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FPL 2025/26 defensive contributions: What is a tackle?

18 July 2025 4 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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It’s been announced that, from 2025/26, Fantasy Premier League (FPL) will start adding defensive contribution points.

This should boost the appeal of picking centre-backs and defensive midfielders, in particular.

However, before using our Members Area stats to crunch last season’s numbers, let’s explain what these actions actually are.

CBIT – Clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles

FPL 2025/26: Huge rule change as defensive contributions come in

If a defender accumulates 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions and successful tackles (CBIT) in a single match, they’ll gain two extra FPL defensive contribution points.

Capped at two per player per fixture, any CBITs beyond these 10 won’t matter.

Meanwhile, midfielders and forwards will also receive rewards for recoveries, making it CBIRT. Rack up 12 of these in a match and two extra player points will arrive. Again, any CBIRTs beyond 12 won’t matter.

What is a tackle in FPL?

This might seem obvious – we all know what a tackle is, right?

But it’s important to distinguish between an attempted tackle and a successful one.

According to the official Opta definition:

A tackle is defined when a player connects with the ball in a legal, ground-level challenge and successfully takes the ball away from the opposition player. The tackled player must be in controlled possession of the ball to be tackled by an opposition player.

defensive contributions

FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

4 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 19 days ago

    So what is the difference between tackles and tackles won then?

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    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 19 days ago

      Tackle
      A tackle is defined when a player connects with the ball in a legal, ground-level challenge and successfully takes the ball away from the opposition player. The tackled player must be in controlled possession of the ball to be tackled by an opposition player.

      A tackle won is deemed to be when the tackler or one of their teammates regains possession because of the challenge, or when the ball goes out of play and is safe.
      A tackle lost is when a tackle is made but the ball goes to an opposition player.
      Both are categorised as tackles, but the outcome of the tackle (won or lost) is different based on where the ball goes after the tackle.

      Missed Tackle
      This is where a player attempts to challenge for the ball and does not make it – it is calculated by adding fouls with an attempted tackle qualifier to the number of times a player is beaten by a dribble (challenge lost).

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      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 19 days ago

        So basically a tackle is getting the ball off the other player and the other definitions are based on whether your team regains possession as a result of that tackle.

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        1. Haa-lala-land
          • 5 Years
          4 months, 19 days ago

          Fair play on investigating it. But did we ever take this much interest in the intricacies of how Baps were awarded, and is this much different?

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