Your weekly source of information and entertainment, Sports Journal #58 brought to you by our journalists, is here! 📖⚽

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1/ OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS

2/ THE NEW MERGE HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING

3/ THE CLASSIC AND ROYAL SERVERS HAVE MERGED!

4/ HATRED AND DEDICATION

5/ THE GREAT RETURN OF THE "REFEREEING CONTROVERSIES THROUGH THE EYES OF A MANAGER" SERIES!

OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS

Merge Classic and Royal Servers in FootballTeam.

The world of the browser game FootballTeam has once again witnessed a significant event that has impacted the community and gameplay: the merger of the Classic and Royal servers. This decision, while driven by the desire to optimize and revitalize the game, has sparked a range of reactions among players.

Background to the Decision:

The Classic server was a longer-established gaming environment, accumulating a stable but gradually dwindling player base. The Royal server, introduced later, often served as a platform with refreshed mechanics, new challenges, and a unique season cycle designed to attract new or returning players.

The main reasons for merging servers were typically:

• Population Increase: Consolidating players from both servers into one location aims to invigorate competition, especially in club competitions, leagues, and tournaments.
• Cost/Management Optimization: Maintaining fewer servers is more efficient in terms of technical resources and administrative work.
• Improving Competitive Fluency: A larger number of active players means finding opponents for matches in faster and more diverse leagues.

Key Aspects of the Merger:

The merger itself required careful planning, especially due to differences in systems and player progression. For the merger of Classic and Royal, key principles were established, creating a so-called "hybrid" of both servers:

Player Reactions and Ratings:

The merger, like any major change, generated mixed feelings:

• Positives: Classic and Royal players gained more competition, especially in the upper leagues and club competitions. This positively impacted the overall feel of the game.
• Negatives: Some Royal players criticized the loss of specific server mechanics (e.g., training), which forced them to adapt to Classic. There were also concerns about power balance and the sudden increase in the number of strong, trained characters. Some Royal players, who had registered for this server as a separate, short-term experience, felt disappointed by the need to merge their accounts.
• Concerns: Questions arose about how long the unified server would maintain high activity and whether this would lead to further mergers in the future.

Summary:

The merger of the Classic and Royal servers into FootballTeam is a strategic move by the developers, aimed at bringing the community together and reinvigorating competition. The hybrid game mechanics introduced require Royal players to adapt to several Classic rules. The success of the operation depends on the long-term ability of the unified server to maintain balance and a high level of engagement among players from both former environments.

Author: DaVoS

THE NEW MERGE HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING

With the arrival of the new server fusion, the world of FootballTeam Game has entered a thrilling new era. The top players from Classic and Royal now share one arena, battling face to face in a more intense and competitive environment than ever before.

What once were two separate worlds are now united into one passionate community. Training sessions are multiplying, teams are reorganizing, and every match feels like a championship final.

A New Pulse in the Game

From day one, the change has been undeniable. The level of competitiveness has skyrocketed — players are refining every detail of their performance, while coaches and managers push their limits to shine in this new, merged landscape.

But it’s not only the gameplay intensity that has changed — the market is on fire too. New players are arriving, new teams are forming, and the transfer window has become busier than ever.

The Market on Fire

The FootballTeam Game market is hotter than ever.
Not long ago, you could find packages for just 3 or 4 credits, but now it’s hard to get anything for less than 8. Prices have climbed across the board, proving just how vibrant and active the community has become.

This economic surge reflects more than inflation — it shows growth, engagement, and renewed excitement within the game. The fusion has reawakened both competition and commerce, giving the virtual football world a fresh, electric energy.

A Move That Rekindled the Passion

This fusion isn’t just a technical update — it’s a revival.
The developers have managed to unite veterans and newcomers in a single, thriving ecosystem where motivation and passion run high.

Old rivalries are reignited, new friendships are born, and the sense of belonging in the FootballTeam universe has never been stronger.

In short, this server fusion marks a turning point in the game’s history — a bold, successful move that not only enhances the experience but also reignites the love for this beautiful virtual sport.

AUTHOR: EL PULPO

THE CLASSIC AND ROYAL SERVERS HAVE MERGED!

Hello everyone, a new edition of the FT Sport Journal #58. As the year draws to a close, a turning point has arrived for FootballTeam.

The administration took a decisive and somewhat risky step—unifying the ROYAL and CLASSIC servers. It was a very exciting moment, but also a worrying one. Many teams and players might not survive this merger. Many teams did merge… Others remained as they were, leading to the teams whose leaders left being forgotten. This fading didn't happen suddenly; sometimes it took several seasons, and there are even teams still waiting for this fate, moving towards it more slowly.

However, we're still in the game, which means our perception of the merger leans more towards the positive. In my personal opinion, the teams have become more competitive, and the competition in the top leagues has become more interesting and intense.

The same is true for journalism, which has also undergone an internal merger—the merging of the newspapers. Unfortunately, this hasn't been without its losses either.

Just like with the merging of the ROYAL and CLASSIC servers into CLASSIC, on the one hand, you feel excited about what's coming and the unknown, but on the other hand, there are many unanswered questions that leave you wondering what's going on and cast doubt on any idea.

Since many questions have been raised about the format changes, we could expect a surprise in the form of a reformulated original idea, with certain adjustments and modernizations in the areas that concern the players.

Why not? It's the season nearing the end of the year, the perfect time to believe in miracles!

We can also expect a new batch of cards or new achievement rewards. I'd like to share some "amusing" comments about this news with you, but I'll let you read them for yourselves. Some of them are simply too outrageous to air!

After all, we perfectly understand why this is being done, and there's no need to present it as a significant event. There's a certain charm to card games and collections. They add variability to gameplay and offer the chance to earn extra benefits. And in principle, no one is forcing you—you play if you want to, or not. You collect if you want to, or not.

The problem is that if something is going to change, this change should be for the better, but so far, the opposite is happening. The rewards from card collections are decreasing, the number of cards needed for collections is increasing, and the principle of selecting "legends" is questionable. In the end, this event will bring us cards, Fame Points, or Energy Packs, complicating our collection efforts and forcing us to seek resources to improve our cards, some of which will be more desirable than others.

To conclude this positive note, since I started writing for the newspaper, I'd like to offer you all New Year's wishes in the context of the game. To the administrators—find improvements that revive player interest, allowing you to earn additional profits; and to the players—maintain your interest in the game, continue developing and enjoying your gameplay, your Energy, your EUROs, your Fame Points, and grow with the end of the year and a better new year ahead! And of course, love your loved ones and yourselves! May this New Year's bring you many positive moments!

AUTHOR: TE QUIEBRO ID 2754 

HATRED AND DEDICATION

Let me start by wishing success to all of you competing on the merged Classic and Royal servers. I am genuinely curious to see what this new, unified server with its updated features will bring us. But to be honest, the most striking aspect is the credit system based on achievement.The server now has a credit pool, and these rewards will be distributed at the end of Season 2 among the most successful teams.

Imagine a cake. The 8 teams that qualify for the Super League will share around 60% of that cake among themselves. Naturally, the teams competing for this large slice want to create their own chances. In a moment, we will take a closer look at one of those teams, and it will surely sound familiar to many of you.

Dziadziadream (Cosa Nostra Huragarn formation) 

To explain what I mean, let us take a closer look.

(SBTZM – While Byk z Pampeluny turns the stadium into a bar once again, we are the only team sober enough to watch it. Our minds are clear, our pressing strong, and we do not suffer headaches after defeats. Unlike some, we do not need to sober up to play well. VAR? For them it means "Vodka and Relaxation", for us it is "Victory and Respect".)

As can be seen from the club description and text, the main goal of DziadziaDream is to defeat Byk z Pampeluny.
Of course, such motivation might not be well received, but it is not against the rules.
In short, they want to cross paths with Byk z Pampeluny and push them off the road to success.

On the Royal server, they first tried this by creating a second team under the name of an academy team, in the same league as Byk's team Menelus, to make their goal of becoming first more difficult.
Now they have formed a merged team in the same league as Izba Wytrzeźwień.

They failed in the first season on the Royal server, but in the following one, they achieved their goal.

Will they be successful again on the new merged server? We will see in the coming days.

Perhaps this ambition will drive them to work even harder, or perhaps it will be the very reason for their downfall.

Will Byk z Pampeluny and his teammates remain indifferent and give up, or will they use this as motivation to train even harder?

If you ask what their motivation is, it is quite clear. Credits. The answer to our questions will be given by the team that wins the credits distributed at the end of Season 2.

I wish everyone an enjoyable new season.

Good luck to Byk z Pampeluny and his comrades. Good luck to DziadziaDream.

KYUZO

THE GREAT RETURN OF THE "REFEREEING CONTROVERSIES THROUGH THE EYES OF A MANAGER" SERIES!

