2026: the Brighton midfielder turned the big 4-0. It’s testament to his physical longevity and psychological resilience that he’s still playing at the very highest level – just three days after chugging down his Colin the Caterpillar birthday cake, Milner was making a
- [Manchester United Head into 2026 as the Premier League’s Most Valuable Club](https://footballcollective.org.uk/manchester-united-head-into-2026-as-the-premier-leagues-most-valuable-club/) - Manchester United last won the Premier League title in 2012/13. And they haven’t hoisted the Champions League trophy since 2008. The Red Devils are a club in terminal decline on the pitch, but off it they continue to thrive in a commercial sense. And, despite not getting their hands on a major trophy in more
- [Gabon Sack Manager, Ban Aubameyang, and Suspend Entire Team in AFCON Failure Fallout](https://footballcollective.org.uk/gabon-sack-manager-ban-aubameyang-and-suspend-entire-team-in-afcon-failure-fallout/) - The anticipation heading into an international football tournament, even for minnows not expected to compete for the trophy, is palpable. So when things don’t quite go according to plan, the inverse reaction to the failure can be intense, to say the least. Maybe the sports minister of the Gabonese government should have stepped outside and
- [Champions League 2025/26: Arsenal Sitting Pretty After Six Games](https://footballcollective.org.uk/champions-league-2025-26-arsenal-sitting-pretty-after-six-games/) - There are two rounds of fixtures to play in 2025/26 UEFA Champions League group phase, but several teams have already sealed their place in the knockout stage. They include Arsenal, who have won all six games in the competition. Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich are among the teams who have fallen victim to the Gunners.
- [Hearts’ Blood Pumping as Old Firm’s Monopoly of the Scottish Premiership Title Weakens](https://footballcollective.org.uk/hearts-blood-pumping-as-old-firms-monopoly-of-the-scottish-premiership-title-weakens/) - You have to go back to 1985 to find the last time that the Scottish Premiership title wasn’t clinched by either of the Old Firm teams: Celtic and Rangers. And, in fact, for much of that span since, those two Glaswegian outfits have had a monopoly on first and second place in the division –
- [Top Football Tournaments of 2025: What Fans and Bettors Should Watch For](https://footballcollective.org.uk/top-football-tournaments-of-2025-what-fans-and-bettors-should-watch-for/) - The best football competitions in 2025: Find out what the main tournaments, final matches, and the changes that fans and betters should pay attention to. Follow the news and have fun!
- [A Beginner’s Roadmap to Reading Sports Odds and Making Informed Wager Predictions](https://footballcollective.org.uk/a-beginners-roadmap-to-reading-sports-odds-and-making-informed-wager-predictions/) - For anyone new to sports betting, the world of odds, lines, and predictions can seem overwhelming. Whether you’re looking to place your first bet or simply want to sharpen your understanding, learning how to read sports odds effectively is essential. Along with a solid foundation in betting concepts, consulting reliable resources like everything you need
- [The Best In-Play Football Action for First-Time Players](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-best-in-play-football-action-for-first-time-players/) - Learn everything first-time players need to know about in-play betting. Discover popular live markets, how to read odds, and how to make the most of in-play action.
- [Are Wolves the Worst Team in EPL History?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/are-wolves-the-worst-team-in-epl-history/) - It is the record that no team wants to beat. In the 2007-08 season, Derby County, freshly promoted back to the EPL via the playoffs, endured the worst campaign in the history of the league. Over 38 miserable games, the Rams picked up just 11 points and set a record that few thought would ever
- [FIFA Announces Record World Cup Prize Money Amid Ticket Price Controversy](https://footballcollective.org.uk/fifa-announces-record-world-cup-prize-money-amid-ticket-price-controversy/) - When FIFA announced the details of the ticket prices for the World Cup in 2026, there was monumental outcry at the eye-watering investment that supporters will have to make to follow their nation in North America and Mexico. And the reason for those astronomical prices, it seems, has now been revealed… Football’s governing body has
- [Kylian Mbappé Sues PSG for £53m in Landmark Case for Players Running Down Their Contracts](https://footballcollective.org.uk/kylian-mbappe-sues-psg-for-53m-in-landmark-case-for-players-running-down-their-contracts/) - Kylian Mbappé has successfully sued former club PSG for £53 million for what he claims were unpaid salary and bonuses as he wound down his contract with the French club. Mbappé left the Parisien outfit in the summer of 2024, switching to Real Madrid on a free transfer after seeing out his contract. PSG claimed
- [Haaland Breaks More Champions League Goalscoring Records with Real Madrid Winner](https://footballcollective.org.uk/haaland-breaks-more-champions-league-goalscoring-records-with-real-madrid-winner/) - Another week, another record falls to the remarkable goalscoring prowess of Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has achieved all sorts of milestones in the Premier League, and has not been shy in taking his net-busting antics onto the continental stage either. In December 2025, his Manchester City side took on Real Madrid in a Champions League
- [FIFA Accused of World Cup 2026 Ticket ‘Rip Off’ as England Fans Face £20,000 Bill](https://footballcollective.org.uk/fifa-accused-of-world-cup-2026-ticket-rip-off-as-england-fans-face-20000-bill/) - Football used to be the ‘people’s game’, but if FIFA have their way it could become the rich people’s game given the ticket prices at the 2026 World Cup. If you were to follow England, or your chosen nation, at the tournament by watching them in person at every game, there’s a realistic chance you’ll
- [Chelsea Close on Sunderland and QPR in the Premier League Hall of Shame](https://footballcollective.org.uk/chelsea-close-on-sunderland-and-qpr-in-the-premier-league-hall-of-shame/) - When Moises Caicedo was sent off while playing for Chelsea against Arsenal in November 2025, it opened the door for a potential disaster. Not only did it mean that the Blues would have to play for around an hour with ten men against the Premier League table toppers – they would still claim a 1-1
- [Sunderland Deliver Best Start to a Premier League Season from a Promoted Team in 20 Years](https://footballcollective.org.uk/sunderland-deliver-best-start-to-a-premier-league-season-from-a-promoted-team-in-20-years/) - A trip to Anfield isn’t something that a promoted team would usually relish. But the Sunderland class of 2025/26 is a different breed, and they returned from the trip to Merseyside with a point courtesy of a 1-1 draw – in fact, the Black Cats led with just ten minutes left to play. It means
- [AS Monaco Poised for Unofficial Crown as European Football’s Most Entertaining Team](https://footballcollective.org.uk/as-monaco-poised-for-unofficial-crown-as-european-footballs-most-entertaining-team/) - What would you rather your football team be: successful but boring, or entertaining but mediocre? Most fans, you suspect, would opt for the former, although there’s no doubt that football is very much an entertainment business these days – managers continue to be sacked for their adherence to a subjectively dull brand of the beautiful
- [Sky Blue Thinking: Coventry City on Course for the Greatest Championship Season Yet](https://footballcollective.org.uk/sky-blue-thinking-coventry-city-on-course-for-the-greatest-championship-season-yet/) - It would be rather foolish to crown a league champion in November. So much can change over the second half of the season, with runaway trains often getting derailed as the pressure of the business end of the campaign looms large. But, even so, it would be fair to say that this Coventry City vintage
- [What Is the Best Football League in the World?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/what-is-the-best-football-league-in-the-world/) - Football fans love debating which league deserves the title of the best in the world, and it’s no doubt a debate with the best players around the world playing in different leagues The truth is that several leagues have strong claims depending on what you value most. Below is a clear breakdown of the top
- [Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cape Verde, Curaçao? Your Guide to the World Cup Debutants in 2026](https://footballcollective.org.uk/uzbekistan-jordan-cape-verde-curacao-your-guide-to-the-world-cup-debutants-in-2026/) - At the time of writing, 42 of the 48 nations that will compete at the World Cup in 2026 are known. The United States, Mexico and Canada have qualified automatically as hosts, while powerhouses like Brazil – who will make their 23 consecutive appearance at the World Cup, which is the best active record, Germany,
- [A Comprehensive Guide for Fans: Exploring Football Ticket Prices](https://footballcollective.org.uk/a-comprehensive-guide-for-fans-exploring-football-ticket-prices/) - Thinking about watching your favourite team at the stadium, but you're already stumped by the ticket prices? Stick with me. Football is becoming more and more unaffordable, and it pays to know how to play the ticket market to your advantage. Buying tickets to see your team isn't as straightforward as it used to be.
- [Premier League Clubs to Move to Squad Cost Ratio in 2026/27: How Will That Impact the EPL?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/premier-league-clubs-to-move-to-squad-cost-ratio-in-2026-27-how-will-that-impact-the-epl/) - All 20 Premier League clubs met in November 2025 to decide the future of the EPL’s financial fair play rules. They voted 14-6 in favour of introducing a Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rule, which will see changes to the amount of money they are allowed to spend on new players each season. All 20 clubs
- [Who Will Be the Next Premier League Manager to Face the Sack?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/who-will-be-the-next-premier-league-manager-to-face-the-sack/) - The Premier League managerial merry-go-round is spinning again. We examine which managers are under pressure.
- [Where Have All the Goals Gone in Italy’s Serie A?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/where-have-all-the-goals-gone-in-italys-serie-a/) - The pandemic-impacted season of 2020/21 was simply extraordinary in Italy’s Serie A. The average goal-per-game ratio hit an eye-watering 3.06; seemingly unburdened by playing in empty stadia, Italy’s finest embarked on a season of net-busting antics. There was something of a carry-over into 2021/22 (2.87 goals per game), 2022/23 (2.56), 2023/24 (2.61) and 2024/25 (2.56),
- [Understanding Football Betting Markets: From Match Result to Player Props](https://footballcollective.org.uk/understanding-football-betting-markets-from-match-result-to-player-props/) - Football is more than a game—it’s a data-rich sport that offers countless ways to bet beyond who wins or loses. For newcomers, the number of markets can feel overwhelming, especially when every bookmaker presents dozens of options for a single match. But learning how to read these markets, and what they actually represent, is what
- [Pep Guardiola Joins the 1,000 Club… With a Better Win Ratio Than Anybody Else](https://footballcollective.org.uk/pep-guardiola-joins-the-1000-club-with-a-better-win-ratio-than-anybody-else/) - Football management has become an increasingly volatile profession, with head coaches sacked – sometimes within a matter of weeks – when they aren’t able to deliver fast, tangible improvement in a team. So to reach 1,000 games in this cutthroat era really is a remarkable achievement, with Pep Guardiola the latest manager to reach the
- [France Dominates the Decade with £3.5 Billion in Transfer Revenue from International Player Sales](https://footballcollective.org.uk/france-dominates-the-decade-with-3-5-billion-in-transfer-revenue-from-international-player-sales/) - Buy low, sell high is typically the mantra when investing in the stock market; it’s a stance that could afford you the chance to maximise your return on investment. But when it comes to football finances, the opposite – buy high, sell low – can be true for clubs that acquire players in their prime
- [Turkish Football in Turmoil as 17 Referees are Arrested in Gambling Scandal](https://footballcollective.org.uk/turkish-football-in-turmoil-as-17-referees-are-arrested-in-gambling-scandal/) - A jaw-dropping scandal has engulfed Turkish football. Some 17 referees have been arrested over allegations that have officially been described as ‘manipulating match results’ and ‘abuse of duty’. All told, a whopping 149 match officials have been suspended from duty, while a president from Turkish Super League club, Turgay Ciner, and a former owner, Fatih
- [Pep, Arteta and The Dinosaur: The Genesis of the Premier League’s New Set Piece Revolution](https://footballcollective.org.uk/pep-arteta-and-the-dinosaur-the-genesis-of-the-premier-leagues-new-set-piece-revolution/) - He’s the man that Pep Guardiola has described as ‘inspirational’ to the Premier League’s current obsession with set piece specialism. And he’s also the man who, indirectly, could help Arsenal to a first EPL title since 2003/04. But Tony Pulis was branded a ‘dinosaur’ for his direct football and fondness for set pieces as manager
- [Modeling Success: Data-Driven Benchmarks for Pitch Performance in the Premier League](https://footballcollective.org.uk/modeling-success-data-driven-benchmarks-for-pitch-performance-in-the-premier-league/) - In the Premier League, trying to get a competitive edge has gone beyond traditional measures and is now firmly in the domain of data science. Top clubs increasingly have their own analytical teams that set objective, repeatable performance benchmarks. This methodical technique is transforming how on-field actions are measured, judged, and improved. The transition from
- [The Premier League’s ‘Greatest Right Back’ and Chelsea’s ‘Greatest Ever’ Inducted Into EPL Hall of Fame](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-premier-leagues-greatest-right-back-and-chelseas-greatest-ever-inducted-into-epl-hall-of-fame/) - Two iconic former players have been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. Gary Neville won eight Premier League titles as part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign of terror at Manchester United – only his teammates Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have lifted the trophy more times. And Eden Hazard, the Chelsea icon, has
- [Why British Players Are Heading to Clubs Overseas… and Thriving](https://footballcollective.org.uk/why-british-players-are-heading-to-clubs-overseas-and-thriving/) - Once upon a time, British footballers that decided to leave their home shores for a move overseas were treated like rare, exotic birds. When Kevin Keegan joined Hamburg in 1977, the local press labelled him ‘the messiah’. He helped his new club to the German Bundesliga title in 1979, as well as a European Cup
- [Mjallby AIF Join Leicester City and Verona in the Ranks of Football’s Unlikeliest League Champions](https://footballcollective.org.uk/mjallby-aif-join-leicester-city-and-verona-in-the-ranks-of-footballs-unlikeliest-league-champions/) - With a population of around 1,500 people, Hallevik – a fishing community in the south of Sweden – is not the archetypal hotbed of footballing success. But that hasn’t stopped Mjallby AIK, the local team that effectively represents Hallevik, from landing their first ever Swedish Allsvenskan title. They defeated IFK Gothenburg 2-0 to open up
- [From Kick-Off to Cash-Out: How Football Odds Reflect the Game’s Unpredictable Magic](https://footballcollective.org.uk/from-kick-off-to-cash-out-how-football-odds-reflect-the-games-unpredictable-magic/) - Football is a game of fine margins — one lucky deflection, one last-minute goal, or one controversial VAR decision can turn an entire match on its head. For fans and bettors alike, this unpredictability is what makes football the world’s most thrilling sport. But what many don’t realize is that this same uncertainty is also
- [Cape Verde Becomes Smallest Nation to Qualify for the World Cup… But Who’s the Tiniest?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/cape-verde-becomes-smallest-nation-to-qualify-for-the-world-cup-but-whos-the-tiniest/) - The World Cup in 2026 has been expanded to 48 teams, from the traditional 32. That, of course, means that there’s more opportunities for nations to qualify… and complete newcomers to major international football to thrive. The expansion has also helped more countries in the AFC confederation to qualify: both Jordan and Uzbekistan will make
- [FIFA Launches Pilot Scheme for a ‘VAR Card’ Decision Review System](https://footballcollective.org.uk/fifa-launches-pilot-scheme-for-a-var-card-decision-review-system/) - Football could soon be heading the way of cricket and tennis by introducing a video review system for contentious refereeing decisions. That’s a possibility being pondered by FIFA, who have launched a pilot scheme for what is being labelled a ‘VAR card’ system. In the trial, team managers are able to hold up a card
- [Smallest Nations at the FIFA World Cup](https://footballcollective.org.uk/smallest-nations-at-the-fifa-world-cup/) - The 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place next Summer, with the USA, Canada and Mexico hosting the extended 48-team event. Despite gripes in some quarters that the expansion of the tournament will dilute the quality of teams in the event itself, the opportunity to see smaller nations qualify and play at the World Cup Finals
- [England’s Golden Generation Dismissed as ‘Egotistical Losers’: Should They Have Won a Major Tournament?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/englands-golden-generation-dismissed-as-egotistical-losers-should-they-have-won-a-major-tournament/) - It’s September 1, 2001. England are playing away in Germany in a World Cup qualifier. Sven-Goran Eriksson is around six months into his tenure as Three Lions boss… and something is stirring. Gerrard. Beckham. Scholes. Owen. Ferdinand. Neville. Campbell. Cole. This is as good as it’s been for some time. Premier League goal machines like
- [Premier League Clubs Break All-Time Record in 2025/26 with £600m Shirt Sponsorship Deals](https://footballcollective.org.uk/premier-league-clubs-break-all-time-record-in-2025-26-with-600m-shirt-sponsorship-deals/) - At the time of writing, Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) allow football clubs in England and beyond to record a loss of up to £105 million over a three-year rolling period without facing any sanctions. When calculating profit to offset any losses, clubs are allowed to count player sales and amortisation, owner funding (up to
- [UEFA Approves Overseas La Liga and Serie A Games… Will the Premier League Follow Suit?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/uefa-approves-overseas-la-liga-and-serie-a-games-will-the-premier-league-follow-suit/) - UEFA president, Aleksandr Ceferin, will ‘reluctantly’ allow La Liga and Serie A games to be played abroad, but has claimed it ‘will not set a precedent’ for more overseas action in Europe’s biggest leagues. Villarreal and Barcelona’s La Liga clash in December 2025 will be shunted around 4,500 miles west to Miami, before AC Milan
- [How Turkish Clubs Became Europe’s Biggest Transfer Spenders Outside of the English Premier League](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-turkish-clubs-became-europes-biggest-transfer-spenders-outside-of-the-english-premier-league/) - When Victor Osimhen was unveiled as a Galatasaray player in the summer of 2025, he revealed that it was his daughter’s affinity with the club – the Nigerian had spent time on loan in Turkey during the previous season – that convinced him to sign on the dotted line. It had nothing, repeat, NOTHING to
- [The Stats That Suggest Home Advantage Barely Exists in English Football Anymore](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-stats-that-suggest-home-advantage-barely-exists-in-english-football-anymore/) - We’re into the year 2025, and yet there’s still the opportunity for history to be made and records to be shattered. One such milestone occurred across Tuesday September 30 and Wednesday October 1 in the English Championship: across the 12 games played, none of them ended in a home win. It was the first time
- [Ronaldo, Messi, and the Endless Argument of Greatness](https://footballcollective.org.uk/ronaldo-messi-and-the-endless-argument-of-greatness/) - For two decades, football has become a battlefield for the duel between two names whispered with reverence: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The argument feels eternal because it’s not just about who’s better. It’s about what kind of greatness we value. Some worship the relentless will of a man forged from ambition and sweat; others
- [Salah Joins List of Football Greats Overlooked by the Ballon d’Or Judges](https://footballcollective.org.uk/salah-joins-list-of-football-greats-overlooked-by-the-ballon-dor-judges/) - World Cup winners, Champions League champions and record breakers. Those are just three categories of players that have been overlooked in the annual Ballon d’Or award ceremony, which is designed – whether it’s fit for purpose or not is another matter – to crown the previous year’s best men’s and women’s footballer. In 2025, both
- [Blackburn vs Ipswich Replay Decision Reveals Football’s Bizarre Match Abandonment Rule](https://footballcollective.org.uk/blackburn-vs-ipswich-replay-decision-reveals-footballs-bizarre-match-abandonment-rule/) - Picture the scene: you’re the plucky underdog taking on the favourites to win your league title. You take a one-goal lead, witness one of your opposition’s players get sent off and, despite getting a pelting from heavy rain, get ready to play out the final ten minutes of a famous victory. But then the referee
- [Booze, Bust Ups and SAS Beastings: When Football Team Bonding Sessions Go Bad](https://footballcollective.org.uk/booze-bust-ups-and-sas-beastings-when-football-team-bonding-sessions-go-bad/) - It’s a change of scenery, a reset and some team bonding. That was how a Rangers spokesperson described the club’s trip to Loch Lomond in September 2025, where the beleaguered players were filmed by tourists taking a dip in the icy cold waters. It’s funny, because most of us would consider wild swimming in Loch
- [Chris Wilder Returns for Third Spell as Sheffield United Manager… Despite Being Sacked Twice Before](https://footballcollective.org.uk/chris-wilder-returns-for-third-spell-as-sheffield-united-manager-despite-being-sacked-twice-before/) - There’s that old saying that ‘lightning strikes twice’, but Chris Wilder will be hoping that he isn’t facing an electrical storm for a third time as he returns to Sheffield United. The Blades have reappointed Wilder as their manager in September 2025, just three months after he had his previous contract terminated – a real
- [Jack Grealish Named Premier League Player of the Month](https://footballcollective.org.uk/jack-grealish-named-premier-league-player-of-the-month/) - Jack Grealish is rather liking life at Everton. The player moved from Manchester City to the Toffees on loan on the 12th of August 2025 after being given limited game time by Pep Guardiola in 2023/24 and especially during the 2024/25 campaign. He was reported to be devastated at having been left out of the
