Can a sport team initiate its own loss?

[cryptoaddictchie]

In short, the matter was that the players of the football team did not like its coach and they really wanted to change this coach. But since they did not have the legal right to do such things, they resorted to a cunning tactic. They deliberately began to lose one match after another in order to change the coach and thus ruin his reputation.

Well obviously this isnt a good approach when players dont like the coach way. Its quite better to be vocal to team owner or manager that they didnt like how the coach style and method rather than drag the whole reputation of their team just to make the coach seems to be wrong in decision making. Its unethical in my opinion, but if this happened before in real team then I pity the coach of that team for having a negative shredders boys.

[Ultegra134]

I agree with you. When players or the team as a whole work hard to eliminate the coach. This doesn't just affect the coach's future. But also their own reputation and career. As you said, for example, if a player intentionally concedes a goal. Those points will remain. It may damage their career in the long run. This is because performance evaluations are crucial to contracts, transfers and even securing a spot in the team in the future.

Although it may seem like a short-term punishment to the coach, But the long-term effects can be detrimental to the players involved. It is worth noting that the world of football, especially in the professional sector, is very interconnected. News about players' deliberate underperformance may spread. This makes it difficult for them to find new opportunities.

That's why, I believe it's dangerous for the players to embark on that path. They may want to send a message to the hierarchy. However, in so doing They undermine their own position in the game. The same logic works for a team's ranking. Due to successive lower efficiency It can rub off on the league ranking reputation and even put the financial stability of the club at stake. It finally bites the players again in the back. It's a short-term process, but with long-time implications on everyone around.

I'm new to football and don't have much experience; thus, I haven't heard such stories. What would you suggest is a more appropriate form of protest? I understand your point that they're putting their careers at stake, but I can't think of many ways to demonstrate your dissatisfaction.

If you carefully consider their actions, they're quite reasonable in both cases. In the first scenario, it's a protest against the new coach; consecutive losses put pressure on higher management to take action, changing the coach as a result. In the second scenario, it makes perfect sense to demonstrate against a reduction in funding; what's the point of even trying to achieve a better performance when the whole team goes unnoticed and isn't appreciated?

[Yaunfitda]

"Tanking." - to lose on purpose to gain advantage.

In basketball, specifically the NBA they do this so they can get a better Draft Pick for the next season, just like what the Spurs did to get Wembenyama and other known players in the league now. They will keep on losing games if they know they will not able to enter the playoffs. That way, they will have a better pick and most of those at the top picks are soon to be stars in the league.
It's a popular strategy but there's also a battle there as other teams who think they cannot win with their roster will do the same. Rebuilding teams will trade their stars and do this.

Yep, in basketball we have seen this kind of diving, teams deliberately playing bad so that in the next draft pick, they will have a high chance to get the 1st player in the draft which is usually the best of that class. However, I do not know about the coaches though, if the coaches are that bad, then for sure the management will have to call his attention or even going to fire him even if he has a existing contract. But if football, it could be really that bad that a team will have to dive and have successive losses before the management will fire him. And maybe this is just a practice by low level football league?

[Peanutswar]

Selling games is usually happen in sports game, even a large or small tournaments its all depends on the team management and also players, I saw players already throwing their first scores or kills (e-sports) because people seems they knew they have a bet on it as per observation of the fans of course, and in management it depends because imagine the high skilled team lose in an underdog team, depends on the situation like qualifiers if the other team already have a direct invite or already settled their score and the opposite team needs at least 1 game to win they throw out the game so both teams can participate in the tournament.

[wakier]

This happens if all the teams in the club do not like the coach if only 1 or 2 people do not like the coach it will not mean anything because the player can be replaced by another player by the coach if the player does not seem serious about playing football. But if all the players do not like the coach this makes sense so they can get a new coach who is better and more competent because maybe they feel that the coach is not suitable so no matter how hard you try, if the players and coach are not compatible, the club will never be able to progress.