Hello again ,Kiero DS. After a long break, I'm back with my series of articles on refereeing controversies. I'd like to begin by thanking everyone for the numerous messages, comments, and words of support I've received in recent weeks. Your feedback and requests for the return of this series truly mean a lot to me. I'm delighted that so many of you are interested in the work of referees, rule interpretation, and a look at football from the perspective of someone who knows the game from the inside – both from the bench and with the whistle in hand.

Analysis of the controversial situation from the Lech Poznań vs. Gryf Słupsk match: the decision to disallow a goal.

So, getting back to the point, I'll start with a situation that has inflamed the football community in recent days: Gryf Słupsk's disallowed goal in the match against Lech Poznań.

Match Situation – What Happened?

In the 86th minute of the Polish Cup match between Lech Poznań and Gryf Słupsk, a situation arose that sparked considerable emotion among both players and fans. Gryf scored to make it 2-2 thanks to an own goal by Mateusz Skrzypczak, but after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to Daniel Piechowski's offside position. In my opinion – and I say this as someone who has been involved in football in various roles for years – the referee's decision was absolutely correct.

As the Gryf player took the free kick, the ball was played into the Lech penalty area. Daniel Piechowski was clearly in an offside position – he was closer to the goal line than the ball and the second-to-last defender. As the ball flew towards him, Piechowski moved aggressively towards it and attempted a header, but his shot fell short. Mateusz Skrzypczak, however, jumped on the ball and, attempting to clear it outside the penalty area or for a corner, accidentally headed it into his own net.

At first glance, it might seem that Piechowski didn't touch the ball and therefore shouldn't have been penalized for offside. However, in reality, it was his positioning and actions that had a crucial impact on the outcome of the play.

Interpretation of the Laws of the Game:

According to the Laws of the Game, a player in an offside position when a teammate plays the ball is penalized for offside only if:

1. He is participating in play,

2. He is influencing an opponent, or

3. He benefits from being in an offside position.

In this situation, we are dealing with the second case – influencing an opponent.

Piechowski was within range of play, in the line of flight of the ball, actively trying to reach it, and his movement forced Skrzypczak to react immediately. The Lech defender had to intervene, otherwise the ball could have gone to the attacking player. In other words, Piechowski's presence forced an error from the defender.

Key Difference – "Deliberate Play" and "Deflection":

In the interpretation of offside, it is crucial to distinguish between a defender's deliberate play (deliberate play) and a deflection or ricochet (deflection).

If a defender deliberately and with control plays the ball, the attacker's offside position is "removed." However, if their intervention is due to pressure and the need to act against an offside player, then that player still influences play, and the resulting goal cannot be recognized.

In this situation, Mateusz Skrzypczak acted under the influence of an opponent. He did not have full control of the ball, and his reaction was forced. Therefore, his play cannot be considered a deliberate, controlled clearance, and therefore does not "remove" Piechowski's offside.

Why was the referee's decision correct?

The decision to disallow the goal was entirely consistent with both the letter and spirit of the regulations. Daniel Piechowski, despite not touching the ball, influenced the opponent's behavior, which is a classic example of active participation in play from an offside position.

Skrzypczak intervened because he had to. Under normal circumstances – if the Gryf player hadn't been present – ​​the defender likely would have let the ball fall or calmly handled it differently. It is precisely this compulsion to act under the opponent's influence that makes the offside clear.

Any other interpretation – meaning the goal being allowed – would have seriously distorted the match result and could have affected the outcome of the Polish Cup.

A Training Situation for Referees:

From a referee training perspective, this is a prime example. It demonstrates the importance of understanding the context on the pitch, not just the bare bones of the rules. In many cases, young referees struggle to interpret the concept of "impact on an opponent," especially when the offside player doesn't touch the ball.

Here we see a situation where the player's intentions and influence are crucial. Piechowski's presence caused confusion and forced the defender to react incorrectly. Such situations should be analyzed during VAR training and referee courses, as they perfectly illustrate the practical application of the offside rule.

Summary:

As a referee and coach who has observed similar situations numerous times both from the pitch and from the dugout, I can unequivocally state: the goal for Gryf Słupsk was rightly disallowed.

Piechowski was in an offside position and his actions affected the opponent's play. Skrzypczak acted out of necessity, not with full control of the ball, so it cannot be considered a "deliberate play" by the defender.

This was a difficult but flawless decision by the referees, who correctly interpreted the rules and upheld sporting fairness. Situations like these remind us how important experience, concentration, and understanding the spirit of the game are – for both players and referees.

Thank you for reading my article! If you enjoy this type of content or have ideas for future topics I should write about, please leave your suggestions in the comments. 

Best regards!

Author : Kiero DS