MADRID, SPAIN – JANUARY 16: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid goes down with an injury during the Copa Del Rey match between Real Madrid and Celta de Vigo at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
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Watching the World Cup with family has been a delightful experience, reigniting a genuine love for soccer and a deeper admiration for the skill, strategy, and athleticism at the highest levels of the sport. However, one recurring issue diminishes the enjoyment: the widespread problem of players feigning injuries.
This aspect of the game is difficult to overlook.
It appears many share this sentiment. According to a 2014 survey of soccer enthusiasts, 83 percent identified feigned injuries as a major frustration, making it the leading complaint.
I Have An Inherent Bias About Fake Injuries In Soccer
As a neurosurgeon specializing in complex spine surgery, I am confronted daily with the harsh realities of true trauma—patients with spines shattered in car accidents, falls from heights, and genuine sports injuries. These severe incidents frequently lead to lifelong impacts requiring extensive recovery.
Furthermore, as a former college rugby player with a keen interest in football, rugby, and ice hockey, I am used to a different standard. In these sports, athletes endure powerful hits—often resulting in visible injuries—yet they quickly recover and continue to play. This embodies a culture of toughness: resilience in the face of contact and collision.
In stark contrast, soccer players—despite being among the world’s most well-paid and physically talented athletes—often fall dramatically after minimal or no contact. They grab at limbs, writhing on the field, attracting medical attention, only to leap up moments later and dash off at full speed. This behavior is not indicative of injury but rather an act of performance, masquerading as competition among otherwise elite athletes.
As comedian Sebastian Maniscalco aptly put it: “Aren’t you embarrassed?”
The Data On Fake Or Simulated Soccer Injuries
In soccer, diving—or ‘simulation’ as FIFA officially terms it—is explicitly against the rules and can result in a yellow card. Yet, this practice remains widespread. Research indicates that a significant portion of supposed injuries in soccer are exaggerated or fabricated. One analysis of tournament play revealed that only about 7% of ‘injuries’ in men’s games were confirmed as definite, with the majority being questionable or simulated. Players are aware that stoppages for injuries can lead to free kicks, cards, and shifts in momentum in a low-scoring sport.
This is not harmless theater; it squanders referee time, disrupts the game flow, and—most annoyingly from a physician’s standpoint—damages the credibility of real injuries. When every minor bump is dramatized as career-threatening, it becomes challenging to address genuine medical concerns.
Of course, soccer players do experience very real and serious injuries.
Compare To Rugby: Real Punishment, Real Resilience
Consider rugby. The United States is set to host the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2033.
Rugby players endure substantial, repeated collisions without protective padding. Research suggests that rugby has significantly higher injury rates than soccer—up to 2.7 times more in some youth and amateur comparisons. Yet, the culture emphasizes resilience and continuation. Rugby players do not roll around hoping for a penalty; they quickly recover because the game demands toughness and continuous play. The physical toll is real and well-documented, but a culture of simulation is largely absent.
This contrast is evident in numerous social media videos comparing the World Cup finals of each sport.
Why Is This Happening In Soccer? Incentives Matter
The issue is not that soccer players are inherently fragile. These are extraordinary, elite athletes and top-tier competitors.
The root cause lies in the incentives. If there were no potential benefits, players wouldn’t engage in such behavior.
In a sport where a single goal can determine the outcome and fouls have serious consequences, simulation can offer significant advantages: free kicks in strategic areas, penalties for opponents, time-wasting to maintain a lead, or even impacting substitutions and rest. While rugby and hockey also involve substantial physical risks, their rules and culture do not reward such acting to the same extent.
As a physician, it is particularly frustrating to see highly skilled, well-paid athletes turn minor contact into dramatic performances. This diminishes the broader dialogue around athlete welfare and sports medicine and makes it more challenging for referees, fans, and medical staff to discern genuine injuries from the fake.
A Path Forward For Soccer Injuries
Soccer’s governing bodies have taken steps by issuing yellow cards for simulation and implementing VAR interventions. However, the game would be significantly improved if players ceased acting and allowed the game to proceed naturally.
From a physician’s perspective, the solution is clear: Genuine injuries deserve respect and appropriate medical care, while fake ones waste time and undermine trust. The data is evident—rugby and hockey involve more authentic physical challenges with less dramatization. Soccer players could take a lesson from this.
Fans already admire the sport’s beauty: its artistry, athleticism, and tactical brilliance. When players prioritize authenticity over theatrics, they honor that passion and offer fans the genuine, fluid game they deserve to enjoy.
