Opta Event Definitions

The final touch from a teammate, which leads to the recipient of the ball scoring a Goal. If the assist is deflected by an opposition player, it must be deemed as travelling to the Goal-scorer irrespective of the deflection. In the event of an own Goal, direct free kick Goal and direct corner Goal, an assist will not be awarded

The final touch from a teammate which directly leads to the recipient of the ball having a Non-Goal Shot. If the pass has any form of defensive intervention on its path to the teammate, this is not deemed to be a Key Pass, please note this is a different definition to Assist.

A cumulative total of ‘Assists’ and ‘Key Passes’

Cards are collected as Yellow, 2nd Yellow or Red Card. We cross-check cards against official sources to match the official statistics and will align our collection unless there is recognition of a clear error.

A ball played from a wide position targeting a teammate(s) in a central area within proximity to the Goal. The delivery must have an element of lateral movement from a wider position to more central area in front of Goal.

A Foul Won is defined when a player wins a Free Kick or Penalty for their team after being fouled by an opposing player.

There are no fouls won for a Handball, Dive, Back Pass, Illegal Restart, Dissent, GK 6-second Violation or Obstruction where a free kick is conceded.

• Handball – A deliberate handball by an opposition player.
• Dive – A deliberate attempt for an opposition player to deceive the referee and win a Free Kick.
• Back pass – A Pass picked up by a goalkeeper when played from a teammate.
• Illegal restart – An opposition player has consecutive touches directly after a dead ball situation.
• Dissent – A player shows dissent towards a match official.
• GK 6-second violation – A goalkeeper picks up the ball and holds onto it for longer than 6 seconds.
• Obstruction – A player traps the ball between their legs to stop an opposition player from playing the ball.

A Foul Conceded is defined as any infringement penalised as foul play by a referee that results in a Free Kick or Penalty event. Offsides are not given as a Foul Conceded. Incidents where a match official has played advantage and subsequently cautioned a player, do not contribute

Attributing a Goal to the Goal scoring player, or in the case of an Own Goal, to the defending player. Given any contention around assigning a Goal to an appropriate player, Opta will apply their own rules, and when applicable will align decisions to the relevant official competition’s governing body.

This is collected when a player reads an opponent’s Pass and intercepts the ball by moving into the intended line of the Pass.

An event attributed to the player deemed to be in an offside position when a Free Kick is awarded. If two or more players are in an offside position when the ball is played, the player considered to be most actively involved is given Offside.

The attempted delivery of the ball from one player to another player on the same team. A player can use any part of their body (permitted in the laws of the game), to execute a Pass. Event categorisation includes open play Passes, Goal Kicks, Corners and Free Kicks played as a Pass. Crosses, Keeper Throws, and Throw-ins do not count as a Pass. Opta adds a whole range of qualifiers to each Pass event, so that various things can be measured.

• Chipped Pass – A lofted ball with an intended recipient. Must be over shoulder height and using the Pass height to avoid opposition players.
• Headed Pass – A header when there is an intended recipient.
• Launch – A long high ball into space or an area for players to chase or challenge for the ball.
• Flick-On – A glancing Pass with head or foot onto a teammate when the ball is helped on in the same general direction.
• Pull Back – A Pass inside the penalty area which is pulled back.
• Lay-Off – A first time Pass away from Goal when there is pressure on the passer (typically played by a forward) with one touch when they have their back to Goal from the Goal-line to the centre of the penalty area.
• Through Ball – A Pass splitting the defence for a teammate to run on to.
• Tap Pass – A short Pass after a dead ball situation which cannot have a lost outcome.

Each Pass is logged with X and Y co-ordinates for its point of origin and destination.

This allows Opta to log the following:

• Passes broken down by area of the pitch for example, as own half/opposition half or defensive/middle/final third or left/right/centre.
• Passes broken down by distance, for example short/long, short medium/long.
• Pass direction, for example backwards/sideways/forwards.

In summation the event-based nature of the data is such that you can calculate any combination. For example, a Chipped Pass over 20 yards, in the final third, that goes sideways.

Attributing a series of sequential Penalty events to both appropriate team and player. Collection comprising; Penalty Won, Penalty Conceded and Penalty Taken.

A shot is defined as any goal attempt.

A deliberate attempt to score that is on target. Includes all Goals being scored and Shots On Target saved by the goalkeeper. It also includes Shots On Target that are Blocked by a last line defending player, preventing the ball from entering the goal. Also see ‘Shot Off Target.’

A deliberate attempt to score that misses the target, without contact from a player diverting the ball from on target to off target. A shot hitting the frame of the goal is classified as a Shot Off Target unless the ball subsequently enters the net. A Blocked Shot is not classified as a Shot Off Target. Also see ‘Shot On Target.’

A Tackle is defined when a player connects with the ball in a legal, ground level challenge and successfully takes the ball away from the opposition player. The tackled player must be in controlled possession of the ball to be tackled by an opposition player.

A Tackle Won is deemed to be when the tackler or one of their teammates regains possession because of the challenge, or that the ball goes out of play and is safe.

A Tackle Lost is when a tackle is made but the ball goes to an opposition player.

Both are categorised as Tackles, but the outcome of the Tackle (won or lost) is different based on where the ball goes after the Tackle.

A goalkeeper preventing the ball from entering the goal with any part of their body when facing an intentional attempt from an opposition player.

Saves have the following attributes:

• Body Part – Hands/Feet/Body/Fist.
• Save Type – Caught/Collected/Parried Safe/Parried Danger/Fumble/Fingertip
• Goalkeeper Movement – Diving/Standing/Sliding/Reaching/Stooping

This includes unintentional or misplaced efforts on target from a goalkeeper’s own teammates, but only if the intervention is not perceived to be a routine collection of the ball.

If after a goalkeeper’s intervention, a more prominent defensive action from a teammate prevents the ball from entering the goal, this will be categorised as a Block for the teammate, not a Save for the goalkeeper.

If the ball goes behind the goal because of a goalkeeper intervention, the match officials must award a Corner for it to be recognised as a Save.

A Goalkeeper preventing the ball from entering the Goal with any part of their body when facing a penalty from an opposition player.

A collection of assist events outside the conventional categorisation of Goal Assist. Classifies the final touch from a player on the scoring team as a Fantasy Assist, categorised into eight types of Fantasy Assist, as detailed below:

• Pass Lost - A Pass Lost Fantasy Assist is awarded when a pass/cross reaches the goalscorer, following a single defensive touch that is not a pass. If the pass is received outside the area, to be a Pass Lost Fantasy Assist it must be the intended target receiving the ball. However if the ball is received inside the penalty area by any attacking player, intention to reach a specified target is not required.
• Fantasy Assist - Handball - When a attacking action/touch directly leads to a handball by a defensive player, and the resulting penalty or free kick is scored, a Fantasy Assist will be awarded. If there is a defensive action deemed insignificant like a deflection of a shot that’s still goal-bound followed by a handball, the fantasy assist can be awarded to the attacking player.
• Blocked Shot/Miss - When a blocked shot or shot off target (with a defensive touch and ball stays in play) results directly in a goal being scored.
• Attempt Saved - A shot saved by the goalkeeper where the next action is a goal.
• Post - A rebound off the woodwork where the next action is a goal.
• Free Kick Won - The player who draws the foul to win the free kick which results directly in a goal.
• Own Goal - The final attacking touch that forces an own goal.
• Penalty Won - The player who draws the foul to win the penalty.