- [Size Matters: How the ‘Big Man’ Striker Has Come Back into Fashion in Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/size-matters-how-the-big-man-striker-has-come-back-into-fashion-in-football/) - Take away the pocket dynamo Mo Salah, and what do you notice about the Premier League top goalscorer charts from the 2024/25 season? There’s the 6ft 4in Alexander Isak in second place behind the Egyptian, with the likes of 6ft 5in Erling Haaland and 6ft 3in Chris Wood also featuring prominently in the Golden Boot
- [Premier League Transfer Window Record Broken Again as Clubs Splash £3.1 Billion on New Players](https://footballcollective.org.uk/premier-league-transfer-window-record-broken-again-as-clubs-splash-3-1-billion-on-new-players/) - One of the unexpected trends of the 2024/25 season was Premier League clubs, to some extent, tightening their belts over fears of Profit & Sustainability Rule (PSR) changes. But in 2025/26, all such frugality appears to be long forgotten as the Premier League collectively broke its own all-time record for spending in a single transfer
- [FIFA Plot Expanded Club World Cup Every Two Years in Further Blow to Fatigued Players](https://footballcollective.org.uk/fifa-plot-expanded-club-world-cup-every-two-years-in-further-blow-to-fatigued-players/) - Was the inaugural Club World Cup a success? That would probably depend on your measure of such things. Financially speaking, it was a triumph for the clubs involved – Chelsea, the winners in 2025, pocketed a cool £84 million for their troubles. It was a nice little earner for FIFA too, of course, with the
- [Pain for Pleasure: The Surprising Number of Footballers That Have Injured Themselves Celebrating](https://footballcollective.org.uk/pain-for-pleasure-the-surprising-number-of-footballers-that-have-injured-themselves-celebrating/) - Football is capable of delivering something that everyday life often struggles to: moments of sheer unbridled, unchecked joy. That last minute winner or equaliser… few things in life can equate to the outpouring of emotion that greets an important goal. Sometimes, the reaction can be so heady that players, managers, coaches and fans lose control
- [Bad Move? Five Footballers That Have Tried to Force a Transfer Away from Their Club](https://footballcollective.org.uk/bad-move-five-footballers-that-have-tried-to-force-a-transfer-away-from-their-club/) - Oh, Alexander. It would be fair to conclude that Alexander Isak and his agent have made a bit of a balls-up in trying to force a move from Newcastle United to Liverpool in the summer of 2025. The Reds were interested in signing the Swedish striker, lodging a bid of £110 million. But the Magpies
- [Essential Tips for Safe and Secure Mobile Betting](https://footballcollective.org.uk/essential-tips-for-safe-and-secure-mobile-betting/) - Looking to bet on the go, but not fall for a scam? Mobile betting has taken the world by storm in recent years, and it's not hard to understand why. Now you can bet on your favorite sports anytime, anywhere, with just a few taps on your smartphone. According to recent research, 77% of bettors
- [Home Comforts: How Do Teams Fare in Their First Season in a New Stadium?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/home-comforts-how-do-teams-fare-in-their-first-season-in-a-new-stadium/) - In theory, taking up residence in a shiny new stadium should be an exciting time for a football club. It represents a fresh start, bringing new hope and dreams of success on the perfectly manicured pitch. But, historically speaking, it hasn’t always worked out like that. While Premier League sides that have pitched up at
- [The Impact of Crypto Betting on the Modern Football Economy](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-impact-of-crypto-betting-on-the-modern-football-economy/) - Football and money have always shared a complicated bond. From sky-high transfer fees to the quiet financial struggles of lower league clubs, the game is shaped as much by economics as by what happens on the pitch. In recent years, a new player has entered this financial landscape: cryptocurrency. Through platforms like Toshi Bet, the
- [Who Had the Best-Ever Premier League Debut Season?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/who-had-the-best-ever-premier-league-debut-season/) - By Ryan Baldi The Premier League has always thrived on the excitement of new arrivals. New signings don’t just join clubs; they join a league defined by expectation, hype and the unrelenting pace of English football. Some take months – or years – to adapt. Others explode from day one, altering the course of a
- [Man City’s ‘Weather Inspired’ Shirt Continues Bizarre Cult of the Third Kit](https://footballcollective.org.uk/man-citys-weather-inspired-shirt-continues-bizarre-cult-of-the-third-kit/) - “This kit is for the City that plays in the rain. The shirt is designed for those who carry City in their hearts, rain or shine.” That might read like the sort of advertising slogan a primary school child would write. But no, Manchester City’s own press team have gone with what must very much
- [How Did It Come to This? Sheffield Wednesday Are the Biggest English Club Yet to Face Extinction](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-did-it-come-to-this-sheffield-wednesday-are-the-biggest-english-club-yet-to-face-extinction/) - Chester City, Bury, Macclesfield Town, Hereford United, Scarborough Athletic and so on. There were all proud English clubs that, for one reason or another, went bust and ceased to exist in their original form. Of course, they have all bounced back as a phoenix club, but in some cases had to start at the bottom
- [Top 5 Zambian Footballers Who Made It Big Internationally](https://footballcollective.org.uk/top-5-zambian-footballers-who-made-it-big-internationally/) - Zambia has produced a surprising number of football talents who rose from local leagues to shine on the world stage. Some built legendary careers in Europe, others left their mark in top African competitions. Their journeys blend skill, resilience, and a deep love for the game. In stadiums packed with energy, quiet cafes, or online
- [FIFA Facing Financial Armageddon as 100,000 Players Set to Sue Them for Billions](https://footballcollective.org.uk/fifa-facing-financial-armageddon-as-100000-players-set-to-sue-them-for-billions/) - A group of 100,000 current and former footballers have joined forces in a bid to sue FIFA for billion of pounds. The Justice for Players foundation argues that the governing body’s current transfer rules are at best restrictive and at worst illegal – costing their members billions collectively over the course of their careers. And
- [The ‘Two Metre Messi’ and Football’s Tallest Players](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-two-metre-messi-and-footballs-tallest-players/) - At the age of 23, Nick Woltemade has the footballing world at his feet. It’s just that, standing 1.98m – or 6ft 6in if you prefer – he has to crane his neck pretty far to see it. Woltemade became the youngest player in Werder Bremen’s history in 2020 at the age of 17; in
- [Calls for the Premier League to Be Reduced to 18 Clubs to Battle Global Fixture Congestion](https://footballcollective.org.uk/calls-for-the-premier-league-to-be-reduced-to-18-clubs-to-battle-global-fixture-congestion/) - It’s a strategy already adopted by France’s Ligue 1, while the German Bundesliga has resisted temptation to expand. So could the English Premier League join them in the 18-team club? We’re in an era of more is more: more games equal more revenue for everyone, after all. The Champions League has expanded in size, the
- [How the Homegrown Player Rules Differ from the Premier League to the Champions League](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-the-homegrown-player-rules-differ-from-the-premier-league-to-the-champions-league/) - Of all of modern football’s bizarre rules and regulations, designating somebody as a ‘homegrown player’ should be as easy as it gets. Either they’re British or not, right? Well, sort of. The homegrown player rules are complicated somewhat by the fact that the definition of a domestic player varies from one competition to the next.
- [The Most Unsuccessful (and Controversial) Kit Launches of All Time](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-most-unsuccessful-and-controversial-kit-launches-of-all-time/) - In odd-numbered years, European football experiences a complete summer shutdown. Or at least it did, anyway, until the revamped Club World Cup came along. Previously, the players got to enjoy a full summer of recharging the batteries away from the rigours of international tournaments, while football fans were left scouting around for ways to watch
- [Man City Put Pen to Paper on English Football’s First £1 Billion Kit Deal](https://footballcollective.org.uk/man-city-put-pen-to-paper-on-english-footballs-first-1-billion-kit-deal/) - In an era of Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR), football clubs have an obligation to make as much money as they possibly can. That enables them to shell out eye-popping transfer fees and salaries while still, attempting to, balancing the books with revenues generated. So credit to Manchester City, who not content with having the
- [Controversial Football Rule Changes Could See Penalty Rebounds Outlawed By 2026](https://footballcollective.org.uk/controversial-football-rule-changes-could-see-penalty-rebounds-outlawed-by-2026/) - The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is tasked with a simple job: making football better, by changing laws that add value to the beautiful game. As such, they don’t always get it right… in fact, some of their proposed rule changes over the years have been nothing short of bonkers. IFAB have approved a series
- [At His Majesty’s Pleasure: Footballers That Have Served Time in Prison](https://footballcollective.org.uk/at-his-majestys-pleasure-footballers-that-have-served-time-in-prison/) - With the world at their feet and everything they could ever want, materialistically speaking, it’s always something of a shock when anyone involved in professional football finds themselves in trouble with the law. But from assaults and drink driving to involvement in kidnapping plots, a number of players have found themselves serving time in prison
- [MPs Vote Against Premier League Games Being Shown on Free-to-Air TV](https://footballcollective.org.uk/mps-vote-against-premier-league-games-being-shown-on-free-to-air-tv/) - It’s been a long time since armchair football fans without expensive TV subscriptions were treated kindly. Yes, we get to savour international football and even some domestic cup finals from time to time, alongside the perennial Match of the Day highlights packages. But watching Premier League games live on terrestrial TV? Not a chance, as
- [Exploring the Mental Benefits of Playing Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/exploring-the-mental-benefits-of-playing-football/) - Everybody knows that football is a super physical sport. Players are running, jumping, doing heavy tackles. That effort can be super tough on every muscle you can imagine. Players even get seriously hurt. However, beyond all the physical stuff, the game offers a surprising boost for your mind, and we are not just referring to
- [Club World Cup Manager Sacked After Refusing to Let Owner Pick His Team](https://footballcollective.org.uk/club-world-cup-manager-sacked-after-refusing-to-let-owner-pick-his-team/) - It must be a football manager’s worst nightmare. The club owner sticks his head around the manager’s office door, smiles and says, ‘Can I have a minute?’ And then he proceeds to tell his head coach which players to pick and in what formation. It leaves the manager in a Catch 22 situation. Does he
- [2025/26 Champions League Qualifiers: Early Odds and Betting Favorites Revealed](https://footballcollective.org.uk/2025-26-champions-league-qualifiers-early-odds-and-betting-favorites-revealed/) - As the European soccer season winds down, next season’s Champions League is already taking shape. While Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan are set to battle for the 2024-25 title in this weekend’s final, the stage for 2025-26 is far from empty. With a 36-team league phase format, 27 spots are already locked down. The remaining seven
- [The Cult of Bryan Mbeumo: What It Means for a Player to Outperform xG](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-cult-of-bryan-mbeumo-what-it-means-for-a-player-to-outperform-xg/) - As you may know, xG – or expected goals to use non-abbreviated parlance – is a measure of the quality of a goalscoring chance. Expected Goals uses historical data to give a probability chance of a shot ending up as a goal. So, a pot shot from 30 yards may have an xG count of
- [What Has Happened to Lyon? French Giants Relegated Due to Financial Irregularities](https://footballcollective.org.uk/what-has-happened-to-lyon-french-giants-relegated-due-to-financial-irregularities/) - They’re the seven-time Ligue 1 champions, five-time Coupe de France winners and two-time Champions League semi-finalists. But that hasn’t stopped Olympique Lyonnais from falling on hard times… to the point that they have now been administratively relegated to Ligue 2 over their continuing financial issues. Make no mistake, this is a shockwave moment for European
- [Christmas Is Cancelled: Premier League Confirms No More Boxing Day Fixtures Will Be Played](https://footballcollective.org.uk/christmas-is-cancelled-premier-league-confirms-no-more-boxing-day-fixtures-will-be-played/) - It’s one of those unmissable Yuletide traditions. Bloated from over-indulgence on Christmas Day, how many football fans spend Boxing Day lying prostrate on the sofa, watching as many games as possible? The Premier League has served up a veritable buffet of action – if you’ll pardon the pun – on December 26 historically, with all-time
- [Transfer Rumors 2025: Who Could Be the Next Big Move?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/transfer-rumors-2025-who-could-be-the-next-big-move/) - Transfer Rumors 2025: Top transfers, hottest transfers and largest transfers. Discover who are the celebrities of the summer!
- [Footballers’ Salaries: Who’s Earning the Most and What It Means for the Market](https://footballcollective.org.uk/footballers-salaries-whos-earning-the-most-and-what-it-means-for-the-market/) - Footballers’ Salaries: Discover who leads the earnings charts, why wages are soaring, and how these record-breaking salaries are changing the football market.
- [Young Stars and Record-Breaking Fees: How the Football Transfer Market Evolved](https://footballcollective.org.uk/young-stars-and-record-breaking-fees-how-the-football-transfer-market-evolved/) - Discover how the football transfer market evolved, with young stars commanding record fees. See the biggest teenage transfers and what drives these huge deals.
- [Women’s Football in 2025: Rising Popularity and Growing Investments](https://footballcollective.org.uk/womens-football-in-2025-rising-popularity-and-growing-investments/) - Women Football 2025: Find out why the sport is soaring in popularity, the largest investments ever and why it will be a top-five sport globally.
- [Tech on the Pitch: How AI and VR Are Revolutionizing Football and Fan Experience](https://footballcollective.org.uk/tech-on-the-pitch-how-ai-and-vr-are-revolutionizing-football-and-fan-experience/) - Learn the innovations of AI and VR technology in football, how it can advance the game, improve player performance, tactics, and fans with immersive interactive technology.
- [Wirtz to Liverpool, Mastantuono to Real: The Biggest Transfers of Summer](https://footballcollective.org.uk/wirtz-to-liverpool-mastantuono-to-real-the-biggest-transfers-of-summer/) - Wirtz joins Liverpool for a record fee, Mastantuono heads to Real Madrid in a historic move. Discover the biggest summer football transfers and what they mean.
- [New Eight Second Rule for Goalkeepers Takes Its First Victim at FIFA Club World Cup](https://footballcollective.org.uk/new-eight-second-rule-for-goalkeepers-takes-its-first-victim-at-fifa-club-world-cup/) - It’s a tale as old as time in football: a goalkeeper, as part of a team defending a slender lead, holds onto the ball for as long as they feasibly can in an act of egregious time wasting. But that could soon be a thing of the past thanks to a rule change on the
- [Five Managers That Have Signed the Same Player for Multiple Clubs](https://footballcollective.org.uk/five-managers-that-have-signed-the-same-player-for-multiple-clubs/) - The ink was barely dry on Thomas Frank’s contract at Tottenham before talk turned to which of his former Brentford players he would poach for his new employer. The Dane swapped West London for the north of the capital when agreeing terms to manage Spurs, signalling a big step up in grade that would incorporate
- [From the Football Pitch to the Beach: The Unexpected Volleyball Journey of Ivan Perisic](https://footballcollective.org.uk/from-the-football-pitch-to-the-beach-the-unexpected-volleyball-journey-of-ivan-perisic/) - In the world of elite athletes, stories of crossover between sports are often fascinating, and few are as intriguing as that of Ivan Perisic - a man known more for slicing through defenses on the football field than spiking balls on sunlit beaches. While his name is etched in the hearts of Croatian football fans
- [New Study Confirms Premier League Players Need Mandatory Summer and Winter Breaks](https://footballcollective.org.uk/new-study-confirms-premier-league-players-need-mandatory-summer-and-winter-breaks/) - At the age of 23, Cole Palmer is – in many respects – at his physical peak. And it’s a good job, given how many games he has had to play already in his short career. During the 2024/25 season, Palmer has played 54 times for club and country – a staggering 3,560 minutes of
- [Club World Cup: Can Real Madrid Win a Sixth Title?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/club-world-cup-can-real-madrid-win-a-sixth-title/) - Whilst the summer of 2025 may be lacking a major tournament in terms of the men’s game, there are still two big highlights to keep football fans occupied until the start of the 2025/26 domestic season. The Lionesses defend their Euros crown in the women’s game but if you prefer men’s football, the FIFA Club
- [Goals Galore: How the ‘Pepification’ of the Premier League Has Changed Goalscoring Habits Forever](https://footballcollective.org.uk/goals-galore-how-the-pepification-of-the-premier-league-has-changed-goalscoring-habits-forever/) - Lies, damn lies and statistics. It’s an old saying that suggests that stats can be manipulated in order to add weight to an argument that they don’t necessarily support. But some statistics are impossible to ignore, so here’s a numbers-led fact that cannot be disputed: the Premier League has become more entertaining since Pep Guardiola
- [The Latest Premier League Club Wage Bills Have Been Revealed: Where Does Your Team Rank?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-latest-premier-league-club-wage-bills-have-been-revealed-where-does-your-team-rank/) - There’s a theory in football that the higher the wage bill, the more success you will have on the pitch. A number of different authorities on the sport have come to the conclusion that the more money that clubs shell out on wages, the better the players that they can attract… and the higher they
- [Why Smart UK Bettors Always Choose Double Chance Over Traditional Football Bets](https://footballcollective.org.uk/why-smart-uk-bettors-always-choose-double-chance-over-traditional-football-bets/) - In the ever-changing world of sports betting, UK bettors look for something fun and reasonable to wager on. More and more disciplined punters are noticing the use of Double Chance bets, Double Chance bets, mostly in football. Although people still prefer single outcome bets, it’s now the refined bettors who understand that Double Chance is
- [Cristiano Ronaldo’s Quest for 1,000th Goal Hits Snag with Al-Nassr Exit](https://footballcollective.org.uk/cristiano-ronaldos-quest-for-1000th-goal-hits-snag-with-al-nassr-exit/) - It was on this very website, back in September 2024, that we set up the fascinating race to 1,000 goals between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Nobody has ever reached the four-figure milestone in professional football before, and there are no other viable candidates to do so either – the likes of Robert Lewandowski and
- [Key Football Stats Every Bettor Should Understand](https://footballcollective.org.uk/key-football-stats-every-bettor-should-understand/) - The world of online sports betting has grown increasingly competitive, and bettors are constantly searching for an edge. Whether you’re new to betting online or already experienced in placing wagers through the best online betting sites, understanding football statistics can transform your approach. Gone are the days when picks were based purely on loyalty or
- [Chelsea Make History as the First Club to Win All Five UEFA Competitions](https://footballcollective.org.uk/chelsea-make-history-as-the-first-club-to-win-all-five-uefa-competitions/) - It’s a little-known fact that was probably a million miles from the thoughts of Chelsea’s players. But as they contested the Europa Conference League final against Real Betis in May 2025 – a game they would go on to win 4-1 after initially going a goal down, the Blues were on the precipice of a
- [When Is Var Allowed to Be Used in a Football Match?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/when-is-var-allowed-to-be-used-in-a-football-match/) - Few things have been called into question more often in the Bundesliga in recent weeks than the VAR (Video Assistant Referee). But what guidelines does the VAR have? When should/must the video assistant referee intervene and what is he allowed to decide? This is regulated in the IFAB's VAR protocol. The VAR may only intervene
- [Everton Leave Goodison Park: How Many Premier League Clubs Still Play at Their Original Stadium?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/everton-leave-goodison-park-how-many-premier-league-clubs-still-play-at-their-original-stadium/) - The necessity for a football club to make as much money as possible these days means that original, vintage stadia are increasingly becoming a thing of the past. The era of shiny new all-seater stadia has been upon us for two decades, with Everton the latest to join the party. They bid farewell to their
- [The Wait Is Over: Tottenham, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace All End Lengthy Trophy Drought In 2024/25](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-wait-is-over-tottenham-newcastle-united-and-crystal-palace-all-end-lengthy-trophy-drought-in-2024-25/) - If football employed Hollywood scriptwriters, the 2024/25 season was all about one of a pensmith’s most-favoured narrative tools: the redemption arc. Not one, not two but three English clubs all won trophies for the first time in a long time; creating some stellar, lifelong memories for fanbases that have been starved of them for decades.
- [Bristol Remains the Largest English City Never to Have Had a Premier League Team](https://footballcollective.org.uk/bristol-remains-the-largest-english-city-never-to-have-had-a-premier-league-team/) - There is an inextricable link between the geographical and population size of a city or town and its success on the football pitch. As of the 2024/25 season, London had seven Premier League teams alone, while Birmingham had two – so, the two largest cities in England contributed some 45% of all EPL clubs. According
