Editorial Policy

1. Editorial mission

KiqIQ is a football intelligence platform. Our mission is to translate complex football ideas — tactics, performance science, data systems, player development, and football culture — into clear, structured knowledge that coaches, analysts, practitioners, and serious fans can use to better understand the sport.

We publish content that is researched, sourced, and structured for understanding — not for clicks, virality, or commercial alignment.

2. Editorial independence

KiqIQ's editorial decisions are made independently of any commercial relationship. Specifically:

• Affiliate partnerships do not determine content selection or conclusions
• We do not accept compensation in exchange for positive coverage
• Sponsored content, when it appears, is clearly disclosed and labelled separately
• No advertiser, partner, or commercial interest can require, suppress, or modify a piece of editorial content
• The editor's final judgement on factual accuracy and editorial fit is binding

See our Affiliate Disclosure for the full commercial-relationship framework.

3. Content standards

Every piece of content published on KiqIQ aims to meet the following standards:

• Factually accurate — claims grounded in verifiable sources or clearly identified as analysis/opinion
• Properly sourced — primary sources cited where possible, secondary sources cross-checked
• Probabilistic where uncertain — predictions framed as probabilities, never as guarantees
• Free from manufactured urgency — no FOMO language, no "today only" framing on educational content
• Inclusive and accessible — clear language; technical concepts defined; British English by default
• Updated when material changes occur — content with a date stamp where time-sensitive

4. Source standards

Sources used in KiqIQ content are evaluated on three dimensions:

• Authority — does the source have demonstrable expertise on the topic?
• Recency — is the source current enough to be relevant?
• Independence — is the source free from conflict of interest with the topic?

Where statistical data is referenced (xG, xA, PPDA, etc.), we identify the data provider (FBref, Understat, Opta-derived, StatsBomb-derived, etc.) and the date the data was retrieved.

5. Fact-checking process

Every published piece passes through a fact-check stage before publication. Specifically:

• Statistical claims are verified against the cited source on the day of publication
• Quotations are verified against the original source
• Historical claims (results, transfers, dates) are cross-checked against at least two independent sources
• Player or club references are checked for accuracy at the time of writing
• Dated content (form-based analysis, current standings, etc.) carries an explicit date

Read more in our Review Process.

6. Use of AI assistance

KiqIQ may use AI tools (large language models) to assist with research synthesis, drafting, and copy-editing. Where AI is used:

• The editor reviews all AI-assisted content before publication
• AI is never used to generate fabricated statistics or quotes
• AI-generated draft content is grounded in cited sources, not free-form generation
• The KiqIQ AI assistant published on the site is identified as such

7. Conflicts of interest

KiqIQ's founder and editor (David Findlay) works professionally in the global sports technology industry, including roles at A-Champs and Goal Station — companies developing training systems and performance technology used by clubs and academies.

Where a piece of KiqIQ content references the technology, products, or services of A-Champs, Goal Station, or any organisation with which KiqIQ's editor has a material relationship, that relationship will be disclosed in the relevant content.

Where the editor cannot achieve sufficient independence on a topic, the topic is either not covered or covered by an independent contributor with appropriate disclosure.

8. Anti-tipster commitment

KiqIQ does not publish "tips" in the gambling-industry sense. We do not promise winners, guaranteed returns, or insider information. Our betting-related content (where it exists) is probabilistic analysis, framed transparently with stated assumptions and limitations.

See Methodology and How KiqIQ Thinks for the full framework.

9. Corrections and updates

When factual errors are discovered, KiqIQ commits to correcting them transparently. See our Corrections Policy for the full process.

10. Reader feedback

We welcome reader feedback on our content. If you spot a factual error, find content unclear, or have a topic suggestion:

• Email: editor@kiqiq.com
• Topic suggestions and tip-offs welcome
• We aim to acknowledge serious feedback within 5 business days

11. Document maintenance

This Editorial Policy is reviewed annually and updated when our content practices change. Material updates are noted in the changelog.