Chelsea warns staff after Joao Pedro injury leak
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on P.M. News
Chelsea has warned its staff after the alleged disclosure of Joao Pedro's injury before its official announcement. The English club suspects internal information passed through Fantasy Premier League selections after the striker's surprise absence against Tottenham, according to the BBC.
Chelsea warned its staff on 9 November 2026 against disclosing confidential team information through Fantasy Premier League selections, after an alleged leak concerning Joao Pedro's injury preceded its official announcement. The club emailed its employees to remind them of the risks of using internal information on Fantasy Premier League and other public gaming platforms, according to BBC Sport.
Joao Pedro, a Chelsea striker, was unexpectedly absent from the 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham due to a thigh injury. Fantasy Premier League content creators claimed that Aston Villa striker Morgan Rogers and some Chelsea employees had removed Joao Pedro from their teams before kick-off. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said he was unaware of the alleged leak.
Chelsea had already faced team-sheet leaks during the previous season, when information emerged before the two Champions League matches lost to Paris Saint-Germain under former manager Liam Rosenior. BBC Sport also reported similar incidents involving Arsenal, Liverpool, Leicester and Newcastle. More than 11 million people play Fantasy Premier League, while the Premier League has strict rules on betting but no specific guidance on players and employees participating in fantasy games, leaving clubs to manage the issue.