- [Crypto Sponsors in the Premier League for the 2025/26 Season](https://footballcollective.org.uk/crypto-sponsors-in-the-premier-league-for-the-2025-26-season/) - The upcoming 2025/26 season is the last time we will see gambling sponsors featuring on the front of Premier League shirts. After this point, the collective agreement that bans gambling sponsorship on shirt fronts will come into force. There is, however, no ban on cryptocurrency companies, except those directly tied to gambling, for example, a
- [Top 3 Biggest Wins by the India National Football Team](https://footballcollective.org.uk/top-3-biggest-wins-by-the-india-national-football-team/) - India has never been a country with a strong football history. It doesn’t mean that the national football team didn’t have bright moments on the field. After a series of losses, they managed to show an excellent result. With an inconsistent performance, the Indian national football team has become a popular betting market at GGBet
- [Full English: Manchester United vs Tottenham Joins Ranks of All-England European Finals](https://footballcollective.org.uk/full-english-manchester-united-vs-tottenham-joins-ranks-of-all-england-european-finals/) - There are plenty who will argue that the English Premier League is the best domestic competition in world football. Others will argue the case for an alternative; perhaps the Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga or Italian Serie A. Maybe the argument can be settled on the form of domestic clubs in continental competition, which offers
- [PSG vs Paris FC Takes the Spoils as the ‘Localist’ Local Derby in World Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/psg-vs-paris-fc-takes-the-spoils-as-the-localist-local-derby-in-world-football/) - Local derbies in football get no closer than when the two teams share a home stadium. Think of the Derby della Madonnina, which pits AC Milan and Inter Milan against one another at the San Siro. And then there’s the Derby della Capitale between Lazio and Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. But if we discount
- [Lucky 13 for Inter Milan as Champions League Humdinger with Barca Ties All-Time Goal Record](https://footballcollective.org.uk/lucky-13-for-inter-milan-as-champions-league-humdinger-with-barca-ties-all-time-goal-record/) - The Football League Cup final between Aston Villa and Rotherham United back in 1960 may not feature in the minds of many fans of the beautiful game. But, in its own way, that particular contest – which was won by the Villains – was something of a trailblazer: it was the first time that a
- [Gardening Leave in Football: Is It the End of the Line for a Manager?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/gardening-leave-in-football-is-it-the-end-of-the-line-for-a-manager/) - It’s one of the most confusing terms in football and in employment in general. What is gardening leave? Does it mean that a manager has been sacked, or is there any way back for them? Do they have to spend their time in the doldrums tending to their daisies and petunias? QPR head coach Marti
- [Luka Modrić Joins the Ranks of Footballers Investing in Unlikely Clubs](https://footballcollective.org.uk/luka-modric-joins-the-ranks-of-footballers-investing-in-unlikely-clubs/) - From the Bernabeu to the Mumbles… it’s been quite some journey for Luka Modrić. The Real Madrid midfielder, who is still playing at the highest level at the age of 39, has confirmed that he expects to stay in football after his career has come to an end. And that will come in the business
- [How the FA Cup Semi-Final Became One of English Football’s Best Games](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-the-fa-cup-semi-final-became-one-of-english-footballs-best-games/) - There’s plenty that will argue that the magic has gone out of the FA Cup; especially since the Football Association decided to move the semi-finals to Wembley Stadium – in a sense, devaluing the thrill of qualifying for the final at the famous venue. But there are many others who will defend the FA Cup
- [Non Bien: The Financial Crisis That Could Spell the End for France’s Ligue 1](https://footballcollective.org.uk/non-bien-the-financial-crisis-that-could-spell-the-end-for-frances-ligue-1/) - It seems unthinkable – preposterous, even – that the English Premier League would ever go bankrupt. Some of its member clubs generate revenue on a par with multinational conglomerates, while the Premier League itself, as a commercial entity, banked £118 million in profit during the 2023/24 season. But the financial picture in some of Europe’s
- [Expansion Era: How Many Teams Will Play at World Cup 2030?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/expansion-era-how-many-teams-will-play-at-world-cup-2030/) - Football is currently enjoying its ‘bigger is better’ era. The European Championship was expanded to 24 teams for its 2016 edition, which means that the competition has officially trebled in size in the past 30 years alone. The Champions League’s revised format for 2024/25 saw the tournament increase its number of participants from 32 teams
- [The Longest Running Shirt Sponsorship Deals in the Premier League](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-longest-running-shirt-sponsorship-deals-in-the-premier-league/) - In an age of financial fair play and Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR), it has been vital for Premier League clubs to make as much money off the pitch as they can in order to supplement their investment in the players and coaches they deploy on the pitch. One of the main avenues for making
- [How to Enhance Your Football Betting Experience](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-to-enhance-your-football-betting-experience/) - Football betting adds an exhilarating layer to the sport, allowing fans to capitalise on their insights and instincts. However, given the number of options and strategies, enthusiasts can find the betting scene overwhelming. Transforming your betting journey into a more rewarding experience requires understanding the nuances and adopting effective strategies. Keep reading as this guide
- [The 2024/25 Season Confirms the English Championship as Football’s Most Entertaining League](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-2024-25-season-confirms-the-english-championship-as-footballs-most-entertaining-league/) - There is a debate to be had over which is the best league in world football; many observers of the English Premier League will offer the EPL as the finest in the sport, whereas others will promote the case of the German Bundesliga, Spanish La Liga or even one of the South American divisions. As
- [Why Are Manchester United Converting Fan Seats to Corporate Hospitality at Old Trafford?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/why-are-manchester-united-converting-fan-seats-to-corporate-hospitality-at-old-trafford/) - If there was one thing that the global health crisis reminded us about football, it’s that fans make the game. When matches are played out in front of zero fans in sterile atmospheres, something is lost from the beautiful game. It’s also true that supporters, through tickets sales and match day spending on food, drink
- [Declan Rice Joins the Conversation for the Best Free Kick Goals of All Time](https://footballcollective.org.uk/declan-rice-joins-the-conversation-for-the-best-free-kick-goals-of-all-time/) - Scoring one world-class free kick in a Champions League quarter final is good going. But to net two in the space of 12 minutes? That must be an extraordinary feeling. Declan Rice has probably never struck the ball as cleanly as he did for his brace of free kicks against Real Madrid in April, with
- [The Most Controversial Moments of José Mourinho’s Managerial Career](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-most-controversial-moments-of-jose-mourinhos-managerial-career/) - Even if his teams have a habit of playing a trudging, conservative style of football on the pitch, life is never dull off it when José Mourinho is prowling the technical area. The Portuguese is into his third decade as a top-tier head coach, and despite having two Champions League wins – not to mention
- [Eggs'cellent Prize Joins Ranks of Football’s Strangest Man of the Match Awards](https://footballcollective.org.uk/eggscellent-prize-joins-ranks-of-footballs-strangest-man-of-the-match-awards/) - A shiny trophy. A bottle of nice Champagne. Even a cash prize would do. But four boxes of eggs? They do things a little bit differently when it comes to awarding the Man of the Match trophy in Norway. Bryne FK, the small Norwegian club where one Erling Haaland learned his trade as a youngster
- [Club World Cup Prize Money Nears £1 Billion… But It’s Far from the Most Lucrative Competition in Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/club-world-cup-prize-money-nears-1-billion-but-its-far-from-the-most-lucrative-competition-in-football/) - How do you increase interest in a competition that nobody really wants to play in? Easy: you pump up the prize money pot. Because cash is, quite literally, the only currency that counts in modern football. FIFA have taken the point on board, and have announced an eye-watering increase to the prize fund for the
- [What Has Happened to Brazil: The Undisputed Champions of World Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/what-has-happened-to-brazil-the-undisputed-champions-of-world-football/) - Shambolic. Humiliation. Crisis. Plenty of football teams have been inextricably linked to words like that over the years, but very rarely could such adjectives be used to describe the fate of the Brazilian national team. The Selecao, as they are known, can be described as the heavyweight champions of football: they have won the World
- [Does the European Golden Shoe Prove That the EPL is the Hardest League in World Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/does-the-european-golden-shoe-prove-that-the-epl-is-the-hardest-league-in-world-football/) - Most football fans are aware of the concept of the golden boot: an annual award given to the player that scores the most goals in a particular competition. What goes somewhat under the radar, however, is the European Golden Shoe: a trophy (in the shape of a golden shoe, naturally) that rewards the ‘best’ goalscorer
- [Arsenal's Prospects for the Next Season](https://footballcollective.org.uk/arsenals-prospects-for-the-next-season/) - Analyzing Arsenal's performance this season, Arteta's tactics, and transfer plans to determine their chances for the next Premier League season.
- [Burnley and Sheffield United Join Ranks of English Football’s Most Prolific Yo-Yo Clubs](https://footballcollective.org.uk/burnley-and-sheffield-united-join-ranks-of-english-footballs-most-prolific-yo-yo-clubs/) - There are many things that the average football fan can complain about, but for supporters of Burnley and Sheffield United, boredom is not one of them. The Clarets and the Blades are closing in on promotion from the Championship as the 2024/25 season reaches its business end; as far as the league table is shaping
- [Manchester United Reveal Plan to Leave Old Trafford and Build UK’s Biggest Football Stadium](https://footballcollective.org.uk/manchester-united-reveal-plan-to-leave-old-trafford-and-build-uks-biggest-football-stadium/) - Readers of a certain vintage will no doubt be traditionalists; those who believe that sporting history is just as important as the present. So the news that Manchester United intend to leave Old Trafford, their home since 1910, to move to a shiny new stadium built practically next door will dampen the spirits of Red
- [Julian Alvarez’s ‘Double Kick’ Penalty: The Reason Why It Was Disallowed](https://footballcollective.org.uk/julian-alvarezs-double-kick-penalty-the-reason-why-it-was-disallowed/) - It was a Champions League tie for the ages. The rivalry between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid is more than just geographical: these city neighbours have financial and socio-cultural differences that pit the haves of the Galacticos against the have not’s of the bulldog spirit Atleti. Real claimed a 2-1 victory in the first leg
- [Premier League Revenues Soar as Ticket Prices for Fans Increase Once More](https://footballcollective.org.uk/premier-league-revenues-soar-as-ticket-prices-for-fans-increase-once-more/) - The Premier League has the commercial heft of any global corporation. It has shareholders too, which comes with the added need to maximize profits… at any cost. And one of those costs, it would seem, would be the fans that support their clubs through thick and thin… and, to some extent, who bankroll the entire
- [Burnley Fall Short in Bid for All-Time Clean Sheet Record](https://footballcollective.org.uk/burnley-fall-short-in-bid-for-all-time-clean-sheet-record/) - If you were to ask 100 football fans what their favourite thing about the beautiful game is, they would say goals; long range strikes, flowing team moves, moments of individual brilliance… all shapes and sizes are celebrated. Few would romanticise about a gutsy defending display that results in a clean sheet, and yet if you
- [FIFA Announces Second Summer Transfer Window… But Only Certain Clubs Can Use It](https://footballcollective.org.uk/fifa-announces-second-summer-transfer-window-but-only-certain-clubs-can-use-it/) - There’s a whole host of logistical reasons why hosting a major club competition in the summer is an almighty challenge. There’s the motivation levels – not to mention the fatigue levels – of players at European clubs that have not long finished their domestic seasons: for context, just 16 days separates the end of the
- [Betting on Football: How to Win](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting-on-football-how-to-win/) - You can maximize your football betting potential with innovative betting strategies, by leveraging advanced filters of competitive odds.
- [Real Madrid to the Premier League? Galacticos Plot Protest Move Away from La Liga](https://footballcollective.org.uk/real-madrid-to-the-premier-league-galacticos-plot-protest-move-away-from-la-liga/) - It would be a move that would send shockwaves through world football. Real Madrid are apparently plotting a move away from the Spanish La Liga in protest at the standard of refereeing in the division, which would see them seek ‘asylum’ in one of Europe’s other big five leagues: Serie A, Ligue 1, German Bundesliga
- [Why Liverpool Should Consider Retaining Their Three Stars](https://footballcollective.org.uk/why-liverpool-should-consider-retaining-their-three-stars/) - Liverpool are at a pivotal juncture where three of their stars are concerned – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah. The trio’s deals with the club are set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season, and if any or all of them were to depart, it would be considered a blow.
- [Premier League ACL Epidemic Worsens as Lisandro Martínez Suffers Catastrophic Injury](https://footballcollective.org.uk/premier-league-acl-epidemic-worsens-as-lisandro-martinez-suffers-catastrophic-injury/) - In the space of just seven weeks, or 58 days if you prefer, seven Premier League players have torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in their knee. It’s an injury that, at best, can leave the individual on the treatment for six months or more; at its worst, a torn ACL can end careers. Lisandro
- [Mighty Mo Salah Closing in on the Best Premier League Season from a Single Player](https://footballcollective.org.uk/mighty-mo-salah-closing-in-on-the-best-premier-league-season-from-a-single-player/) - With some positions on the football pitch, it’s easy to quantify the output of a player. For a goalkeeper, it might be saves made and clean sheets kept. For a defender, how many tackles, blocks and interceptions they make. For attacking players, the objective is clear: be involved in goals, whether that’s creating them or
- [Come In, Number 93: Sergio Ramos Joins the Bizarre Squad Number Crew](https://footballcollective.org.uk/come-in-number-93-sergio-ramos-joins-the-bizarre-squad-number-crew/) - After entering a period of what might be described as semi-retirement, Sergio Ramos has shaken off eight months of inactivity to join Mexican outfit Monterrey. Quite how they were able to persuade the 38-year-old out of his slumber only they know, but Ramos – a World Cup and Champions League winner with more than 180
- [A Family Affair: How the Pozzos Are Gaming the Transfer Market with Watford and Udinese](https://footballcollective.org.uk/a-family-affair-how-the-pozzos-are-gaming-the-transfer-market-with-watford-and-udinese/) - We live in a cynical age, where impassioned conclusions can be made from scarce evidence in which 2 + 2 = 5. But sometimes, such cynicism is justified when the evidence is irrefutable. Which brings us nicely to the multi-club ownership scheme of the Pozzo family, with patriarch Giampaolo owning a majority stake in Italian
- [Calling Time on Extra Time? UEFA Wants Drawn Games to Go Straight to Penalties](https://footballcollective.org.uk/calling-time-on-extra-time-uefa-wants-drawn-games-to-go-straight-to-penalties/) - Hands up anyone that enjoys watching extra time when cup and knockout stage games end in a draw after 90 minutes. Anybody? One of football’s oldest institutions is not universally beloved, it’s fair to say, and it would appear as if UEFA are finally getting on the same page. The governing body has already abolished
- [Seagulls, Grandmothers and Flatulence: Football’s Most Bizarre Yellow Cards](https://footballcollective.org.uk/seagulls-grandmothers-and-flatulence-footballs-most-bizarre-yellow-cards/) - It’s well known that a footballer can be booked or even sent off for celebrating a goal. They may whip off their shirt – an automatic yellow card as per IFAB’s rules – in a frenzy of emotion, they may leave the field of play (i.e. to celebrate with/in the crowd) or celebrate in a
- [Norway Leads the Way in Scrapping VAR: Will the Premier League Be Next?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/norway-leads-the-way-in-scrapping-var-will-the-premier-league-be-next/) - If you want a trail to be blazed, you need a willing volunteer to strike the first blow. In the case of VAR in football, the trailblazer is the unlikely source of Norway. There are 32 clubs in the Eliteserien, Norway’s top tier, and the Second Division, and in January 2025, 19 of them voted
- [Southampton’s Class of 2024/25 in Danger of Becoming Premier League’s Worst Ever Team](https://footballcollective.org.uk/southamptons-class-of-2024-25-in-danger-of-becoming-premier-leagues-worst-ever-team/) - It may yet one day be a sports quiz question: who was the only team that Southampton beat in the 2024/25 Premier League season? The answer is Everton, who the Saints downed 1-0 in November 2024 thanks to an Adam Armstrong goal. The win ensured that the Saints did not break the record for the
- [What Is the Best Football League to Watch?  ](https://footballcollective.org.uk/what-is-the-best-football-league-to-watch/) - Football means different things to different people. Sometimes, it is enough for someone to simply get out and support their local team without much expectation of glory. For others, it is a win-at-all-costs scenario, to help prove a point that their team is the greatest of all. Regardless of what people want from the beautiful
- [Real Madrid Become First Football Club in History to Bank €1 Billion in Revenue](https://footballcollective.org.uk/real-madrid-become-first-football-club-in-history-to-bank-e1-billion-in-revenue/) - There’s that old debate about whether or not money can buy you happiness. Each to their own, in that regard, but there’s one discussion point that cannot be contested: money can buy you success in football. You still have to spend it wisely, of course, but the nature of the sport’s financial sustainability rules –
- [Has the New Champions League Format Been a Success?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/has-the-new-champions-league-format-been-a-success/) - There are not many things that all football fans will agree on. Get two sets of opposing supporters in a room to watch a game and they are guaranteed to see different outcomes, even with events that will seem pretty cut and dry to most neutral observers. So, it was something of a shock when
- [Man City Take Huge Risk Tying Erling Haaland to Nine-and-a-Half Year Contract](https://footballcollective.org.uk/man-city-take-huge-risk-tying-erling-haaland-to-nine-and-a-half-year-contract/) - A decade is a long time in football. Nine-and-a-half years back from the 2024/25 season, Leicester City were crowned Premier League champions, Southampton finished three points from qualifying for the Champions League and Liverpool and Chelsea were reeling from finishing eighth and tenth in the table, respectively. Meanwhile, Newcastle United – in the days before
- [World’s Oldest Football Fixture to Be Played Again 165 Years After Its Debut](https://footballcollective.org.uk/worlds-oldest-football-fixture-to-be-played-again-165-years-after-its-debut/) - Historians cannot agree on when and where football, in its rawest form, was first played. Was it in Ancient Greece, Rome or even China? There is very basic evidence to suggest that each of those eras had its own unique version of the sport. But in terms of organised association football, with rules and regulations
- [UEFA Conference League: Why the New Competition Creates Great Betting Opportunities](https://footballcollective.org.uk/uefa-conference-league-why-the-new-competition-creates-great-betting-opportunities/) - There was a time when everyone believed that the UEFA Conference League would just be another uninteresting tournament. But we could not be more mistaken. The tournament has evolved into an exceptional experience, particularly for sports enthusiasts, since its inception in 2021. It’s no longer just a consolation prize; it’s become an incredible showcase for
- [Reflecting on Arne Slot's Fast Start in Charge of Liverpool](https://footballcollective.org.uk/reflecting-on-arne-slots-fast-start-in-charge-of-liverpool/) - Liverpool's transition from Jürgen Klopp to Arne Slot could scarcely have felt more seamless. It’s almost a strange state of affairs in the red half of Merseyside, with few able to believe when they make a bet on Premier League matches that their side are top of the tree. Replacing a manager with such a
- [Footballers That Have Played With – Or Against – Their Father or Son](https://footballcollective.org.uk/footballers-that-have-played-with-or-against-their-father-or-son/) - It must be a remarkable feeling for a father to play a professional football game on the same team as their son. It’s a mark of their longevity – the nature of parenthood means they’ll likely be well into their thirties before their offspring is old enough to play, while securing a unique slice of
- [Meet Nicolas Jover: The King of Set Piece Coaching](https://footballcollective.org.uk/meet-nicolas-jover-the-king-of-set-piece-coaching/) - As the last notes of Auld Lang Syne rang out, and as celebratory balloons starting to sag and shrivel in the corner of the room, Arsenal saw in 2025 in much the same way as they had spent the previous year: winning games of football courtesy of goals scored via set pieces. Okay, so Mikel
- [Talking Balls! The Puma Orbita 1 Joins the Ranks of the Most Controversial Footballs Used](https://footballcollective.org.uk/talking-balls-the-puma-orbita-1-joins-the-ranks-of-the-most-controversial-footballs-used/) - Usually, the headlines coming out of a football match relate to the action out on the pitch. It’s very rare that the football itself – that spherical, inanimate object that makes the sport what it is – even warrants a mention. Not unless someone is complaining about it, anyway. True to form, Mikel Arteta couldn’t
