Footballers Show Red Card to Unauthorized Data Use
More and more footballers—and other athletes—are standing up against the unauthorized use of their personal performance data. Many are now sending “stop processing” notices to data companies and betting firms, demanding they stop using their personal information without consent.
Players fear that third parties, especially gambling companies, are collecting, analyzing, and sharing their sensitive data—such as fitness levels, injury history, and overall performance metrics—in ways that could not only harm their careers but also impact their market value, mental health, and professional reputation.
UK data protection laws grant individuals the right to object to how others handle their personal data. Footballers are actively using this legal right to challenge the misuse.
The Global Sports Data and Technology Group (GSDT), co-founded by former football manager Russell Slade and technologist Jason Dunlop, is helping the players in their fight. They launched Project Red Card, a campaign that aims to give athletes more control over who uses their performance data.
Players accept that their clubs collect and use data to improve their performance. However, they strongly oppose the sale or sharing of this data with outside companies—especially gambling firms—without their knowledge or approval.
GSDT hasn’t revealed which companies they’ve targeted, but they claim it includes some of the biggest names in betting.
The movement began with a lawsuit in 2020, representing hundreds of footballers. It challenges the use of player data without any compensation or consent and highlights serious concerns about data accuracy and the potential negative effects on careers and public welfare.
