Sports
Does a more aggressive style of play correlate with more success in football?
While aggression is largely seen as a negative trait, some sports psychologists agree that hostility can improve an individual’s performance. If players use aggression recklessly during a game, it will undoubtedly hurt their performance, but if this aggression is controlled, it can help them play more competently. It has been said that football tends to be one of the more socially acceptable channels for aggression. Still, professionals must learn the difference between controlled aggression and violence and transfer that knowledge to their game.
Aggression shows Character
Managers often praise their players for being aggressive during football matches, reflecting how much they care about their team winning. For example, José Mourinho has previously praised Chelsea striker Diego Costa for his aggressive style of play, stating that these qualities and mannerisms are what Chelsea needed to win the Premier League in 2014/15.
A player showing aggression to win a match or a cup is good. Aggression helps one to hold that “never give up” mentality; it feeds one’s hunger for success and somewhat drives an individual or a team to glory. Aggression keeps one in the right mindset to fight until the last minute, the last whistle. And if you are familiar with “the beautiful game”, you know how important that is.
However, this is not to be confused with playing with anger or the reckless abandon that Diego Costa is now often accused of. Aggression must be limited within the rules of the game. There is a big difference between aggressive and foul play, and fans, pundits, and referees can certainly tell the difference.
However, as far as players are concerned, it’s hard to imagine as the red mist falls. When players are told to be more aggressive, it sometimes results in them committing more fouls because they don’t understand what it means to play aggressively and instead interpret the instructions to play dirty.
Controlled aggression can be beneficial
When examining sports aggression, there are subtle yet very important differences between what sports psychologists consider healthy and appropriate versus what is unnecessary and potentially dangerous. An athlete who throws a hard punch after the whistle shows unhealthy aggression.
Although the aggression may not be dangerous, it goes beyond the rules and manifests frustration, not fair play, and sound strategy. When it comes to aggression, intent matters. Especially regarding safety, integrity, and sportsmanship in sports.
The Punters Page official site says if players are taught by their professional coaches and managers how to maintain a controlled aggressiveness on the field, it will allow them to play better by making contact with other players in a controlled manner without fear. Being aggressive in football is a desirable quality in a player, especially in the English Premier League.
Zlatan Ibrahimovi? once said that, according to him, when he’s angry in the field, he plays better. If people say he is aggressive, it stimulates him because he will be more aggressive. If people say he shouts a lot, he will shout even more. All this stimulates and drives him to play even better, and we have the incredible results in front of us as proof.
Aggression is often Dangerous
Although there are a lot of debates going on about whether aggression is good for players, it is better to believe it is not. Whenever a player shows a sign of aggression, either that player or their opponent is getting hurt, or maybe the opposition tends to play in fear which eventually turns into frustration, and they backfire with aggression too.
Aggression has ended the careers of many players, many legends, and many who could have been, as we all know. A severe injury breaks the backbone of any player’s mentality and destroys or limits their physical abilities.
Aggression without proper disposal is self-destructive
While controlled aggression helps in certain game circumstances, it is also important to control your emotions and not get too frustrated, which could lead to dangerous attacks, arguing with referees’ decisions, and subsequent bookings. Even if a referee doesn’t record an incident, you can risk a post-match citation and ejection as officials try harder than ever to keep violent acts out of football.
Luis Suárez is another example of someone who doesn’t know how to express his frustration. From three separate cases, we can see that Suárez has a particular taste for controversial and truly human flesh. Any opponent against Suárez knows they could be facing a situation you’d normally find in a petting zoo.
When you see footballers getting aggressive in the face of the referee, do you see the need to ensure that the aggression is controlled and focused on the match itself rather than showing disrespect to the referee where any aggression towards the referee is immediately punished? This is not to discourage aggression but to ensure it is directed at the right areas. The referee is unlikely to change his mind about the decision, so footballers are better off using their obvious aggression against the opposition.
