Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Football

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WikiProject Football was featured in a WikiProject Report in the Signpost on 3 March 2008.

This WikiProject was featured on the WikiProject report at the Signpost on 9 July 2012.

On 4 August 2022, it was proposed that this page be moved to Wikipedia:WikiProject Association football. The result of the discussion was not moved.

Brandon Austin

We may have discussed this before, the guy is English but also represented the US in on youth level game. What flag icon should we be using? Govvy (talk) 08:11, 25 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I would say England as we was most recently called-up at the U19 and U21 levels. Nehme₁₄₉₉ 13:02, 25 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

There were a load of Tottenham articles and his flag icon was changed to the US flag, and that's not really his nationality. Govvy (talk) 11:57, 27 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Well, in the beginning of the Wikipedia article about him, it's claimed that he has dual nationality. I can't say if that's true or false, and either way I wouldn't know what to do about it. TooManyFingers (talk) 15:41, 3 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I agree it's an unverified claim, and in any event poor choice of words. I have corrected. Giant Snowman 17:30, 3 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Using nicknames in article titles

This might be a broader question of Wiki policy, but it's related to two footballers so bringing it up here to get opinions. Schestos has moved Madison Ayson to Maddy Ayson and Natalie Tobin to Nat Tobin. Now the first I've reverted since there isn't a single reliable source (didn't see any unreliable either) that calls her Maddy. The second I'm debating - in sources it seems there's a 50-50 split of Nat or Natalie. I understand there isn't a policy of having only full names and we have for example Sam Kerr (not Samantha Kerr) as the title since she is almost exclusively referenced as Sam. What do you think would be the best way to go for Tobin? --SuperJew (talk) 05:59, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I think for Australian players it's pretty standard to have a shorter name rather than the full name (as an Aussie yourself you would be aware that we shorten just about everything here). Nicknames are different, a nickname would be something like "Mini" (Katrina Gorry's nickname) or "Macca" (a generic nickname for someone called Mackenzie including Mackenzie Arnold and Mackenzie Hawkesby). It also depends on what they usually call themself I think. Sam Kerr almost never goes by "Samantha", same goes with Steph Catley as "Stephanie" or Charli Grant as "Charlotte". On a semi-related note, can we move Jada Mathyssen-Whyman to just Jada Whyman given she never uses the name "Mathyssen"? Schestos (talk) 07:43, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Sure, I agree a shorter name is used very frequently in Australia (also not for names ;) ). Question is not the general use, but rather how it is shown in media and what the Wiki policy is.

With Kerr, I completly agree - she's almost aways referred to as "Sam Kerr" in media, including non-Aussie media too. Same with Catley and Grant.

The question however remains about Tobin as it seems from what I saw of media that it's sometimes Nat and sometimes Natalie.

Regarding Ayson, I didn't see anywhere call her Maddy - can you back that with a source?

Regarding Whyman, I think that should be a different convo.

Cheers, --SuperJew (talk) 08:25, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

A couple sources call her Maddy or Maddie. Her Insta says Maddy. Schestos (talk) 09:06, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Another one that could be considered is Jordan Bos → Jordy Bos. Schestos (talk) 19:28, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The most relevant policy or guideline I'm aware of is WP:NICKNAME in Wikipedia's naming convention on people, which says:

The name used most often to refer to a person in reliable sources is generally the one that should be used as the article title, even if it is not the person's "real" name.

Left guide (talk) 09:10, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for that :) Which strengthens why Sam is under Sam Kerr and not Samantha. However, it leaves me still wondering what we do in cases where it's not so clear-cut, such as Tobin. --SuperJew (talk) 11:10, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

If it is not clear cut, just stay with the status quo.

