Jump to content

Anti-football: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→History and usage: Added context.
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(46 intermediate revisions by 31 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Playing style in association football}}
{{About|the term's usage in association football|the Australian rules football-related organisation|Anti-Football League}}
{{About|the term's usage in association football|the Australian rules football-related organisation|Anti-Football League}}
{{synthesis|date=September 2010}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
'''"Anti-football"''' is a lethargic passing style of [[association football|football]] that relies only on passing and an extremely defensive, aggressive, physical, robust style of play of football where one team deploys their whole team, except the [[Striker (association football)|striker]], behind the ball. In doing so, they try their best to stop the opposition from scoring, rather than trying to win the game themselves. It is also used to criticize the playing style of teams who prevent the game from moving on with actions such as: kicking the ball forward without trying to reach any players, intentionally diving and stopping the play for several minutes or kicking the ball away when a free-kick is awarded, to waste time (usually penalized with a yellow card if too flagrant).


"'''Anti-football'''" is a playing style in [[association football]] that emphasizes a highly defensive and aggressive approach, relying mainly on passing and involving the deployment of all team members except the striker behind the ball. The goal of the tactic is to prevent the opposing team from scoring, rather than pursuing an offensive strategy to win the game.
⚫
== History and usage ==
⚫
The phrase has been in use in [[English language|English]] since at least 2001, where Gary Armstrong and Richard Giulianotti used the phrase in their book ''Fear and Loathing in World Football'' to describe the tactics of Argentine club [[Estudiantes de La Plata]] in the 1968 [[Copa Intercontinental]], citing usage of the phrase in a 1968 editorial in the Argentine sports magazine ''[[El Gráfico]]''.<ref>{{cite book | title=Fear and Loathing in World Football | author=Gary Armstrong & Richard Giulianotti | pages=242 | isbn=978-1859734636 | year=2001 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKAeC-Zpw9YC&pg=RA6-PA242&lpg=RA6-PA242&dq=%22anti+football%22+2001&source=web&ots=ZeAryTSMiH&sig=8PPltStbPw0SXPXNKESfbKMapGE }}</ref>


The term is also used to describe teams that intentionally prevent the game from progressing by kicking the ball forward without attempting to reach any players, engaging in acts of diving and time-wasting, and kicking the ball away during free kicks. Such actions often result in a yellow card.
In November 2004, [[Frank Rijkaard]] described [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]'s style of play as anti-football after [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]'s [[UEFA Champions League]] match against the club.<ref>http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/top-football-stories/o-neill-blast-for-rijkaard-over-anti-football-jibe-1-1047961</ref>

[[UEFA]], the governing body of football in [[Europe]], offers a [[UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking|fair play prize]] to teams that prioritize fair play, including avoiding anti-football tactics. Teams that seek to "unlock" the game by playing offensively, taking risks, retaining possession, and avoiding fouls, receive higher fair play scores. The three highest-rated teams in Europe automatically qualified for the [[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] from 1995 to the 2014-15 season. They continue to receive a monetary reward for their fair play.

⚫
== History and usage ==
⚫
The term "anti-football" has been used in English since at least 2001, when [[Gary Armstrong (footballer)|Gary Armstrong]] and Richard Giulianotti used it in their book ''Fear and Loathing in World Football'' to describe the tactics of Argentine club [[Estudiantes de La Plata]] during the 1968 [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Copa Intercontinental]]. They cited a 1968 editorial in the Argentine sports magazine [[El Gráfico (Argentina)|El Gráfico]] that had used the phrase.<ref>{{cite book |author=Gary Armstrong & Richard Giulianotti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKAeC-Zpw9YC&q=%22anti+football%22+2001&pg=RA6-PA242 |title=Fear and Loathing in World Football |year=2001 |isbn=978-1859734636 |pages=242| publisher=Berg Publishers }}</ref>


