The World Cup might be over, but controversy continues to unfold in its aftermath, with of Spain’s matches flagged over potential ‘match manipulation’.
La Roja triumphed over the summer and defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 in the final to win their second World Cup. Their route to the final wasn’t an easy one and they beat Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France in the knockout rounds.
Two of their matches have been included in notices raised regarding possible match manipulation from potential betting irregularities identified during the tournament, per The Athletic.
Spain Matches Flagged For Possible ‘Match Manipulation’
On Wednesday, the Copenhagen Group announced that seven “yellow alerts” were detected, which means “multiple indicators of irregularities.” Throughout the tournament, an estimated $240 billion in total betting was reached, which is about double the amount at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
There are four levels: green “normal”, yellow “low alert”, orange “high alert”, and red “highest risk level.” While the report has yet to be published, a summary has been released by the Council of Europe.
Their findings include Spain’s shock 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, which started their World Cup campaign in disappointment. It’s said that bets worth $4.8 million (£3.6m) were placed by the American cryptocurrency-based prediction platform “Polymarket” on La Roja failing to beat the African nation, and this proved to be one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.
Now ranked 64th in the world, Cape Verde held on for a point during the group stage game. This was the only time Luis de la Fuente’s men failed to score during the campaign.
Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia is also named in the findings due to a three-and-a-half-minute delay by VAR to disallow Ferran Torres’ goal. The Barcelona star was judged to have been in an offside position but the technology took much longer than usual to rule the goal out.
You scored
out of 20
Findings Also Include Balogun Red Card Controversy
REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Other incidents that were flagged included South Africa’s Themba Zwane receiving a red card in the World Cup opening defeat to co-hosts Mexico. An ‘extremely harsh’ decision resulted in a three-match ban after he was adjudged to have illegally raised his arm on Roberto Alvarado despite the Africans being on the attack.
Polymarket was again named for opening a market on July 2nd that asked: “Will Folarin Balogun play against Belgium?” This came on the same day the USA striker was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 and three days before FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee suspended his one-match ban to allow him to play.
Overall, 15 matches were placed under close monitoring, with particular focus on the final round of the group stage. They analysed 12 controversial cases, including those mentioned above.
Tottenham Hotspur youngster Alfie Dorrington is not leaving the club, yet, after performing a last-ditch u-turn on completing a move to Poland.
The 21-year-old looked set to depart Spurs on a permanent basis this summer after Polish side Pogon Szczecin agreed a deal with the north Londoners to sign him.
It looked like the move was sorted, but Dorrington has had a late change of heart and has turned down the chance to move to the continent.
That does not mean he will not leave N17 this summer, but the young defender has made it clear he would like to look for other opportunities in England, rather than going abroad.
The 2026/2027 Premier League season is about to get underway – August 21, in case you’d forgotten! – so attention will naturally turn back to players creating and tinkering with their respective FPL clubs, getting their squads in the right order and ensuring they can score as many points as possible.
A crucial aspect of Fantasy Premier League‘s enduring allure lies in its unique blend of sporting knowledge, risk-taking, tactical nous, and it is all topped off with an unexpected dash of comedic wit – encapsulated within the confines of your team’s name. It’s a golden opportunity to let your sense of humour shine, potentially earning you much mirth and plenty of admiration from your friends and colleagues, not to mention fellow FPL enthusiasts.
A name that allows you to transfer a part of your personality directly to your team. For the most part, constructed in puns, these veritable identity cards add a humorous touch to a game that many see as a real competition. FPL players have once again vied with each other to come up with the best names for their teams, while always remaining within the bounds of respect, an essential element of the FPL community.
To this end, this article has compiled the 275 most humorous and fun-filled team names that can be found – and that you too can rely on – in the game that more than 8 million users around the world are playing this year.
Many of the best-loved team names on the circuit are correlated with the identity of legends or, more simply, retirees from the green rectangle. Derived from the names of cinematic works, everyday expressions or pop-culture subjects (music, books, posters), these names are sure to remind you of great football moments, whether good or less enjoyable.