- [How Technology Is Changing Football: From VAR to Fan Engagement](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-technology-is-changing-football-from-var-to-fan-engagement/) - The game of football is the oldest on the planet. Still, it is going through one of the most profound changes ever, which are being accelerated by applications of technology. Technology is changing the way the sport is played, managed, and consumed, from video analysis in the 1980s to present day developments in artificial intelligence
- [The Great Sell Off! FC Barcelona Pull Yet Another Financial Lever to Register Dani Olmo](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-great-sell-off-fc-barcelona-pull-yet-another-financial-lever-to-register-dani-olmo/) - You have to feel sorry for Dani Olmo. The 26-year-old had the best summer of his life in 2024, producing a series of stunning displays to help Spain to the European Championship title. Olmo netted crucial goals against Germany and France, won a share of the Golden Boot trophy and was named in UEFA’s Team
- [Can the Unify League Work Or Is It Just Another European Super League Cash Grab?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/can-the-unify-league-work-or-is-it-just-another-european-super-league-cash-grab/) - Cometh the hour, cometh a breakaway football competition that is, essentially, a revised version of the failed European Super League. A22 Sports Management, a Spanish company created at the behest of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, were the agency behind the original ESL proposal in 2021, which – while supported by numerous clubs across the
- [New Year, No Fear? Charting the Months in Which Premier League Managers Get Sacked the Most](https://footballcollective.org.uk/new-year-no-fear-charting-the-months-in-which-premier-league-managers-get-sacked-the-most/) - In the cutthroat world of professional football in the modern era, is there any particular month in which a manager can relax… safe in the knowledge that their job is, for 30 or so days at least, more secure than normal? Conversely, is there any specific calendar month in which a head coach should open
- [Meet the Pogbas: Mathias Jailed Over Incredible Plot to Kidnap His Own Brother Paul](https://footballcollective.org.uk/meet-the-pogbas-mathias-jailed-over-incredible-plot-to-kidnap-his-own-brother-paul/) - It sounds like the plot of a Hollywood movie. But, as is so often the case, the truth is stranger than fiction… and that is certainly the way in the weird and wonderful world of Paul Pogba and his family. In December 2024, his brother – former Wrexham, Crawley Town and Crewe Alexandra striker Mathias
- [Saudi Arabia Awarded 2034 World Cup Hosting Rights in ‘Walkover’ Scandal](https://footballcollective.org.uk/saudi-arabia-awarded-2034-world-cup-hosting-rights-in-walkover-scandal/) - What’s the easiest way to win a vote? Make sure you’re the only option that can be voted for. Saudi Arabia has been selected by FIFA as the host nation for the 2034 World Cup, beating… erm, nobody in the vote. That’s because no other country nominated themselves as a potential host for the quadrennial
- [Cole Palmer Breaks Premier League Penalty Record in Typically ‘Ice Cold’ Fashion](https://footballcollective.org.uk/cole-palmer-breaks-premier-league-penalty-record-in-typically-ice-cold-fashion/) - It was somehow fitting that a player with the nickname ‘Cold’ would bring up a Premier League penalty scoring record with a nerveless Panenka straight down the middle of the goal. This is Cole Palmer we’re talking about and Cole Palmer is an extraordinary footballer in just about any way you can imagine. The 22-year-old
- [Key Moments from the Year’s Most Intense Games](https://footballcollective.org.uk/key-moments-from-the-years-most-intense-games/) - It’s safe to say that this has been a year to remember for football fans. Some teams have had surprising struggles (sorry, Manchester, we’re looking at both United and City here), and others have outplayed expectations. There have been moments of individual brilliance, moments where squads came together in impressive harmony, and moments where the
- [How Football Match Filming Has Evolved With Time](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-football-match-filming-has-evolved-with-time/) - Back in the day, when they first started filming matches, only one camera was used. Now, so much has changed – different angles, drones, and so much more. This makes fans feel as if they are a part of the action instead of just spectators. However, how did filming adapt to capture the intensity of
- [Expecting Goals: Chelsea Break Record for Highest Away xG in a Premier League Game](https://footballcollective.org.uk/expecting-goals-chelsea-break-record-for-highest-away-xg-in-a-premier-league-game/) - Going into the game as the 3/10 favourites with the bookmakers, Chelsea were expected to hand Southampton something of a towelling in their December 2024 meeting. The Blues had scored two or more goals in four of their prior five outings, while the Saints were conceding, on average, two goals per game on home soil.
- [Former Man City Star Kavelashvili Joins the Ranks of Footballers Turned Politicians](https://footballcollective.org.uk/former-man-city-star-kavelashvili-joins-the-ranks-of-footballers-turned-politicians/) - Most retired footballers look to stay in the sport after they have hung up their boots, be it as managers, coaches, pundits or club ambassadors. Others make a clean break from football altogether, perhaps looking to reinvest their earnings into property or a burgeoning business empire. A small handful of former pros, meanwhile, have opted
- [Biting the Hand That Feeds: On Loan Players That Have Scored Against Their Parent Club](https://footballcollective.org.uk/biting-the-hand-that-feeds-on-loan-players-that-have-scored-against-their-parent-club/) - Imagine being a footballer that has been sent out on loan by their parent club, and who then finds him or herself playing against their employer for their temporary team. The motivation to play well and showcase their ability must be off the chart, and that is reflected in the number of players that have
- [Lewandowski Joins the Champions League 100-Goal Club… There May Never Be Another Member](https://footballcollective.org.uk/lewandowski-joins-the-champions-league-100-goal-club-there-may-never-be-another-member/) - Imagine finding yourself inaugurated into a club of which only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are members. That would be proof positive that you were doing something right. Up until November 2024, only two players had scored 100 or more goals in the Champions League since its rebrand from the European Cup in 1992. They
- [Pig’s Heads and Manure Collectors: The Rivalries That Go Harder in South American Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/pigs-heads-and-manure-collectors-the-rivalries-that-go-harder-in-south-american-football/) - From Aberdeen to Zimbabwe, football – at both club and international level – is blessed with intense rivalries across the globe. Those hostilities could be steeped in geographical proximity or historical competitiveness, but either way there’s noting quite like the intensity of a grudge match in football. But when it comes to rivalries in the
- [Claudio Ranieri Joins Ranks of Managers That Have Led the Same Club Three Times or More](https://footballcollective.org.uk/claudio-ranieri-joins-ranks-of-managers-that-have-led-the-same-club-three-times-or-more/) - They say in life, but especially in football, never go back. So many legacies have been tarnished by players or managers returning to a club for a second time, only to fall short of the standards they set first time around. Mind you, it doesn’t always pan out like that: in fact, sometimes the second
- [Comeback Trail: More Premier League Teams Are Winning from Behind Than Ever Before](https://footballcollective.org.uk/comeback-trail-more-premier-league-teams-are-winning-from-behind-than-ever-before/) - When a football team goes a goal down in a game, it takes character and self-belief on the part of their players to believe they can come back and win. Those of a weaker disposition will tell you that the first goal is everything in a football match, but if the evidence of the 2024/25
- [How James McClean Became the Most Controversial Footballer in England](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-james-mcclean-became-the-most-controversial-footballer-in-england/) - It comes with the territory as a professional footballer that fans of opposition clubs will give you a hard time. That could range from light-hearted banter to rather more heavyweight chants and abuse, which – while not condoned in any way – are incredibly hard to combat. How do you tell 20,000 people to stop
- [Russia vs Ukraine and Other Banned International Football Games](https://footballcollective.org.uk/russia-vs-ukraine-and-other-banned-international-football-games/) - The idea of having a draw to decide who plays who at football tournaments is to ensure the fixture list is random and free of bias. Sure, the seeding system can keep certain teams apart, but that is to reward them for their past performances: it could be their world ranking, league position or the
- [Cultural Attitudes Towards Betting in African Countries: A Football Perspective](https://footballcollective.org.uk/cultural-attitudes-towards-betting-in-african-countries-a-football-perspective/) - Betting, particularly on football, has become a significant cultural and economic phenomenon across many African countries. As the sport gains popularity, so too does the associated betting industry, which is influenced by a variety of cultural, social, and economic factors. This exploration aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the cultural attitudes towards football betting
- [Betting on South American Football: A Guide for South African Punters](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting-on-south-american-football-a-guide-for-south-african-punters/) - South African football fans are a passionate bunch, right? We’ll cheer, we’ll jeer, and we’ll argue over everything from VAR decisions to who’s better - Messi or Maradona (don’t start). But in recent years, there’s been a surprising trend: more and more South African bettors are getting hooked on South American football. Yes, the land
- [The Role of Technology in Football Club Success](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-role-of-technology-in-football-club-success/) - Football is a game that has always been about more than just the 90-minutes on the pitch. It’s about passion, skill, and a deep connection to fans. In recent years, another force has started shaping the sport — technology. Whether it’s helping teams make smarter decisions, improving the fan experience, or streamlining club operations, tech
- [Tyrone Mings Joins Hall of Shame for the Most Bizarre Penalties Conceded](https://footballcollective.org.uk/tyrone-mings-joins-hall-of-shame-for-the-most-bizarre-penalties-conceded/) - Even at the most elite level of football, moments of madness can decide the outcome of games. And no more was that evident than in the bizarre ‘brain freeze’ of Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings in their Champions League clash with Club Brugge in November 2024. The Villains had a goal kick, which goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez,
- [The Long Goodbye: How the Job of Manchester United Manager Became the Toughest in Elite Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-long-goodbye-how-the-job-of-manchester-united-manager-became-the-toughest-in-elite-football/) - Here’s a sort of chicken-and-egg question for you: is it success that buys a manager time in football, or is it showing loyalty in your boss that ultimately leads to success on the pitch? It’s a hypothetical question with no concrete answer, but you do wonder sometimes if a club that constantly chops and changes
- [UK Broadcasters and UEFA Double Down on Women’s Football with £900 Million Investment](https://footballcollective.org.uk/uk-broadcasters-and-uefa-double-down-on-womens-football-with-900-million-investment/) - The stats and facts are undeniable: the popularity of women’s football has reached an all-time high. In the Women’s Super League (WSL), attendances has more than tripled within the last three seasons alone. The number of registered ladies’ teams at grassroots level has doubled since 2017, while the number of people searching for ‘Women’s Champions
- [How the Football Governance Bill Could Reclaim the Beautiful Game for the Fans](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-the-football-governance-bill-could-reclaim-the-beautiful-game-for-the-fans/) - Words like ‘governance’, ‘regulator’ and ‘legislation’ are often enough to make the average person cross-eyed with boredom and indifference. But when it comes to football, and specifically how the beautiful game is run in the UK, it’s well worth fans taking note of the Football Governance Bill. This is a set of rules and regulations
- [The Game Changers: A Focus on Rising Young Hopefuls for the Premier League](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-game-changers-a-focus-on-rising-young-hopefuls-for-the-premier-league/) - The youth is the future of any sport. We focused on the top thirteen emerging football stars to see what they have to offer for the Premier League's next chapter. Read on to discover the new name of the football game. Ethan Nwaneri: The Early-Starter At just 17 years old, Nwaneri might have limited experience,
- [Watch Out Below: Premier League Parachute Payments Could Be Coming to an End](https://footballcollective.org.uk/watch-out-below-premier-league-parachute-payments-could-be-coming-to-an-end/) - It’s a debate that every English football fan will have a hot take on. Three Premier League clubs are relegated each season to the Championship; at which point, they receive so-called ‘parachute payments’ from the EPL to ease the transition. In short, that trio of clubs will be making less money in the second-tier of
- [From Barcelona to Northampton: Where Are the Hottest Tipped Footballers of 2015 Now?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/from-barcelona-to-northampton-where-are-the-hottest-tipped-footballers-of-2015-now/) - They do it because it’s easy, clickable content. But the dangers for media outlets in tipping young footballers to enjoy a hugely successful career are clear and obvious: The internet never forgets. The Guardian does it with their Next Generation series. Italy’s premier sports paper, Gazzetta Dello Sport, does it. Popular publication, Goal, has done
- [How to Buy AC Milan Tickets: Prices, Membership & Essential Guide to Cheap Serie a Tickets in 2024/25](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-to-buy-ac-milan-tickets-prices-membership-essential-guide-to-cheap-serie-a-tickets-in-2024-25/) - Given the caliber of AC Milan, it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that the club's season tickets for the 2024/25 campaign have sold out. The sale of these tickets ended on 5 July 2023 and ended before the start of the current campaign. Prices for these tickets start from around £199, while the club also
- [European Clubs Pay Out More Than £2 Billion in Wages to Injured Players in Just Four Seasons](https://footballcollective.org.uk/european-clubs-pay-out-more-than-2-billion-in-wages-to-injured-players-in-just-four-seasons/) - Here’s an interesting question: how much does an injured player cost a football club? In a traditional workplace, if you suffered an injury that prevented you from doing your job, you might be entitled to your full wage for a short period of time – or the miniscule, government-funded statutory sick pay of £116 per
- [In Hot Water: Tuanzebe Joins the Ranks of Football’s Most Bizarre Injuries](https://footballcollective.org.uk/in-hot-water-tuanzebe-joins-the-ranks-of-footballs-most-bizarre-injuries/) - A torn ACL, a concussion, and a torn hamstring: Injuries are part and parcel of sport and particularly football, where the rigours and demands push the human body to breaking point. Normally, when a footballer is relaxing at home, they are in a safe space – free of the dangers of a season-ending, or career-threatening,
- [Football's Most Unbreakable Records: Legendary Achievements and Their Legacy](https://footballcollective.org.uk/footballs-most-unbreakable-records-legendary-achievements-and-their-legacy/) - Records are made to be broken, but certain feats seem to prove otherwise by standing the test of time for so long. Read on for the most unbreakable records in football history!
- [Manchester City Make History with Football’s First £500 Million Academy](https://footballcollective.org.uk/manchester-city-make-history-with-footballs-first-500-million-academy/) - There is a feeling that Manchester City, backed by the financial heft of the entire Abu Dhabi royal family, have basically bought success off the shelf. It hasn’t always been that way for the Cityzens, because it wasn’t until Pep Guardiola took charge that they became the consistently unstoppable force of English football. While Pep
- [Ranking Mohamed Salah's Best Premier League Goals](https://footballcollective.org.uk/ranking-mohamed-salahs-best-premier-league-goals/) - Mohamed Salah’s influence on the Premier League is undeniable. Since joining Liverpool in 2017, he has evolved into one of the best wingers in the history of English football, winning the title with the Reds in 2020 and ensuring they are consistent favourites in Premier League betting. The Egyptian King has evolved his game over
- [Young Man’s Game: The Average Age of Premier League Managers Falls to Record Low](https://footballcollective.org.uk/young-mans-game-the-average-age-of-premier-league-managers-falls-to-record-low/) - Once upon a time, the pervading image of a football manager was a grizzled veteran of the sport. Bedecked in a tracksuit, they would bark instructions at their players – instructions which would range from ‘get stuck in’ to ‘stick it in the mixer’. But football management seems to have undergone an overhaul. Today, managers
- [The Unlikely Hero: Harry Maguire Joins the Ranks of Football’s Ingenious Super Subs](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-unlikely-hero-harry-maguire-joins-the-ranks-of-footballs-ingenious-super-subs/) - Cometh the hour, cometh the... Harry Maguire? A bruising centre back, Maguire isn’t exactly the first player that comes to mind when chasing a game late on. But Erik ten Hag, whose tactical awareness has come under scrutiny in his time at Manchester United, must have spotted something in his side’s Europa League game with
- [Discovering the History Behind England’s Three Lions](https://footballcollective.org.uk/discovering-the-history-behind-englands-three-lions/) - Some 870 years ago, Henry II married Eleanor of Aquitaine in a ceremony that was no doubt befitting the coming together of two noble families. What’s that got to do with football? Well, we’ll get to that, but needless to say it’s all to do with the presence of lions on their family crests. Fast
- [Will Football Matches Be the Same Without Fans?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/will-football-matches-be-the-same-without-fans/) - Football matches have always been more than just a game; they're a shared experience filled with energy and excitement, fuelled by the presence of crowds. When fans pack the stadium, they create an electric atmosphere, cheering and chanting for their favorite teams. These live reactions can boost player morale and influence the game's flow. However,
- [Is Arsenal vs Man City the Newest Rivalry?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/is-arsenal-vs-man-city-the-newest-rivalry/) - Following a tense 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium, the Arsenal and Manchester City rivalry has officially started. Since Pep Guardiola joined Manchester City back in 2016, the club has won a total of 6 Premier League titles. If City are to successfully win the league this season too, that will be five titles on
- [North Korea Wins the Under-20 World Cup to Hint at Future Football Glory](https://footballcollective.org.uk/north-korea-wins-the-under-20-world-cup-to-hint-at-future-football-glory/) - From the four gold medals they won at the Olympic Games in 2012, to Kim Jong-il’s incredible (wink wink) eleven holes-in-one in his only ever round of golf at Pyongyang Golf Course, North Korea has enjoyed some sporting highlights over the years. The secretive Asian nation hasn’t quite delivered the same success in football –
- [Village Team Bishops Cleeve Join Ranks of Non-League Clubs Loving the Magic of the FA Cup](https://footballcollective.org.uk/village-team-bishops-cleeve-join-ranks-of-non-league-clubs-loving-the-magic-of-the-fa-cup/) - When you think of the phrase ‘village football’, the images conjured up are perhaps mud-caked goalmouths, pot-bellied midfielders and, shall we say, some ‘agricultural’ tackles being made. But for one village-based club, ambitions have extended far beyond a gentle kickabout between a group of mates on a Saturday afternoon. Bishops Cleeve, a village in Gloucestershire
- [Top 5 Football Analytics Tools Every Fan Should Know About](https://footballcollective.org.uk/top-5-football-analytics-tools-every-fan-should-know-about/) - Unless you are some geeks who sees data and gets excited, you are obviously looking for football analytics software that you can use for betting. That’s the perfect step that every football bettor takes if they want to take things seriously. After all, do you know what’s the secret for accurately predicting football matches? Data!
- [How Claudio Pizarro and Joey Barton Ended Up Buying a Horse Together](https://footballcollective.org.uk/how-claudio-pizarro-and-joey-barton-ended-up-buying-a-horse-together/) - The worlds of football and horse racing have collided countless times throughout history, with many footballers having keen interests in the equine sport. Clubs regularly have social events at some of the biggest meetings in the United Kingdom throughout the season, with Liverpool stars typically seen in attendance at Aintree, and Aston Villa famously visiting
- [Best Football Collections To Start](https://footballcollective.org.uk/best-football-collections-to-start/) - It dawned on us today that despite having the name ‘Football Collective’ we have never spoken about the best football collections that people should start. Being a football-based site, we obviously all love football and most of us dedicate a lot of our free time to collecting football items (that cost a lot of money).
- [Chaos on the Coast! Bournemouth vs Chelsea Becomes Premier League’s Dirtiest Game](https://footballcollective.org.uk/chaos-on-the-coast-bournemouth-vs-chelsea-becomes-premier-leagues-dirtiest-game/) - The numbers certainly stack up: 25 fouls, 14 yellow cards and one penalty. Another set of digits – 0-1 – confirm that Chelsea defeated Bournemouth at their Vitality Stadium home in September 2025, but the result of the game was a mere footnote to the carnage that had ensued between the two teams. Referee Anthony
- [Cristiano Ronaldo Makes More History with Record 900th Career Goal](https://footballcollective.org.uk/cristiano-ronaldo-makes-more-history-with-record-900th-career-goal/) - For most of us, just scoring one goal in professional football would have been enough to have satisfied our wildest dreams and ambitions as children. Cristiano Ronaldo... well, he now has 900 of the things, and he isn’t intent on hanging up his boots until he has got to 1,000 career goals. You won’t be
