ABSTRACT
In recent years there has been a growing tendency towards over-aggressive and violent play in many sports (Crawford, 1976). This trend may be related to the dominant ethic in many areas of contemporary competitive sport. The ethic is preoccupied with winning and is exemplified in the so-called Lombardian ethic. This product-oriented stance emphasises the importance of winning irrespective of the means or methods used to achieve victory. Players view the opposition as a mere obstacle in the way of victory. As Mcintosh (1979, p.102–103) has suggested:
‘One of the most disturbing features of modern sport, especially contact sports at top level is the permission and even encouragement of behaviour verging on the psychopathic. This is particularly the case in failing to control or reverse the increase in violence in various codes of football.’
