Last updated: 2 June 2025
This page explains what information football-law.com collects when you visit, why, and what control you have over it. We are a small, independent content site, so the answer is “not much,” but you deserve the details in plain English.
Who we are
Football Law is an independent website about the laws, money and stories of football. In this policy, “we,” “us” and “this site” mean Football Law at football-law.com. “You” means anyone reading or using the site.
The short version
- You can read this site without creating an account or telling us who you are.
- Like almost every website, our server keeps basic technical logs.
- We use cookies. Some are ours, and some may come from analytics or advertising partners.
- Embedded videos and social posts can let those platforms collect data about you.
- We do not sell your personal data.
- You can ask us what we hold about you and ask us to delete it.
Information we collect automatically
Server logs
When your browser requests a page, the server hosting this site records standard technical details. These typically include:
- your IP address
- the date and time of the request
- the page or file requested
- your browser type and operating system
- the referring page, if your browser sends one
We use these logs to keep the site running, fix errors, understand load, and spot abuse such as spam or attacks. We do not use them to build profiles of individual readers.
Cookies and similar technologies
Cookies are small text files stored by your browser. Similar technologies include local storage and tracking pixels. We group them into three types.
| Type | What it does | Who sets it |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Keeps the site working and remembers settings such as your cookie choices | This site |
| Analytics | Counts visits and shows which pages are read, so we know what is useful | This site or an analytics partner |
| Advertising | Shows ads and measures whether they work, which helps fund the site | Advertising partners |
Essential cookies are needed for the site to function. Where the law requires it, we will ask for your consent before setting analytics or advertising cookies, and you can change your mind at any time.
Analytics and advertising partners
We may use third-party analytics services to understand how the site is used in aggregate, for example how many people read an article or which country traffic comes from. We prefer settings that limit data collection, such as shortening IP addresses where the service allows it.
We may also show advertising from third-party networks. These partners can use cookies and device identifiers to show ads, limit how often you see the same ad, and measure results. Some may personalise ads based on your activity across other websites. That processing is governed by each partner’s own privacy policy.
If we add or change partners, we will update this page.
Embedded content from other sites
Some articles include content hosted elsewhere, such as videos, social media posts or maps. That content behaves exactly as if you had visited the other site directly. The provider may:
- set its own cookies
- record that you viewed the content
- link the visit to your account if you are logged in to that platform
We do not control what these providers collect. If this concerns you, log out of those platforms before reading, or use browser settings or extensions that block third-party content.
Tools that run in your browser
Where we say a tool on this site runs in your browser, such as a calculator or interactive explainer, the information you enter is processed on your own device. It is not sent to our server or stored by us. Closing or refreshing the page clears it, unless the tool clearly tells you it saves something locally on your device.
Information you choose to send us
If you contact us, for example to report an error or ask a question, we receive whatever you include in your message, such as your name, email address and the message itself. We use this only to reply and deal with your request. We will not add you to a mailing list unless you ask us to.
How we use information
We use the information described above to:
- deliver and maintain the site
- keep it secure and prevent abuse
- understand which content is useful and improve it
- show and measure advertising that funds the site, where applicable
- respond to messages you send
- meet legal obligations
We do not sell your personal data
We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information. We share data only with service providers who help us run the site (such as hosting, analytics and advertising partners), when the law requires it, or to protect the site and its readers from fraud or abuse.
How long we keep data
We keep information only as long as we need it.
- Server logs: kept for a limited period for security and troubleshooting, then deleted or anonymised.
- Analytics data: kept in aggregate form, under the retention settings of the analytics service we use.
- Cookies: each cookie has its own expiry. Some vanish when you close your browser; others last longer. You can delete them at any time.
- Messages you send us: kept while we deal with your request and for a reasonable time afterwards in case of follow-up, then deleted.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, data protection laws such as the GDPR in the UK and EU or state privacy laws in the US may give you rights over your personal data. We aim to honour these requests for every reader, wherever you are. You can ask us to:
- tell you what personal data we hold about you
- give you a copy of it
- correct anything inaccurate
- delete it
- stop or limit how we use it
- withdraw consent you previously gave, such as for cookies
To make a request, use the contact page on this site. We may need to ask for information to confirm your identity, and we will respond within the time the law requires. You also have the right to complain to the data protection authority where you live.
Managing cookies yourself
You do not have to rely on us. Every major browser lets you view, block and delete cookies, and most offer a private browsing mode. You can also use the opt-out tools many advertising networks provide. Blocking all cookies may stop some parts of the site, including embedded content, from working properly.
Security
We take reasonable technical steps to protect the site and the limited data it handles, including serving pages over an encrypted connection. No website can promise perfect security, but we keep what we collect to a minimum, which is the best protection of all.
Children
This site is written for a general adult audience. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has sent us personal data, contact us and we will delete it.
International visitors
The services that host and support this site may store or process data in countries other than your own. Where that happens, we rely on providers that offer appropriate safeguards for the transfer.
Changes to this policy
We will update this page when our practices change, for example if we add a new analytics or advertising partner. The “Last updated” date at the top shows when it was last revised. Significant changes will be made clear on the site.
Contact
Questions about this policy or your data are welcome. Reach us through the contact page on this site.