- [Football Has a Match Fixing Problem: But Should Fans Be Concerned?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/football-has-a-match-fixing-problem-but-should-fans-be-concerned/) - It has long been known that football has a match fixing problem. It might not permeate into the beautiful game at the highest level, but it still blights the lower reaches of leagues around the world – including England’s own football pyramid. That affront to the integrity of the sport, as well as the damage
- [The Influence of Tactical Periodization on Football Training Regimens](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-influence-of-tactical-periodization-on-football-training-regimens/) - Tactical periodization is a modern training method that has changed football team preparation. It does not separate fitness, tactics, and psychology from each other and places all of them under the prism of a game. Initially developed in the 1990s, this approach enables the coach to organize their sessions based on real match situations and
- [San Marino Win First Competitive Game After 34 Years](https://footballcollective.org.uk/san-marino-win-first-competitive-game-after-34-years/) - According to FIFA’s world rankings, San Marino are the worst international team on the planet – considered to have less talent that footballing powerhouses such as Anguilla and the U.S. Virgin Islands. But the governing body may need to update their rankings pronto: for San Marino have now won their first competitive international game! The
- [Erling Haaland Climbs the Ranks of Premier League’s Greatest Hat-Trick Heroes](https://footballcollective.org.uk/erling-haaland-climbs-the-ranks-of-premier-leagues-greatest-hat-trick-heroes/) - It’s surely the pinnacle for a striker: score a hat-trick, win the game for your team and then take home the match ball. Of course, if it was that easy everybody would be doing it. But Erling Haaland is doing a passable impression of a man who finds notching three or more time in a
- [The Biggest Football Betting Events Of The Year](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-biggest-football-betting-events-of-the-year/) - Football is one of the biggest betting markets around, bringing in thousands of punters from around the world. This is especially true when big football events are happening throughout the year. What are the biggest football events out there when it comes to betting specifically? FIFA World Cup While it doesn’t happen every year, rather
- [Does Women’s Football Offer Potentially Great Betting Returns?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/does-womens-football-offer-potentially-great-betting-returns/) - If you are looking to make wagers on exciting football games, then you may have wondered whether women’s football gives you the potential returns that you want. What can it offer you for betting, in comparison to men’s football? Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect from women’s football odds right now.
- [Bad Seeds: Why Are the Best Teams Kept Apart in Major Football Tournaments?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/bad-seeds-why-are-the-best-teams-kept-apart-in-major-football-tournaments/) - Neutral football supporters, like the fans of any sport, want to see the best take on the best. Fervent fans want their club or country to have the easiest possible route through the draw of a tournament, but for everyone else watching on from home it’s the prospect of a footballing clash of the titans
- [Browser-Based Football Games that are Simply Too Good to Pass Up](https://footballcollective.org.uk/browser-based-football-games-that-are-simply-too-good-to-pass-up/) - Anyone who was lucky enough to grow up in the so-called "golden age" of console-based games might still remember football titles such as Football Manager, FIFA (the original iteration), Nintendo World Cup, and Konami Hyper Soccer (primarily released in the United States). As we now live within the online community, football enjoys an equally formidable
- [Xavi Simons Debacle Highlights the Risks of Transfer Buy Back Clauses](https://footballcollective.org.uk/xavi-simons-debacle-highlights-the-risks-of-transfer-buy-back-clauses/) - At Euro 2024, Xavi Simons launched himself onto the global football stage. The attacking midfielder served up three assists for the Netherlands on their run to the semi-finals, where the 21-year-old also found the net against England. During the season prior to the quadrennial showpiece, Simons had scored 19 goals from midfield – making him
- [Leicester City vs Tottenham Fails to Live Up to Billing of Premier League’s Highest-Scoring Fixture](https://footballcollective.org.uk/leicester-city-vs-tottenham-fails-to-live-up-to-billing-of-premier-leagues-highest-scoring-fixture/) - In football, there are no prizes given out for artistic merit. If there were, Tottenham might have walked away from their meeting with Leicester City in August 2024 with more than a point from the 1-1 draw. After enjoying 70% possession of the ball, firing in 15 shots at the Leicester goal and winning a
- [Safe Gaming Tips for Football Bettors: Strategies and Tools](https://footballcollective.org.uk/safe-gaming-tips-for-football-bettors-strategies-and-tools/) - Football betting can be an exhilarating experience if approached with the right strategies and tools. Ensuring safe gambling practices not only enhances your enjoyment but also protects you from potential pitfalls. Here are essential tips to help you navigate football betting responsibly. Placing wagers on football matches, while thrilling, requires a disciplined approach. Understanding the
- [Chelsea vs Man City First Game in History to Have £1 Billion Worth of Players on the Pitch](https://footballcollective.org.uk/chelsea-vs-man-city-first-game-in-history-to-have-1-billion-worth-of-players-on-the-pitch/) - If you thought that transfer fees in football were out of control, the cherry was placed on the cake by the game between Chelsea and Manchester City on the opening weekend of the Premier League 2024/25 season. When you add up the transfer fees commanded by the 22 players that made up the starting elevens
- [Anger as the ‘Fan Ban’ Continues to Tear the Soul from the Old Firm Derby](https://footballcollective.org.uk/anger-as-the-fan-ban-continues-to-tear-the-soul-from-the-old-firm-derby/) - Football is, by definition, nothing without its fans. Of course, the behaviour of a minority of supporters before a game or on the terraces can be problematic – particularly so at emotionally-charged fixtures, such as local derbies. They don’t come much more local than the Old Firm derby between Glasgow Celtic and Rangers, two teams
- [Truro City and Dorking FC Join the Ranks of Football’s Most Bizarre Kit Clashes](https://footballcollective.org.uk/truro-city-and-dorking-fc-join-the-ranks-of-footballs-most-bizarre-kit-clashes/) - In the red shirts, we have Truro City. And, in the, erm, reddy-orange shirts, we have Dorking FC. The National League South clash between the two teams, which was the curtain-raiser to the 2024/25 season, descended into farce within minutes after it became clear that nobody on the pitch or in the stands could tell
- [Money for Nothing: Solanke, Kilman and the Perks of the Transfer Release Clause](https://footballcollective.org.uk/money-for-nothing-solanke-kilman-and-the-perks-of-the-transfer-release-clause/) - For the financial year 2022-23, Maidenhead United – of the National League, English football’s fifth tier – recorded an annual turnover of £1.8 million. They ultimately ended up losing around £270,000 for the year, such are the financial challenges of operating a non-league club without a wealthy benefactor in the background. But if a club
- [Grassroots Football in the UK: Developing the Next Generation of Talent](https://footballcollective.org.uk/grassroots-football-in-the-uk-developing-the-next-generation-of-talent/) - Grassroots football in the UK is the bedrock of the nation’s footballing culture. Its where young talents begin their journey, dreaming of becoming the next Harry Kane or Lucy Bronze. This article delves into the intricacies of grassroots football in the UK, exploring how it nurtures young players, the importance of community involvement, the financial
- [On the Road: Oxford City Fans Face Staggering 6,600 Miles of Away Travel This Season](https://footballcollective.org.uk/on-the-road-oxford-city-fans-face-staggering-6600-miles-of-away-travel-this-season/) - Football fans that follow their team home and away get a buzz of excitement as the new season approaches. Once the fixture list is revealed, they can begin to plan for the games they are most looking forward to: big matches on home soil, as well as those fun trips on the road. But for
- [Manchester City Fined More Than £2 Million After Repeatedly Delaying Kick Off](https://footballcollective.org.uk/manchester-city-fined-more-than-2-million-after-repeatedly-delaying-kick-off/) - When you’re financed by the entire sovereign state of a Middle Eastern powerhouse, a fine of £2 million won’t have you coming out in a cold sweat. But even so, Manchester City’s Qatari owners will be feeling rather cheesed off at the size of the sanction – especially as the ‘crime’ committed could have been
- [The Story of Ali Dia: The Premier League’s Worst-Ever Player](https://footballcollective.org.uk/the-story-of-ali-dia-the-premier-leagues-worst-ever-player/) - With a footballing CV that features the likes of French lower league outfit Beauvais, Finnish side PK-35 and non-league’s Blyth Spartans, you get a flavour of the level at which Ali Dia was comfortable at. But that didn’t stop the Senegalese striker from appearing in the Premier League for Southampton – thanks, in part, to
- [WSL Breaks Away from the FA in Scenes Reminiscent of the Founding of the Premier League](https://footballcollective.org.uk/wsl-breaks-away-from-the-fa-in-scenes-reminiscent-of-the-founding-of-the-premier-league/) - In the early 1990s, representatives of the member clubs of the old First Division met in a series of cloak-and-dagger gatherings. Their shared ambition? Making their clubs as commercially successful as possible. They realised that they could rebrand, create a product that captured more commercial interest from around the globe, sell sponsorship packages and TV
- [Canada Caught ‘Spying’ on Olympic Football Opponents with Drones](https://footballcollective.org.uk/canada-caught-spying-on-olympic-football-opponents-with-drones/) - There's scouting your opponents, and then there’s deploying spy tactics that even MI6 would be proud of. Helicopters, drones and scouts hiding in bushes: football is a sport in which any tactic will be used that can gain a team an edge over another. The Olympic Games are a big deal, of course, so you
- [Great Britain Continues to Resist the Lure of Olympic Football – And for the Strangest Reason](https://footballcollective.org.uk/great-britain-continues-to-resist-the-lure-of-olympic-football-and-for-the-strangest-reason/) - In women’s football, the Olympic Games is huge – in fact, it’s second only to the World Cup in terms of prestige. But in men’s football, and specifically in the UK, the Olympics is bizarrely overlooked. For reasons that we’ll get into shortly, Team GB has barely entered a men’s team into the Games’ football
- [Why Brighton vs Crystal Palace Leads the Way in Football’s Strangest Rivalries](https://footballcollective.org.uk/why-brighton-vs-crystal-palace-leads-the-way-in-footballs-strangest-rivalries/) - When the Premier League fixture list is revealed, fans will be looking out for particular dates against specific opposition. It’s typically bitter local rivals that are top of the list – be it in London, Manchester or Merseyside – or those that will be key in achieving competitive goals: top-of-the-table clashes and the proverbial relegation
- [New Rule Only Allowing Captains to Talk to Referees Sees Yellow Card Numbers Soar](https://footballcollective.org.uk/new-rule-only-allowing-captains-to-talk-to-referees-sees-yellow-card-numbers-soar/) - We’ve all seen it before in football: a contentious decision is given out on the pitch and players from the ‘wronged’ team swarm around the referee, letting the whistle-blower know exactly what they think about them. And yet, when you watch a game of rugby, there is almost a sense of gentlemanly calm about how
- [On the Spot: How England Mastered the Art of the Penalty Shootout](https://footballcollective.org.uk/on-the-spot-how-england-mastered-the-art-of-the-penalty-shootout/) - It’s seemingly very difficult to succeed in major international tournaments now if you’re not comfortable from the penalty spot. France won the 2018 World Cup without facing a dreaded shootout, but Croatia – the team they would take on in the final – would have to endure two of them... beating hosts Russia and Denmark.
- [EURO 2024 Continues Bizarre Trend for Major Tournament Own Goals](https://footballcollective.org.uk/euro-2024-continues-bizarre-trend-for-major-tournament-own-goals/) - When they hand out the Golden Boot prize at EURO 2024, the trophy engraver might have carved the initials ‘O.G.’ in the space usually reserved for the winner’s name. That’s because there has been nine own goals already heading into the quarter-final stage – more than the first 15 editions of the European Championship combined!
- [Football Struggling to Get a Hand on Its Players Making Offensive Gestures](https://footballcollective.org.uk/football-struggling-to-get-a-hand-on-its-players-making-offensive-gestures/) - Offense is taken, not given, so the old saying goes, so deciding what constitutes something as offensive or not is perhaps in the eye of the beholder. But that doesn’t exactly help football’s rule-makers, who must decide which gestures – which can be displayed by players when celebrating a goal or, shall we say, giving
- [Old Trafford Naming Rights Could Be Sold for the First Time in More Than a Century](https://footballcollective.org.uk/old-trafford-naming-rights-could-be-sold-for-the-first-time-in-more-than-a-century/) - February 19, 1910: That was the day that Old Trafford hosted its first ever football match. Somewhat ironically, it as a thrilling 3-4 victory for Liverpool – setting in motion more than a century of epic encounters between Manchester United and their Merseyside rivals. Football has changed beyond all recognition since, but some things have
- [Cashing In: Revealing Why Premier League Clubs Are Selling Off Their Academy Graduates](https://footballcollective.org.uk/cashing-in-revealing-why-premier-league-clubs-are-selling-off-their-academy-graduates/) - Once upon a time, a football club would move heaven and earth to keep their academy graduates and youth team prospects on their books. These players are the DNA of a club, and generally have a deeper connection with the fans given that they’ve come through the ranks – as a consequence, they are often
- [Euro 2024: The Last 16 Preview & Key Matches](https://footballcollective.org.uk/euro-2024-the-last-16-preview-key-matches/) - The 2024 Euros group stage is complete. It seems to have flown by, but as the saying goes, ‘time flies when you’re having fun.’ But there’s no more playing around; draws and losses aren’t forgiven in the knockout stages, so every team needs to be on their A-game, intensifying the competition to a whole new
- [UEFA Set to Change Vital Multi-Club Ownership Rules](https://footballcollective.org.uk/uefa-set-to-change-vital-multi-club-ownership-rules/) - Multi-club agreements are all the rage these days in football, with many wealthy ownership groups looking to build a network of teams under one umbrella. The perks are that a conveyor belt of talent can be created, with clubs within the agreement given first refusal on players showing promise slightly lower down the food chain.
- [Trent Alexander-Arnold & the Footballers That Have Changed Position During Their Career](https://footballcollective.org.uk/trent-alexander-arnold-the-footballers-that-have-changed-position-during-their-career/) - It’s unusual, to say the least, for a footballer to be asked to play in a completely new position at the age of 25 – and especially so during a major international tournament. England deployed Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield in the early rounds of EURO 2024 – despite the fact he has never played there
- [Sabrina Wittmann Makes History as First Female Manager in Elite Men’s Football in Germany](https://footballcollective.org.uk/sabrina-wittmann-makes-history-as-first-female-manager-in-elite-mens-football-in-germany/) - There has been a sea-change, for many, in how football fans perceive their team’s head coach or manager. Once upon a time, supporters were blinded by the notion that their manager had to have enjoyed a fine career as a player – somehow that gave them more credence as a decision-maker and tactician. However, the
- [Club World Cup 2025: Plans in Disarray as Players’ Union Takes FIFA to Court](https://footballcollective.org.uk/club-world-cup-2025-plans-in-disarray-as-players-union-takes-fifa-to-court/) - In theory, the Club World Cup is a fantastic idea. Taking inspiration from the international version, which is one of the most-watched and loved tournaments in sport – let alone just football, inviting all of the most successful clubs from around the globe to take each other on is a concept that makes sense. The
- [Why Did Bayern Munich Appoint Kompany?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/why-did-bayern-munich-appoint-kompany/) - In one of the shocks of the summer, Vincent Kompany secured the vacant managerial post at Bayern Munich. Having led Burnley to relegation from the Premier League after recording just 24 points, a move to the Bavarian giants hardly seemed like the natural next step but here we are. The announcement had a lot of
- [Ireland Cannot Afford to Miss Out on the 2026 World Cup](https://footballcollective.org.uk/ireland-cannot-afford-to-miss-out-on-the-2026-world-cup/) - For a nation as passionate about football as the Republic of Ireland, absence from the World Cup is a bitter pill to swallow. Ireland’s last appearance came 22 years ago and they have not qualified for a major tournament since 2016. They are in danger of becoming irrelevant on the international stage. Reaching the 2026
- [Olympiacos Join Small Band of European Champions from Outside the ‘Big Five’ Leagues](https://footballcollective.org.uk/olympiacos-join-small-band-of-european-champions-from-outside-the-big-five-leagues/) - The Premier League has its ‘big six’ clubs – Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham – who have, historically, been the most successful in the competition. And in Europe, there’s also the ‘big five’ divisions: the Premier League, Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1. Each has
- [Rodri’s Incredible Unbeaten Streak Comes to an End](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rodris-incredible-unbeaten-streak-comes-to-an-end/) - We’ve written on these very pages about the concept of an ‘Invincibles’ season – that is, a team that goes through an entire league campaign unbeaten. But Manchester City midfielder, Rodri, can lay claim to a unique record of his own; an unbeaten run that finally came to an end at the 2024 FA Cup
- [Three’s the Magic Number: Lookman Joins Ranks of Hat-Trick Heroes in Major European Finals](https://footballcollective.org.uk/threes-the-magic-number-lookman-joins-ranks-of-hat-trick-heroes-in-major-european-finals/) - If we told you that a former Premier League star was going to score a hat-trick in a major final in 2024, you might be hoping that it was Harry Kane doing the honours for the Three Lions at the Euros. Perhaps that will still come to pass, but the player in question adding his
- [Not So Fantastic Plastic: Artificial Football Pitches Set to Banned in the UK](https://footballcollective.org.uk/not-so-fantastic-plastic-artificial-football-pitches-set-to-banned-in-the-uk/) - Although they remain commonplace in non-league and local football, artificial pitches are few and far between at the elite level in the UK. And the numbers could yet dwindle further with the news that the Scottish Premiership is planning a ban on the use of artificial pitches from the 2026/27 season. A number of clubs
- [Edelino and Edgar Ié Join Ranks of Twins in Football… Or Do They?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/edelino-and-edgar-ie-join-ranks-of-twins-in-football-or-do-they/) - When Edgar Ié was spotted as a youngster and snapped up by the youth academy at Sporting Lisbon, before being scouted by FC Barcelona, he must have thought he had the football world at his feet. Unfortunately for him, he would make only one appearance for the senior Barca squad, before embarking on a European
- [FIFA Reveals Plans for Premier League Games to Be Played Overseas](https://footballcollective.org.uk/fifa-reveals-plans-for-premier-league-games-to-be-played-overseas/) - It’s Manchester City against Arsenal… in Shanghai. That might sound like a money-grab of a pre-season friendly, but it could become a reality in the Premier League if FIFA has their way. Football’s governing body wants more domestic games to be played internationally – bringing the top-level of the beautiful game to countries that are
- [Women's FA Cup - All You Need to Know](https://footballcollective.org.uk/womens-fa-cup-all-you-need-to-know/) - The 2023/24 Women’s FA Cup (WFAC) was won by Manchester United with a stunning strike from England star Ella Toone setting them on the way. Women’s sport in general is getting more and more popular and football is at the vanguard of that in the UK. So many girls are playing the sport that England’s
- [Multiple Winners of the Premier League Manager of the Year Awards](https://footballcollective.org.uk/multiple-winners-of-the-premier-league-manager-of-the-year-awards/) - Gary Lineker said that football was a simple enough game where “22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.” Well, Germany haven’t been so great in recent years, although they may set that straight at Euro 2024 on home soil, despite indifferent form in the build-up to
- [Should Premier League Clubs Be Looking at Mark Robins?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/should-premier-league-clubs-be-looking-at-mark-robins/) - On Sunday, 22 April, 2024, we witnessed one of the all-time great FA Cup semi finals. Championship side Coventry came from 3-0 down with just 19 minutes left to draw 3-3 with Premier League giants Manchester United. It was a game with drama that Hollywood’s finest would have struggled to script, with the Sky Blues
- [Where Does Jordan Pickford Rank Among England's Best Goalkeepers?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/where-does-jordan-pickford-rank-among-englands-best-goalkeepers/) - As the 2023/24 Premier League season draws to a close, thoughts for many fans turn to the upcoming European Championship in Germany. The Three Lions are the favourites with many betting sites, just ahead of France, with the hosts Germany, Spain and Portugal not too far behind. A lot of patriotic money – England fans
- [Have Ipswich Town Played in the Premier League Before?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/have-ipswich-town-played-in-the-premier-league-before/) - Ipswich Town did more than enough on the final day of the 2023/24 Championship season to secure their place in the Premier League for 2024/25. They began the day in pole position to claim second in the league (three points clear of Leeds United) and thus automatic promotion to the promised land. All they had