[hedgeh0g]

This is an interesting topic and I am simply sure that there have been similar cases in big professional sports, when players could simply hate the coach. To be honest, this is a normal desire of a player, because the coach must find the keys to the players, support them emotionally before the match and say the right words. But in fact, players cannot contradict the coach and tell him to his face everything they think about him, so it is logical that the players decided to get rid of his services in such an original way.

I am also not interested in the question of whether these players bet money on their matches, because it is prohibited by law to do so. I think that some players could even hide this from their teammates, so as not to look respectable in front of others.

[Smartprofit]

The question this topic is dedicated to in full looks like this: can a football team (or a team from another sport) initiate a loss or a series of losses of its own free will in order to achieve some of its goals?
In one book about sports betting, I read an interesting case about an English football team. I will not mention its name, since not everyone agrees that this is exactly how it happened. As the author of the book wrote about it. In short, the matter was that the players of the football team did not like its coach and they really wanted to change this coach. But since they did not have the legal right to do such things, they resorted to a cunning tactic. They deliberately began to lose one match after another in order to change the coach and thus ruin his reputation. Do you believe in this version of events?
The second case happened with one regional Russian team, whose funding was sharply reduced. In protest or simply because there was no point in playing better (according to some authors), this team also began to deliberately lose matches with equal teams.
Do you think this is the right explanation?
Do you think it is possible for a team in modern football to want to initiate a loss of their own free will? I mean by their own free will, not by the will of a coach or match-fixing agents from outside.

I don't really believe in the possibility of such a situation, but it is theoretically possible. Athletes can conspire among themselves to achieve the resignation (dismissal) of the coach.

However, a smart coach will never allow such a development of events. After all, it is the coach who makes decisions about including this or that player in the team. A smart coach knows about the threat of a "revolt" of players and takes appropriate measures in advance. A prudent coach will never take an informal leader who is prone to destructive actions into his team.

However, if such a person appears in his team, he will try to oppose him with another leader. The coach generally creates an atmosphere of healthy competition and healthy rivalry in the team, and he himself acts as the supreme arbiter and the main authority.

The coach must have a good understanding of human psychology - this is a very important part of his job. A coach who allowed a "revolt" in his sports team is a very bad coach.

[pawanjain]

The question this topic is dedicated to in full looks like this: can a football team (or a team from another sport) initiate a loss or a series of losses of its own free will in order to achieve some of its goals?
In one book about sports betting, I read an interesting case about an English football team. I will not mention its name, since not everyone agrees that this is exactly how it happened. As the author of the book wrote about it. In short, the matter was that the players of the football team did not like its coach and they really wanted to change this coach. But since they did not have the legal right to do such things, they resorted to a cunning tactic. They deliberately began to lose one match after another in order to change the coach and thus ruin his reputation. Do you believe in this version of events?
The second case happened with one regional Russian team, whose funding was sharply reduced. In protest or simply because there was no point in playing better (according to some authors), this team also began to deliberately lose matches with equal teams.
Do you think this is the right explanation?
Do you think it is possible for a team in modern football to want to initiate a loss of their own free will? I mean by their own free will, not by the will of a coach or match-fixing agents from outside.

Why not and what's stopping them in doing this ?
If a team does not like it's coach then they should have the eligibility to change the coach but if they are not then this can be one of the ways to do it.
I won't say it is morally the right thing to do but you have to find your way out if you wanna do it.
In the above cases, I would say it's quite possible and yes, teams "can" initiate their own losses to achieve their short term goals.