You’ll find, for example, ‘Alba and the 40 speeds’, a reference to the famous tales of the Thousand and One Nights published in 1701, or ‘Rooney Tunes’, a quirky format for a programme that was no less quirky and will appeal to older generations. Others are just classic puns and word-play: ‘Baines on Toast’, ‘It would be Ruud not to’ and so on.
Legends (or former players)
FPL Team Name
Player
Agueroooo!
Sergio Aguero
Akinfenwa Pancakes
Adebayo Akinfenwa
Alba and the 40 Speeds
Jordi Alba
Baines on Toast
Leighton Baines
Out on Bale
Gareth Bale
Here’s Bony!
Wilfried Bony
Bony & Clyde
Wilfried Bony
Carra on Camping
Jamie Carragher
You Petr Cech Yourself
Petr Cech
Petr Cech Yourself
Petr Cech
Men Behaving Chadli
Nacer Chadli
Chamakh My Pitch Up
Marouane Chamakh
Down to Chiellini
Georgio Chiellini
Crouch Potato
Peter Crouch
Deeney in a Bottle
Troy Deeney
Me, My Delph and I
Fabian Delph
Delph and Safety
Fabian Delph
Ctrl Alt De Laet
Ritchie De Laet
Dostbusters
Bas Dost
Blink 1 Eto’o
Samuel Eto’o
All’s Fer in Love And War
Leroy Fer
No Fuchs Given
Christian Fuchs
For Fuchs Sake
Christian Fuchs
Jar of Hart
Joe Hart
Quit Playing with my Hart
Joe Hart
Dukes Of Hazard
Eden Hazard
Hazardous Material
Eden Hazard
Man of the Mats
Mats Hummels
Can’t Handle the Huth
Robert Huth
Haven’t Jota Clue
Diogo Jota
Not a Kalou
Salomon Kalou
Run the Kewells
Harry Kewell
Klose But No Cigar
Miroslav Klose
Knockaert Punch
Anthony Knockaert
Kroos Control
Toni Kroos
Kroosing like Toni
Toni Kroos
Kroos Control
Toni Kroos
HuttonDressedAsLahm
Philipp Lahm
Tinky Winky Dipsy Lallana Poe
Adam Lallana
Lallana’s in Pyjamas
Adam Lallana
Lamela Anderson
Erik Lamela
Taking Le Tiss
Matt Le Tissier
How I Met Your Mata
Juan Mata
Mee, Myself & I
Ben Mee
Why’d You Only Call Ben Mee When You’re High?
Ben Mee
Dial M for Mertens
Dries Mertens
Mertesacker’s Turtle Necks
Per Mertesacker
Slumdog Mignolet
Simon Mignolet
Neville Wears Prada
Gary Neville
50 Shades of O’Shea
John O’Shea
Sweet Child O’Shea
John O’Shea
Kings Of Leon Osman
Leon Osman
The Wizard of Ozil
Mesut Ozil
Ji-Sung Park the bus
Ji-Sung Park
Salt & Pepe
Pepe
Pepe’s Piglets
Pepe
Pique My Interest
Gerard Pique
Draft or Pique
Gerard Pique
Pique Blinders
Gerard Pique
Pjanic at the Disco
Miralem Pjanic
A Room with a Pugh
Marc Pugh
Puncheon Above My Weight
Jason Puncheon
You Musa Be Joaquin?
Joaquin
Three Cheers for Ramires
Ramires
Purple Reina
Pepe Reina
Rock’n’Rolando
Rolando
Rooney Tunes
Wayne Rooney
Guns N’ Rosicky
Tomas Rosicky
Eye of the Schweinsteiger
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Teenage Mutant Ninja Skrtels
Martin Skrtel
Disco Stuarridge
Daniel Sturridge
Tevez Dispenser
Carlos Tevez
Lady Yaya
Yaya Toure
Arda Than You
Arda Turan
Van Der Fart
Rafael van der Vaart
It would be Ruud not to
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Where’s Wondo?
Wondo
The Zarate Kid
Mauro Zarate
Murderonzidanesfloor
Zinedine Zidane
Premier League Players
Kai Havertz celebrates his winner for Arsenal against Brentford.