And further discussion about Jada Mathyssen-Whyman, yes I know its off topic, she might be a more relevant example for an article change to a shortened surname. Matilda Maniac (talk) 13:55, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

WP:COMMONNAME applies, but these kind of undiscussed moves are controversial disruptive, and should be discussed at WP:RM. Giant Snowman 19:34, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

In this case Ró-Ró article should be renamed to Pedro Miguel (footballer). The majority of the references in the article refer him as "Pedro Miguel", I've also checked Arab sources, in which very few of them call him "Ró-Ró" Lâm (talk) 15:33, 3 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

WP:RM is thataaway... Giant Snowman 15:34, 3 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Egyptian and Arabic names on 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup

Rey1996ss has "retired" and WP:VANISHed their account, so this rather IDHT section can be closed. It may be worth keeping an eye on some of the articles involved for a while, however. Black Kite (talk) 09:48, 5 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Rey1996ss insists on treating the Egyptian and Arabic names as if they are of East Asian (article title displayed fully instead of surname only) based on what FIFA did in the squad list (here), his argument is here. How do other people, seeing that the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group A, 2019 UEFA Champions League final, and 2022 FA Community Shield all feature Salah and 2022 FIFA World Cup Group C features S. Al-Dawsari? Ikhouvanjou14 (talk) 05:21, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Like that, there isn't a project so as to change FIFA World Cup Group, 2019 UEFA Champions League final, and 2022 FA Community Shield; the rules in UEFA are different.

How do other people, seeing that...?Like that: We don't want to move anything about that pages. Thank you Rey1996ss (talk) 14:34, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Egyptian/Arabic names don't work like East Asian names, so the surname should be displayed. Nehme₁₄₉₉ 15:19, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yes the surname should be displayed.

For example Amar Al-Yuhaybi the surname is Amar Al-Yuhaybi with 2 words.

Talal Haji the surname is Talal Haji. Can be confuising because they don't have neither surname nor fisrt name so it funtions in FIFA like this:

1) Talal Abubakr Abdullah Haji ---> Surname: TalalHaji (only Haji doesn't exist legally)

2) Ahmed Khaled Gomaa Soliman -----> surname Ahmed Kabaka (Only kabaka doesn't exist), it's similar to Brazilian names). Rey1996ss (talk) 15:50, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Amar Al-Yuhaybi's surname is "Al-Yuhaybi". Nehme₁₄₉₉ 16:05, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

No, "Al-Yuhaybi" doesn't exist...If he were canadian, french he would be Al-Yuhaybi.

But Saudia Arabia is an exception: Accordin to FIFA Offical document registration the surname is Amar Al-Yuhaybi. Rey1996ss (talk) 17:13, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

"Al-Yuhaybi" exists, as can be seen in page 20 (LAST NAME(S): ALYUHAYBI). Nehme₁₄₉₉ 17:25, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Oh! you made a mistake.. Nehme1499

You need the see the 1st column called Player name...or named FIFA player name

The Player name is showed with capital letters. So AMAR AL-YUHAYBI in the first column is the surname. Please more examples in all document.

Small letters is the name: Lionel MESSI ///

Capital letters is the surname that we display in wikepedia: Messi

40'.

So accordig to page 20 the display must be Amar Al-Yuhaybi

40' Rey1996ss (talk) 17:34, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That's just a stylistic choice in the document, it doesn't affect how we display names on Wikipedia. Nehme₁₄₉₉ 17:35, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

No, it is not a chice... it means that Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia were register differet...As well in International Olympic Committe. So we cannot chage the surname.. We use the surname stated by FIFA. and the surname is contained in the 1st column...Another excpetions: We don't use the last name column for Brazil.