[Outhue]

The question this topic is dedicated to in full looks like this: can a football team (or a team from another sport) initiate a loss or a series of losses of its own free will in order to achieve some of its goals?
In one book about sports betting, I read an interesting case about an English football team. I will not mention its name, since not everyone agrees that this is exactly how it happened. As the author of the book wrote about it. In short, the matter was that the players of the football team did not like its coach and they really wanted to change this coach. But since they did not have the legal right to do such things, they resorted to a cunning tactic. They deliberately began to lose one match after another in order to change the coach and thus ruin his reputation. Do you believe in this version of events?
The second case happened with one regional Russian team, whose funding was sharply reduced. In protest or simply because there was no point in playing better (according to some authors), this team also began to deliberately lose matches with equal teams.
Do you think this is the right explanation?
Do you think it is possible for a team in modern football to want to initiate a loss of their own free will? I mean by their own free will, not by the will of a coach or match-fixing agents from outside.

There are few reasons why a sport team will decide to do this and here are few reasons, because I have felt few reasons too while I was into sports at a very young age.

1. For money, it is possible that a team will let go of a championship cup because of the settlement behind closed doors, what they feed us is what we will get anyway, we can never know if what we watched is straight from the heart or something else.

I remember the time when I used to believe in WWF and WWE, thinking that those are real because at one point it looked real until it isn't anymore, its entertainment, if the audience are entertained then nothing else matters.

2. I've seen sport team that intentionally lose the match to get revenge on their harsh coach, yes you heard me right, even in local football sports in my country there are games like this, some for revenge and some for other reasons apart for money.

[Coin_trader]

Do you think this is the right explanation?
Do you think it is possible for a team in modern football to want to initiate a loss of their own free will? I mean by their own free will, not by the will of a coach or match-fixing agents from outside.

It’s possible to happened but there’s no way confirm it unless you are part of the players who did it. Also this is only possible on lower league since player on higher league has a high pay grade which means they don’t have any luxury to play an intentional losses or else their career will jeopardize.

Lastly, do this is very childish because they can talk this properly like professional instead of sacrificing their team statistics for a mere issue that can be solve through proper communication and reasoning to establish their case.

[bering]

I believe there is such thing and in football modern this possibility can be happend and few years ago i have heard a rumour that there was particular European teams from famous league who want to their manager out or sacked this because mostly the players has lost their respect to that manager and the players also really don't like the way the manager trains so initiatively those players has decide to performing poor and decide own loss and it works for them because after several loses the manager has been sack

If talking about the professionalism i think the players shouldn't do that because it will hurt the fans of those clubs besides that although money is not involved because the main reason those players did that because they want their manager out but i still considers this thing is similar just like match fixing this because those clubs has refuse to win with their own free will

[acroman08]

Do you think it is possible for a team in modern football to want to initiate a loss of their own free will? I mean by their own free will, not by the will of a coach or match-fixing agents from outside.

they probably can but I'd assume they could get sanctioned or penalties if they are found out to be deliberately losing their matches. I'm sure the league or the club they are part of have rules against it so if they want to deliberately lose their matches they would need to do it discreetly.

[stadus]

Do you think it is possible for a team in modern football to want to initiate a loss of their own free will? I mean by their own free will, not by the will of a coach or match-fixing agents from outside.

they probably can but I'd assume they could get sanctioned or penalties if they are found out to be deliberately losing their matches. I'm sure the league or the club they are part of have rules against it so if they want to deliberately lose their matches they would need to do it discreetly.

They’re aware of it, but if there’s a strategic reason behind it that benefits the team in the future, I think it’s justifiable. As long as no one complains, it won’t be investigated, and the coach can disguise it as part of the game plan without the players knowing. After all, the coach is the captain of the game, the one who plans and sets the strategy that the team should follow.

[michellee]

If the players of the football team did not like their coach, they can do that to make coach fired from his job. They can perform bad so coach will get the complaint from all people especially their owner. The coach job will be difficult if he can not build a good relationship with all people in that team.

That is possible to happen with all teams that disappointed with their coach. But it is better they communicate to their coach and tell what they don't like from coach and vice versa. If they can solve the matters, I am sure that the coach will not get fired and the players can start to see the chance. That will be their internal matters which will not be publish. Public can guess the real problem without knowing the truth.