While the legends are well represented, the current Premier League players are not to be outdone. Some of whom, moreover, are a major source of inspiration to millions of players across the globe. Erling Haaland, whose name has been used on several occasions, is one of the favourites.
From ‘Haalandaise Sauce’ to ‘Walking in a Winter WonderHaaland’, the Man City striker is no exception to the rule. What is also interesting about this type of format is that all players, regardless of their level or popularity in the eyes of the general public or the media, can find their names used as inspiration by FPL players.
Premier League Players
FPL Team Name
Player
Club
Kepa Faith
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Arsenal
Calafiori Dreamin’
Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal
Eze Come, Eze Go
Eberechi Eze
Arsenal
Old Havertz Kai Hard
Kai Havertz
Arsenal
Like Gabriel Jesus To A Child
Gabriel Jesus
Arsenal
Rice, Rice Baby
Declan Rice
Arsenal
Livin’ Saliba Loco
William Saliba
Arsenal
Saka Potatoes
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal
Quantum of Tzolis
Christos Tzolis
Arsenal
Matty Cash in the Attic
Matty Cash
Aston Villa
Come Digne With Me
Lucas Digne
Aston Villa
Ezri Konsaquences
Ezri Konsa
Aston Villa
McGinn and Tonic
John McGinn
Aston Villa
Stranger Mings
Tyrone Mings
Aston Villa
Dango Unchained
Dango Ouattara
Brentford
Find Some Schade
Kevin Schade
Brentford
Now I’m a Baleba
Carlos Baleba
Brighton
Uptown Dunk
Lewis Dunk
Brighton
Gross Pointe Blank
Pascal Gross
Brighton
Wireless Rutter
Georginio Rutter
Brighton
Mitomavirus
Kaoru Mitoma
Brighton
Mudryk To Life
Mikhailo Mudryk
Chelsea
Finding Neto
Pedro Neto
Chelsea
Palmer Violets
Cole Palmer
Chelsea
Sterling Silverware
Raheem Sterling
Chelsea
Hakuna Mateta
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Crystal Palace
Beto Call Saul
Beto
Everton
Rock and Rohl
Merlin Rohl
Everton
Me, Myself, Ndiaye
Illiman Ndiaye
Everton
Tarkowsky and Hutch
James Tarkowski
Everton
Obi-Wan Iwobi
Alex Iwobi
Fulham
Always on Targett
Matt Targett
Hull City
The Bijol and End All
Jaka Bijol
Leeds United
Gelhardt or Go Home
Joe Gelhardt
Leeds United
Alisson Wonderland
Alisson
Liverpool
Not Isakly Sure
Alexander Isak
Liverpool
Jacquet of All Trades
Jeremy Jacquet
Liverpool
Love The Way You Szoboszlai
Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool
The 40 Year Old Virgil
Virgil Van Dijk
Liverpool
Everybody Wirtz Sometimes
Florian Wirtz
Liverpool
Wirtz Case Scenario
Florian Wirtz
Liverpool
Beef Cherki
Rayan Cherki
Manchester City
Grealish the Beast
Jack Grealish
Manchester City
Gvardiols Of The Galaxy
Josko Gvardiol
Manchester City
Haalandaise Sauce
Erling Haaland
Manchester City
Winter WonderHaaland
Erling Haaland
Manchester City
Cunha Matata
Matheus Cunha
Manchester UNited
Earth, Wind and Maguire
Harry Maguire
Manchester United
Kinder Mbeumo
Bryan Mbeumo
Manchester United
Count on Mount
Mason Mount
Manchester United
Afternoon De Ligt
Matthijs de Ligt
Manchester United
Tea for the Tielemans
Youri Tielemans
Manchester United
Botman and Robin
Sven Botman
Newcastle
Don’t Look Back Elanga
Anthony Elanga
Newcastle
Costa Livramento Crisis
Tino Livramento
Newcastle
MacAwoniyi Cheese
Taiwo Awoniyi
Nottingham Forest
Boom Xhakalaka
Granit Xhaka
Sunderland
Sixth Spence
Djed Spence
Tottenham Hotspur
Tonali Addicted to Bass
Sandro Tonali
Tottenham Hotspur
Snoop Udogie Dogg
Destiny Udogie
Tottenham Hotspur
What the Van Hecke?
