'R9 trims' and a Taylor Swift 'date' - the best FPL forfeits

There's a lot more than pride at stake for some Fantasy Premier League players - they're desperate to avoid the dreaded forfeit.

Some FPL players have introduced forfeits for finishing last in their private leagues, including taking a cardboard cutout of Taylor Swift on a date, performing at an open mic comedy night and turning up to an event in full football kit.

On last week's Fantasy 606 podcast, presenter Alistair Bruce-Ball promised that, if he finished bottom of the 606 league this season, he would release a photograph of himself in a school rugby team line-up with "long, wavy hair, held back by a headband".

The podcast also asked listeners to share examples of forfeits from their mini leagues.

We have gathered some of the best responses from the 606 email inbox as well as responses to a post on BBC Match of the Day’s X account, which included busking and drinking a pint from a work boot.

Plenty of football fans will be familiar with the analogy that a season is a marathon, not a sprint.

For 606 listener Luke, that phrase may carry more resonance. He wrote to tell the podcast that he and his housemates were involved in a university mini-league and had agreed last season, "that the end-of-season forfeit would be to run an official UK marathon".

Luke explains that Arsenal forward Kai Havertz's late winner against Everton on the final day of the season left their mini league's reigning champion "and a man who had spent most of the season in the top half" suddenly bottom of the league and "with a marathon to run".

Another listener emailed to say that the loser of their mini-league last season was forced to perform "seven viral TikTok dances and film them".

The same listener mentioned that the forfeit they have set for coming bottom of the league this season is to “enter a hobby horse tournament" and that "with any luck they will progress through the rounds of the tournament and we can make a day of it".

Listener Nico wrote in to say: "This year the loser of our Fantasy Premier League league has to participate in a bodybuilding competition."

We're not sure that sitting in front of a spreadsheet and deciding which player to captain each week is the best preparation for a strength-based competition!

A number of FPL players wrote on X last week to tell BBC Sport about forfeits in their leagues, including having their hair cut in the classic style of Brazilian footballer Ronaldo - where the entire head is shaved apart from a tuft at the front.

@cuskinlee: "loser has to perform at an open mic, with an act written by the winner."

@joe_weaver2: "Had to go on a date with a cardboard Taylor Swift and order food/talk etc."

@ben_deverill: "Loser has to walk out as a mascot at a local game."

@stevemarriott14: "Loser turns up to the pub for FA Cup Final in full kit of an involved team - shin-guards and boots included."

@jamesdownes1991: "Group of three last season, the loser had to drink a pint from the winner's work boot."

@benjaminalsop2: "Busk until you get £10"

@z.cruchley08: "R9 trim for last."

Each week on the 606 podcast, a listener joins the show to manage an FPL team in a mini-league that also includes presenters Bruce-Ball, Statman Dave and former Premier League striker Chris Sutton. Last week, listener Will earned 59 points for gameweek 13 – leaving the listeners’ team 28 points ahead at the top of the 606 league.

Will also revealed that he was a friend of Statman Dave, but that the presenter still owed him a meal a year on from winning a personal Fantasy Football bet.

The listener joked that he could, “no longer listen to the podcast,” until the issue was resolved.