Sometimes the smartest touch in football is no touch at all.

A player sells a dummy, sends the defender the wrong way and lets the ball run to a teammate who scores.

The scorer gets the goal. The passer gets the assist. The player who fooled everyone? Nothing.

We think that deserves to change.

We're calling on football's statistics providers and competitions, starting with Opta / Stats Perform, to recognise a "dummy assist" when a player deliberately lets the ball run without touching it, deceives an opponent and directly creates a teammate's goal.

Not accidentally missing the ball. Not standing nearby. A deliberate dummy that makes the goal happen.

Our proposal: credit that player with a dummy assist alongside the passer's existing assist.

This is a light-hearted campaign with a genuine football point: reward intelligence, not just contact with the ball.

Sold the dummy. Created the goal. Give them the assist.

Sign if you agree.

Justice for the dummy.
Lee Jones / Joner Football