Jan Paul van Hecke
Tottenham Hotspur
Not only do Premier League players get the treatment, but those competing outside of the English top-flight see their names used by FPL players. Some Championship players are no exception, as are many of their colleagues across Europe.
Many of them have played in the Premier League, as in the case of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Leroy Sane, Olivier Giroud and Daley Blind, all of whom have not been forgotten by their respective fans. While some of the puns are immediately obvious – or rather obvious to the ear – others are more subtle and take longer to understand – which makes them even easier to grasp.
European Players
FPL Team Name
Player
Club
Estupinan Colada
Pervis Estupinan
AC Milan
Loftus-Cheeky Nandos
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
AC Milan
If Tomori Never Comes
Fikayo Tomori
AC Milan
Blind At The Back
Daley Blind
Ajax
The Kouyate Kid
Kiki Kouyate
Antwerp
De Roon Is On Fire
Marten De Roon
Atalanta Bergamo
Citizen Kane
Harry Kane
Bayern Munich
No Kane, No Gain
Harry Kane
Bayern Munich
King Kane
Harry Kane
Bayern Munich
Neuer Say Never Again
Manuel Neuer
Bayern Munich
Iheanacho Libre
Kelechi Iheanacho
Bursaspor
The Men Who Stare at Gotze
Mario Gotze
Eintracht Frankfurt
Batshuayi Crazy
Michy Batshuayi
Eintracht Frankfurt
Enter Shaqiri
Xherdan Shaqiri
FC Basel
Hanging By a Fred
Fred
Fenerbahce
You Kante Be Serious?
Ngolo Kante
Fenerbahce
De Gea Bar
David De Gea
Fiorentina
InSane in the Membrane
Leroy Sane
Galatasaray
Bacuna Matata
Juninho Bacuna
Gaziantep
Taking The Mkhitaryan
Henrik Mkhitaryan
Inter Milan
Guns & Moses
Victor Moses
Kaisar
Okoli Dokily
Caleb Okoli
Leicester City
Giroud Let The Dogs Out?
Olivier Giroud
Lille
Giroud Awakening
Olivier Giroud
Lille
Ibe Gotta Feeling
Jordan Ibe
Lokomotiv Sofia
Ibe Back
Jordan Ibe
Lokomotiv Sofia
Pimps and Hojbjergs
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Marseille
Curl Up and Dier
Eric Dier
Monaco
Top Dier
Eric Dier
Monaco
PogBoom
Paul Pogba
Monaco
Pique and the Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne
Napoli
Gilmours Girls
Billy Gilmour
Napoli
One Flew Over Lukaku’s Nest
Romelu Lukaku
Napoli
Pelle and Dembele On Your Telly
Ousmane Dembele
Paris Saint-Germain
Dembele Tower
Ousmane Dembele
Paris Saint-Germain
Hakimi & Rudiger
Achraf Hakimi
Paris Saint-Germain
Valeri’s Angels
Emanuele Valeri
Parma
Bellerin Than Out
Hector Bellerin
Real Betis
Under My Cucurella
Marc Cucurella
Real Madrid
Rudiger’s Rangers
Antonio Rudiger
Real Madrid
Silva Lining
Bernardo Silva
Real Madrid
Dzeko and the Bunnymen
Edin Dzeko
Schalke
Not A Karius In The World
Loris Karius
Schalke
Gylfi Pleasures
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Vikingur Reykjavik
Areola Grande
Alphonse Areola
West Ham
Bowen 747
Jarrod Bowen
West Ham
As football becomes increasingly globalised and many glories reach the end of their careers – or are still some way off – Fantasy Premier League players have also had to adapt to these changes.
But the opportunities are all the greater for it. Mario Balotelli has moved to Asia, where a ‘Balotelli-Tubbies’ team is still named after him. Representatives of Major League Soccer, the Brazilian Serie A and more are present in the list, as can be seen from the extensive array of names below.
