7 Important Reasons Footballers Cover Their Mouth While Talking

Many people want to know the main reasons footballers cover their mouth while talking during a match or after, you are in the right place.

Reasons Footballers Cover Their Mouth While Talking

Whenever footballers cover their mouth with their hands when talking to the referee, we’re tempted to believe that they are trying to hide something from us.

However, in reality, there are several reasons why footballers choose to cover their mouth when talking on the pitch, as you will find out in this article.

Footballers are extremely athletic and often in their most competitive moods when they’re on the pitch. As such, it’s common to see them covering their mouths when talking to their teammates, but why do they do it?

There have been many occasions where we see one or two footballers trying to take a set-piece, and at the same time, they are covering their mouths while talking to each other.

Many theories have stated different false reasons footballers cover their mouths while talking with a teammate or opponent on the pitch. All I know is that everyone is entitled to their opinion.

People often say these players cover their mouths while speaking because of the fan’s noise in the stadium. Is that true? No, I don’t think so.

My Opinion on the Reasons Footballers Cover their Mouth while Talking

During the coronavirus pandemic, which made the fans unavailable in the stadium, we saw many situations where footballers still covered their mouths while talking.

Since the fans aren’t allowed in the stadium, this revealed that it’s not only because of the stadium’s noise that makes the players cover their mouths.

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In my own opinion, these footballers cover their mouths to keep some of their secrets away from the press.

These players try their possible best not to let the press hear what they say so that they won’t later have to be dealing with some misinformation, gossips, or rumors from the press.

There have been different situations where the press or media have brought up rumors of transfer news of a particular player based on the interactions between the player and their opponent, and most of this news is later known to be fake.

The covering of the mouth while talking also happens between teammates. It happens because they do not want their opponents to hear their tactics, especially when they want to take set pieces. 

Tactics in football are considered one of the top priorities to win a match, and a situation where team tactics get leaked might be a big blow for the supposed team.

Players also cover their mouths while talking to the match officials.

This Same act has been passed upon to the coaches who are on the sideline, and they do this mostly when they are about to make a substitution.

Sometimes, players often cover their mouths while they are training on the club training ground. This act mainly occurs when they noticed or see photographers or video cameras are around.

Football has been well developed and advanced, and the players are trying their best not to get stained by the press, so they have always had this motive of covering their mouths to avoid false claims.

In the past ten years, covering of mouth is rare, unlike nowadays, where almost every footballer wants to cover their mouth with their hands.

Covering of mouth while playing a professional football game these days is worth it because football nowadays is more than just a sport.

It is more of a business firm, a source of income for the fans that bets, and also a place of employment where financial activities takes place.

I made a lot of research and also hear out people’s opinion on the reasons footballers cover their mouth while talking on the pitch, and from my research, below are 7 reasons footballers cover their mouth while talking.

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People’s Opinion on the 7 Reasons Footballers Cover Their Mouth While Talking

1. To Hide Bad Breath

This is probably one of the most common reasons footballers cover their mouths when talking. Let’s face it, running around for 90 minutes is bound to make anyone’s breath a little less than fresh. By covering their mouths, players can make sure they don’t accidentally offend any of their opponents with their stinky breath.

2. To Stop Spit from Flying Out

Believe it or not, one of the reasons footballers cover their mouths when talking is to keep spit from flying out. It’s gross, but it’s true.

When you’re running around on a hot day, it’s easy for your mouth to get dry and your saliva to start flowing. If you don’t cover your mouth, that saliva will fly right out of your mouth and onto the person you’re talking to. And no one wants to be covered in someone else’s spit.

3. Practicing Biting the Air

Many people might think that footballers cover their mouths when talking on the pitch to practice biting air. While this might be a reason for some of the footballers, it’s not the primary reason. The main reason is to protect their teeth.

A footballer’s mouth can get very dry from yelling and screaming at the referee or players. If they don’t keep it covered with their hand or something else, they could end up cracking or breaking a tooth because of how hard they’re clenching their jaw.

4. Worried about showing their Teeth

Many people think that footballers cover their mouths when talking on the pitch because they are worried about showing their teeth.

For example, many soccer players wear braces which would show if they did not have a hand over their mouth while speaking. While this may be true for some players, there are other reasons why players might choose to cover their mouths. 

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5. The Fear of Being Fined by FIFA

It’s no secret that footballers are often fined for what they say on the pitch. In fact, FIFA has a long history of fining players for everything from religion to political statements.

So, it’s not surprising that many players choose to cover their mouths when they’re talking on the pitch, in order to avoid saying something that could get them in trouble.

6. Insecure About how they Sound

One of the most common reasons footballers cover their mouths when talking on the pitch is because they’re insecure about how they sound. They might have had a bad experience in the past where they were made fun of for the way they talk, or they might just be self-conscious in general.

7. They use it as a sign of Respect

In many cultures, it is considered respectful to cover one’s mouth when speaking. This may be why some footballers choose to do so on the pitch.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, above are reasons these footballers cover their mouth while talking on the pitch. Though there might be some specific or different reasons footballers cover their mouths while talking on the pitch, reasons best known to them only.

In my own opinion, I think they’re doing the right thing, I can’t imagine being the owner of a club and paying you millions of pounds a year, only for you to bottle a match because an opponent overheard the tactics the coach told you to share with your teammate.

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I hope you enjoyed reading this article.

Kindly share this article with your friends and family and educate someone about one of the things going on in the football world.

You can also share your point of view in the comment box below.