## Pages

- [Football Collective](https://footballcollective.org.uk/) - The Football Collective is a project that brings together contributions from a variety of expert writers, bloggers and pundits. By combining our decades of experience, we hope to tackle the all the questions, large and small, that you may have about the beautiful game.
- [Contact](https://footballcollective.org.uk/contact/)
- [Football Terminology](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/)
- [General Football Articles](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/)
- [Football Town Guides](https://footballcollective.org.uk/towns/)
- [Football Betting](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/)
- [Football Rules](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/)

## Football Rules

- [What Are Profit and Sustainability Rules in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-are-profit-and-sustainability-rules-in-football/) - As of January 2024, 20% of Premier League clubs are being investigated for – or have already been punished for – breaches of the profit and sustainability rules (PSR) that govern how an EPL outfit can spend their money. So, if club officials know the PSR rules, and are aware of the consequences that can
- [What Is an Automatic Contract Extension Clause in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-is-an-automatic-contract-extension-clause-in-football/) - When the average Joe or Jane signs a contract of employment, it’s generally pretty straightforward – this is your role, these are the hours you are expected to work, this is how much you will be paid... take it or leave it. In football, contract negotiations are often so complex that many players have taken
- [What Is the Offside Rule in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-is-the-offside-rule-in-football/) - Once upon a time, the offside rule in football was a breeze to understand – if an attacking player got ahead of the defensive line to create an advantage for their team, they would be flagged offside by the linesman or woman (now known as the referee’s assistants). But in the 200 or so years
- [Do Football Pitches Have to Be a Certain Size?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/do-football-pitches-have-to-be-a-certain-size/) - Picture the scene: a tiny amateur football club has battled their way into the third round of the FA Cup, where they have been drawn against the mighty Manchester City. They have been drawn as the home team, though, so will enjoy a fantastic payday whatever the result. But this sport, and most people involved
- [Can a Football Manager Manage Club & Country at the Same Time?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-a-football-manager-manage-club-country-at-the-same-time/) - If you thought your work-life balance was out-of-kilter, spare a thought for Fernando Diniz. He is the head coach of Fluminense, the Brazilian football club that won the Copa Libertadores – a sort of South American version of the Champions League – in 2023. It was the fifth trophy of his managerial career, which allied
- [What Is the Back Pass Rule in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-is-the-back-pass-rule-in-football/) - Picture the scene: a football team is a goal to the good, and with time running out they are engaging in the dark art of time wasting. The goalkeeper passes the ball to one of his/her teammates, who then immediately kicks the ball back to the keeper. They wait for an opposition player to approach,
- [Can a Football Manager Be Sent Off?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-a-football-manager-be-sent-off/) - It was classic, quintessential José Mourinho. With his Roma side 1-0 to the good against Monza, Mourinho showcased his unrivalled hubris – this is a man that called himself the ‘Special One’ while in charge of Chelsea, remember – by turning to the opposition bench and making a school playground style crying gesture at the
- [Can an Outfield Player Play as a Goalkeeper?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-an-outfield-player-play-as-a-goalkeeper/) - There was an old saying that all goalkeepers are crazy, and yet where would a football team be without them? It is the only truly specialised position on the pitch, so when something happens that leaves a team without their keeper, they typically find themselves in dire straits – unless, that is, an outfield replacement
- [Can a Red Card be Overturned in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-a-red-card-be-overturned-in-football/) - Everyone makes mistakes, and in the ultra-fast world of professional football, match officials have just milli-seconds to make the right decision during key moments. There are times when tackles fly in that look dreadful in real time, but after inspecting a replay it becomes clear that maybe the contact wasn’t as violent as first thought.
- [Yellow Card Carry Over Rules: Do Cards Ever Accumulate?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/yellow-card-carry-over-rules-do-cards-ever-accumulate/) - In football, there are some things that really get the blood pumping. A thunderous volley, a free-kick that arrows into the corner, a stunning solo run or a moment of madness from one or many of the players on the pitch. For the more cynical among us, there is nothing better than watching a player
- [Ticket Reselling: Is It Legal to Buy & Sell Tickets to a Match?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/ticket-reselling-is-it-legal-to-buy-sell-tickets-to-a-match/) - When it comes to buying tickets for any football match in the UK it is very important to know what you can and, more importantly, cannot do. These rules can become clouded very quickly as each club will have their own list of terms and conditions that you need to take into account. This will
- [Can a Country Give a Footballer National Citizenship So They Can Play for Them?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-a-country-give-a-footballer-national-citizenship-so-they-can-play-for-them/) - There are numerous examples of international footballers that have represented different nations at youth and senior level, and even cases where players have turned out for more than one country in full competitive games. That can often be as a result of a geopolitical situation. Dejan Stankovic, for instance, is the only player to represent
- [How Many Substitutions Can You Make in a Match?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/how-many-substitutions-can-you-make-in-a-match/) - Once upon a time, a team could only make a substitution if one of their players got injured. Today, it feels like any game you watch on TV has a steady procession of subs entering the pitch, especially in the second half of games. Times have changed massively over the years when it comes to substitutions
- [What Rules Do Goalkeepers Have to Follow in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-rules-do-goalkeepers-have-to-follow-in-football/) - Playing in goal is without doubt the most misunderstood position on the pitch. As the last line of defence, the goalkeeper is rarely part of goal-scoring moves, while they are invariably blamed for their part in conceding a goal. Footballers, pundits and fans really show how little they truly know about the position when their go-to
- [Who Gets the Money from a Football Transfer Deal & Where Does It Come From?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/who-gets-the-money-from-a-football-transfer-deal-where-does-it-come-from/) - When you buy a new commodity like a car, you will agree a price with the seller (or accept their price on the forecourt) and sit down to discuss how you will pay for it. Some buyers will be able to pay for their new vehicle outright, whereas others will use payment plans like hire purchase
- [Is Shirt Pulling Allowed in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/is-shirt-pulling-allowed-in-football/) - When you watch a football game – and it doesn’t really matter if it’s the World Cup final or a Sunday morning clash between the Dog & Duck and the Red Lion – it’s amazing how many little fouls and infringements, the kind that go unnoticed by the referee, occur. Of course, VAR has changed
- [What Is a Foul in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-is-a-foul-in-football/) - A foul is seen as an unfair act by a player or players that the referee deems to break the laws of the game. A foul is punished by the awarding of a free-kick against the team that has committed the foul, or a penalty if the foul happens inside the offending team’s box. Punishing
- [What Is the Difference Between a Direct & an Indirect Free Kick?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-is-the-difference-between-a-direct-an-indirect-free-kick/) - When it comes to football, nothing really beats seeing a free kick fly into the top corner. The tense seconds building up to the effort, the wall standing motionless, the goalkeeper gesticulating frantically as he tries to ensure he has his angles covered. Then comes the moment the attacker lets fly. If done correctly, the
- [How Are Football Shirt Numbers Selected?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/how-are-football-shirt-numbers-selected/) - While it might be the big-name icons from across Europe that are the superstars of football, it has become the case that the numbers on the back of their shirts are as important. Becoming almost a business within itself, it is the dream of every young football fan to be handed a squad number among the
- [Corner Kick Rules in Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/corner-kick-rules-in-football/) - There are few moments in football where the expectation is as palpable as when an attacking side wins a corner in the last moments of a game. If the team in question is trailing, then nearly every player is sent into the box. This is made all the more hectic when the goalkeeper is sent
- [How Many Players Are There on a Football Team?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/how-many-players-are-there-on-a-football-team/) - Even the most casual of fans know that eleven players make up a football team these days, but it hasn’t always been this way. The rules on squad sizes are changing all the time, as are the number of substitutions that can be made per game. So, it’s always worth having a refresher on the most
- [How Long Is Half-Time in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/how-long-is-half-time-in-football/) - As sports go, football is one of the few games that requires players to be consistently moving around the pitch. Whether this comes from a forward trying to stay on the shoulder of the last man or a midfielder looking to drop in to pick up the ball in space, footballers are not given much
- [Do Football Players Have to Play for Their National Team If Asked?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/do-football-players-have-to-play-for-their-national-team-if-asked/) - For any football fan growing up across the world, there is no greater honour than having the chance to represent your nation on the international stage. While the likes of the Premier League and Champions League might be the most lucrative when it comes to football, the idea of lifting an international trophy still remains the
- [How Long Does a Football Match Last?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/how-long-does-a-football-match-last/) - A standard football match will last for 90 minutes. This incorporates more than enough time for the best players on the pitch to get on the ball and make something special happen. Similarly, 90 minutes can be more than long enough for a dull affair that ultimately ends in a drab 0-0 draw. While the general
- [Football Kit Rules: How Do Teams Decide What Shirt to Wear?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/football-kit-rules-how-do-teams-decide-what-shirt-to-wear/) - In sporting cities, such as London and Manchester, it is often the case that you will see a string of football fans wearing the shirts of different clubs on a Saturday afternoon. Watching the likes of European heavyweights, Manchester United and Real Madrid, almost become known around the world for their respective white and red kits,
- [Throw In Rules in Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/throw-in-rules-in-football/) - Throw ins are one of the most frustrating ways to see a game of football restarted. The action of it itself is not frustrating, but watching a player from the opposing team walk 10 metres past the throw in mark is incredibly annoying, while no fan ever wants to watch a footballer wasting time by
- [How Many Red Cards Before a Football Match Is Abandoned?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/how-many-red-cards-before-a-football-match-is-abandoned/) - While many of the most influential players in the world look to change the game with their goals, passes or saves, there are some that will provide the biggest influence through their ability to receive a needless red card. After all, the contact in football is meant to be nowhere near as brutal as it
- [Red Card Rules: How Many Matches Does a Player Miss?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/red-card-rules-how-many-matches-does-a-player-miss/) - A red card can be one of the most exciting occurrences in a game of football. Of course, nobody ever wants to see a horrible lunge from a player result in a red card, especially if it sees one player hurting themselves in some way. However, a red card can completely turn a game on
- [Can You Pass from a Penalty in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-you-pass-from-a-penalty-in-football/) - At the top level of football, it’s very rare that a player will have a clear, uncontested chance to score a goal. That’s one of the reasons why penalty kicks are so prized: they pit an attacker against a goalkeeper, head to head and toe to toe, with just 12 yards between the ball and
- [Can a Country Resign from UEFA or FIFA?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-a-country-resign-from-uefa-or-fifa/) - On the face of it, UEFA is a cartel running a monopoly in European football. The Union of European Football Associations governs the beautiful game on the continent, taking responsibility for the European Championships, Champions League, Europa League and other competitions. FIFA, meanwhile, is the governing agency of football on a global scale. It has
- [Can Footballer Players Go on Strike?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-footballer-players-go-on-strike/) - There will be fans up and down the land that read the title of this article and sneer, ‘plenty of our players have gone on strike – just look at their performances.’ They may be present in body, but perhaps not in spirit. But the question remains: can a footballer, or a gang of merry
- [What Happens If a Football Hits the Corner Flag?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-happens-if-a-football-hits-the-corner-flag/) - Given that the average football pitch is 105 metres long and 68 metres wide, it is always amazing when the ball hits the corner flag – the stand that supports the flag being barely two inches wide. But it does happen and there can be implications for the action on the pitch – knowing the
- [Handball in Football: What Part of the Arm is Considered Handball?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/handball-in-football-what-part-of-the-arm-is-considered-handball/) - When Ronseal (British wood stain manufacturer) came up with the advertising slogan ‘it does exactly what it says on the tin’, they probably didn’t realise they had invented a colloquialism that would enter lexicon as a way of describing something that is, erm, exactly as described. Football’s handball rule should be a sporting equivalent of
- [Can Footballers Get a Yellow Card for Showboating?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-footballers-get-a-yellow-card-for-showboating/) - Most football fans would agree that the sport is supposed to be a form of entertainment – who prefers a drab 0-0 draw to silky skills and outstanding team play? The only downside of entertaining is that it can sometimes cross the line into showboating – a form of self-expression from a player that is
- [Do Footballers Get a Yellow Card for Removing Their Shirt?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/do-footballers-get-a-yellow-card-for-removing-their-shirt/) - Maybe it’s an age thing, but football fans of an older vintage won’t recall the greats of the beautiful game in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s removing their shirt after scoring a goal. Now, it’s definitely a modern phenomenon – a player whipping off their shirt in a pique of celebratory high, or perhaps removing
- [What Is the Bosman Ruling?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/bosman-ruling/) - If you were to run a poll on the most influential footballers ever to grace the sport, the likes of Pelé, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi would no doubt be near the top. Few would vote for a little-known Belgian midfielder whose career took in stints at Standard Liege, Saint-Quentin and Olympic Charleroi, and yet arguably
- [Football Free Agents: How Do Transfers Work for Out of Contract Players?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/football-free-agents-how-do-transfers-work-for-out-of-contract-players/) - For some footballers, the ability to simply walk away from their contract is a tremendous perk – they have a lot to thank Jean-Marc Bosman for. More on him shortly. For others, the threat of being released from their job security – and cast into the waters of free agency – must be a source of
- [Can Referees Support a Football Team?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-referees-support-a-football-team/) - Although their understanding of the sport can sometimes be brought into question based upon their decisions, in the vast majority of cases, football referees were fans of the game before they took up the whistle. Some would have been half-decent players too, although for the most part, their enjoyment of football would have been consigned to
- [Are Referees Allowed to Bet on a Football Match?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/are-referees-allowed-to-bet-on-a-football-match/) - There are three parties involved in a football match that can have a direct outcome on the result: the players, managers/coaches and the officials. As we know, footballers are not allowed to bet on the sport – not even on fixtures they have no involvement in, and the same applies to managers, coaching staff and anybody
- [How Much of a Say Does a Player Have in a Football Transfer?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/how-much-of-a-say-does-a-player-have-in-a-football-transfer/) - Like all tradable commodities, footballers have a price tag to carry around on their shoulders. Some clubs won’t sell their prized assets – particularly those that don’t want to weaken themselves by selling to a rival, whereas others know that every man and woman has their price. But what happens if a player doesn’t want to
- [Football Transfer Window Rules: How Do Player Transfers Work?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/football-transfer-window-rules-how-do-player-transfers-work/) - Believe it or not, once upon a time there were little to no rules governing transfers in football – clubs could buy and sell players completely free of any shackles of rules and regulations (as long as they could afford to pay up, obviously). But these days, the advent of the transfer window, financial fair
- [Can a Football Player Score from a Throw In?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-a-football-player-score-from-a-throw-in/) - Picture this: It is the final of the FIFA World Cup. England are currently locked at 1-1 with Brazil in the showpiece event with mere seconds to go. The Three Lions have been pushing for a winner and want to avoid penalties. They have a throw-in in the final third and want to throw their
- [How Do Football Teams Qualify for the Euros?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/how-do-football-teams-qualify-for-the-euros/) - Outside of the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championships are possibly the biggest international competition in football. While the Copa America, which features the best teams from South America including Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, may disagree with this claim, the sheer scale of the Euros is massive. With massive footballing nations including Germany, Spain,
- [Did You Know: You Can’t Score an Own Goal from a Free Kick, Throw in or Corner](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/did-you-know-you-cant-score-an-own-goal-from-a-free-kick-throw-in-or-corner/) - Own goals are part and parcel of the modern game of football. Whether it is a ricochet in the box that ends up in the back of the net after touching a defender, a goalkeeper making a wonder save only to push the ball onto the post before it then bounces in off the ‘keeper
- [Do Own Goals Count Towards a Hat Trick?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/do-own-goals-count-towards-a-hat-trick/) - Goals win games. The mantra for football up and down the country is that if you can outscore the opposition, then you will win your games. If your defence is the star of the show and does not concede goals then, unfortunately, this will only get you so far. A team that draws all 38
- [What Were the Golden Goal & Silver Goal Rules in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-were-the-golden-goal-silver-goal-rules-in-football/) - Both the Golden Goal and the Silver Goal feel like relics of football from a different era. The idea that a match could be decided by either rule now seems alien, with both the Golden Goal and Silver Goal seeing goals weighted very differently to how they are today. In this Golden Goal and Silver Goal
- [Can Football Players Be Sent Off Before Kick-Off?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-football-players-be-sent-off-before-kick-off/) - Football is nicknamed the Beautiful Game for a reason. Not only boasting some of the greatest athletes of all time such as Cristiano Ronaldo, but the sport also lauds some true artists of the sporting world. The likes of Lionel Messi spring to mind when the phrase ‘true artist’ is mentioned. However, despite the wonderful flicks,
- [What Is the 50+1 Rule in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-is-the-50-plus-1-rule-in-football/) - The 50+1 rule is not something that a casual football fan will know much about. Indeed, there will be big fans of the game who either do not know or simply do not care about the rule itself. However, the creation and use of this rule has seen more than one football fan question how
- [What Was the Away Goals Rule, When Was It Removed & What Replaced It?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-was-the-away-goals-rule-when-was-it-removed-what-replaced-it/) - Some things in football seem to just breed excitement: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi getting on the ball in their prime; An El Clasico match-up or when Liverpool take on Manchester City with Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola at the helm; A World Cup final, packed to the rafters with fans and with the two
- [Football’s 3PM Blackout: Why Are No Matches Shown on TV on a Saturday Afternoon?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/footballs-3pm-blackout-why-are-no-matches-shown-on-tv-on-a-saturday-afternoon/) - With a host of teams now competing in a string of tournaments both domestically and on the European stage, some fans like to be able to watch those elite showdowns from the comfort of their own homes. Nevertheless, while supporters from across England would love to have the chance to watch every game that is available
- [Can Dual Citizen Football Players Play for Either Country?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-dual-citizen-football-players-play-for-either-country/) - The eyes of the sporting world falls on football's most historic tournament with the World Cup taking place every four years. While it might be the likes of the Champions League and Premier League that steal most of the headlines on a week-to-week basis, there is no greater honour for any player than representing your country
- [Can a Goalkeeper Score a Goal?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-a-goalkeeper-score-a-goal/) - In the world of football, it is undoubtedly the strikers who spring to mind when you think of a player bagging a late winner for your side on a Saturday afternoon. However, while it might be the attacking superstars that receive the most attention, and the biggest transfer fees, there are the rare occasions where the
- [Can a Football Club Fire a Player?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/can-a-football-club-fire-a-player/) - For any player at a professional football club, it will be their dream to become one of the team's biggest icons and underline their status by being a fan favourite with supporters. However, while it might be the case in modern-era football that stars will often switch clubs thanks to an eye-watering price tag, some players
- [Player Penalties: What Punishments Can Be Given to Players?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/player-penalties-what-punishments-can-be-given-to-players/) - While professional footballers in the modern era might be widely regarded to be global superstars, that doesn't mean they are exempt from punishment. Along with the likes of VAR coming in and really adding more scrutiny to a player's behaviour on the pitch, any given star can be handed a string of costly sanctions. With players
- [What Are Parachute Payments & How Much Do the Teams Get?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-are-parachute-payments-how-much-do-the-teams-get/) - Parachute payments in football seem like a term that everyone has heard of, but nobody really knows what they actually are. In this guide to parachute payments, we will go over what they are, who gets them, how much a club could receive and why. What Are Parachute Payments? We need to head back to
- [What Happens If a Football Match Ends in a Draw?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/what-happens-if-a-football-match-is-a-draw/) - While football teams at all levels will have their sights set on snatching maximum points, the draw outcome remains quite unique in the world of sport. Unlike American franchise sports, such as the NFL and NBA, which only offer one possible outcome, football fans can either have their hearts broken or bathe in the relief
- [How Do Football Teams Qualify for the World Cup?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/how-do-football-teams-qualify-for-the-world-cup/) - No team ever wants to miss out on a World Cup, with the greatest competition in football and sport seeing the best of the best come together in a feast of football. The tournament will see teams split into groups as they battle in one-off matches to escape these pools. The top two sides from
- [Which Teams Play in the Champions League?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/which-teams-play-in-the-champions-league/) - The UEFA Champions League is the pinnacle of football in Europe. While there is no question that it is the biggest club competition in the game, many will argue that it is the biggest competition in football, although fans of the World Cup might argue with this. Despite this, it is the dream of every
- [How Do Points Deductions Work in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/how-do-points-deductions-work-in-football/) - Football is a simple game in which players from one team try to put a ball in the back of the net whilst stopping the opposition from putting the ball in their own goal. It’s pretty simple. This is something that makes the game so universally loved, with the salient rules of the world biggest
- [Are Players Allowed to Bet on Football Matches?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/are-players-allowed-to-bet-on-football-matches/) - Betting and football has become an exceptionally popular combination, while the continued evolution of the internet means it has never been easier to place a bet on your favourite sport, team and player. However, this has seen one too many sports people caught out when it comes to betting on sporting events. In this guide,
- [How Long Is Extra Time in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/how-long-is-extra-time-in-football/) - Football is a game that can be end-to-end and leaves little room to simply stand around. Even goalkeepers, led by the likes of Manuel Neuer and Ederson, have had to become far more involved in each game as sweeper-keepers. This means that every minute of the match will see players having to stay switched on
- [Free Kick Rules in Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/free-kick-rules-in-football/) - There is nothing better than watching a master of the free kick step up to the plate. The surge of excitement as you watch them take up their signature stance before moving to strike the ball is incredible. This feeling is only exacerbated if the ball hits the back of the net. Players that spring
- [Financial Fair Play Rules: What Are They & How Do They Work?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/financial-fair-play-rules-what-are-they-how-do-they-work/) - Gone are the days where clubs would buy players for a miserly fee. Top talent would either move around for the equivalent of a month’s rent in London or not move at all. This would happen because some players were keen to create a legacy at a single club rather than drumming up a huge
- [Are Drones Allowed at Football Matches?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/rules/are-drones-allowed-at-football-matches/) - Aerial drones used to be the playthings of children on Christmas day. Most would charge it up over the course of the afternoon before enjoying the novelty of controlling a small drone that flew through the sky. This would all come crashing down after the drone met a low-hanging tree, which usually saw the piece

## Stats Articles

- [How Big Is Home Advantage in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/stats/home-advantage/) - There’s no place like home, as the old saying goes, and the evidence suggests that playing at your own ground in football brings with it plenty of advantages. But do the stats bear out the notion that playing on home soil gives the hosts the edge? Or, does the best team win more often than

## Betting

- [What Does Each Way Mean in Football Betting?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-does-each-way-mean-in-football-betting/) - When it comes to betting on any sport, there are so many available options. Whether you are looking to bet on the winner of a competition, a specific game, on particular players or runners, or any number of niche bets, there is a lot of choice. This can make it difficult to know which betting
- [Football Handicap Betting Explained (Including Asian Handicaps)](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/football-handicap-betting-explained-including-asian-handicaps/) - Betting and football have gone hand in hand for years. The sport provides all of the thrills and spills on the pitch, while the bookies allow punters to get involved with trying to make money out of predicting the outcome of different markets. It can sometimes be difficult to find value and enjoyment in backing
- [Football Betting Sites: A List of the Best Online Bookies For Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/betting-sites/) - When it comes to signing up with a betting site, there are so many factors that you need to take into account. First of all is the bookie themselves. Regardless of whether they offer generous promotions, the best odds, amazing features and more, if they are not reputable and are likely to leave you in
- [Football Betting Explained: How to Bet on Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/how-to-bet-on-football/) - If you love the game of football, the chances are that you will have been taught how to play it by someone else. Whether this came in a school football team, a club side or by your parents, siblings or friends, you will have had somebody imparting their knowledge and wisdom on you. The same cannot
- [Free Bets: The Best Sign Up Offers For Betting on Football in the UK](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/free-bets/) - When you come to betting, the first thing you will want to know about is how the odds work, how to sign up with a bookie, what markets are available and more. Usually, most of your questions will revolve around how betting itself works, meaning the whole notion of a free bet may pass you
- [Online Bookmakers in the UK - The Best Football Bookies + Sign Up Offers](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/online-bookmakers/) - May 1961 is when the first betting shops in the UK opened their doors to punters. Football bookmakers began to spring up across Europe and Asia, before making their way across the Atlantic to some parts of the USA in the 1990s – Las Vegas and New Jersey, specifically. Law changes there in recent times
- [What Happens If a Football Match Is Postponed?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-happens-if-a-football-match-is-postponed/) - With fans from across the footballing globe often deciding their weekend plans around supporting their clubs, nothing can be more frustrating than a last-minute postponement to a heavyweight fixture. In fact, the only thing more frustrating than seeing a game you had been eagerly anticipating get scrapped, is when you have spent precious time scrolling through
- [What Is ‘To Lift the Trophy’ Betting in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-is-to-lift-the-trophy-betting-in-football/) - In the ever-growing world of football betting, there are a host of interesting markets that are available in order to make the experience even more enjoyable. With all eyes falling on two teams when there is a domestic, European, or international trophy hanging in the balance, these iconic finals also open the door to more seasonal
- [What Is Shots on Target Betting in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-is-shots-on-target-betting-in-football/) - While there are 11 positions on the pitch, all with their own priorities and objectives, every single player on the field wants to score goals. Whether they are a striker or a goalkeeper, there is nothing better than seeing an effort fly into the back of the net. This is why there is nothing more exciting
- [How Do Booking Points Work in Football Betting?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/how-do-booking-points-work-in-football-betting/) - The world of football betting is an area with infinite possibilities. It means that even the most experienced bettors are provided with more than enough markets to keep themselves busy. The most popular markets in football betting tend to be match-winner, both teams to score (BTTS) and the scorer markets, with anytime, first and last all
- [What Happens to Your Bet If a Football Match Is Abandoned?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-happens-to-your-bet-if-a-football-match-is-abandoned/) - Few occurrences in sport are quite as annoying as seeing the big game or an event abandoned for one reason or another. Ultimately, it means you miss out on some enthralling sport that day, while it is also a waste of your time. While the impact upon your day is what most people will look
- [Best PayPal Betting Sites for Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/best-paypal-betting-sites-for-football/) - When you buy anything online, one of the most reliable and trusted payment methods tends to be PayPal – with 429 million users around the globe, and around 41 million transactions every day, those that use the service are in good company. With many of the leading bookmakers in the UK and overseas welcoming PayPal
- [£5 Minimum Deposit Betting Sites](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/5-pound-minimum-deposit-betting-sites/) - There is a common misconception in football betting that you have to deposit at least £10 in order to get up and running with an online bookmaker. But that’s not true, because many mainstream betting sites will let you deposit as little as £5 into your new account to get started – with minimum bet
- [Understanding Betting Limits & Payout Limits in Football Betting](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/understanding-betting-limits-payout-limits-in-football-betting/) - The sky is the limit when it comes to betting on football, so the bookmakers will have you believe. That is, until you threaten to win a sizable amount that they aren’t comfortable with. At that point, you will be pointed in the direction of their terms and conditions, which reveal the payout limits that
- [Football Betting Offers: Get Bonuses For New and Existing Customers](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/football-betting-offers/) - Football betting offers are one of the cornerstones of the betting world. They can help to provide value in bets that do not originally have it, they can make a narrow loss slightly less heartbreaking, and they can see a big win turned into a massive one if boosted. In this guide, we will take
- [New Football Betting Sites](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/new-football-betting-sites/) - Betting on football is a pursuit that has been around for decades, with many bookmakers now household names in the UK – you’ve probably seen their ads at your local stadium or on TV. But what about new football betting sites? Believe it or not, there’s still new firms coming along each month that want
- [What Is Cash Out in Football Betting?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-is-cash-out-in-football-betting/) - As the sports betting industry began to embrace the popularity of online and mobile wagering in the 2000s and the decade that followed, new innovations were dreamt up that could genuine value to a punter’s activity. One of those, back in 2011, was cash out, which is an option that allowed punters to literally cash
- [What Is a Bet Builder & How Does It Work?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-is-a-bet-builder-how-does-it-work/) - It’s an industry that has been around for well over a century now, and yet bookmakers are still coming up with fresh ways to improve the quality of their offering more than 100 years later. The internet has opened all sorts of doors for punters, and the ‘request a bet’ craze – powered by social
- [What Is a Scorecast Bet in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-is-a-scorecast-bet-in-football/) - Sometimes when browsing through a set of football fixtures, you will have an instinct for how a game will pan out. Perhaps you’ll do some extra research and look at the stats, which confirm your suspicion, and so you may find yourself having something of an edge on the market. That edge may be best represented
- [What Happens to Goalscorer Bets If No One Scores in a Football Match?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-happens-to-goalscorer-bets-if-no-one-scores-in-a-football-match/) - In the ever-evolving world of football betting, there are a host of markets that all good bookmakers offer in the bid to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. While markets, such as corners and cards, might be one of the blossoming choices of play over recent years, the goalscorer selection still stands as one
- [Top Goal Scorer Betting in Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/top-goal-scorer-betting-in-football/) - There is nothing more exciting in a game of football than goals. Some will claim a huge save from a goalkeeper, a piece of silky skill or a moment of madness provide the most entertainment. However, for most viewers, players and bettors, nothing can quite fill that void like a goal flying into the back
- [What Is Both Teams to Score (BTTS) in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-is-both-teams-to-score-btts-in-football/) - The Both Teams to Score Market, or BTTS for short, is one of the most popular betting markets to wager on in football. It allows bettors to take the match result and specific scorers themselves out of the equation. However, for those that are new to betting, the idea of BTTS may be something that
- [What Does Draw No Bet Mean?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-does-draw-no-bet-mean/) - Draw no bet is a betting term that may seem confusing to some, but it is actually really quite simple once the detail of it has been explained. Draw no bet betting will see you either backing a home win or an away win, with the draw option discounted in the three-way or match winner
- [What Is Acca Insurance & How Does It Work?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-is-acca-insurance-how-does-it-work/) - Acca insurance is a facet of gambling that many bettors are always on the lookout for, but there are a number of punters that do not know what acca insurance is, how to use it, the restrictions that apply when using it and more. In this article, we will take a look at everything you
- [Do Penalties Count Towards Goalscorer Betting Markets?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/do-penalties-count-towards-goalscorer-betting-markets/) - The goalscorer markets are some of the most popular and easiest ways to wager money on football matches from around the world. Many of the greatest names in football have been goal scorers, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. All are brilliant players in their own right, but
- [What Are Related Contingencies in Football Betting?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/what-are-related-contingencies-in-football-betting/) - In the ever-growing world of football betting, any decent bookie will make it their mission to make placing a bet as simple as possible. But sometimes things aren’t as straight forward as they look. There is one issue that regularly plagues accumulator fans and countless punters across the country have, at one stage or another,
- [Over/Under Betting in Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/over-under-betting-in-football/) - Over/under betting is one of the most popular ways to wager on football, with the betting market also bleeding into other sports like cricket, rugby and tennis. Such is the popularity of the market, you can now utilise the basic elements of it in a number of other formats. In this guide to over/under betting,
- [Do Goalscorer Bets Include Extra Time?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/do-goalscorer-bets-include-extra-time/) - Extra time is a way of ensuring that games in cup competitions find a winner. While extra time is the little brother of the penalty shoot-out when it comes to what footballers fear most on the pitch, it is still a lung-busting addition of 30 minutes on top of the traditional 90 minute match. Extra-time
- [Do Own Goals Count for Football Bets?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/do-own-goals-count-for-football-bets/) - Goals are what make the footballing world go round, with some of the greatest players in the history of the game renowned for their ability to hit the back of the net. This has seen the desire to bet on goal-scoring markets rocket. Betting markets like anytime, first and last goalscorer feature prominently in modern
- [Double Chance in Football Betting](https://footballcollective.org.uk/betting/double-chance-in-football-betting/) - Football match betting is incredibly popular, with matches in the Champions League down to the lower leagues adorning most online betting sites. This has seen an array of betting markets created to keep up with the boom in betting interest, but still the most popular is the match winner betting market. However, as we will