[Text]

This is unusual but not entirely implausible. I've come across similar stories in articles, like the case that OP mentioned with the English football team, though these situations are hard to prove. If the players were unhappy with their coach and saw losing as a way to force management’s hand, it’s possible they might resort to such tactics. After all, players don’t always have direct control over administrative decisions like firing a coach, so influencing outcomes through performance could be seen as a desperate, albeit risky, strategy.

I think initiating a loss of free will without external pressure seems rare. Players have contracts, reputations, and future career opportunities to consider, and intentionally losing could backfire on them personally. However, in some cases, frustration or external circumstances, like internal politics or financial instability, might lead a team to behave in unusual ways.

[Baofeng]

I do not think that they will have to do that, all they can do is to request the team manager himself to change coach as he could be not a good fit for the team. The star player can do  that, ask the team manager for a meeting and discuss the situation.

It doesn't look good for a team to deliberately play and lost a game because for sure the fans are going to get mad at it. And we all know how "fanatics" are people supporting a football team so their image might be tarnished.

[Maslate]

It doesn't look good for a team to deliberately play and lost a game because for sure the fans are going to get mad at it. And we all know how "fanatics" are people supporting a football team so their image might be tarnished.

True, but if a team does decide to deliberately lose, it should be for a significant occasion where the loss leads to a bigger advantage in the long run. While it's not openly admitted and rarely seen on the surface, as speculators and gamblers, we can sometimes tell if a team isn’t playing to its full potential. That’s why it’s frustrating when our team loses to weaker opponents, and it makes you wonder if there’s a strategy behind it.

[summonerrk]

The question this topic is dedicated to in full looks like this: can a football team (or a team from another sport) initiate a loss or a series of losses of its own free will in order to achieve some of its goals?
In one book about sports betting, I read an interesting case about an English football team. I will not mention its name, since not everyone agrees that this is exactly how it happened. As the author of the book wrote about it. In short, the matter was that the players of the football team did not like its coach and they really wanted to change this coach. But since they did not have the legal right to do such things, they resorted to a cunning tactic. They deliberately began to lose one match after another in order to change the coach and thus ruin his reputation. Do you believe in this version of events?
The second case happened with one regional Russian team, whose funding was sharply reduced. In protest or simply because there was no point in playing better (according to some authors), this team also began to deliberately lose matches with equal teams.
Do you think this is the right explanation?
Do you think it is possible for a team in modern football to want to initiate a loss of their own free will? I mean by their own free will, not by the will of a coach or match-fixing agents from outside.

My answer: definitely yes. I watched investigative reports on fixed matches in eSports. There, small leagues, especially Russian and Chinese, are almost entirely bought by the mafia. And the scheme is always the same - the mafia bets on a team, after which they are ordered to lose. And that's it, that's how it really works. So many players don't want to develop their skills further because that's how they get money, and that's sad.

[ARTOIS]

Yes, this always happens, not only in football, but in all sports, or even outside sports, and the first reason is always misunderstanding and internal problems of the team, and I mean here the problems between the players themselves and the problems between the players and the coaches. Every coach has a different way of working  as this may lead to divisions in the team, especially if the way the team is managed is not acceptable to some players
There are also management problems with the team.

 I do not think there is a league in the world in which there is no team suffering from these problems, and I think that all teams, no matter how big or small, have had the same situation before.

[Moreno233]

The answer is a yes even though this is not professional. Players can collude to sabotage the match so that a coach can be sacked. I have suspected that in the past in some major teams where some big players are not in good terms with their coach so they were losing consecutive matches until the coach was sacked and all of a sudden they started winning all their matches.  Furthermore, there is a popular rumor that teams do sell matches that they consider unimportant to opponents that need the points to either escape relegation of chase the title or maintain a position. Even though there have not been any evidence to support this, there is a possibility of it being true.