So the excpetions are: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Portugal, Vietam, Thailand, China PR, Korea Rep, Korea DPR, Latinamericans, Rey1996ss (talk) 17:41, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

We absolutely do not have to follow FIFA's (or anyone else's) stylistic guidelines. Spike 'em (talk) 18:00, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with the others, FIFA's style choices are irrelevant to what we use on Wikipedia. Only the surname is needed. S.A. Julio (talk) 18:02, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Pinging @S.A. Julio According to him: in 2025 UEFA Women's Euro and multiple pages he always say: Hey, we need to follow official reports etc. and he said that we need to follow Official references. And he always put correctly FIFA or Uefa references. So his comment lacks sense and coherence between what he says and what he does, so it is simply not taken into account due to inconsistency. Rey1996ss (talk) 18:38, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

You don't get to discard somebody's comment just because you disagree with them. We may cite FIFA/UEFA reports for match statistics/data, but that doesn't mean we must follow their editorial style identically. Wikipedia has its own consensus, policies and naming rules, independent of FIFA. S.A. Julio (talk) 20:59, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

You have shifting and inconsistent criteria. One day you want to use exactly what UEFA and FIFA say, but today you write that we shouldn't follow UEFA or FIFA.

On Day 1: You say we should follow UEFA.

Day 2: You change your mind and say it's better NOT to follow them.

Before starting a discussion, you should have a criterion, as it's hard to believe you. Please select a criterion and return to the original conversation. Rey1996ss (talk) 21:17, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Spike 'em If we didnt follow FIFA documents you would write for Neymar da Silva Santos:

Dos Santos

12' because you do not have to follow FIFA... So maybe every body will write:

Neymar

34' following the criteria for FIFA...So every body follows FIFA documents but some countries have excpetions. Rey1996ss (talk) 18:31, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

No, you would use the name commonly used for him in English language sources. If that happens to match the FIFA document, then so be it. If it doesn't then we use the commonly used name. Spike 'em (talk) 20:37, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Proposal guideline for beginners/novices.

Generally we have exceptions and common rules. The proposal try to explain the rules for today onwards (does not propose to change the past, nothing).

1 Traditional rule: Countries like Canada, Australia, Russia, France, etc have a normal situacion.

USA Michael PHELPS ---> Display: Phelps 34'
GER Lothar MATTAEUS ---> Display: Matthäus 34'

2 Latinamerican names: The surname is double, the proposal is to eliminate the second one.

MEX Jacqueline OVALLE MUÑOS ---> Display: Ovalle 88' (after the elimination, FIFA makes the elimination automatically).

3 Monosyllables: China PR, Korea DPR, Korea Rep. Republic of China. This exception has already become a basic rule.

KOR LIM Sihyeon the surname is LIM but we put the surname + common name ----> display: Lim Si-hyeon 32'. There is not concencus about Vietnam yet.

4 Thailand, exception: The order is inverted.

THA Orathai SRIMANEE. Here Srimanee is the surname but we put the common name as we did in 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Group B. Display ----> Orathai 2'.

5 Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia:

Exception, they are register in FIFA and Olympics with special surname, for example. KSA AMAR AL YUHAYBI the surname is Amar Al-Yuhaybi as well --- Display: Amar Al-Yuhaybi 23'. IRQ ALI JASIM....Some people would could write Jasim but for FIFA and COI the surname is Ali Jasim ----> Display: Ali Jasim 23'. Football at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament has the surname.

6 Brazil an Portugal:

They could have a special situation. BRA Name: Raphael, surname: DA SILVA... and according to FIFA register they could eliminate either the name or the surname...or chaged it --- Display: Rapinha 23'

7 Spain: They could have a different display in UEFA, an then FIFA changes generally to #1 (tradiditonal rule). There are Exceptions.

8 Japan: Since 2021 Japan changed the order in sport. But in football we keep the former order. So we classify Japan as point #1, like Hungary.

Rey1996ss (talk) 17:10, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

How do the majority of English language reliable sources refer to the players in match summaries? Spike 'em (talk) 18:15, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, this is the most important question. The Icelander Birkir Bjarnason is known as Birkir at home, in his English-language Wikipedia article, and in Icelandic-language sources. But in English-language sources, and on the back of his shirt, he is known as Bjarnason. U003F ^? 18:29, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@U003F For that reason is important to follow the FIFA surname. Rey1996ss (talk) 18:32, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Rather than reply on my talk page, could you please provide examples of multiple English language sources using the names you have described here. We are not beholden to a random FIFA document. Spike 'em (talk) 20:34, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Ok, this is a proposal..

