Editorial policy
How we choose, check, write and label what we publish.
What we publish
About Football reports on football and puts each story next to the fixtures, players and numbers behind it. Stories are written by the Matchweek Desk editorial team. We separate three things on every page: what happened (observed results and records), what we calculate from those records, and what we think (editorial interpretation, labelled as such).
Where our information comes from
We use official club, league and competition publications, licensed or openly licensed football data, and reporting by established news outlets. Each story links to the reporting and records it relies on, and each fact keeps the name of its source and the date it applies to. If a source does not permit us to store or display something, we do not use it. We do not copy other publishers’ articles: we summarise the facts in our own words, quote only short extracts with a link and an acknowledgement, and send readers to the original.
How we check
- Every factual claim in a story is tied to a source before it is approved.
- A person reviews and approves each story before it is published. Nothing is published automatically.
- Where sources disagree or a report is unconfirmed, we say so and attribute it (“reports say”, “according to”).
- We do not invent scores, quotes, injuries, fees, ratings or odds. If a figure is not available it is shown as unavailable.
Time and data limits
Football information changes quickly. Statistics describe a dated sample, kick-off times are shown in UK time, and a page reflects what was known when it was last updated. A short run of results is not a guarantee about the next match.
How we use AI and automation
Matchweek Desk uses automated tools to collect references and organise football data, and AI tools to help with research, drafting and editing. AI is not a source: it does not decide what is true, and every claim is checked against a cited source. Automated collection does not publish anything. Where a graphic is drawn by us rather than photographed, it is an illustration and not a photograph of the event.
Photographs and images
Photographs are used under the licence shown with them; see credits and licences. We do not use an image unless we have the right to.
Independence and commercial content
Coverage is not sold, and no club, league or bookmaker reviews our stories before publication. Betting content is separate from reporting, is for readers aged 18 and over, and is not a recommendation to bet. If a link earns us commission, it is labelled beside the link and marked as sponsored in the page code. No partner offers are currently active. See the terms of use.
Mistakes
We correct confirmed errors and record material corrections on the story. See the corrections policy.