In November 2006, [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]'s [[Cesc Fàbregas]] characterized style of play in the English [[Premier League]] as "anti-football" in the week following a 1–0 defeat to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], saying, "Teams just defend, defend, and defend; they try to waste time. I call it 'anti-football,' but we have to accept this happens and break teams down."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=390941 |title=Fabregas slates the 'anti-football' of Premiership rivals |author=David Sheppard |work=ESPN |date=10 November 2006 }}</ref> After a frustrating [[FA Cup]] tie against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] in 2007, Fàbregas could be seen exchanging angry words with Rovers manager [[Mark Hughes]]. Hughes explained, "When we shook hands at the end, the young man asked me a question which I thought was disrespectful. He asked me if I had played for Barcelona and when I said yes, he shook his head as if in disbelief. Then he said, 'Well, that wasn't Barcelona football'."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://talksport.com/magazine/features/2011-04-19/six-best-cesc-fabregas-run-ins |title=Six of the best: Cesc Fabregas run-ins |author=Michael Wade |work=Talksport|date=19 April 2011 }}</ref>
[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]'s [[Cesc Fàbregas]] used the phrase to describe the style of play in the [[Premier League|English Premier League]] after a frustrating 1-0 defeat to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Sheppard |first=David |date=10 November 2006 |title=Fabregas slates the 'anti-football' of Premiership rivals |work=ESPN |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=390941 |url-status=dead |access-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207010855/http://www.espnfc.com/story/390941 |archive-date=7 February 2018}}</ref> In 2007, Fàbregas had a heated exchange with fellow ex-Barcelona player, [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] manager [[Mark Hughes]], who defended his team's style of play.<ref>{{cite news |author=Michael Wade |date=19 April 2011 |title=Six of the best: Cesc Fabregas run-ins |work=Talksport |url=https://talksport.com/magazine/features/2011-04-19/six-best-cesc-fabregas-run-ins}}</ref>


In their run to the [[2008 UEFA Cup Final]], [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] manager [[Walter Smith]] deployed an ultra-defensive method which was dubbed "[[Catenaccio|Watenaccio]]".<ref>{{cite news |title=Forget Watenaccio – Walter Smith's Rangers can go for Celtic's jugular |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2010/jan/01/walter-smith-rangers-celtic-spl |date=1 January 2010 |accessdate=4 January 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Smith used a 4–1–4–1 variation which used centre-backs and centre-midfielders in wide positions and resulted in Rangers conceding only two goals en route to the final.<ref>{{cite news |title=Uefa Cup final tactics |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7400437.stm |date=14 May 2008 |accessdate=4 January 2014 |work=BBC}}</ref> The tactics brought criticism from opposition players such as Barcelona's [[Lionel Messi]], who failed to score at Iborx during a 0-0 draw and went on to described
During their run to the [[2008 UEFA Cup final|2008 UEFA Cup Final]], [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] manager [[Walter Smith]] deployed an ultra-defensive strategy dubbed "[[Catenaccio|Watenaccio]]" (a reference to the defensive system ''Catenaccio'', which was popularised in the 1960s in Italian football).<ref>{{cite news |date=1 January 2010 |title=Forget Watenaccio – Walter Smith's Rangers can go for Celtic's jugular |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2010/jan/01/walter-smith-rangers-celtic-spl |access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=14 May 2008 |title=Uefa Cup final tactics |work=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7400437.stm |access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> The tactics drew criticism from opposition players, including Barcelona's [[Lionel Messi]], who described them as "anti-football" after failing to score against Rangers in a 0-0 draw.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 October 2007 |title=Rangers played anti-football, bemoans Messi |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/24/championsleague4 |access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=24 October 2007 |title=Barcelona's Lionel Messi hits out at Rangers |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2324036/Barcelonas-Lionel-Messi-hits-out-at-Rangers.html |access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref>
the tactics as "anti-football".<ref>{{cite news |title=Rangers played anti-football, bemoans Messi |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/24/championsleague4 |date=24 October 2007 |accessdate=4 January 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Barcelona's Lionel Messi hits out at Rangers |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2324036/Barcelonas-Lionel-Messi-hits-out-at-Rangers.html |date=24 October 2007 |accessdate=4 January 2014 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref>


