Flopping

Throughout the history of soccer, flopping has been a significant problem that has pervaded the nature of the game. Also known as diving, this issue has reigned supreme especially in modern day soccer, as players will feign injuries in order to gain an advantage (often a free kick) for their respective teams. There are varying degrees to a flop. For example, minimal contact between opposing players can be exaggerated significantly; common incidents include the recipient of a slight tug or push falling over in dramatic fashion. On the other end of the spectrum, no contact between two players can result in a dive, as the recipient of the “foul” seeks to create the perception that he/she was hurt.

Contributing to the controversial nature of this part of the game is the fact that the referee decides whether or not a certain fouling action was legitimate or caused by flopping. Obviously, subjectivity and interpretation come into play, as well as the past flopping histories of players. The decision becomes even more strenuous when a legitimate or contrived foul is called in the penalty box, where a penalty kick is awarded. If the referee believes that the foul was dangerous, he/she may give the player who committed the foul a yellow or red card, thus adding salt to the wound.

This last year saw the emergence of a new award in professional soccer, the Fallon d’Floor. Obviously spoofing the Ballon d”Or, this award is given to the player whose glorious dive is deemed most worthy by anonymous internet voters. This years winner, titled Fish Out of Water, was Adryan with an amazing performance. The site also features popular stars such as Arjen Robben and Cristiano Ronaldo

Overall, flopping has a significant part in the game of soccer, particularly in recent years. Though FIFA has tried to encourage players to not dive, it does not seem that this trend will die down anytime soon. It will definitely be interesting to see how soccer progresses amidst this “movement” and how FIFA will combat this in the future. While generally considered to be a problem with the sport, some will argue that its a natural part of the game though taken to an extreme at times.