In this post we explain the word ‘foul‘ when it is used in football. You can find out more about this phrase by reading the transcript below and you can also find many more examples of soccer vocabulary by going to our football cliches page here and our huge football glossary here. If you have questions or comments, please email us at: admin@languagecaster.com.
A foul is when an opponent stops a player by illegal means (e.g. a push or trip). There are lots of other types of fouls including:
- obstruction
- pulling the shirt of an opponent
- tripping an opponent
- stamp on an opponent (serious foul play)
The word ‘foul‘ can also be used as a verb – to foul an opponent. Sometimes we can say that a player committed a bad foul (maybe because it was quite violent) or that a player was deliberately fouled to stop a counter attack or quick break – the attacker was fouled.
- Example: Cristian Ronaldo suffers many fouls throughout the season as defenders try to stop him by any way possible.
- Example: Sometimes a player has to commit a foul to prevent an opponent from scoring – a professional foul
- Example: ‘Clear foul! – Manchester United fans furious following Bruno Fernandes incident vs Southampton (Manchester Evening News, 22 August 2021)
Related Terms
Hello Damian,
many thanks again. If anybody interested, we call it šlapák [ ʃlapa:k ] in Slovakia.
Best regards.
Thanks again Ivan for your questions/comments – we will be using them in this week’s podcast at the weekend 🙂
Damian
Hi Damian,
many thanks, it helped a lot. Just one more question, if possible. Which word do you use when saying that a player stamps on another player foot-he/she commited/made a step on, or is there a different word associated with stamp on in this case?
Thank you.
Best.
Hi Ivan,
I think we just use the word ‘stamp’ in this case. Sometimes we might hear the action described with the word ‘studs’ (the bottom of the player’s boot) but not as a verb: The player’s studs came down on the opponent.
We can also say ‘to stand on someone’s foot’ but this suggests more of an accident.
I will post the question onto the forum and see if anyone knows more.
Is there a word for this in other languages?
Damian
Dear Sirs,
I read an article in which E. Howe used a term describing a kind of foul (in this case K. Trippier was fouled-I wish him speedy recovery).
I would like to ask you whether a€œgot stamped ona€œ is usually used to describe a kind of foul when a player stamps on an opponent foot, or whether there is any different and more common term?
Thank you.
E. Howe said: “Trippier got stamped on and he couldn’t continue with a problem on the top of his foot. We’re keeping everything crossed hoping that there’s no broken bone.”
source: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/12541879/kieran-trippier-newcastle-full-back-sidelined-after-fracturing-bone-in-foot
Hi Ivan,
Thanks for the question.
Yes, if a player stamps on another player then it means they have stepped on the opponent. The word ‘stamp’ suggests a more violent step and of course this can be an accident or deliberate. If a referee thinks a player has stamped on another player then they will receive a card (maybe a red).
The manager Eddie Howe has said that Trippier was stamped on (by another player) and has used ‘got’ instead of be/was – a common way of using the passive form; something was done to the player (by someone else).
I hope that helps 🙂 We also have a forum for any questions you may want to ask (or answer!)
Damian