The proposal is: Keep the surname..and for the novices/begginers.

The press not always is usefull because the press published:

Press 1: Neymar Junior. // Kerolin Nocoli

Press 2: Neymar Jr. // Kerolin

Press 3: Neymar. // Nicoli...

So we use FIFA official document. And an official document by a International Organization/Federation cannot be consider 'random'....

So, the proposal fot that examples is to Keep the surname for some countries specially in Point 5.

Because the press says: Ohh! Amar Al-Yuhaybi so his surname is Al-Yuhaybi. But oficiallly the surname is Amar Al-Yuhaybi with 3 words.. The press doesnt know about that...

We already reach a concencus in 2024 Paris Olympics Football tournament.. keeping the Surnames stated by FIFA and COI...(not the full names because is very long, only the surname) Rey1996ss (talk) 21:36, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

As for article titles, Wikipedia prefers commonly used names over official names. Spike 'em (talk) 21:40, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The proposal doesnt consider the official name.

Messi Cuccittini

12'??? Everybody prefers commonly used names. Everybody knows.

The proposal is a guideline like that.

Offical Name: Lionel Messi Cuccittini

Wikipedia display common-Surname: Messi.

Official name: Talal Abubakr Abdullah Haji

Wikipedia display common-surname: Talal Haji..

I think you don't catch, can be useful to take a coffe, and the re-read the proposal. Can be helpful for you. Rey1996ss (talk) 22:36, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Stop calling people stupid. You are not showing any signs of wanting to compromise or using any Wikipedia policies or guidelines and just posting pages of rubbish. I completely disagree with your points and will say no more about it. Spike 'em (talk) 02:57, 5 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Northern Premier League

Would anyone who has more time available than I do right now be able to update the divisional line-ups? The article is still showing last season's line-ups, which is prompting a lot of good faith but ultimately incorrect edits where someone notices that the line-up of one particular division is "wrong" and changes that while leaving the rest (and the heading) unchanged....... -- ChrisTheDude (talk) 07:39, 5 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Alex Flett stats

Can someone help update/correct these? I've got him to 354 for Cleethorpes, but I know he made 532. 2019-20 season is missing, and the stats between 2011 and 2019 are sourced to dead links (Pitchero) which also seem to group all cup games as 'other' (that was my bad in 2018!) because Pitchero did not give any breakdown... Giant Snowman 18:19, 5 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

This any use? https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/cleethorpes-town/appearances/2019-2020/alex-flett/541555

Cross-referencing with the Cleethorpes results for the season shows the site is missing the line-ups/goalscorers for the first 2 matches of the season (Lincolnshire Cup vs Spalding United & league vs Ilkeston) so you'd then need to research those 2 matches separately. Cheers Nonleagueapps (talk) 19:46, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Proposed deletions

The following articles have been proposed for deletion because of the following concern:

Unsourced BLP. I deprodded this, tried to find sources, and gave up, so here we are again.

While all constructive contributions to Wikipedia are appreciated, pages may be deleted for any of several reasons.

You may prevent the proposed deletion by removing the {{proposed deletion/dated}} notice, but please explain why in your edit summary or on the article's talk page.

