diff --git a/models/match.py b/models/match.py
index 9e41420..c98fe48 100644
--- a/models/match.py
+++ b/models/match.py
@@ -2,11 +2,7 @@
 first level class
 """
 import enum
-from email.policy import default
 import json
-from random import choices
-
-from numpy import require
 
 from database.db import db, CustomQuerySet
 
@@ -27,29 +23,29 @@ class Match(db.Document):
     player_dist1 = db.ListField(db.IntField())
     player_dist2 = db.ListField(db.IntField())
     # allies or axis
-    side1        = db.StringField(choices=('Axis', 'Allies'))
-    side2        = db.StringField(choices=('Axis', 'Allies'))
+    side1 = db.StringField(choices=('Axis', 'Allies'))
+    side2 = db.StringField(choices=('Axis', 'Allies'))
     # strong points hold at the end of the game
-    caps1        = db.IntField(required=True, choices=(0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5))
-    caps2        = db.IntField(required=True, choices=(0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5))
+    caps1 = db.IntField(required=True, choices=(0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5))
+    caps2 = db.IntField(required=True, choices=(0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5))
     # number of players on each side (assuming both teams had the same number of players)
-    players      = db.IntField()
-    map          = db.StringField(required=True)
+    players = db.IntField()
+    map = db.StringField(required=True)
     strongpoints = db.ListField(db.StringField(), max_length=5)
-    date         = db.DateTimeField(required=True)
+    date = db.DateTimeField(required=True)
     # how long the game lasted, max is 90 min
-    duration     = db.IntField()
+    duration = db.IntField()
     # competitive factor, see HeLO calculations
-    factor       = db.FloatField(default=1.0)
+    factor = db.FloatField(default=1.0)
     # name of the tournament, of just a training match
-    event        = db.StringField()
+    event = db.StringField()
     # confirmation, very important
     # match must be confirmed from both sides (representatives) in order to
     # take the match into account
     # user id of the user who confirmed the match for clan1
-    conf1        = db.StringField()
+    conf1 = db.StringField()
     # user id of the user who confirmed the match for clan2
-    conf2        = db.StringField()
+    conf2 = db.StringField()
     # flag to check whether corresponding score objects to the match exist or not
     score_posted = db.BooleanField()
     # reserved for admins, necessary to start a recalculate process for this match
@@ -66,6 +62,20 @@ class Match(db.Document):
         "queryset_class": CustomQuerySet
     }
 
+    def clean(self):
+        if self.__playerCount() > 100:
+            raise ValueError("player_dist cannot exceed 100 players")
+
+        if (self.player_dist1 is not None or self.player_dist2 is not None) and self.players != 0:
+            raise ValueError("players and player distributions cannot both be set")
+
+    def __playerCount(self):
+        if self.players != 0:
+            return self.players
+        if self.player_dist1 is not None and self.player_dist2 is not None:
+            return sum(self.player_dist1, sum(self.player_dist2))
+        raise ValueError("neither players, not player_dist1 and player_dist2 are set")
+
     def needs_confirmations(self):
         if (self.conf1 != "" and self.conf1 is not None) and (self.conf2 != "" and self.conf2 is not None):
             # do the calcs then
@@ -96,4 +106,5 @@ def can_be_deleted(self, user_id: str, user_clans: list[str]) -> bool:
             if r in self.clans2_ids:
                 is_clan2_member = True
 
-        return not self.score_posted and (is_clan1_member or is_clan2_member or self.conf1 == user_id and self.conf2 == user_id)
+        return not self.score_posted and (
+                    is_clan1_member or is_clan2_member or self.conf1 == user_id and self.conf2 == user_id)
diff --git a/rest/matches.py b/rest/matches.py
index 1c25e90..4a64765 100644
--- a/rest/matches.py
+++ b/rest/matches.py
@@ -255,6 +255,8 @@ def post(self):
             return handle_error(f"match already exists in database", 400)
         except ValidationError as e:
             return handle_error(f"required field is empty: {e}")
+        except ValueError as e:
+            return handle_error(f"request is invalid: {e}")
         except Exception as e:
             return handle_error(f"error creating match in database, terminated with error: {e}", 500)
         else: