Privacy Policy

Theball is an independent football publication focused on stories, commentary, satire, fiction, and entertainment. We respect visitors' privacy and aim to explain clearly how information may be handled when you use our website.

This Privacy Policy describes the information that may be collected, the purposes for which it may be used, and the choices that may be available to you.

The information actually collected depends on which website features and third-party services are enabled at a given time. References to potential future services in this policy do not mean that those services are already active.

Readers can browse publicly available articles without creating an account. Depending on how the website is accessed and which services are enabled, the following categories of information may be processed:

• Technical information: IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, and language settings.
• Usage information: pages viewed, navigation activity, referring pages, approximate visit times, and interactions with website features.
• General location information: approximate location inferred from an IP address, where available.
• Communication information: details you choose to provide when contacting us.
• Cookie and advertising information: identifiers and preferences processed by cookies or similar technologies, where these are used.

Some technical information may be processed automatically by hosting providers or other services needed to deliver and protect the website. The specific information processed depends on the services in use.

We do not ask readers to provide personal information merely to read publicly available articles.

If you contact Theball, you may choose to provide your name, email address, message, and any other information you include in your communication.

We may use this information to respond to questions, review correction requests, investigate reported problems, address complaints, or manage editorial and business enquiries.

Please avoid including sensitive personal information in messages unless it is genuinely necessary for your enquiry.

Depending on the services enabled and applicable law, information may be used to:

• Deliver and maintain the website and its content.
• Diagnose errors, improve performance, and protect against abuse.
• Understand readership and general website usage.
• Respond to messages, complaints, and correction requests.
• Store and respect privacy or advertising preferences.
• Display, measure, and manage advertising where advertising services are enabled.
• Meet applicable legal obligations.

Where required by applicable law, processing will rely on an appropriate legal basis, such as consent, legitimate interests, contractual necessity, or compliance with a legal obligation. The relevant basis depends on the processing activity and jurisdiction.

Cookies are small files stored by a website or service on your device. Similar technologies may also be used to remember settings, maintain security, measure usage, or support advertising.

Depending on the features enabled, Theball or its service providers may use:

• Essential technologies needed for website delivery, security, or core functionality.
• Preference technologies that remember settings or choices.
• Analytics technologies that help understand website traffic and usage.
• Advertising technologies used to deliver, limit, personalise, or measure advertisements where applicable.

You may be able to manage or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking certain cookies may affect some website functions. Browser controls do not necessarily prevent all forms of data processing by third-party services.

Where consent is legally required for non-essential cookies or similar technologies, those technologies should be used in accordance with the applicable consent requirements.

Theball may use analytics or performance measurement services to understand readership, identify technical issues, and improve the website.

Depending on the provider and configuration, analytics may process information such as pages viewed, referral sources, device categories, approximate location, and interactions with website features.

If analytics services are enabled, their providers may process information under their own terms and privacy policies. Applicable consent requirements and available privacy controls should be respected.

This section describes possible analytics practices and is not a statement that any particular analytics tool is currently installed or active.

Theball may display advertisements through third-party advertising providers, including Google AdSense, if and when advertising is enabled.

Advertising providers may use cookies, device identifiers, IP addresses, or similar technologies to deliver and measure advertisements, limit repeated advertisements, detect invalid activity, or personalise advertisements where permitted.

Depending on your location, consent choices, and applicable requirements, advertisements may be personalised or non-personalised. The information processed and the controls available may differ between advertising providers.

Third-party advertising services operate under their own policies. For Google's advertising practices and available controls, consult Google's Privacy Policy and advertising information.

The presence of AdSense code or an advertising configuration does not necessarily mean that advertisements are currently being displayed or that an advertising account has been approved.

Where required, appropriate consent mechanisms and disclosures should be implemented before relevant advertising technologies are used.

Theball relies on technical infrastructure and may use third-party providers for hosting, security, website delivery, analytics, advertising, email, or other services.

These providers may process information as necessary to provide their services, subject to the arrangements and policies applicable to those services.

The website may also link to external websites, videos, publications, or social media platforms. When you visit an external service, its own privacy policy and practices apply. Theball does not control the data practices of independent third-party websites.

We do not intend to sell personal information that visitors provide directly to Theball.

Information may be disclosed to service providers where reasonably necessary to operate, secure, or maintain the website, or to provide a feature you use.

Information may also be disclosed where required by law, pursuant to a valid legal process, to protect the rights and security of the publication or others, or in connection with a legitimate organisational change.

Third-party services may process information independently under their own terms. Their practices should be reviewed separately.

Some hosting, analytics, or advertising providers may process information in countries other than the country where you live.

Where applicable law requires safeguards for international transfers of personal information, the relevant parties should implement appropriate safeguards.

Information should be retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, subject to applicable legal, security, and operational requirements.

For example, correspondence may be retained while an enquiry is being handled and for a reasonable period afterwards. Technical logs may be retained according to the practices of the relevant hosting or service provider.

Retention periods may differ depending on the type of information, the service involved, and applicable law.

We aim to take reasonable measures to protect information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

No website, online transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We therefore cannot promise absolute security.

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information. These may include requesting access, correction, deletion, restriction of processing, or a copy of certain information.

You may also have the right to withdraw consent where processing relies on consent, or to object to certain processing activities.

You can manage some cookie settings through your browser and, where available, use the privacy controls provided by advertising or analytics services.

To make a privacy request concerning information you have provided directly to Theball, contact us using the contact details available on the website. We may need to verify your request before taking action. Rights and exceptions vary by jurisdiction.

Theball is a general-audience publication and does not intentionally seek to collect personal information from children in violation of applicable law.

If you believe a child has provided personal information directly to us and it should be reviewed or deleted, please contact us with sufficient details to identify the concern.

We may update this Privacy Policy as the website, its features, third-party services, or applicable legal requirements change.

The revised policy will be published on this page, with the update date changed where appropriate. Readers should review this page periodically.