One of the biggest complaints people have about soccer is that there are too many fake injuries. It can be very frustrating, as it can slow the game down, and it gives the sport a bad reputation overall.
Despite the frustration it causes fans of the game, soccer players continue to use this as a tactic. It also does not seem to be going away.
Why do soccer players fake injuries? Faking injuries in soccer almost always comes down to gamesmanship, as well as gaining some advantage. If the referees do not encourage the behavior, it would greatly reduce. However, if soccer players can feel like they are continually getting somewhat of an advantage, fake injuries will continue to be part of the game.
Top Reasons Why Soccer Players Fake Injuries
A lot of the injury faking can come down to the reasons listed below. While there are legitimate injuries that people should always look out for when it comes to soccer, it is not always about pain. In fact, because so many people fake injuries during play, fans are skeptical about actual injuries until they are carted off the field and missing in action for a bit.
1. Grabbing The Attention of a Referee
Faking an injury in soccer is usually going to lead to referees taking notice. When a player goes down, they want to know why, and seeing them fall to the ground could sway a decision.
When a player is trying to fake an injury, referees are trained to ensure they are not caught off guard. Some of them have become really good at making sure they are not making a call on a flop. Players might fool less seasoned referees, but they really need to sell this type of reaction if they want to get the call they are looking for.
Studies have shown that, for the most part, flopping does affect how referees call the game. They are more likely to make the call, and even if it is not that much of an issue, the reaction makes the incident seem like a much bigger deal.
Some flopping is more justifiable than other instances. For example, if an opponent is trying to gain an advantage in some way against the rules, one of the best ways to draw attention is to fake an injury. It might not be the most genuine way to handle things, but it is part of soccers gamesmanship.
2. Wasting Time
When a team has a lead or even a draw, for that matter, they can go into wasting time mode. This is a way for them to run out the clock and preserve the result they are looking for. Some people use a fake injury, as the seconds tick away when a player is down.
Yes, a lot of this time can be made up in stoppage time, but it is still a tactic that teams have used in the past. Faking an injury can eat up time in a hurry, especially if they need severe medical attention.
Referees will hurry up injuries as much as possible to get the play going again, but it is a tactic that will never completely fade away. Underdog teams tend to use this a bit more often than favorites. They know that if the game can slow down a bit, they have a chance to pull off a great result.
3. Hunting For Yellow or Red Cards On Specific Players
Although this is somewhat related to getting a call in the first place, hunting for yellow or red cards for specific players is another tactic that teams use. As an example, if a team has a very successful player on the other side that already has a yellow card on their record, a team might try to do whatever possible to give them a second yellow so that they are disqualified from the match.
This not only gives a team a huge advantage with an extra player on the field, but it could be very costly if it is one of the oppositions best players.
Sometimes, this type of strategy works against the team, as they are trying too much to get the other side in trouble. Instead of sticking with a normal game plan, they are too occupied with trying to create problems. It is one thing to go after a particular player, but not if it takes away from the overall game plan and messes up how teams go about things.
4. Causing a Distraction On The Pitch
A fake injury is something that not only frustrates fans but players as well. If someone falls to the ground, it can be a distracting part of the game that is part of the strategy. Teams could try to fake an injury to regain possession or create an open opportunity as the opposition freezes.
Most of the top teams in the world are fine with playing through any potential injury issues, and they are not going to be distracted when it happens. However, at lower levels, players instinctively stop how they play if an injury occurs.
Even if they freeze for just a moment, a team can gain an advantage. That can lead to a goal that ends up being a difference in the match, and at least so many people are frustrated with what ultimately was decided with a fake injury.
Out of all the reasons why flopping happens, this might be the shadiest at the mall. Crazy distraction is not really about playing soccer any longer, as it’s more about doing whatever possible to throw the opponent off.
5. Creating a Free Kick/Penalty Kick
A high percentage free kick or penalty kick can be gold in a game of soccer. Teams are trying to capitalize on offense as much as possible, and being close to the goal is the best way to do it. That is why there seems to be a lot of flopping inside the box, as teams are looking for those precious penalty kicks so that they have an excellent opportunity to score.
Teams also know that they can get away with flopping on offense a bit more when they are close to their net because the other team will find it hard to color attack. When flopping in the open field, it can create mismatches if the call is never made.
It seems like the closer the match, and the closer the match is to final time, the more flopping occurs. It is definitely a skill that people work on to improve their teams chance of winning, and it can end up being a pretty good opportunity for some out there.