In 2010, [[Johan Cruyff]] applied the phrase "anti-football" to the style of play used by the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup Final]] against champions [[Spain national football team|Spain]]. The day after the final, Cruyff attacked the ''Oranje'' for renouncing the Netherlands' long-standing commitment to playing attacking and entertaining football: "They [the Netherlands] didn't want the ball. And regrettably, sadly, they played very dirty. So much so that they should have been down to nine immediately, then they made two [such] ugly and hard tackles that even I felt the damage. This ugly, vulgar, hard, hermetic, hardly eye-catching, hardly football style, yes it served the Dutch to unsettle Spain. If with this they got satisfaction, fine, but they ended up losing. They were playing anti-football." Other commentators had already described the Dutch style of play during the tournament—particularly in the semi-final and final—as "anti-football" prior to Cruyff's comment.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jul/12/world-cup-final-johan-cruyff-holland | title=World Cup final: Johan Cruyff hits out at 'anti-football' Holland | work=Guardian Unlimited | date=2010-07-12 | author=Press Association }}</ref>
In 2010, [[Johan Cruyff]] applied the term "anti-football" to the style of play used by the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup final|FIFA World Cup final]] against [[Spain national football team|Spain]]. He criticized the Dutch team for renouncing their commitment to attacking and entertaining football and for playing "dirty". Other commentators had already described the Dutch style of play during the tournament as "anti-football".<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-07-12 |title=World Cup final: Johan Cruyff hits out at 'anti-football' Holland |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jul/12/world-cup-final-johan-cruyff-holland}}</ref>


After being defeated 2–0, [[Vietnam national football team|Vietnam]] manager [[Henrique Calisto]] used the phrase "anti-football" to refer to the tactic used against his team by surprise winner [[Philippines national football team|Philippines]] at the [[2010 AFF Suzuki Cup]] group stage in Vietnam.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/_webapp_735740/Historic_victory_leaves_McMenemy_bewildered |title=Historic victory leaves McMenemy bewildered |date=2010-12-06 |work=AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207052857/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/_webapp_735740/Historic_victory_leaves_McMenemy_bewildered |archivedate=7 December 2010 }}</ref>
[[Vietnam national football team|Vietnam]] manager [[Henrique Calisto]] used the phrase "anti-football" after his team's defeat to the [[Philippines national football team|Philippines]] at the [[2010 AFF Championship|2010 AFF Suzuki Cup]] group stage in Vietnam.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-12-06 |title=Historic victory leaves McMenemy bewildered |work=AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 |url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/_webapp_735740/Historic_victory_leaves_McMenemy_bewildered |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207052857/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/_webapp_735740/Historic_victory_leaves_McMenemy_bewildered |archive-date=7 December 2010}}</ref>


After [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]'s defeat to [[France national football team|France]] in the semi-finals of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]], Belgium goalkeeper [[Thibaut Courtois]] accused the French team of playing "anti-football" for their defensive tactics despite having significantly more shots on goal and less possession than Belgium.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kalinic |first=Dejan |date=2018-07-10 |title=Belgium loss to France: Les Bleus are 'an anti-football team', says Thibaut Courtois |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/world-cup-2018-france-belgium-thibaut-courtois/12nasz5kkb03y1tc6vo416hl03 |access-date=2020-10-01 |website=Goal.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |date=2018-07-10 |title=Samuel Umtiti header puts France in World Cup final with win over Belgium |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/10/france-belgium-world-cup-semi-final-match-report |access-date=2020-10-01 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He later apologized for the comments.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2018-07-15 |title=Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois Apologises to France & Backtracks on His Criticism of Les Bleus' Tactics |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/07/15/chelseas-thibaut-courtois-apologises-france-backtracks-his-criticism-les-bleus-tactics |access-date=2023-11-21 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}</ref>
Between the years of 2010-2012, Liam O'Toole developed a horrendously vicious anti-football approach to his FIFA game. He then retired from playing soon after realising that this approach worked against nobody that he played.


In the 2020's the phrase "[[Haram]] ball" became popular on [[twitter]] as an alternative name for anti-football.
After [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] was defeated by [[France national football team|France]] in the semi-final of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]], Belgium goalkeeper [[Thibaut Courtois]] accused the French of being "an anti-football team", heading from a corner and defending the rest of the match, despite the fact France had significantly more shots on goal while having less possession and that Belgium had committed significantly more fouls in the match.<ref>http://www.goal.com/en/news/world-cup-2018-france-belgium-thibaut-courtois/12nasz5kkb03y1tc6vo416hl03</ref><ref>https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/10/france-belgium-world-cup-semi-final-match-report</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
{{portal|Association football}}
{{portal|Association football}}
* [[Park the bus (football term)]]
* [[Parking the bus (association football)|Parking the bus]]
* [[Football tactics and skills]]
* [[Association football tactics]]
* [[Total Football]]
* [[Total Football]]
* [[UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking|UEFA fairplay prize]]
* [[Diego Simeone]]
* [[José Mourinho]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Association football tactics and skills}}
{{Association football terminology}}
{{Association football terminology}}


[[Category:Association football terminology]]
[[Category:Association football terminology]]
[[Category:Association football tactics and skills]]
[[Category:Association football tactics]]

Latest revision as of 23:29, 12 December 2024

This article is about the term's usage in association football. For the Australian rules football-related organisation, see Anti-Football League.

