Chelsea have reminded players and staff to exercise caution when using Fantasy Premier League (FPL) after changes to fantasy teams appeared to reveal Joao Pedro's injury before the club officially confirmed his absence.
The Premier League club issued an internal email warning employees about the risks of unintentionally disclosing confidential team information through Fantasy Premier League and other publicly accessible gaming platforms.
The warning follows Chelsea's 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham, when Pedro was unexpectedly left out of the squad because of a quadriceps injury.
Before kick-off at Stamford Bridge, several prominent Fantasy Premier League content creators claimed to have identified suspicious changes involving Pedro.
According to those reports, forward Morgan Rogers and several Chelsea staff members had removed the Brazilian from their fantasy teams before his injury became public knowledge.
The changes raised concerns that individuals with access to inside information could inadvertently reveal team selections, injuries or potential player returns through their fantasy football activity.
Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso said he had no knowledge of the alleged Fantasy Premier League leaks when questioned following the defeat to Tottenham.
"I am not into the fantasy team thing, so I didn't know that," Alonso told BBC Sport.
The 44-year-old, who took charge of Chelsea in the summer, has generally been reluctant to disclose detailed injury information during his media appearances.
The latest incident has renewed concerns about the challenges clubs face in protecting confidential team news, particularly as fantasy football continues to grow in popularity.
This is not the first time Chelsea have encountered problems involving confidential information reaching the public before official announcements.
During former manager Liam Rosenior's four-month spell in charge last season, the club's starting line-ups were leaked ahead of both legs of their Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Another incident involved former Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella's barber, who revealed on social media that Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer would miss an away fixture against Brighton.
The information reportedly emerged following a conversation between the barber and Cucurella.
Despite the latest concerns, Chelsea are not expected to introduce additional restrictions on Fantasy Premier League participation.
The club reportedly considers the situation an isolated incident and believes greater awareness among players and staff will help prevent similar problems.
Chelsea are not alone in facing concerns about fantasy football activity potentially exposing confidential information.
Similar claims have emerged involving players and staff associated with Arsenal, Liverpool, Leicester City and Newcastle United.
Fantasy Premier League trackers have also identified accounts believed to belong to prominent players and club figures across the Premier League, raising questions about how team changes could provide clues about injuries and selection decisions.
One of the most notable examples occurred in February 2021, when Aston Villa forward Jack Grealish's absence from a match against Leicester City appeared to have been revealed through Fantasy Premier League activity.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers later confirmed he had been aware of rumours surrounding Grealish's injury before the match, which his team went on to win.
Fantasy Premier League has become an increasingly influential part of football culture, with more than 11 million people reportedly participating in the game.
However, its popularity has also created challenges for clubs attempting to keep team selections and injury information confidential.
Although the Premier League enforces strict regulations against gambling, it does not provide specific guidance governing Fantasy Premier League participation by players, coaches or club employees.
Instead, individual clubs are responsible for establishing their own policies and managing potential information leaks.
For Chelsea, the latest incident highlights how seemingly routine fantasy football decisions can unintentionally expose sensitive team information before official announcements.
The club's response suggests it will prioritise education and awareness rather than imposing further restrictions on staff participation.