## General Football

- [Do Countries Get Paid For Playing in the World Cup?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/do-countries-make-money-from-playing-in-the-world-cup/) - It has been the pinnacle of international football for a century, and will surely remain so for another 100 years or more. Simply qualifying for the World Cup is a dream come true for some countries, whereas for others getting their hands on the shiny Jules Rimet trophy is the minimum expectation from the quadrennial
- [What Is an Invincibles Season in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-an-invincibles-season-in-football/) - If you take the average 38-game Premier League season, that’s a whopping 3,420 minutes of action out on the pitch – let alone the reams of injury time that are played these days. It’s an extraordinary amount of time to remain unbeaten – that is, to win or draw every single league game in a
- [What Is a Game of Two Halves in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-a-game-of-two-halves-in-football/) - It is cliché that most clichés are true, but then like most clichés, that cliché is untrue. If you think too hard about that quotation from Stephen Fry then your brain might implode, but it’s true that football is a sport bedevilled by cliché and lazy journalism. Mind you, one of the sport’s cliches that
- [What Is the UEFA Coefficient & Why Does It Matter?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-the-uefa-coefficient-why-does-it-matter/) - It might sound strange, but when a club qualifies for one of Europe’s premier competitions, such as the Champions League or Europa League, they’re not only playing for themselves but also for their country. Ever since UEFA, football’s governing body in Europe, created their coefficient rankings system, performances on the continental stage have had wider
- [Who Are the ‘Big Six’ in the Premier League?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/who-are-the-big-six-in-the-premier-league/) - English football has, throughout its decades, had a number of dominant forces in its wake. Depending on your age, you might remember that as being Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Arsenal (again), Chelsea or Manchester City. Pretty much every football club in the land has enjoyed peaks and troughs at some point
- [Can a Football Match Be Replayed?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/can-a-football-match-be-replayed/) - You may have read our article on cup replays in football – or you might just have heard about the furore of the Football Association announcing their decision to scrap replays from the FA Cup. But in this article, we’re looking at a similar but different subject (if that makes sense): can the standard football
- [What Is Semi-Automated Offside Technology & How Does It Work?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-semi-automated-offside-technology-how-does-it-work/) - VAR, eh? It was supposed to be the end game for inaccurate officiating decisions in football, with video technology introduced to eliminate human error and bring us crashing into an AI powered future. Unfortunately, like the plot of some post-apocalyptic Hollywood thriller, the technology has not worked in fact – in fact, it’s driven a
- [What Is a New Manager Bounce in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-a-new-manager-bounce-in-football/) - A change is as good as a rest, the old saying goes. It’s a notion that has been cottoned onto by decision-makers at football clubs, with boards of directors much more trigger-happy when it comes to sacking their manager these days than ever before. And, perhaps, for good reason: if the phenomenon of the ‘new
- [How Long Can a Goalkeeper Hold the Ball For?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-long-can-a-goalkeeper-hold-the-ball-for/) - Picture the scene: a football team is winning a game, the clock is ticking down and the ball finds its way into the arms of the leading team’s goalkeeper. And he or she just stands there, smirk on their face, holding onto the ball and helping the sands of time drain away from the game.
- [Do Football Clubs Design Their Own Kits?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/do-football-clubs-design-their-own-kits/) - Sometimes it feels like a football club releases a new kit every single week. On the international scene, a nation will generally unveil a new playing strip in time for a major tournament – as England did prior to Euro 2024 and that was a design that did not go down well with fans. Although
- [What Is the Greatest Ever Comeback in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-the-greatest-ever-comeback-in-football/) - When Bournemouth entertained Luton Town in a Premier League clash in March 2024, their fans were perhaps expecting victory to be on the cards. So when the Hatters romped into a 3-0 half-time lead, Cherries supporters were dumbstruck – some even took the opportunity to get up and walk out, such was their side’s annihilation.
- [Why Did They Change the European Cup to the Champions League?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/why-did-they-change-the-european-cup-to-the-champions-league/) - When you think about it, the European Cup is a better name for the competition than the Champions League. Ultimately, less than half of the teams that play in the Champions League each season are exactly that: champions of their domestic league. Second, third and fourth placed teams also get the UCL call-up, as well
- [Can Football Games Be Played in Snow?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/can-football-games-be-played-in-snow/) - Anyone that follows America’s Major Lague Soccer got a rare treat in March 2024 when Real Salt Lake took on Los Angeles FC on home soil. The game felt unique because Salt Lake’s pitch was completely covered in snow – it was alien to see the players having to adjust to the conditions, which saw
- [What Is a Sporting Director in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-a-sporting-director-in-football/) - Normally when a football club is willing to fork out £20 million on a new recruit, you expect it to be the signing of a player during the transfer window. But now there’s a market for sporting directors, with Newcastle United putting a £20 million compensation bounty on the head of their incumbent in the
- [What Does It Mean to Retire a Number in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-does-it-mean-to-retire-a-number-in-football/) - It’s considered one of the most prestigious acts that a sportsman or woman can be bestowed in American sports: their jersey number ‘retired’, i.e. never to be issued again. NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB franchises have been doing that for decades – the Toronto Maple Leafs, an ice hockey team in Canada, retired the number
- [When and Why Was the Penalty Shootout Invented?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/when-and-why-was-the-penalty-shootout-invented/) - There are some games of football in which the two teams slug it out and cannot be separated – a draw is the fair result, and the players shake hands and go their separate ways. But that just won’t do in the knockout stages of big tournaments, while cup games also need some kind of
- [What Is a Six-Pointer in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-a-six-pointer-in-football/) - Football is a sport bedevilled by cliché and idioms. If you’re a long-time fan, that’s no problem – you’ve become accustomed to the often unusual turns of phrase used when discussing the beautiful game. But newcomers to football are left scratching their heads at some of the parlance – no more so than when discussion
- [Why Do Teams Get Three Points for a Win in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/why-do-teams-get-three-points-for-a-win-in-football/) - Every sport and league on the planet sets its own rules on how many points a team wins for a victory, draw and – in the case of cricket – even when they lose. Two, three or five points for a triumph are not uncommon, while in some sports that are most-popular in the United
- [Who Are UEFA & What Do They Do?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/who-are-uefa-what-do-they-do/) - Depending on your view and experience, FIFA are either the facilitators of world football, bringing the beautiful game to billions of people around the globe, or corrupt overlords using football to further their own financial and political ambitions. A similar pair of conclusions might be drawn about UEFA, who perform a similar function to FIFA
- [What Happens When a Football Club Goes into Administration?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-happens-when-a-football-club-goes-into-administration/) - With player wages continuing to skyrocket with each given year and rising costs generally, there have been plenty of times where a team have come under financial turmoil. Although most club owners among the elite leagues might have deep pockets that often roll into the billions, that doesn't mean that they can't be mismanaged and end
- [What Is Transfer Deadline Day & Why Is It So Important?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-transfer-deadline-day-why-is-it-so-important/) - The language of football’s transfer deadline day brings to mind a Hollywood blockbuster: a countdown clock ticks down as the window slams shut on those who aren’t able to complete a deal in time. Although you won’t see an inverted full back hanging upside down from a helicopter as they try valiantly to make it
- [Who Is the Richest Football Club in the World?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/who-is-the-richest-football-club-in-the-world/) - Football, like many other sports, has become just as much about scoring wealthy owners and benefactors as it is scoring goals. It is the sport’s answer to the perpetual motion machine: the richest football clubs are able to buy the best players, which brings them success on the pitch and is reflected in huge interest
- [What Is the Shortest Managerial Reign in Premier League History?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-the-shortest-managerial-reign-in-premier-league-history/) - When a football manager lands a new job, they go into it with the boundless enthusiasm and energy of a youngster fresh out of school, college or university: I’m going to do things my way, and I’m going to be a huge success. Sometimes it works out as prescribed, and yet other times the whole
- [What Are Ultras in Football & Why are They Called That?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-are-ultras-in-football-why-are-they-called-that/) - Some football fans just love the ritual of a Saturday afternoon: planning their route to the ground (perhaps with a pre-game drink or two), cheering on their beloved, enjoying a nice warming pie at half-time before heading home – win or lose, they’ll be back next week. But others take their support to a higher,
- [When Was the Premier League Founded & Why?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/when-was-the-premier-league-founded-why/) - It’s sad, but true, that modern football is driven by money. With it, you can attract better players to your club and, theoretically, improve your performances on the pitch. Without it, you have to make do with feeding off the scraps of bigger clubs – long term, that doesn’t feel like it would be a
- [Who Are FIFA & What Do They Do?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/who-are-fifa-what-do-they-do/) - The storied Italian writer, Machiavelli, once said that ‘the first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.’ Given the rogues gallery that have been voted as FIFA president or been a member of the FIFA Council, with some of those now serving jail time
- [Which Footballer Has Had the Most Red Cards?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/which-footballer-has-had-the-most-red-cards/) - Most goals. Most assists. Most clean sheets. Most trophies. Those are generally the quantifiable ‘mosts’ that footballers want on their CV, marking them out as a master of their particular craft out on the pitch. But there are other quantitative measures in the beautiful game that are less craved, and one of those is the
- [What Does the Fourth Official Do in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-does-the-fourth-official-do-in-football/) - For many years, just three individuals were tasked with keeping law and order in a football game: the referee and their two linesmen. The lexicon changed when the likes of Wendy Toms and Sian Massey-Ellis were promoted to the professional ranks; changing the game and the name of their role from linesman to linesperson. By
- [Who Decides How Many Tickets Away Teams Are Allocated?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/who-decides-how-many-tickets-away-teams-are-allocated-2/) - With the capacity of Premier League stadiums ranging from as low as 12,000 to as high as 75,000, there is very little in the way of uniformity when it comes to ticketing. Some clubs have larger fanbases than others, of course, so how is the away team ticket allocation decided? Once upon a time, the
- [Who Was the First Footballer to Celebrate Scoring a Goal?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/who-was-the-first-footballer-to-celebrate-scoring-a-goal/) - At some point, you have probably seen some old black-and-white footage of a football game played decades ago. You’ll notice the physicality of the tackles, the tightness of the shorts and the absolute lack of pomp-and-circumstance when a player scores a goal – a simple handshake or a pat on the back before jogging back
- [Who Decides How Many Tickets Away Teams are Allocated?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/who-decides-how-many-tickets-away-teams-are-allocated/) - With the capacity of Premier League stadiums ranging from as low as 12,000 to as high as 75,000, there is very little in the way of uniformity when it comes to ticketing. Some clubs have larger fanbases than others, of course, so how is the away team ticket allocation decided? Once upon a time, the
- [What Is El Clasico in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-el-clasico-in-football/) - Some footballing rivalries transcend the beautiful game and become much more than just two teams kicking a ball around – there are local bragging rights to be won, not to mention the clash of cultures and ideologies that accompany matches between certain teams. Manchester United and Liverpool, Celtic and Rangers, AC and Inter Milan, River
- [Why Doesn’t English Football Have a Winter Break?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/why-doesnt-english-football-have-a-winter-break/) - When the weather turns chilly outside and the ground starts to harden with frost, you might think that football as a sport would take a much-needed break. But not a bit of it. In fact, in England at least, the fixture list ramps up a notch during the coldest months, rather than the other way
- [What Is a Sweeper Keeper & How are They Different to a Standard Goalkeeper?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-a-sweeper-keeper-how-are-they-different-to-a-standard-goalkeeper/) - When you were a child playing games of football in the school playground, you may have utilised the loose ‘rush back’ goalkeeper rule. In short, this allowed a nominated keeper to charge out of goal, acting as an extra defender by breaking up attacks and passing the ball out from the back. Amazingly, this school
- [What Does a Director of Football Do?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-does-a-director-of-football-do/) - From manager to chairperson, there’s some job roles that a football club simply can’t do without. Increasingly, newer positions that have become vital to the background running of a club are also being introduced, with one of the more common to be utilised being the director of football. At the last count, 17 of the
- [Why Do Captains Wear Armbands in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/why-do-captains-wear-armbands-in-football/) - There aren’t many sports other than football where a designated captain is named – let alone revealed by the wearing of the captain’s armband. Even at the highest level of the sport, being named as captain remains a tremendous honour, so the wearing of the skipper’s armband is an affectation of the leadership role –
- [How Is the Host of a World Cup Decided?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-is-the-host-of-a-world-cup-decided/) - Given that it’s the most iconic football tournament on the planet, you would imagine that many countries would be falling over themselves to host the World Cup. And, they are, for the most part, although the financial burden of hosting such a huge event – and the infrastructure that goes with it – is such
- [Why Are Football Teams Penalised for Fan Behaviour?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/why-are-football-teams-penalised-for-fan-behaviour/) - While both young and older fans might live for the chance to watch their team playing live under those bright lights on a Saturday afternoon, there can sometimes be chaos within the stands. Whether it be a father taking his son to their first game or a long-time season ticket holder going to cheer on their
- [What Is Grassroots Football & How Important Is It to the Game?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-grassroots-football-how-important-is-it-to-the-game/) - Although it might be the Premier League that is bar far the most lucrative asset to English football, there is no doubt that the grassroots system stands as the country's jewel. With our wonderful sport more commonly known as 'The World's Game', it is certainly grassroots football that is the lifeblood of many a community up
- [Why Is Football Called the Beautiful Game?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/why-is-football-called-the-beautiful-game/) - They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and with 1.5 billion people tuning in around the globe to watch the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France – around 20% of the planet’s population – that’s plenty of beholders. Football has long been described as the ‘beautiful game’, but what
- [Football TV Rights: Who Decides Which Matches Are Shown on What Channel?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/football-tv-rights-who-decides-which-matches-are-shown-on-what-channel/) - Football is a sport that has only increased in popularity in recent years, with the desire to watch the beautiful game massive in many countries across the world. While the Premier League may be seen as the most popular domestic club competition to watch, that is not to say that Germany, Spain, Italy, France and
- [Football Stat Sites: The Best Websites for Football Statistics](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/football-stat-sites-the-best-websites-for-football-statistics/) - There is no doubt that football, like many sports around the world, has enjoyed its statistical revolution. Not everyone is sold on the importance or relevance of the numbers, but for many the stats are a vital part of their enjoyment of football and, perhaps, the foundation of the bets they place. So deep do
- [How Much Do Championship Players Earn?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-much-do-championship-players-earn/) - The Championship is one of the most intriguing and diverse leagues in world football. It features former heavyweights of the English game that have fallen on times, perennial second-tier favourites and small clubs from provincial towns up and down the land trying their bust to punch above their weight financially. Such diversity lends itself to an
- [Do Non-League Football Players Get Paid (And How Much)?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/do-non-league-football-players-get-paid-and-how-much/) - If you haven’t yet read our guide to non-league football, here’s a quick guide to how the English game is structured below the Premier League and Football League. There’s six steps, known as the National League System, which are shaped like a pyramid. At the bottom, there’s Step 5 and 6 which are made up of
- [What Is the Ballon d’Or & Why Is It So Important?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-the-ballon-dor-why-is-it-so-important/) - If you’ve ever played football for your local team, you might have been invited to a presentation evening where a selection of trophies were handed out. As well as kill-them-with-kindness awards, such as club-person of the year or most improved player, there’s often also silverware handed to the player of the year – the archetypal
- [Has a Footballer Ever Refused to Play for Their Club or Country?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/has-a-footballer-ever-refused-to-play-for-their-club-or-country/) - Have you ever refused to go to work? Would you turn down the chance to represent your country? It’s rather simplistic to answer yes or no to either question without some context to guide us, but it’s amazing how often footballers have refused to play for their club or country for one reason or another.
- [Who Is the Fastest Footballer in History?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/who-is-the-fastest-footballer-in-history/) - Not only he is a supremely talented footballer and a Scrabble player’s dream, Dominik Szoboszlai also boasts a remarkable turn of pace. The Hungarian midfielder clocked 36.76kph (22.8mph) while turning out for Liverpool against Wolves in September 2023 – the second fastest speed ever generated by a Premier League player. Incredibly, that speed was recorded
- [How Long Does the Average Football Manager Last in Their Job?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-long-does-the-average-football-manager-last-in-their-job/) - Football is a remarkable sport when it comes to anointing heroes and identifying scapegoats. When a team is winning, the players are showered with praise and love – their manager barely gets a mention. And yet, when a team is losing, it’s always automatically the manager that is considered to be the villain of the
- [How Do You Own a Football Team?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-do-you-own-a-football-team/) - From local businessmen and women done good to entire Middle Eastern states, there is a little something for everyone in modern day football club ownership. The size and prestige of the club will be determined by the individual’s (or consortium’s) budget and pulling power – and that’s before they have even passed the fit and
- [Which Premier League Club Has Spent the Most on Transfers?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/which-premier-league-club-has-spent-the-most-on-transfers/) - Given that there are two transfer windows each football season, there is a fluidity to which clubs spend the most on new players and which league splashes the cash most overall. However, amid the fluctuations there are two facts that remain steadfast: generally speaking, Premier League clubs spend more money than any other division on
- [False Nines, Target Men & a Fox in the Box: What Are the Different Types of Striker in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/false-nines-target-men-a-fox-in-the-box-what-are-the-different-types-of-striker-in-football/) - There were days gone by when a striker in football had one job and one job alone: to put the ball in the onion bag (to score goals, in layman’s terms). But as the beautiful game has evolved, so too has the role of the forward – now, he or she may be required to
- [Football Formations Explained: What Do 4-4-2, 3-4-3 and 2-3-5 Mean?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/football-formations-explained/) - People love football tactics. Books have been written about them, podcasts launched to discuss them and even PhD papers submitted that chart the anthropology of them. With only ten outfield players on a football team, it is amazing to see the variety of ways that managers can set them up in a formation that they
- [Acting in Football: Is Play Acting By Footballers Just Part of the Game?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/acting-in-football-is-play-acting-by-footballers-just-part-of-the-game/) - In As You Like It, William Shakespeare wrote that ‘all the world’s a stage’, and footballers from Azerbaijan to Timbuktu have been keen to prove the bard’s point out on the pitch for years. The precise moment that play acting in football become prominent is unknown, but you can bet your bottom dollar these days that
- [How Does the Non League Football Pyramid Work?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-does-the-non-league-football-pyramid-work/) - The absolute vast majority of us would agree that sport should be democratic, with no ceiling or limits on what a team can achieve. But that’s not always the way, and indeed English football has – at times – been un-democratic to say the least. Once upon a time, the best-performing non-league club had to apply
- [What Is Non-League Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-non-league-football/) - The aspiration of the vast majority of youngsters in football is to play the sport professionally – ideally for one of the biggest clubs in the world. There is a few different ways to achieve that aspiration. They may secure a contract with a professional academy, before being farmed out on loan to non-league and lower
- [What Is the 3pm Blackout in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-the-3pm-blackout-in-football/) - Before big-bucks TV broadcasters had their way, English football games were played almost exclusively at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon. But when Sky Sports and other TV channels began to realise the appetite for watching live games from the comfort of an armchair, they started offering mega-money to the Premier League in a bid to show
- [How Much Does a Premier League Referee Earn?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-much-does-a-premier-league-referee-earn/) - There are some jobs in this world that require a remarkable amount of fortitude on the part of those performing them: typically, it’s anyone tasked with keeping law and order in an ever-fragmenting society. When it comes to keeping law and order on the football pitch, it is of course the referee’s job to ensure that
- [Why Do Footballers Take Their Medals Off?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/why-do-footballers-take-their-medals-off/) - Big houses, fast cars and legions of adoring fans: there’s plenty of perks that come along with being a professional footballer at the top level. But when those players were starting out as kids, the millionaire lifestyle is rarely on the agenda – they play simply because they love the beautiful game. The vast majority of
- [How Much Do Professional Footballers Get Paid?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-much-do-professional-footballers-get-paid/) - For mere mortals like the vast majority of the population, we go to work for a set hourly wager or annual salary and that’s about the extent of our earning power. Some of us may earn performance-related bonuses or commission, but for the most part our earnings are capped until we get a pay rise, promotion
- [What Does a Football Data Analyst Do?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-does-a-football-data-analyst-do/) - Once upon a time, a football club would send one of their scouting team to take a look at any players that had drawn their interest. Identifying new talent was easy enough at the top levels of the beautiful game – the ‘eye test’ was deemed sufficient to spot individuals, but scouting a large pool of
- [The Weird & Wonderful World of Football Mascots](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/the-weird-wonderful-world-of-football-mascots/) - Once upon a time, football mascots were simply colourful characters on the sidelines designed to entertain children (and young-hearted adults) and help to build a bond between fans and the club they support. But, in recent times, football mascots have become larger-than-life avatars that have made the back pages of the newspapers themselves – whether it’s
- [What Is a Football Scout & How Can You Get Noticed?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-a-football-scout-how-can-you-get-noticed/) - Once upon a time, the main way that professional football clubs identified players they wanted to try and sign was by sending a scout to watch them play before reporting back with their findings. If the scout was lucky, that might involve a trip to a nice European city or the sultry heat of a South
- [How Old Are Professional Footballers & When Do They Retire?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-old-are-professional-footballers-when-do-they-retire/) - Anyone reading this that is over the age of 30 will perhaps already be acutely aware that sporting endeavours get no easier after you pass that milestone birthday. Indeed, reaching the early landmark of middle age tends to come with side effects that are most unexpected, be it an inability to run up the stairs without
- [How to Become a Professional Footballer](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-to-become-a-professional-footballer/) - A stack of natural talent, plenty of hard work and a healthy dollop of luck – that seems to be an excellent recipe for success in any endeavour you seek out. But for aspiring footballers, you’ll need lots of all three of the elements listed above if you plan on breaking into the professional ranks. Once
- [What Was the Hand of God in Football & How Did it Happen?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-was-the-hand-of-god-in-football-how-did-it-happen/) - June 22, 1986 is a date that will forever be etched into football folklore. The World Cup, hosted by Mexico, had reached its quarter-final stage, and England were paired with Argentina. Like many of the most fiercely-contested sporting events, there was a context to this encounter that went far beyond just a game of football – just
- [Corinthian Nomads Versus Dundalk Ladies: Pioneering Women's International Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/corinthian-nomads-versus-dundalk-ladies-pioneering-womens-international-football/) - Imagine a time where a football team was unable to take to the pitch and play the beautiful game or a time where it was illegal for women to play in a FA affiliated stadium. Well, for many women across the world, this is a not-so-distant memory. The idea that women were unsuited to play at
- [The Sarajevo Derby: A Look at One of Europe’s Most Passionate Rivalries](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/the-sarajevo-derby-a-look-at-one-of-europes-most-passionate-rivalries/) - Although rivalries, such as the El Classico or the Old Firm, might be regarded among world football's greatest derby showdowns, Europe has a host of cities that boast their own historic local battles. Most notably, turning our attention away from ionic sporting locations, such as Paris and London, the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina offers
- [What Is a Football Agent & How Do You Become One?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/what-is-a-football-agent-how-do-you-become-one/) - The footballing world is, without a doubt, a game of power. But have you ever wondered who holds the most power in football? Owners have the most money, players are the most popular and managers and the biggest authority figures. But none of them even come close to the power held by the people behind
- [Football Super Agents: The Most Powerful Men in Football](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/football-super-agents-the-most-powerful-men-in-football/) - Two times a year, the football world doesn’t revolve around players, coaches, or fans. When the transfer window comes, everyone’s at the mercy of agents. These mysterious individuals have their hands in every pie. Fans and clubs hate them, while they laugh to the bank with commissions often reaching tens of millions of pounds. While
- [Why Does the UK Have Different Leagues for England, Scotland and Wales?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/why-does-the-uk-have-different-leagues-for-england-scotland-and-wales/) - Some of the true greats of the game have heralded from Wales and Scotland. Looking at the likes of Ryan Giggs, Ian Rush and Gareth Bale for Wales, and Kenny Dalglish, Denis Law and Graeme Souness of Scotland, the two nations have not been short of star quality. The glut of talent that has come from
- [How Do Football Teams Make Money?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-do-football-teams-make-money/) - With the world of football economics often coming under much scrutiny, professional football teams are often seen as multi-million-pound businesses that tend to employ hundreds to thousands of staff from the players to the people who sell the tickets. With each team handed a string of different income revenue streams, whether this is television deals
- [How Popular Is Women’s Football & Is Interest on the Rise?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/how-popular-is-womens-football-is-interest-on-the-rise/) - Women’s football has been steadily growing in popularity over recent years, but it still lags behind men’s football in terms of how many eyes are on each game. A Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in 2022 drew in a packed stadium, with 53,165 viewers of the game. When
- [Is Fan Ownership the Way Forward in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/is-fan-ownership-the-way-forward-in-football/) - Gone are the days where football was a game by the people, for the people. Players would run out each and every week to adoring fans that would do anything to be in the same position as those on the pitch. What made this even more special was the fact that the players felt the same.
- [Is Football Too Expensive: How Much Does It Cost to Be a Fan?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/is-football-too-expensive-how-much-does-it-cost-to-be-a-fan/) - Football has never been more exciting to watch. Between the back-and-forth of the Premier League, the incredibly unpredictable nature of the Champions League and everything in between, football fans have pulsating football to watch wherever they look. However, is football becoming too expensive? Football may have been created as more of a middle-class sport but, such is
- [The Women’s Revolution: Who Are the Best Women Footballers in the Game?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/the-womens-revolution-who-are-the-best-women-footballers-in-the-game/) - With it announced back in December that banking giants Barclays would be signing a bumper new three-year deal to sponsor England's WSL, there is no doubt that the women's game has really begun to skyrocket. Along with Barclays' hefty investment into the Women's Super League - a record investment for female sport in Britain - the
- [Are Female Football Fans Misrepresented by the Media?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/general/are-female-football-fans-misrepresented-by-the-media/) - For far too long there have been major problems in football that need to be addressed. The rampant racism and homophobia that can be seen in the stands all too often has put a stain on the beautiful game, making it far less inclusive than it should be. Alongside this comes the sexism that football continues