International Football
FPL Team Name
Player
Club
Cancelo Culture
Joao Cancelo
Al Hilal
Balotelli-Tubbies
Mario Balotelli
Al Ittifaq
Firmino’s Dentist
Roberto Firmino
Al-Sadd
Benteke Fried Chicken
Christian Benteke
Al Wahda
The Big Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski
Chicago Fire
Who Ate All Depays?
Memphis Depay
Corinthians
Lingardium Leviosa
Jesse Lingard
Corinthians
Paqueta Crisps
Lucas Paqueta
Flamengo
When Harry Met Alli
Dele Alli
Free Agent
Aribo Tangfastics
Joe Aribo
Free Agent
Ayew Ready For This?
Andre Ayew
Free Agent
Right In The Feghoulis
Sofiane Feghouli
Free Agent
Hoilett the Dogs Out
Junior Hoilett
Free Agent
Lord of the Ings
Danny Ings
Free Agent
Stranger Ings
Danny Ings
Free Agent
Best Ings In Life Are Free
Danny Ings
Free Agent
Krafth Beer
Emil Krafth
Free Agent
Glory, Glory Salah-lujah
Mohamed Salah
Free Agent
Chicken Tikka Mo Salah
Mohamed Salah
Free Agent
All The Smallings
Chris Smalling
Free Agent
Elneny and the Jets
Mohamed Elneny
Free Agent
Rolling Stones
John Stones
Free Agent
Game of Stones
John Stones
Free Agent
Stones in Glass Houses
John Stones
Free Agent
No Weimann No Cry
Andreas Weimann
Free Agent
The Vardy Boys
Jamie Vardy
Free Agent
Vardy Hard
Jamie Vardy
Free Agent
Willian Dollar Baby
Willian
Gremio
Life is Messi
Lionel Messi
Inter Miami
Messi Nessy
Lionel Messi
Inter Miami
Sound Of The Lloris
Hugo Lloris
LAFC
Lloris the Hounds
Hugo Lloris
LAFC
Son of a Pitch
Heung-min Son
LAFC
Muller Reus Corner
Marco Reus
LA Galaxy
Jingle All The Ney
Neymar
Santos
Moura the Same
Lucas Moura
Sao Paulo
Managers
While players are a major part of the inspiration of Fantasy Premier League players, coaches, current and former, are not forgotten. ‘TenHager, Better, Faster Stronger’ in tribute to Daft Punk on the one hand, ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ transformed into ‘The Secret Life of Pep’ of another, no one, absolutely no one, is safe.
Some of the best inspirations include the famous ‘Murder On Zidane’s Floor’, ‘Smack My Bilic Up’ and ‘Kindergarten Klopp’. And if you thought that only legal entities were targeted by users’ puns, you were finally far from the truth.
Managers
FPL Team Name
Manager
Allardyce Lost
Sam Allardyce
Gangsters Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
The Seven Year Bilic
Slaven Bilic
Smack My Bilic Up
Slaven Bilic
Absolutely Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas
Cesc and the City
Cesc Fabregas
The Cesc Pistols
Cesc Fabregas
For Farke Sake
Daniel Farke
Thomas The Frank Engine
Thomas Frank
En Guardiola!
Josep Guardiola
The Secret Life of Pep
Josep Guardiola
Kindergarten Klopp
Jurgen Klopp
Klopps and Robbers
Jurgen Klopp
Low Island
Joachim Low
Backstreet Moyes
David Moyes
Ange Management
Ange Postecoglou
Brendan Jerry’s
Brendan Rodgers
TenHager, Better, Faster Stronger
Erik Ten Hag
Tuchel For School
Thomas Tuchel
Murder On Zidane’s Floor
Zinedine Zidane
Teams
Because yes, even clubs do not escape the rules of the Fantasy Premier League. Premier League, Bundesliga, Liga, Championship or Premier Soccer League (the South African first division championship): no league is spared.