"Anti-football" is a playing style in association football that emphasizes a highly defensive and aggressive approach, relying mainly on passing and involving the deployment of all team members except the striker behind the ball. The goal of the tactic is to prevent the opposing team from scoring, rather than pursuing an offensive strategy to win the game.

The term is also used to describe teams that intentionally prevent the game from progressing by kicking the ball forward without attempting to reach any players, engaging in acts of diving and time-wasting, and kicking the ball away during free kicks. Such actions often result in a yellow card.

UEFA, the governing body of football in Europe, offers a fair play prize to teams that prioritize fair play, including avoiding anti-football tactics. Teams that seek to "unlock" the game by playing offensively, taking risks, retaining possession, and avoiding fouls, receive higher fair play scores. The three highest-rated teams in Europe automatically qualified for the Europa League from 1995 to the 2014-15 season. They continue to receive a monetary reward for their fair play.

History and usage

[edit]

The term "anti-football" has been used in English since at least 2001, when Gary Armstrong and Richard Giulianotti used it in their book Fear and Loathing in World Football to describe the tactics of Argentine club Estudiantes de La Plata during the 1968 Copa Intercontinental. They cited a 1968 editorial in the Argentine sports magazine El Gráfico that had used the phrase.[1]

Arsenal's Cesc Fàbregas used the phrase to describe the style of play in the English Premier League after a frustrating 1-0 defeat to West Ham United.[2] In 2007, Fàbregas had a heated exchange with fellow ex-Barcelona player, Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes, who defended his team's style of play.[3]

During their run to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final, Rangers manager Walter Smith deployed an ultra-defensive strategy dubbed "Watenaccio" (a reference to the defensive system Catenaccio, which was popularised in the 1960s in Italian football).[4][5] The tactics drew criticism from opposition players, including Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who described them as "anti-football" after failing to score against Rangers in a 0-0 draw.[6][7]

In 2010, Johan Cruyff applied the term "anti-football" to the style of play used by the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup final against Spain. He criticized the Dutch team for renouncing their commitment to attacking and entertaining football and for playing "dirty". Other commentators had already described the Dutch style of play during the tournament as "anti-football".[8]

Vietnam manager Henrique Calisto used the phrase "anti-football" after his team's defeat to the Philippines at the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup group stage in Vietnam.[9]

After Belgium's defeat to France in the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois accused the French team of playing "anti-football" for their defensive tactics despite having significantly more shots on goal and less possession than Belgium.[10][11] He later apologized for the comments.[12]

In the 2020's the phrase "Haram ball" became popular on twitter as an alternative name for anti-football.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Gary Armstrong & Richard Giulianotti (2001). Fear and Loathing in World Football. Berg Publishers. p. 242. ISBN 978-1859734636.
  2. ^ Sheppard, David (10 November 2006). "Fabregas slates the 'anti-football' of Premiership rivals". ESPN. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  3. ^ Michael Wade (19 April 2011). "Six of the best: Cesc Fabregas run-ins". Talksport.
  4. ^ "Forget Watenaccio – Walter Smith's Rangers can go for Celtic's jugular". The Guardian. 1 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Uefa Cup final tactics". BBC. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Rangers played anti-football, bemoans Messi". The Guardian. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Barcelona's Lionel Messi hits out at Rangers". The Telegraph. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  8. ^ "World Cup final: Johan Cruyff hits out at 'anti-football' Holland". The Guardian. 12 July 2010.
  9. ^ "Historic victory leaves McMenemy bewildered". AFF Suzuki Cup 2010. 6 December 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010.
  10. ^ Kalinic, Dejan (10 July 2018). "Belgium loss to France: Les Bleus are 'an anti-football team', says Thibaut Courtois". Goal.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  11. ^ Taylor, Daniel (10 July 2018). "Samuel Umtiti header puts France in World Cup final with win over Belgium". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois Apologises to France & Backtracks on His Criticism of Les Bleus' Tactics". Sports Illustrated. 15 July 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Anti-football&oldid=1262746686"