EN
FR - French AR - Arabic EN - English

Editorial Guidelines of Foot-Africa.com

EDITORIAL GUIDELINES OF FOOT-AFRICA.COM

1. PREAMBLE

This document establishes the fundamental principles for the operations of the Website's editorial team, which includes journalists and content creators contributing to the Website (referred to as the "Editorial Team").

All terminology used in these Guidelines corresponds to the definitions outlined in the Terms of Use.

2. CORE PRINCIPLES

The Editorial Team adheres to the following principles:

  • Ensuring the Website remains accessible to all Users;
  • Maintaining impartiality and neutrality in content;
  • Upholding accountability for the accuracy and quality of published information.

3. GOALS

The key goals of the Editorial Team include:

  • Advancing the field of sports journalism within the Republic of Tunisia;
  • Boosting public engagement and enthusiasm for sports;
  • Providing diverse viewpoints on significant sports events.

4. CODE OF JOURNALIST ETHICS

4.1 Managing Conflicts of Interest

Journalists and authors must notify the editor-in-chief in advance in circumstances such as:

  • The content involves details about the journalist’s or author’s family members or close acquaintances;
  • The journalist or author is writing about subjects, events, or individuals with whom they have a direct or indirect connection;
  • The journalist or author has personal stakes that may conflict with their professional responsibilities.

4.2 Professional Integrity

Journalists are strictly prohibited from exploiting their position to derive personal benefits or provide undue advantages to others. If it is discovered that content has been published for personal or third-party gain, the Editorial Team reserves the right to remove it.

4.3 Conduct on Social Media

Journalists understand that their behavior and statements, even outside of work, may reflect on the Website. Therefore, they are expected to act in accordance with general ethical norms and journalistic standards. The following rules must be followed:

  • Refrain from using offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate language;
  • Seek prior approval from the editor-in-chief before sharing any internal information of public interest;
  • Avoid publicly expressing the Editorial Team’s stance without explicit authorization.

5. CONTENT CATEGORIES

News

Purpose: Deliver concise updates or essential information on major sports developments.

Standards: News articles should consist of a headline, an image, the main body of text, and a citation of the original source. All content must be factual and free of editorial bias.

Articles

Purpose: Provide in-depth analysis of sports topics authored by subject matter experts.

Standards: The author’s opinions must be supported by evidence such as statistics, participant interviews, expert commentary, and factual data. Articles should not be published anonymously, although pseudonyms are permitted.

Interviews

Purpose: Feature discussions with individuals relevant to the Website's audience.

Standards: Interviewees are selected by the Editorial Team. The Editorial Team reserves the right to modify or omit portions of interviews that conflict with the Privacy Policy.

Videos

Purpose: Share audiovisual content, including live sports broadcasts and related events.

Standards: Videos must comply with the Privacy Policy to ensure appropriate usage and dissemination.

All content is produced and published in English, French, and Arabic.

Guidelines for Crafting Headlines

  • Headlines must present accurate and truthful information without overstatement or understatement.
  • Abbreviations are permitted only if they do not alter the intended meaning.
  • If the Editorial Team disagrees with the stance of the original source, this disagreement should be reflected in the headline.
  • Headlines should entice the Users to click on the article for more details.
  • For lesser-known individuals mentioned in the headline, including their job title or organization is recommended.
  • Headlines should not exceed 100 characters in length.
  • Uncommon abbreviations or terms should be avoided unless they are widely recognized (e.g., names of international organizations or official team abbreviations).

Headlines must not:

  • Contain emotional descriptors unless directly quoted from a newsmaker;
  • Demean or insult third parties;
  • Include offensive or vulgar language unless it is part of a direct quote relevant to the news story.

6. EXTERNAL PARTIES AND EDITORIAL INTERACTION

The Website’s materials may be authored by journalists, athletes, bloggers, fans, or other experts in specific sports. Contributions from unknown authors will not be published unless specifically commissioned by the Editorial Team.

The Editorial Team only publishes content when the topics and contributors have been pre-approved. If there are deviations from the agreed terms or the content violates the Terms of Use, the Editorial Team reserves the right to withhold publication.

Edits to submitted texts are made sparingly and only when absolutely necessary. The Editorial Team respects the author’s voice and ensures that quotes remain accurate. Any edits will be discussed with the author in advance.

The Editorial Team has the final say on headlines. While suggestions from authors are considered, the Team may revise headlines to match the publication's format and style. Author payments are arranged on a case-by-case basis.

