The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word KEEPY-UPPY
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
K
E
E
P
Y
-
U
P
P
Y
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "football game" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case football game = keepy-uppy.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does KEEPY-UPPY mean?
KEEPY-UPPY noun- The action of continuously bouncing a soccer ball in the air without the use of the hands.