Below is the proposal for new WP:NFOOTBALL guidelines by User:GiantSnowman – please do not edit this without discussion and consensus on the talk page first!
Following this recent RfC, while to some degree it remains open to debate/interpretation what the community consensus was, and what the community actually wants, it is clear that the current guidelines are not fit for purpose.
Therefore a balance needs to be struck between the two 'sides' of the debate – and so whilst participating at a certain level of football can make people notable, that level can only be justified or measured if it (and the players in it) is subject to significant coverage that means a large majority of the players pass WP:NBASIC.
It is clear that the current list of 'notable' leagues is far too large. However, my initial new list is based only on my personal knowledge and experience (16 years+ as an editor, nearly 500,000 edits, participated in immeasurable AFDs and other discussions on notability etc.) – unfortunately I do not have the time to undertake any scientific analysis of the leagues, so there might be ones I have not included that other editors can justify adding, and there might be leagues I have included that other editors can justify removing. This is especially true of women's football, where my knowledge is not nearly as strong as men's football.
Accordingly, while I have drafted the below only as a starting point for a new guideline, hopefully it is seen as a positive start and as a good foundation to build upon, and hopefully it balances the views and concerns on both 'sides'. GiantSnowman 12:35, 13 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Significant coverage is likely to exist for association football (soccer) figures if they meet the following:
- Players who have played in, and managers who have managed in, any Tier 1 International Match as defined by FIFA,[1] or in a competitive senior international match at confederation level regardless of whether or not the teams are members of FIFA.
- Players who have played, and managers who have managed, in a competitive game between two teams from fully professional leagues. See a list of fully professional leagues kept by WikiProject Football.
- Note: For the purposes of this guideline, "played" means having appeared in a match either in the starting lineup or coming on as a substitute. Youth players, or players at the Olympics, are not presumed notable unless they satisfy one of the statements above, or if they can be shown to meet the wider requirements of WP:NBASIC.
The notability of association football (soccer) figures is assessed on the basis that the level that they compete at is the subject of significant coverage. Accordingly, significant coverage is likely to exist for association football (soccer) figures if they meet the following:
- Players who have played in, and managers who have managed in, any Tier 1 International Match as defined by FIFA.[1]
- Players who have played, and managers who have managed, in a competitive game between two teams from a 'notable' league.
- Note: For the purposes of this guideline, "played" means having appeared in a match either in the starting lineup or coming on as a substitute. Being on a team's squad roster is not sufficient. Youth players, or players at the Olympics, are not likely to be notable unless they satisfy one of the statements above, or if they can be shown to meet the wider requirements of WP:NBASIC. Please also note that, in either case, association football (soccer) figures ultimately must meet the wider requirements of WP:NBASIC.
See WP:FPL.
This is adapted from WP:FPL.
Men's leagues
Argentina – Argentine Primera División (since 1931)
Australia – A-League Men
Austria – Austrian Football Bundesliga
Belgium – Belgian First Division A (also know as Belgian Pro League) (from ~1960)
Brazil – Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
Canada – Canadian Premier League, Major League Soccer, USL Championship (formerly United Soccer League, USL Pro)
Chile – Chilean Primera División
China PR – Chinese Super League
Colombia – Categoría Primera A
Croatia – Croatian First Football League
Czech Republic – Czech First League
Denmark – Danish Superliga
England – Premier League, English Football League
Finland – Veikkausliiga
France – Ligue 1, Ligue 2 (from 1993–94 season)
Germany – Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, 3. Liga
Greece – Super League Greece,
Hungary – Nemzeti Bajnokság I
India – Indian Super League, I-League
Israel – Israeli Premier League
Italy – Serie A, Serie B, Serie C
Japan – J1 League
Mexico – Liga MX
Morocco – Botola (from 2011–12)
Netherlands – Eredivisie, Eerste Divisie
New Zealand – A-League
Norway – Eliteserien (formerly Tippeligaen)
Poland – Ekstraklasa
Portugal – Primeira Liga
Romania – Liga I
Russia – Russian Premier League
Scotland – Scottish Premiership (formerly Division One, Division A, Premier Division, Premier League)
Serbia – Serbian SuperLiga
Singapore – Singapore Premier League (formerly S.League)
Slovakia – Slovak Super Liga (since 2009)
Slovenia – Slovenian PrvaLiga
South Africa – South African Premier Division (also known as Premier Soccer League, since 1996–97)
South Korea – K League 1
Spain – La Liga, Segunda División
Sweden – Allsvenskan
Switzerland – Swiss Super League
Turkey – Süper Lig
Ukraine – Ukrainian Premier League
United States – Major League Soccer, USL Championship (formerly United Soccer League, USL Pro)
Some to consider adding –
Malta – Maltese Premier League;
Republic of Ireland – League of Ireland Premier Division (but only in past few years)
Women's leagues
Some to consider adding –
Netherlands – Eredivisie;
Sweden – Damallsvenskan