7. USER ENGAGEMENT

Comments posted under articles and news items undergo post-moderation. Due to the large volume of comments published daily, the Editorial Team cannot review all of them. We apologize to any User affected by inappropriate comments that may appear on the Website.

The Editorial Team is unable to respond individually to every User. However, we appreciate the Users who report technical issues or factual inaccuracies and will address these concerns as quickly as possible.

8. SOURCES AND NEWSMAKERS

The Editorial Team makes every effort to source accurate and valuable information while adhering to the laws of the Republic of Tunisia, ethical norms, and journalistic principles.

Claims with sensational elements must be verified by multiple independent sources unless they are official statements.

The Editorial Team avoids publishing content designed to harm reputations under the guise of investigative reporting. The primary objective is to provide the Users with a holistic view of events and diverse perspectives on the same topics.

When working with primary sources or newsmakers, the Editorial Team follows these practices:

  • Collecting information directly from the source;
  • Conducting thorough fact-checks;
  • Verifying the authenticity of documents and data;
  • Attending events in person or obtaining video/audio evidence of statements made by participants.

9. COLLABORATION

Any partnership will be terminated if a partner fails to adhere to the Terms of Use or Privacy Policy. Partnerships are allowed only when they align with the interests and needs of the Users.

The Editorial Team is willing to act as a partner or primary partner for initiatives and projects that promote a responsible, critical-thinking environment and enhance the overall awareness of the Users.

Journalists working with the Editorial Team are strictly forbidden from accepting gifts from the Users or newsmakers. Any gifts received under such circumstances will be redirected to charity.

10. MARKETING CONTENT

Journalists and contributors are not permitted to include advertisements for products or services in their work without prior consent from the Editorial Team. Any material that could reasonably be interpreted by the Users as promotional, regardless of whether it is explicitly labeled as such, will be treated as advertising.

The Editorial Team encourages open feedback, suggestions, and comments from all journalists during editorial discussions.

11. REVIEWS AND RATINGS OF BETTING SITES

The "Betting Sites" section is an independent editorial division dedicated to the sports betting market.

The Editorial Team publishes analytical and informational materials dedicated to the gambling industry, specifically including reviews of licensed betting sites.

The core objective of this content is to promote global market understanding and actively protect the interests of Users.

All materials published are intended to be exclusively educational/informational in nature and do not contain any calls or inducements to participate in gambling.

Core Principles

The Editorial Team adheres to the following principles:

  • All reviews are conducted independently, with no influence from bookmakers or commercial entities.
  • All evaluation criteria and data sources are fully disclosed.
  • Analysis is fact-based and verified.
  • Content does not encourage gambling participation.
  • Materials are created for Users’ information, not commercial interests.

Our Attitude

All analytical content published on the Website is produced by independent editorial analysts and experts who perform thorough evaluations, including:

  • Independent review of bookmakers’ websites and mobile apps to assess interface usability and overall convenience.
  • Examination of payout speed, transaction procedures, and ease of using funds.
  • Evaluation of support quality, available payment methods, and the accessibility of self-exclusion and other responsible gaming tools.
  • Review of each company’s overall trustworthiness and business standing.

The Editorial Team does not encourage participation in gambling, does not publish prohibited advertising, and does not receive remuneration from operators for any material coverage.

The Editorial Team reserves the right to refuse publication or delete material under the following circumstances:

  • External influence or coercion is detected;
  • Unreliable or false information is provided;
  • There is a risk the publication could be interpreted as advertising for gambling.

Responsible Gaming Policy

Sports betting constitutes a form of risky entertainment; it is not, and should not be considered, a guaranteed method for earning money or a stable source of income.

The materials provided in this section are intended exclusively for users who are 18 years of age or older, or who have attained the minimum legal age stipulated by their local jurisdiction, and who make an informed choice to engage with this content.

The information is presented for informational purposes only and is not a call to participate in gambling. The User bears full responsibility for their participation in gambling.

Please remember: excessive involvement in betting can lead to addiction. Should you recognize the first signs of problem gambling, seek professional help: https://gamblingtherapy.org/

Legal Information

Foot Africa functions solely as an independent platform. We clearly affirm that the platform does not accept bets, engage in gambling activities, or process any financial transactions related to sports betting.

All published content is strictly informational in nature. The Editorial Team covers market events but does not participate in the market as an operator, agent, intermediary, or any other party providing gambling services.