Chelsea warn staff over Fantasy Premier League team news leaks

Chelsea have warned staff to be careful about inadvertently revealing team news through Fantasy Premier League after Joao Pedro's injury appeared to have been disclosed through team selections, BBC Sport reported. An email reminded staff of the potential consequences of using inside information on Fantasy Premier League or other public gaming platforms, where selection choices could reveal which players are unavailable or close to returning.

The warning followed leaks before Chelsea's 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham, when Pedro was a surprise absentee because of what has since emerged to be a quad injury. Several influential Fantasy Premier League content creators claimed to have seen evidence that forward Morgan Rogers, along with several members of Chelsea staff, had removed Pedro from their teams before kick-off at Stamford Bridge, despite no club announcement about his injury.

Asked about the matter by BBC Sport after the defeat, manager Xabi Alonso said he was unaware of the situation, adding: "I am not into the fantasy team thing, so I didn't know that." Chelsea have previously experienced leaks, including team selections before both legs of their Champions League defeat by Paris St-Germain last season under former manager Liam Rosenior.

No further restrictions are expected because Chelsea regard the incident as isolated and manageable through greater awareness among players and staff. The Premier League offers no specific guidance to clubs on Fantasy Premier League participation, generally treating it as a matter for individual clubs.