Among the funniest appellations, we will find in particular the “Champagne SuperRovers”, “Bilbao Baggins”, “Dallas Buyers Club” and again “Bayer Neverlosin'” – perfectly adapted to the magnificent season crossed by the men of Xabi Alonso, who ended Bayern Munich’s dominance to clinch the Bundesliga crown in the 2023/2024 campaign.
Teams
FPL Team Name
Team
AC a little silhouetto of Milan
AC Milan
Ajax Trees Dow
Ajax Amsterdam
Bilbao Baggins
Athletic Bilbao
Imaginary Madrid
Atletico de Madrid
Bayer Neverlosin’
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Bru
Bayern Munich
Champagne SuperRovers
Blackburn Rovers
Borussia Teeth
Borussia Dortmund
AC/DC United
DC United
Dynamo Chicken Kiev
Dynamo Kyiv
VARcelona
FC Barcelona
Dallas Buyers Club
FC Dallas
Fiorentina Turner
Fiorentina
Inter Yermam
Inter Milan
Inter Row Z
Inter Milan
Pfizer Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs
UnReal Madrid
Real Madrid
Real SoSoBad
Real Sociedad
Cry Me a River Plate
River Plate
Not So Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur
Expected Toulouse
Toulouse FC
Other Options
Alice in Hangeland
Nani McPhee
Goal of Duty
The Vincibles
Smells like Team Spirit
School of Hard Knocks
Every Day I’m Shuffling
Don’t Be Upsetti, Eat Some Spaghetti
Marco Polo
Norfolk n’ Good
Covid VARiant
Sex and the City
Undeniably, “Alice in Hangeland” is one of the finest and wittiest in the lineup. A masterful mix of a classic novel and a legendary player, it’s a prime example of the humorous potential of team naming in FPL.
If you now have 275 different sources of inspiration, they ultimately represent only a tiny part of an infinity of possibilities, each more pointed than the other.
A cleverly constructed name reflects not only the humour and creativity of the one who found it, but also its understanding of football, players and its culture in the general sense of the term, whether the latter is footballing or more spread out. This is an essential, perhaps the most important, part of the FPL experience. This is the essence of a game.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson looks to have got himself into hot water once again after appearing to punch a man in the face while live-streaming on his Kick channel.
Footage shows Rampage striking a man in the face after the individual allegedly acted inappropriately at a party.
The 48-year-old is seen hitting streamer SweaterGxd – whose real name is Adrian Javier Sandoval – in the face twice at Jackson’s “TaKO Tuesday” party on the platform Kick.
During the footage, Jackson can be heard saying, “Don’t touch my girlfriend,” and, at another point, saying, “I don’t play that gay s***. Don’t touch my d***. Respect straight people.”
During the encounter, there appears to be an awkward atmosphere as Sandoval, who seems to be streaming himself at the time, looks unsure as to whether the events are serious or in jest.
Later in the more than seven-hour-long stream, the pair seemed to put their differences behind them after Sandoval apologises. Rampage accused the streamer of clip farming, and the former UFC star and his friends took exception to Sandoval’s use of a racial slur.
After shaking hands and making up, Sandoval asked Jackson to punch him in the stomach in jest a few times, blows that are said to be delivered at 40% of the fighter’s power. Jackson said the earlier strikes were landed at about 15% power, with his weaker hand.
Video: Rampage Jackson Punches Streamer
In recent times, Jackson has taken to streaming on Kick, where he has 303,000 subscribers. The live stream in which the events took place has to date attracted 207,000 views.
Earlier in the stream, current UFC fighter King Green made an appearance. Green recently opened the UFC 329: McGregor vs Holloway 2 card with a first-round knockout of Terrance McKinney.
The incident is the latest in a series of issues for Rampage and his family. Jackson’s son Raja was arrested on a charge of felony assault last September after an incident at a professional wrestling show appeared to go wrong. Raja pleaded guilty to a count of felony battery in May.
Jackson is a former UFC light heavyweight champion, having won the belt by beating Chuck Liddell in the first round with a Knockout of the Night performance at UFC 71 in Las Vegas.
His last mixed martial arts bout was a knockout loss to legend Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 237 in 2019. His record stands at 38 wins and 14 losses.
