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There has been a growing reputation that many soccer players are weak. Some players appear weak but are just being dramatic and flopping.
Often players go down with minimal contact and roll around on the ground as if they have just been hit. Most of the time it’s just part of the tactics to slow down play and waste minutes.
In this article we will go through why soccer players are so weak as well as the following:
- Are Soccer Players Weak
- Why Players Fall
- Why Players Flop
- Overreactions
- Injuries + funny video
Knowing when to be strong and when to take a foul is important gameplay, let’s find out more.
Why Are Soccer Players so Weak?
Soccer players act weak to con the referee into giving a foul. Weak referees are partly to blame for making incorrect decisions when there’s no foul.
Far too often we see a soccer player drop to the ground when quite clearly there has been minimal contact if any at all. Yet the player who was fouled rolls around on the ground for five to ten seconds, seemingly in agony only for them to hop straight up and continue playing with no signs of injury.
Now, this is not always the case. Occasionally, an opposing player will tackle a player, and there is significant contact.
Must Read: 10 Worst Flops in Soccer
Why Do Soccer Players Fall so Much?
Soccer players fall due to medical attention to fake an injury, but also they could have been hit at speed by a strong player.
There is a mix of reasons why players fall. One of soccer’s great attributes is that all sizes of players can play at once. The size and weight differences of players are not always noticeable on TV.
Apart from the physical differences, let’s take a look at the medical and faking side of soccer;
Medical Attention
The fouled player will then lie on the ground moving in pain. There is an injury from the contact for the fouled player, and they will need medical attention.
Even when there is severe contact on a player, the fans and other players will often be up in arms simply because of the trend that happens when players go down without hardly any contact.
It makes it hard for the referee to determine what exactly has happened as sometimes there is contact and a serious injury to the player.
Feign Injury
Whereas other times it seems like there was not any contact at all and the player gets up and continues to play with no signs of injury.
Here is the official law that is against soccer players faking injury, otherwise they will get a yellow card;
Attempts to deceive the referee, e.g. by feigning injury or pretending to have been fouled (simulation)
Law 12.3 – Yellow Card Offense IFAB (FIFA)
The other way a soccer player can be deemed to be so weak is that physically, the player is weaker than other players. This is usually seen when a winger goes up against a central defender.
Small Players
As most wingers are small in stature (Adama Traore aside) they rely on their low center of gravity and quickness to get past defenders.
This is needed because more often than not, the physical size of the defender is needed when going toe-to-toe with the opposition’s strikers.
So, when players are called weak, it can be either the way they go down with little to no contact or the fact that they are actually not physically gifted as other players.
Why Do Soccer Players Flop so Much?
So that they can draw a foul and win a free-kick, get a penalty, or waste time. Goals in soccer are so hard to score players often go too long lengths to get the best possible chance at scoring a goal.
More often than not this occurs when the ball is near the goal.
If there is little contact, sometimes a player will go down to win a free-kick for their team. This puts them in an excellent position to put the ball into the box and a good chance to score a goal.
Penalty Box
The other area where soccer players tend to flop a lot is in the penalty box. As mentioned above, goals are so hard to come by in soccer, and if a defender has the smallest hint of contact in the penalty area, a player will go down.
This is to draw the referee’s attention to the fact that a foul has occurred and that a penalty should be given.
Sometimes, if it’s deemed to be denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, a penalty will be awarded, and the player who fouled the opposition will be given a red card.
Generally speaking, players will flop to deceive the referee into giving a foul. This also works away from the goal or penalty box.
The Final Minutes
If a team is 1-0 up and the game is entering the last five minutes, often players will go down at any sign of contact.
Why do you say? To waste time. By constantly going down and drawing what looks to be fouled, the game stops by the time keep going and this limits the opposition’s chances of scoring the goal needed to get a result.
Why Do Soccer Players Overreact?
- Get a player yellow or red carded
- Influence the referee’s decision
- Trying to get a penalty
Soccer players will overreact to a challenge (tackle) or a decision to influence the referee’s decision. For example, if it’s a derby game with Barcelona and Real Madrid, tempers are already high.
If there is a 50/50 challenge and players collide, other players will overreact and throw their arms in the air yelling for a foul to be called. This is done to influence the referee to show a yellow or red card.
We see many times that players will surround the referee when a foul has been called during a game to make the decision that will benefit their team.
Do Soccer Players Actually Get Hurt?
Soccer players get hurt and if a physio comes on the field, the players need to leave the field of play. This is a new rule that stops players from faking injuries.
But what makes it tough to judge is that too often players go down to the ground after minimal contact and appear to be in severe pain. Only to then get straight back up and continue playing.
However, sometimes, a player will be tackled or bumped/pushed, and an injury occurs to the fouled player.
While sometimes it appears that players do not get injured from a challenge, they also do get injured, making it hard to determine because of the excessive flopping.
Must Read: 10 Worst Flops in Soccer
Soccer Players Faking Injuries
There are some horrific legs breaks and other injuries in soccer – but they are too bad to watch. Instead here are some funny fake dives and injuries from weak soccer players;
Sources:
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Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.