Final Thoughts
Aggression is an integral part of football. Thus, a modern study suggests that information regarding people’s beliefs and aggression about game outcomes, has an impact on maximizing participation in soccer and karate. However, it is essential that young professional sportsmen and women understand the difference between controlled aggression and violence. In a modern game where players are thrown to the ground at the slightest touch, they need to control their aggression more than ever.
It would be interesting to see how many red cards former players like Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira would receive in the modern Premier League game. Players must adapt to this current state, or they will spend more time on the sidelines than on the field.
Sports
Kenya Keeper Under Investigation For Match-Fixing
The Kenya Football Federation (FKF) has launched an investigation into allegations that goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has been involved in match manipulation.
The 37-year-old, who plays for Kenyan Premier League club Kakamega Homeboyz, has won over 30 international caps.
His most recent appearance for the Harambee Stars came in October last year, in a qualifier for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
An undated video posted online appears to show Matasi agreeing a deal to influence the outcome of a league game.
“I have spoken to him. He was also shocked at what he was seeing in the video and he told me he doesn’t know about match-fixing,” Homeboyz owner Cleophas Shimanyula told Tidesports source .
The FKF said it would work with world governing body Fifa, the Confederation of African Football and other “relevant authorities” during its investigation.
“We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and are committed to safeguarding the credibility of our competitions,” a statement added.
“This investigation will adhere to FKF’s anti-match manipulation regulations and Fifa guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent, and thorough process.
“The rights of the player and his club will be respected, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.”
Shimanyula backed Matasi, pointing to the fact the veteran has kept three clean sheets in as many games since joining the club a month ago.
“When we watched this video, we found that Matasi has not wronged the club,” he said.
“In a video there can misinterpretations and false narratives and we cannot trust everything.
“He will keep playing for us because there’s no wrongdoing on his part as far as we are concerned – unless there’s evidence or the FKF writes to us to say they are suspecting the player of some wrongdoing.
“He is innocent until proven guilty and then we will act.”
The FKF has called on anyone with credible information to assist its investigation, with any reports to be handled with strict confidentiality.
Shimanyula also challenged the Kenyan footballing community to provide evidence against Matasi.
“Kakamega Homeboyz is against any form of match manipulation,” he said.
Sports
UEFA Probes Real Players Over Indecent Conduct
Uefa has opened an investigation into allegations of indecent conduct by four Real Madrid players during their Champions League last-16 win against Atletico Madrid.
Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Dani Ceballos allegedly made gestures towards the home fans after Real Madrid beat their city rivals on penalties to book their place in the quarter-finals.
TV pictures showed German defender Rudiger appearing to make a throat-slitting motion, apparently towards the crowd after the shootout victory, while Mbappe was shown seemingly making a crotch-grabbing gesture.
Spanish media said Atletico reported the actions to Uefa last week.
The players could be at risk of suspension but there is no guarantee the case will be heard before their quarter-final with Arsenal. The first leg for that tie is at Emirates Stadium on 8 April and the return leg a week later.
In a statement, Uefa said: “[An] ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct” made by the four Real Madrid players.
“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”
Sports
EPL To Have Two Transfer Windows
The Premier League has announced it will have two transfer windows this summer to allow Manchester City and Chelsea to sign players before the Club World Cup.
The window will open between Sunday, 1 June and Tuesday, 10 June, then close for five days before running again from Monday, 16 June until Monday, 1 September.
This summer features the first expanded Fifa Club World Cup, which involves 32 teams and adopts the format of the regular World Cup of the past few years.
Chelsea and Manchester City are the Premier League teams in the tournament which takes place in the United States from Sunday, 15 June.
But the Premier League can only have 12 weeks of a summer window – hence the five-day break in order to run it until 1 September.
Fifa has allowed new players to be registered for the Club World Cup from 1-10 June, and again from 27 June-3 July for the knockout stage.
This is happening firstly, to bring order to the global registration system, world governing body Fifa only permits the transfer window in any individual country to be open for 16 weeks in any calendar year.
In Europe, precedent dictates four of those weeks are for the winter window, leaving 12 in the summer. In 2024, the Premier League transfer window opened on 14 June and closed on 30 August.