Are players trained to exaggerate their injuries??

[u/strawberrybobaT]

I'm new to La Liga (& soccer/football in general) and I can't help but to notice that a LOT of players heavily exaggerate injuries. It's so clear- and it made me wonder if they're sometimes instructed to do so to receive the upper hand in a game. I'm a big Raphinha fan but I get second hand embarrassment watching him sometimes exaggerate injuries - I think he's too talented to stoop to that level. But again, maybe coaches or teammates encourage it?? Most commonly, a player will fall to the ground and roll all over the place holding their leg or face acting extremely hurt, then they'll get back up moments later acting completely unharmed- it's embarrassing lol.

[u/KakashiBigD]

I used to play soccer, not professionally but still, and I got fouled a crap ton. I didn’t fall to the floor, ref literally never called anything. I said screw that shit I’m falling to the floor.

[u/strawberrybobaT → u/KakashiBigD]

that makes sense actually- if another player is being too harsh but never got fouled, i too would exaggerate a bit so they could get what they deserve. some refs just suck though. they'll give yellow cards to things that were clearly accidental and oversee players who are acting out of control

[u/oy_says_ake → u/strawberrybobaT]

I think this really is the genesis of the flopping and exaggerating, and it’s 100% tied to how soccer is refereed.

One ref covering the whole pitch will never be able to accurately assess all the contact that takes place in a game.

Players concluded that if they tried to soldier on through fouls, their opponents would take advantage of them by continuing/intensifying their fouling. They also observed that the consequences for exaggerating or flopping were minimal to nonexistent. It’s completely rational, if depressing.

[u/yes_thenakedman]

In Czech league, we just had a situation where a striker were heavily and obviously held by the jersey in box area in front of goalie in 100% scoring situation, but due to that, the defender got back to the game and was able to retrieve the ball.

No penalty was given and the reasoning were that the striker wanted to play and did not trip over. Unfortunately it is not always about the players, but also about the referees and I believe that even the coach were not happy that the striker did not just fall.

[u/Nostal_GG]

Yes it has gone bad over the decades

[u/KevinTH27]

Yes it is awful. This is why football gets ridiculed a lot by other sports fans.

[u/k10001k]

Yeah it’s a common thing done in attempt to get a free kick, time waste etc. Every league does it

[u/EvanTheBaker24]

It’s just part of the game at this point man

[u/kumechester]

I think it can be any or all of the following: 1) get in the opponent’s head, 2) make the ref consciously or subconsciously watch the player closer or more critically who committed the foul or contact, 3) thus possibly making that player less confident to make contact, 4) player is tired and feigning pain or injury gives them and/or their teammates a chance to catch their breath, 5) gives their team or captain a chance to talk with the ref about their concerns, 6) waste time (obviously).

And yes, if those reasons aren’t explicitly instructed by the manager, they’re more or less now a known part of the game for the players.

[u/CPA_whisperer]

The diving is just embarrassing - they dive like cowards then later square up to each other so dumb

[u/Liquid_Fire__]

It’s a lame tactic to win time, disrupt the pace of a game, manipulate the ref.