## Town Guides

- [Glasgow Football Teams](https://footballcollective.org.uk/towns/glasgow/) - When anyone mentions Scottish football, the mind instantly moves to Glasgow based football clubs. Whether it is the fierce rivalry, the sheer passion or the ability to win trophies, clubs in Glasgow have dominated Scottish football for years. In this Glasgow football clubs guide, we will look at the top professional teams from the area.
- [Birmingham Football Teams](https://footballcollective.org.uk/towns/birmingham/) - Birmingham has a proud history in the world of football, with teams hailing from the city making waves across the football league pyramid. While not amongst the very best in England right now, each side that comes from Birmingham arrives with a set of passionate fans that will follow their team to the very end.
- [Liverpool Football Teams](https://footballcollective.org.uk/towns/liverpool/) - Liverpool has a proud history of providing some of the most passionate teams in English football. While there may not be anywhere near as many clubs hailing from the city as there are from London, the major teams from Liverpool are renowned, with two currently plying their trade in the Premier League at the time
- [Edinburgh Football Teams](https://footballcollective.org.uk/towns/edinburgh/) - Watching Rangers reach the final of last season's Europa League in the same campaign that Celtic secured a Champions League return, it appears that interest in Scottish football is at the highest it has been in recent times. However, while it might undoubtedly be the Old Firm derby that springs to mind when most people think
- [Manchester Football Teams](https://footballcollective.org.uk/towns/manchester-football-teams/) - While Manchester may not have anywhere near as many clubs as the likes of London, it still has an incredibly proud history in football. With some of the best football teams in the world currently playing their home games in Manchester, it would be easy to assume that the ‘big two’ were the only clubs
- [Nottingham Football Teams](https://footballcollective.org.uk/towns/nottingham/) - While Nottingham may not be a name that jumps to mind when you think of successful football teams, the city boasts a side that are extremely successful in European football. This has seen the city achieve as many European Cups/Champions League crowns in Europe as the city of London, with Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham all
- [Bristol Football Teams](https://footballcollective.org.uk/towns/bristol/) - The city of Bristol has a proud tradition in the world of football, and while they have not ever really provided any of the teams in the British football sphere, the professional sides hailing from Bristol have a staunch and passionate following. In this Bristol football teams guide, we will look at the professional sides in
- [London Football Teams](https://footballcollective.org.uk/towns/london/) - London has a proud history of providing some of the best club football teams to have played the game. The hustle and bustle of the United Kingdom’s capital has seen players from all over the world jostle to represent any number of teams up and down the league structure, with a large number of clubs

## Terminology

- [What Is a Phoenix Club in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/phoenix-club/) - It is one of the great tragedies of modern football that so many proud clubs are struggling to survive financially. The last strains of Auld Lang Syne had barely rung out to signal 2024 when it was revealed Rochdale AFC, founded more than a century ago, could become extinct unless £2 million of investment is
- [What Is a Dead Ball in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/dead-ball/) - Of all football’s occasionally bizarre lexicon, dead ball has to be right up there with the daftest of them all. How can a ball be dead? Well, it’s not dead in the actual living and breathing sense, but more in the way that it isn’t moving – that’s because it isn’t being kicked. Yet. Confused?
- [What Is a Cup Replay in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/cup-replay/) - When two teams meet in a league game, we’re comfortable with the idea that the fixture can end in a draw – if the sides can’t be separated after 90 minutes, then they can shake hands and take home a point each. But in cup games, a draw is less than ideal – after all,
- [What Is a Drop Ball in Football and Why Is It Used?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/drop-ball/) - Years ago in football, you’d occasionally get a scenario where there’d be a stoppage in play that would need to be subsequently restarted in a fair way. A referee would have the discretion to use a drop ball (or ‘dropped ball’ depending on the localised lingo), which would see them literally drop the ball to
- [What Is a Group of Death in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/group-of-death/) - There’s a lot of pomp and circumstance – and nonsense, it has to be said – that goes into performing the draw for major football tournaments these days. Lights! Music! Theatre! Governing body delegates slightly out of their depth in presenting the action! It’s a lot of faff over something that used to be conducted
- [What Is a Set Piece Coach in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/set-piece-coach/) - For all its minutiae, its talking points and its tactical brinkmanship, football is ultimately a simple sport: score one more goal than your opponent and you will win the match. It’s no surprise that many clubs are going the extra mile in finding that goal by appointing set piece coaches, a thoroughly modern phenomenon in
- [What Is a Journeyman in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/journeyman/) - Many people in full-time employment seek pastures new from time to time. You might have a disagreement with a manager or a colleague, seek better pay or conditions, or simply desire a change of scene and a fresh start. If you have a series of new jobs in a relatively short space of time, eyebrows
- [What Is a Kop End in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/kop-end/) - Every football club, no matter how big or small, tends to have a band of supporters that are more vociferous and impassioned than their more laidback counterparts. The key when deciding the logistics of a football stadium is where to house this lively group, while catering for the needs of families – who tend to
- [What Is Playing Advantage in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/playing-advantage/) - Once upon a time, a defender could commit an offence – be it a scything foul on an attacker or a deliberate handball – that prevented a promising forward move and give themselves a pat on the pack, knowing that what they’d done had been beneficial to their team. But in a bid to minimise
- [What Is a Panenka in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/panenka/) - When you look at the history of professional football, which dates back more than a century, one of the biggest changes is the style in which the players go about their business. Track down grainy black-and-white footage of games from yesteryear and you’ll note that the players are more steely determination than showmanship, more grit
- [What Is Zonal Marking in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/zonal-marking/) - When we think of the beautiful game that is football, we tend to focus on the sport’s most glorious moments: the romantic victories, balletic individual skill and highlight reel goals. But to prevail in a game of football, there are thousands of mini-interactions that a team must win – many of which are subtle and
- [What Is a One-Two in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/one-two/) - Football is often referred to as the beautiful game, with the origins of the phrase dating back to the stunning team play of the Brazilian national team in decades gone by – juega bonito, being the translation from Portuguese. For those that treasure the most captivating moments in football, it gets little better than a
- [What Is a Professional Foul in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/professional-foul/) - For complete newcomers to football, the term ‘professional foul’ is definitely one of the most confusing – on paper it sounds like a compliment! There is a strategic element to committing a professional foul that can help the player’s team to resist conceding a goal, but the punishment forthcoming is usually so severe – unless
- [What Does It Mean to Lose the Dressing Room in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/lose-the-dressing-room/) - There has possibly been a time – and don’t worry, this isn’t some kind of virtual Rorschach test – when your line manager at work has done something to cheese you and your colleagues off. Oh, and if you are the line manager, then you’ve probably vexed your underlings at some point… potentially without even
- [What Is an Inverted Full Back?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/inverted-full-back/) - With football now being a professional sport for more than a century, it is no surprise to learn that the sport has undergone more than one tactical revolution over the years. From five strikers to two to one and even none, thinking back to Barcelona’s successful ‘false nine’ experiment, there has been so many different
- [What Is a Nutmeg in Football & Why Is It Called That?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/what-is-a-nutmeg-in-football-why-is-it-called-that/) - Football is a sport in which the only real aim is to score more goals than the opposition. But to that end, there’s mini battles going on all over the pitch. You’ll see opposing central midfielders slamming into tackles and a defender marking an attacker, using all the tricks in the book – legal and
- [What Is an Offside Trap in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/offside-trap/) - Most sports will come with a huge range of terminology that seems like it is almost designed to confuse people that are new to that sport. Of course, this is not the case, but some sports, like American Football or cricket seem to have been designed to be complicated. One such rule in football that
- [What Is the Treble in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/treble/) - While European powerhouses, such as PSG and Manchester City, might have become accustomed to adding another trophy to their cabinet on a regular basis, the treble still remains the most coveted accomplishment. With a treble-winning campaign cementing a club's status as one of the greatest teams from across the globe, there is a reason why
- [What Is Wages to Turnover Ratio in Football & Why Does It Matter?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/wages-to-turnover-ratio/) - The slow but sure move from football being a sport to a business has seen the game itself become a place where the best of the best are able to make huge money from playing the beautiful game week in, week out. For most of us, the sport of football is one that we play either
- [What Is Four or More Goals by the Same Player Called in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/four-or-more-goals/) - When youngsters grow up kicking a ball around the school playground and emulating their favourite stars, it’s very rare that they want to ape the performances of a tidy full back or no nonsense defensive midfielder. No, most want to be scoring goals and claiming the glory – that’s where the true fun in football
- [What Does Aggregate (Agg) Mean in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/aggregate/) - To someone that has not been watching or betting on football for years, the term ‘aggregate’ can be something that throws them off. After all, why is the scoreline in the corner of the TV screen followed by another scoreline in brackets? In this guide, we will take a look at what aggregate means in football,
- [What Is Obstruction in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/obstruction/) - Of all the ‘crimes’ and misdeeds that take place on the football pitch, obstruction is one of the less heinous. It’s often considered to be a tactical foul: a way of preventing an opponent making progress or even getting possession of the ball at all. So, what is obstruction in football, and what are the
- [What Is an Assist in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/assist/) - While goals will usually take centre-stage when it comes to football, those that assist often are hugely integral parts of any quality side that wins trophies. An assist is when a player makes a contribution to a goal. For example, if Kevin De Bruyne were to pass the ball through to Gabriel Jesus who then scores,
- [What Does ‘OG’ (Own Goal) Mean in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/own-goal/) - You may have seen ‘OG’ shown when you head over to your favourite text commentary site to follow a game, on the scorecard on TV, or at your favourite betting site. It can be a bit confusing to those who don’t know but, simply put, ‘OG’ refers to an own goal. What Is an Own
- [What Is a Perfect Hat-Trick & Who Has Scored One?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/perfect-hat-trick/) - There are few greater sights on a football pitch than seeing a player wheel away in celebration following a goal. The sheer excitement and elation that players and fans will feel as a footballer scores is unrivalled, and it is why the game is so popular. While we say that scoring a goal is one of
- [What Is Goal Difference (GD) in Football & How Is It Used?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/goal-difference/) - Football is an unforgiving sport when it comes to the rules and terminology that comes with the game. Whether you are writing about football or simply trying to get your point across in the pub, you will need to ensure you know the finer details of the game if you don’t want to come off
- [What Is a Football Derby Match & Where Does the Term Come From?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/derby-match/) - While many football games are incredibly competitive and fast-paced battles, nothing beats a derby day match. The occasion, the points and, most importantly, the bragging rights on offer, help to take a derby match to the next level. Some of the greatest matches in world football are derby matches. Think Manchester United vs Manchester City,
- [What Is a Clean Sheet in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/clean-sheet/) - A clean sheet in football is when a goalkeeper and defensive team are able to stop the opposition from scoring a goal. This would mean the score line would be anything to nil. So, if Tottenham beat Arsenal 1-0, Spurs would have kept a clean sheet in the game. If they had conceded one or
- [How to Read a League Table in Football: What Do MP, GF, GA and GD Mean?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/league-table-abbreviations/) - They say that the table never lies in football, but if you don’t know what the table is saying then you won’t be able to understand the truths captured within it. As you are probably aware, each team plays a set number of games in a season – in the English Premier League, for example,
- [What Is Pressing & Counter Pressing in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/pressing-and-counter-pressing/) - If you become more and more confused with each passing football season, you’re not the only one. That’s because the lexicon of the beautiful game seems to change from one campaign to the next, with new terms and tactical descriptors sprinkled into punditry and journalism like confetti. One of those terms is pressing, plus its
- [What Does Parking the Bus Mean in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/what-does-parking-the-bus-mean-in-football/) - When he finally gives up the day job as a football manager, José Mourinho, might just be able to find work as a bus driver. He is famous within the beautiful game for ‘parking the bus’, a derogatory phrase he used to bemoan Tottenham’s defensive tactics in a game against his Chelsea team back in
- [What Is a Pivot & Double Pivot Player?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/pivot-and-double-pivot-player/) - When football fans talk about Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering treble winners of the 2022/23 season, they speak of the goals of Erling Haaland and the creativity of Kevin de Bruyne. The likes of Rodri barely get a look in. Consider the all-time greats of FC Barcelona, and it’s the flair of Lionel Messi, Johan Cruyff and
- [What Is a Release Clause in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/release-clause/) - In theory, football transfers should be easy to complete. Two parties come together to amicably discuss a deal for a player that is mutually beneficial for both clubs – leaving both happy with the outcome and the player in question enthused about his new employer. Of course, it very rarely works out like that –
- [What Is a Deflection in Football & How Is It Different from an Own Goal?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/deflection/) - Some goals in football are the work of individual brilliance – a naturally-gifted athlete doing something remarkable, be it a long range shot, a mazy solo run or a feat of acrobatic ingenuity. Other times, goals are the result of team-based artistry – it could be a long sequence of passes or a rapid counter
- [Football Positions: What Do the Different Positions in Football Mean?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/football-positions/) - A head coach is responsible for deciding the tactics of their team in football, and it comes down to the philosophy of the individual – as well as the ethos of the club and the quality of its players – to determine whether they will play a cosmopolitan style or rather more conservatively. Within those
- [What Is the Difference Between the Golden Ball & the Golden Boot?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/golden-ball-and-golden-boot/) - Gold. Always believe in your soul. You've got the power to know. You're indestructible. It’s not known whether Spandau Ballet are football enthusiasts, but when they penned the lyrics to their smash 1983 hit they tapped into a universal truth: gold is everything. There’s even a saying – the gold standard – which is held over for
- [What Is Amortisation in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/amortisation/) - When you walk into your local shop to buy a pint of milk, you pay the price with cash or a tap of your contactless card. When it comes to buying players in football, the buying and selling clubs agree on a price, but the process of actually paying for the individual in question is rather
- [What Is a Yo-Yo Club in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/yo-yo-club/) - While teams like Manchester City and Liverpool might spend their seasons battling it out in the title chase, there are a host of other top-flight teams who find themselves simply scrapping to keep their Premier League status. Unlike many American franchise sports, European football stands quite unique as it offers the ecstasy of promotion and the
- [What Is a Brace in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/brace/) - Goals are the most important currency in football. A side can be incredibly strong at the back, but if they are not able to score goals consistently, then they won’t win games. On the flip side of this, if a team is awful at the back but always finds a way to outscore their opponents, then
- [What Is an Exhibition Match / Friendly in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/exhibition-match-friendly/) - Almost all of the matches that happen throughout a regular season will be competitive games. This sees points up for grabs with both individual and team trophies on the line. The lure of a competitive match comes from the fact that there is something on the line. It makes things even more interesting, with something
- [What Is the Double in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/double/) - With every club measured primarily on how many trophies they have in their cabinet, there is a reason why events, such as the Champions League and World Cup finals, stand out as some of the greatest spectacles in world sport. With a host of domestic and European tournaments played out over a single season, there
- [VAR in Football: What Is It & Is It Working?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/var/) - VAR, or Video Assistant Referee, is an officiating system that has been added to the game of football to try to ensure that the referees make the right decision in a game. The lightning quick nature of the game is part of what makes it so entertaining and enjoyable. However, there have already been a
- [Diving in Football: What Does It Mean When a Player Takes a Dive?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/diving/) - Diving is an offence that is seen as among the worst in football. While it is nowhere near as dangerous as a reckless two-footed challenge or violent conduct, it is a point of contention that is plastered across social media whenever it happens. A dive is defined as an attempt by a player to gain some
- [What Are Expected Goals (xG) in Football?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/expected-goals/) - As new terminology goes, nothing seems to confuse people more than the expected goals or xG metric. Simply put, expected goals measures the overall quality of a particular chance, which is calculated by how likely that chance will end in a goal. xG is based on a number of factors before the shot was taken.
- [What Is a Hat Trick in Football & How Common Are They?](https://footballcollective.org.uk/terminology/hat-trick/) - A hat-trick is one of the most exciting occurrences in the game of football. This will see any player on the pitch score three goals in the match. This does not only refer to a striker though. Strikers, midfielders, defenders and even goalkeepers can score hat-tricks, although it is far less likely for a defender

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