Soccer can be a fierce and competitive game with so much competition that the players get overzealous. On the outside, two players running after a ball may seem absurd, but to us soccer fans we know the desire.
Games between rivals can strike up some of the most heated duals, but what happens if soccer players fight?
There is an old saying in England about soccer and rugby and the aggressive nature of the game;
Soccer is a gentleman’s game played by hooligans, and rugby is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen.Soccer Blade
This is a reflection of what the nature of both sports represents for the English, the main precursors of both disciplines. The phrase comes from the fact that by regulation and its nature as a constant contact game.
This saying is becoming more untrue as the years go by and the game of soccer becomes more friendly on the field.
Soccer should have a greater number of confrontations and problems between players, which is more common in soccer whose base is much thinner and, theoretically, it would require less contact and fights.
The fierce part of the game has added to the popularity that soccer has gained worldwide throughout the years compared to rugby, which has led to the incorporation of bad habits.
In short, despite having less contact between the players, soccer turns out to have more fights than rugby, ironic as it may sound.
Is Soccer Limited Contact?
Despite the fact that soccer is a limited-contact sport, that’s, it’s not completely necessary or mandatory that there be physical contact between the players but without excessive force.
it’s normal that in certain situations such as they fight for possession of the divided ball, in the corners and free-kicks, or in the tackles, there is contact between the players.
To be within the rules, the clashes between the players must be shoulder to shoulder, so if one pushes the other with another part of the arm, It’s considered foul.
In tackles, the foot must first contact the ball, if it touches the player’s leg first, it’s considered foul.
Other types of tackles considered to be fouls are ones that are by using excessive force – this is when a player uses more aggression than needed.
For corners or free kicks, the defender can get very close to the attacker as long as they do not hug him or take him somewhere in the body that prevents the attacker from moving.
Logically, any type of direct physical aggression is considered a foul.
What happens if players fight?
If a soccer player touches other players’ faces in a confrontation, they’ll be given a red card. Any sort of aggression that starts a fight with be sent off.
Twenty years ago the story was different. Some players had a small fight and when the referee stopped it, they were only given a yellow card, because it quickly calmed.
Now the rules are different. Any fighting isn’t tolerated. It’s a family sport and gives the wrong impression to fans.
If players fight, the teammate will go to their player’s aid. They’ll try and calm the situation and split the players up.
The referee will try and restore order on the field and give the aggressors yellow and red cards in order with the laws of the game.
In ice hockey, unlike the popular belief of those who are not fans of the sport, fights are punished, although not with the severity that’s applied in other sports.
Due to the competitiveness and aggressiveness that’s accompanied hockey since its inception.
It’s one of the few sports, leaving aside those of fighting such as boxing, where this type of confrontation is allowed.
Rules for Fighting
In soccer, it’s completely prohibited by the FIFA disciplinary code for expulsion for a red card and a penalty of 6 games without playing for fighting during a soccer game of any of the competitions that precede them.
If a player tries to separate fighting players or is simply attacked without returning aggression, they not penalized in any way.
However, each federation establishes its own sanctions in its competencies as well as an evaluation of each case to define said sanctions.
The regulation is not limited to confrontations between rivals; if two teammates fight during a match they each receive a red card.
One of the most famous antecedents of these cases is the fight between Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer of Newcastle during a match against Aston Villa for the Premier League in 2005.
Both players were expelled and received several matches of sanction in addition to an economic fine.
What happens if you punch a referee in soccer?
In the same way that assaults between rivals or teammates, an attack on a referee has also sanctioned with a red card in the match and a sanction.
That would lead to a prolonged suspension that would surely exceed the sanctions of the cases of aggressions mentioned.
Since both the FIFA like the other federations tries to protect referees so in a case of assault on one, the sanction can be months without playing.
How many players can be sent off in soccer?
We’ve talked a lot about the topic of red cards and expulsions, however, if for reasons of aggression, double yellow card, or any other game circumstance, 5 players from the same team are sent off, the game would be ended.
In the event that the expulsion is from a player on the bench, it would not count for that case and the match could continue, the rule would only apply to players who are part of the 11 that are in the field at that time.
The minimum number of players that a team can have on the field is 7 players.
What happens if a soccer match is abandoned?
Although here we’ve explained as a possible cause of abandonment of a party, a high number of expulsions, the causes for this to happen may be up to climatic conditions or more recently, racism.
A game is considered abandoned when the 90 minutes of play is not completed for some reason, and depending on the cause it can be repeated from the beginning.
The remaining time can be played as it happened, for example, in a match between in 2005 between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad (it was played from minute 84).
The result can also be kept until that moment or finally, the team that did not commit the offense is given as the winner, the latter case may be due to improper alignment.
Fair Play Rules in Soccer
Assaults in soccer are very frowned upon and sanctioned with great severity since the message of the federations is based on a sport that’s governed by the principles of Fair Play and in this sense.
These types of situations must be eradicated by treating them harshly to avoid recidivism and any feeling of contemplation.
In fact, the players who’ve been involved in this type of situation and have earned the “label” of being violent.
In many cases, see their careers a bit affected since not all soccer clubs want that kind of image for themselves especially in major clubs that try to uphold certain ideals.
One of the key aspects of soccer is to hold your nerve and keep your discipline.
Soccer is a team game and relies on 11 players on one side – without one member it’s an uphill struggle. For more useful guides, see the articles below or visit our home page.
I’ve played soccer across the U.S.A, Europe and I’ve coached many teams. Soccer is life for me, and with my experience in the game, I want to share my insights into the beautiful game with you.
Joel Powel – Soccer Blade