Fantasy Premier League is becoming a risk to Premier League clubs especially those clubs whose players and staff are involved in the game. Information about clubs in the league is being leaked through the online game according to recent reports.
Due to the new development, the Premier League has reportedly warned the 20 clubs in the league to discourage their players and staff from participating in the game.
Why Fantasy Premier League is becoming a risk?
Fantasy Premier League is one of the biggest online football games in the world. Those who participate in the game are expected to make their team selection and predictions 90 minutes before the first match of a match week.
If the footballers a gamer selects ahead of a league match play the match, the gamer earns points, if the footballers do what they are predicted to do during the match – score goal, provide assist, keep a clean sheet, and many others, the gamer earns points.
Some footballers are said to be active users of the game and they often select their teammates in their Fantasy Premier League team of the week. Since they are a part of their teams, they are privilege to have access to vital information which they use to make their Fantasy Premier League team selection.
Based on this, it has been reported that a bot has been invented which scans out the selection football stars make on their fantasy Premier League. Once the bot has done that, it would share the information it has gathered on social media.
It has been reported that rival clubs are now using the system to gain information about the team selection of their opponent ahead of a league game which is an undue advantage.
For instance, recently, Aston Villa didn’t want to announce that the club’s talisman Jack Grealish would miss their league game against Leicester City on Sunday, February 21. The English football star was injured ahead of the game.
Unfortunately for Aston Villa, a Twitter account had spotted him removed from fantasy teams of some Villa players. Aston Villa ended up losing the game 2-1 at home.
Hence, to avoid the continuous occurrence of such an incident, players and staff are urged not to select their teammates in their fantasy Premier League if they must play the game.
Pep Guardiola reacts to the risk of Fantasy football
The manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has reacted to the risk in Fantasy Premier League. He said though he doesn’t participate in the game, it would be difficult to control how players handle confidential information about their teams.
He however described the art of leaking team news as “unethical and unprofessional”, noting that he knows that footballers play games.
“Sometimes when you have a team selection and people have friends from other teams, they talk about what they do”, Guardiola said.
“Sometimes it happens and it’s incredibly unethical and unprofessional but can’t be controlled.”
