Football Matter Editorial Policy
Every Match Matters. Our aim is useful, accurate and independent football information, with a clear distinction between reported facts, data and interpretation.
Research and content creation
Football Matter combines editorial research, structured football data, statistical interpretation and AI-assisted tools. AI can assist drafting and analysis; it does not establish that a claim is true. Existing articles are subject to a retrospective quality audit. An author label or publication date alone is not evidence of human verification.
Review and publication
Our editorial review process records a reviewer, notes and the version of the text checked. Claim and source checks are separate from automated quality scoring. Drafts, review-only records and disabled articles are excluded from public publication routes. Only content with a current review and qualifying audit is eligible for our blog sitemaps. This does not mean every historic article has already received human review.
Sources and attribution
Prefer official competition and club publications, verified league data, primary statements and interviews, then reputable football reporting. Numerical claims, quotations and historical assertions need references that support the specific claim. A link to a home page is not sufficient evidence. Aggregated news is labelled separately and links readers to its originating publisher.
Rumours and transfers
A report is not a confirmed transfer. Coverage should distinguish an official announcement, attributed reporting and speculation. Unverified injuries and availability must not be presented as established facts. We do not manufacture sources or quotations to complete an article.
Statistics and live corrections
Scores, events, lineups and statistics depend on provider coverage and can be delayed, incomplete or corrected after a match. A live figure should not be treated as an official final result. Interpretation must reflect the competition, season and available sample.
AI-assisted features
Ask AI and live insight features may contain errors. Their outputs are informational and may combine database facts with generated interpretation. Automated outputs are not equivalent to a reviewed editorial article; important claims should be checked against the linked data and primary sources.
Corrections and maintenance
Send the page URL, the disputed claim and supporting evidence to editorial@footballmatter.com or use our contact page. Errors should be corrected when identified and supported. Substantial editorial updates should carry an updated date; weak or unverifiable records can be retained privately for revision instead of deleted.
Independence
Advertising must not determine editorial conclusions. Commercial relationships should be disclosed where relevant. Review scores are internal quality controls, not a guarantee of accuracy or advertising approval.
No gambling services
Football Matter does not offer betting, gambling, wagering, sportsbook, odds, or paid-picks services. Match previews and model estimates are football information, not betting advice or guarantees of results.