Please consider improving the page to address the issues raised. Removing {{proposed deletion/dated}} will stop the proposed deletion process, but other deletion processes exist. In particular, the speedy deletion process can result in deletion without discussion, and articles for deletion allows discussion to reach consensus for deletion. Bearian (talk) 21:06, 5 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Bearian: You improperly removed the BLPPROD tags without adding a reliable source. I have restored the BLPPROD and placed a warning on your talk page. — Jkudlick ⚓ (talk) 23:02, 5 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Do the 2 of you really need to spam this page 5 times with the same notice and exact same reply? Spike 'em (talk) 13:43, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

BLPs to be deleted

Due to reversions of my temporary deprodding, about 100 football stubs are going to be deleted in five days, unless at least one source is added to the five articles already noticed above, and including the following:

In addition, another article has been nominated for deletion at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Lukáš Urminský. Bearian (talk) 23:34, 5 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a list of the others? Robby.is.on (talk) 10:45, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Bearian, Jkudlick, Spike 'em, and Robby.is.on: Is there a reason these PRODs aren't appearing at WP:WikiProject Deletion sorting/Football#Football proposed deletions WP:PROD? If so, that should supplant the need to leave notifications for all of them here. Meanwhile, a set of bulk PRODs is probably better paired with a single bundled handwritten notification, rather than several individual ones. Left guide (talk) 20:28, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

They appear at Wikipedia:WikiProject Football/Article alerts#PROD. Giant Snowman 20:31, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Ah I see, thank you. Left guide (talk) 20:36, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

If you really want to draw attention, then you can manually list at Wikipedia:WikiProject Football/Nominations for deletion and page moves. Giant Snowman 20:38, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

also cc @Nehme1499: who bundled some notifications. Left guide (talk) 20:30, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Proposed deletion of F.C. Pampilhosa

The article F.C. Pampilhosa has been proposed for deletion because of the following concern:

Tagged as Unreferenced for almost 16 years. No other language has a reliably sourced article from which to translate. The German language article has a single source. Lower tier football team.

While all constructive contributions to Wikipedia are appreciated, pages may be deleted for any of several reasons.

You may prevent the proposed deletion by removing the {{proposed deletion/dated}} notice, but please explain why in your edit summary or on the article's talk page.

Please consider improving the page to address the issues raised. Removing {{proposed deletion/dated}} will stop the proposed deletion process, but other deletion processes exist. In particular, the speedy deletion process can result in deletion without discussion, and articles for deletion allows discussion to reach consensus for deletion. Bearian (talk) 08:21, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Bearian: I've redirected this to the league article Aveiro Football Association per WP:ATD-R. Left guide (talk) 09:12, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you. Bearian (talk) 09:53, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

2025–26 AFC Challenge League - first matches in zone East in 2024

In the 2025–26 AFC Challenge League and 2025–26 AFC Challenge League group stage pages as of 6 Oct 2025, the tables for groups D and E state that the first matches would be played in October 2024 and it seems to be a template matter as the actual matches in the group do list 2025 dates. How could this be fixed? Erikwesley (talk) 11:56, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Fixed. Nehme1499 (talk) 13:09, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Requested move at Talk:Ashley Phillips (footballer, born 2005)#Requested move 30 September 2025

There is a requested move discussion at Talk:Ashley Phillips (footballer, born 2005)#Requested move 30 September 2025 that may be of interest to members of this WikiProject. --pro-anti-air ––>(talk)<–– 20:40, 7 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Good article reassessment for Kyle Critchell

Kyle Critchell has been nominated for a good article reassessment. If you are interested in the discussion, please participate by adding your comments to the reassessment page. If concerns are not addressed during the review period, the good article status may be removed from the article. Z1720 (talk) 14:09, 8 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Ibercaja Stadium

Can someone please restore Ibercaja Stadium? I know it was a mass deletion of pages added by @Football Fanatic.sr, but I honestly thought this article was at least good enough to scrap by WP:GNG (and if not, I'll expand it a little bit).

Thank you in advance. BRDude⁷⁰ (talk) 16:26, 8 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@BrazilianDude70: You might get a better response at WP:REFUND. Have you asked the admin who deleted the article to restore it? — Jkudlick ⚓ (talk) 16:44, 8 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Sir Sputnik is often present here, that's why I asked... Thanks for the input though, @Jkudlick. BRDude⁷⁰ (talk) 17:31, 8 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Done. Giant Snowman 17:35, 8 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]