professional foul
Strategic rule violation
A professional foul is a deliberate foul in sports, typically soccer, committed to prevent an opponent from scoring or gaining advantage—accepting the penalty as worthwhile.
The term extends to any calculated rule violation where the benefit outweighs the cost: Taking the fine was a professional foul—cheaper than compliance.
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- disqualificationRemoval from eligibility
- gamesmanshipWinning without cheating outright
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- infractionMinor rule breach
tackling · yellow card · deliberate · calculated risk · charge · cheating · caution · tripping · hacking · diving · game theory · take one for the team · handball · red card · defender · risk assessment · integrity · time-wasting
- Soccergoal, soccer, pass, football, goalkeeper
- rugbyscrum, try, rugby, Rugby World Cup, rugby union
- soccer mistakesown goal, handball, red card, yellow card, penalty
- tactical fouls
- FIFAWorld Cup, World Cup trophy, offside rule, red card, yellow card
- deliberate deceptionsbluff, feint, misdirection, red herring, decoy
professional foulown goal
Scoring against your side
technical foul · personal foul · flagrant foul · unsportsmanlike conduct
professional, profession, profess, professed, professing, professor, professorial, professionally, professionalism