Defensive contribution (DefCon)
Defensive contribution is a 2 point bonus awarded once per match to a player who reaches a set number of defensive actions: 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles for a defender, or 12 of those plus ball recoveries for a midfielder or forward. It was introduced in 2025/26 and is unchanged for 2026/27.
The thresholds and how they are counted
Defenders count four action types: clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles. Midfielders and forwards count those same four plus ball recoveries, but have to reach 12 rather than 10. The threshold can only be crossed once in a match, so a player with 20 actions takes the same 2 points as a player with exactly 10.
The actions are counted live while the match is running, so the tally you see during the weekend is provisional. It is confirmed with the rest of the scoring when the gameweek locks.
What it changed
Before defensive contribution, a defensive player mostly needed a clean sheet or a goal to score at all. Busy defensive midfielders and full-backs at teams that spend the match defending are now worth owning in their own right, because the actions arrive whichever way the match goes.
A 5.0m defender who reaches the threshold most weeks puts 2 points on top of his appearance points before a clean sheet is even in play. That is the kind of floor that used to require an attacking return.
Example
A full-back plays 90 minutes and records 4 clearances, 2 blocks, 1 interception and 3 tackles. That is 10 actions, so he takes the 2 point defensive contribution on top of his 2 appearance points, and a clean sheet would add 4 more.
Related terms
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