The impact of playing football on players' behavior during matches

Abstract

Football is rich in its components and content, providing enjoyment, entertainment, and excitement for both players and spectators alike. However, the violence and riots that have accompanied it since its inception to the present day raise multiple questions about their causes and complex motives, reflecting the many contributing factors. Far from all these elements revolving around this sport, our study focused on its primary source, which is the activity itself. Although its morpho-functional impact is apparent, its effect on players' behavior is ambiguous, forming the central issue of our research. For this purpose, we used the descriptive method, which aligns with the nature of our study and facilitates the process of this survey research, using questionnaires and observation as research tools for a sample that included football players from the first and second national divisions. After collecting various information through players' answers to the questions contained in the questionnaire—which covered three main areas: the purpose of practicing football and its impact on them, their knowledge of the rules of football, and the effect of various aspects of preparation on their behavior—and through the data that was provided It was included in the field observation form for player behaviors set for study under different match outcomes, whether a draw, a win, or a loss. The statistical data showed that the behavior of football players is affected by match results due to their significance and their connection to several other influential elements in football. The results also indicated football players' lack of knowledge of the rules of the game, and that this ignorance leads to negative behavior during matches through actions that do not align with the established regulations governing how the game should be played. It was also evident that each type of preparation in football has its role and impact on players' behavior on the field, with the effect of physical preparation differing from that of skill-based, strategic, psychological, or theoretical preparation. Accordingly, for football to become a true source of nobility and a wellspring of genuine purity, it must be cleansed of the stains of the tragedies that surround it. This can only be achieved by studying its various aspects one by one in order to purify it in service of its noble objectives.