Editorial Policy

Purpose & Scope

Soccer Monk is dedicated to covering Indian football: from grassroots to the national stage, men’s and women’s teams, the domestic leagues, cups and regional competitions, with a strong visual and storytelling approach (including our photobook series).

This editorial policy sets out the standards, processes and ethics that guide how we create, publish and review our content — both in written form (news, features, opinion) and visual form (image galleries, photobooks).

Core Principles

Accuracy & Fairness: We strive to report facts accurately, to check sources, quote fairly, and correct mistakes promptly.

Independence & Transparency: Our editorial decisions are independent. We disclose any partnerships, sponsorships or commercial influences that may affect content.

Integrity: We avoid conflicts of interest, don’t publish content for improper commercial gain without disclosure, and make clear when content is paid for or influenced.

Respect & Inclusivity: Our coverage treats all individuals (players, coaches, officials, fans) with respect, avoids defamatory claims, and promotes inclusivity of all genders, regions and levels of the game.

Quality & Relevance: We aim for high-quality storytelling, deep reporting, compelling photography, and relevance to Indian football — while staying accessible for fans, photographers, and stakeholders.

Content Types & Guidelines

1. News & Match Reports
   • We cover fixtures, results, player transfers, tournaments (e.g., Indian Super League, I‑League, women’s leagues, regional cups) and national teams.
   • Reports include: what happened, context, quotes where possible, and implications.
   • We aim to publish quickly while maintaining accuracy. Corrections will be clearly marked.
2. Features & Interviews
   • These deeper-dive pieces explore issues, trends, individuals or photographic perspectives (including Photobooks).
   • We identify and attribute sources, strive for balance (where relevant), and label opinion pieces clearly as such.
3. Photogalleries / Image-Driven Content
   • Our galleries and photobook work prioritise original photography.
   • If we use any images provided to us by any of the third party source we attribute the source.
4. Opinion / Commentary
   • Opinion pieces reflect the author’s viewpoint (which may differ across contributors).
   • We clearly label them “Opinion” or “Commentary” and ensure that they are distinct from news-reporting.
5. Sponsored & Affiliate Content
   • If a piece is paid-for, sponsored, or linked to commercial affiliation (including print-store merchandise, partnerships with clubs/brands), we will clearly label it as “Sponsored” or “Advertisement”.
   • Editorial content remains separate from commercial influence; editorial staff retain control over content.

Corrections & Retractions

If we identify an error (in facts, image caption, attribution, or statement), we will update the live article.

In rare cases of serious errors or legal concerns, we may retract content entirely; such retractions will be explained publicly.

Source & Attribution

Where data, quotes or analysis derive from third parties (clubs, leagues, interviews, press-releases), we attribute them clearly.

If images are used under licence or sourced externally, we will provide attribution and ensure the necessary permissions.

Conflicts of Interest

Contributors (writers, photographers) must disclose any relevant relationship with a club, brand, or person that could affect impartiality (e.g., if a photographer is contracted by a club we’re covering).

We will not publish favourable content without disclosure if the contributor or site has a material interest.

Use of Comments & Community Interaction

Any user-comments or guest contributions on the site or gallery page should respect our community rules: no hate speech, no defamatory claims, no trolling. We reserve the right to moderate or remove comments that breach policy.

If we publish reader-submitted content (images, tips, guest posts), we will verify to the extent feasible and note that such submissions are the responsibility of the contributor.

Privacy & Image Consent

For images of players, staff or fans taken in public (match-days, stadium events) we follow standard photojournalism practice; we avoid unlawful use of images of minors or private individuals without consent.

We respect personal privacy: we do not publish private personal information without legitimate public interest and appropriate consent.

Commercial & Sponsorship Disclosure

As a site that’s budget-constrained and exploring sponsorships (including via our print-store, photobooks and blog), we will clearly mark any sponsored partnership, affiliate link or paid advertisement.

Sponsorships will not dictate or unduly influence our editorial decision-making or content direction without explicit disclosure.

Links, Affiliations & Merchandise

When linking to our Print Store (https://store.soccermonk.in) or offering merchandise (photobooks, prints), we will clearly distinguish commercial promotions from editorial content.

Affiliate links or promotional codes will be disclosed (e.g., “This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, Soccer Monk may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.”).

Review & Governance

This editorial policy will be reviewed periodically (annually or when circumstances change) and updated accordingly.

Any significant changes will be posted on the site and dated.

The editorial integrity of Soccer Monk is overseen by the team who ensures that content adheres to this policy.

Contact & Feedback

If you spot an error, have questions about our policy, wish to submit feedback or request removal of imagery/content, please contact us at: contact@soccermonk.in

We welcome reader input, corrections or suggestions to improve our coverage.