The beautiful game we all know and love has a rich history and is widely regarded as the most popular sport on the planet. However, like any other sport, it has its fair share of myths and misconceptions. In this article, we’ll debunk some common myths surrounding football and shed light on the truths that often go unnoticed. Get ready for some serious mythbusting!
Myth 1: Heading the Ball Causes Brain Damage:
One prevalent myth in football is that heading the ball leads to long-term brain damage. The powers that be even discussed banning headers at youth level. While it’s fine to show concern regarding any potential head related injury, scaremongering is NOT the way to go. It has not been conclusively proven that heading the ball causes brain damage, and if the proper technique is used, this will continue to be the case. On your head son!
Myth 2: Possession Wins Games:
Possession may be nine tenths of the law, but it doesn’t guarantee you winning a game of football. The notion that possession is the sole reflection of a team’s success is without doubt a misconception. While keeping hold of the ball can be advantageous, it doesn’t mean an automatic victory. Many successful teams focus on effective transitions, counter-attacks, and efficient use of possession rather than sheer ball retention. As the old adage goes, goals win games, not possession.
Myth 3: You should never pass it square
Remember this myth? At one point, this is one of the first things you were taught as a young player, along with “play to the whistle.” But square passing is now a key part of several teams’ build up play, with top coaches like Pep Guardiola implementing this strategy. A traditional square ball is a horizontal pass between the defence and midfield, a pass that doesn’t necessarily advance the team up the field. Whilst there is a chance you could get caught in possession close to your own box, players of a high technical calibre can use square passes to carve tire out the opposition and build attacks.
Myth 4: Footballers Are Overpaid and Lazy:
They take enough stick, it’s time to stick up for the players… a little bit. The belief that footballers are overpaid and lazy is a common misconception fueled by the media. In reality, professional footballers undergo rigorous training regimes, maintain strict dietary discipline, and face immense pressure to perform at the highest level. Yes, they are paid tremendously well, but it’s a very, very short career. Most footballers retire before 40, people who work are able to keep going for 20 plus years at 40. Think about it.
Myth 5: Referees Are Always Biassed:
It’s almost become tradition to criticise the referee nowadays, especially after the introduction of VAR. But a lot of fan bases think referees have some sort of vendetta against their team. Newsflash: supporters of EVERY club feel as though they’re hard done by at the hands of referees. You watch the club you support more than any other team, therefore you notice bad decisions against your team a lot more – see where we’re going with this? Referees aren’t out to get your club. Mistakes are a part of football.
