Violence in sport
Reasons for player violence
is deliberately harming another player, outside the rules. Reasons include:
- Frustration or anger: losing, playing badly, or a poor decision by an official
- : reacting to a bad tackle or a foul
- : being too 'pumped up' during the game
- Importance of the game: an intense rivalry, a derby or a final
- Provocation: taunting from opponents or the crowd
- Pressure from coaches or teammates, or a attitude
- The nature of the game: contact sports need controlled aggression, which can go too far
- Drugs, such as anabolic steroids, which can increase aggression
- Copying poor behaviour seen in others or on TV.
Key terms
Examples
| Situation | Reason |
|---|---|
| A footballer kicks out at an opponent after a late tackle | Retaliation |
| A rugby player punches an opponent in a derby match | Rivalry and the importance of the game |
| A hockey player strikes an opponent with their stick after a goal is disallowed | Frustration at an official's decision |
| A basketball player shoves an opponent after constant taunting | Provocation |
Violence leads to injuries, red cards and bans, and it gives sport a bad image, which young people may copy.
Common mistake
A hard tackle within the rules is , not violence. Violence is outside the rules.