Football. Ah yes! The beautiful game. The world’s favourite sport. Watched in the millions and millions worldwide. Football is a game of skill, stamina and split-second decisions. It's fast and involves a lot of knack. If you’ve ever watched a football match — whether it is the Premier League, Sunday league clash at the local park or even the World Cup — you’ll have noticed one universal truth…footballers spit. A lot! It is so rampant that it has become acceptable to the viewer and is cringe no more. From the opening whistle to the final minutes of stoppage time, you’ll see players launching saliva missiles onto the pitch like it’s a biological warfare tactic. A spectacle of athleticism, passion and — oh wait, did he just spit again? Could be from bad habit or disrespect for life?

A love-hate relationship – Saliva science

Breathing like a bulldog on a hot day – Why footballers start producing ‘sticky spit’

Why don’t they just swallow? – The hydration dilemma | The rinse and spit technique

The secret behind carbohydrate rinsing

The role of pH & electrolytes – Why spit tastes bad during intensity

When spitting becomes a superstition – Habitual aspects | The psychological ritual

Are footballers the worst offenders? – Spitting in other sports

The gross factor – Is it unhygienic? Should footballers stop spitting?

Final whistle – The spit verdict

Footballers are launching globs of saliva onto the pitch with alarming frequency. Yeah, they seem to developed a habit of spitting. If there’s one thing that unites players across leagues and continents, it’s their shared love of a good spit. Spit here, spit there, spit everywhere! If you’ve ever sat in the stands or watched a match on TV, you’ve probably noticed this peculiar phenomenon that footballers spit more than a group of camels in the Sahara and wondered why they spit so much. To some, it becomes annoying to see that...especially, to hygiene freaks. The pitch becomes a battleground and not just for goals but for saliva. The whole field is full of it. It’s practically a second water cycle of evaporation, condensation, precipitation and in this case, expectoration. Just kidding.

Pic credit - All Football

But why? Why spoil fine grass? Is it just a bad habit? Are they dissing the opponent with this universal act of disrespect? Are footballers allergic to their own spit? Could it be a health condition? Is it a power move? What gives? Are they just really that bad at swallowing? Something wrong with the spitters? Is there a physiological reason behind it? Something none of us can zero in on? Is it a secret sports science hack? Are they coached to do that? Or is it just one of those gross habits that athletes get away with because they’re on TV? Why isn't anyone banning this repulsive act? Or is there actually some deep scientific reason for why the world’s top athletes can’t seem to keep their saliva to themselves? So many questions come to mind!

Well dear reader, buckle up! We will dive into the surprisingly scientific but slightly disgusting and oddly fascinating world of why football players spit so much during their games. You need to understand that this habit is beneficial to the players. So, let’s break it all down — scientifically, tactically and even historically. Here we go.

A love-hate relationship – Saliva science

Let’s start with a bit of biology especially with the basics of saliva. It all begins there, doesn't it? That wonderful, slightly gross bodily fluid that helps you chew, swallow and accidentally spray on your mate when you get too excited during a conversation. It's production in our bodies happen involuntarily. When we exercise, our bodies undergo all sorts of changes and one of those is how our saliva behaves. Unlike sweat which has a cooling effect on us, saliva has a totally different importance. Saliva plays a crucial role in our body because it is more than just spit. It contains a lot of enrichment than we think. It is a complex fluid composed of antimicrobial compounds, electrolytes, enzymes and water. They are just as important as our sweat. Let us understand what’s going on inside footballers’ mouths. The dynamics involved in spitting is better understood from them.

**Breathing like a bulldog on a hot day – Why footballers start producing ‘sticky spit’**

During periods of rest, saliva is primarily composed of water (around 99%) with small amounts of enzymes, mucus and proteins. Without which, you wouldn't survive. This helps to lubricate food, kickstart digestion and maintain a moist mouth. They even help trap foreign particles that enter our mouths or nasal cavity. But when footballers are running up and down the pitch, their bodies shift gears. Their bodies are on overdrive during the games. The production of watery saliva decreases while the thicker mucus-like saliva increases. They begin consuming all the water stock in their bodies no matter what the source is. So, during intense physical exertion such as running non-stop for 45 minutes, the body diverts resources away from non-essential processes including digestion and saliva production to prioritise oxygen delivery to muscles. Fluids will cool down the rapidly-heating muscles that are at work.

This means less saliva is produced. It is because this is not a digestion activity. And what little spit remains? Saliva becomes something else. It turns gloopy which makes it uncomfortable to swallow. The body identifies it as akin to mucus which it cannot permit to continue staying in the body. Hence, the natural reaction? Spit it out! Discarding it away out of the body is the immediate response of the brain.

The parasympathetic nervous system which controls digestion is suppressed. The system takes a backseat for a while till the issue is resolved. The sympathetic nervous system (aka ‘fight or flight’ mode) takes over which leads to drier and thicker saliva. It triggers this activity without the player realizing it.

Less serous (watery) saliva is produced and more mucous-based saliva is secreted. The idea is to not let watery saliva ooze out of the mouth and lose fluids.

Footballers do a lot of intense cardio. This is because the game is itself very physical and players have to be cut out for it. Dodging, jumping, sprinting, sudden stopping and tackling all require rapid breathing. It demands an extraordinary amount of resources for the human body and keep them coming in steady supply. This means they need to inhale a lot of oxygen very quickly. It'd ensure that the player remains conscious and engaged with all the parts of the body receiving ample fuel to keep burning. The best way to do that is through the mouth. The mouth can take in huge amounts of oxygen than the nasal cavity. But there is an issue. Breathing is not what mouth was born for. Breathing through the mouth dries out the oral cavity at an accelerated rate. The mouth is meant for food and drinks. It must always remain moist in order to break them down as soon as they enter the body.

Mouth breathing dries out the oral cavity making saliva even stickier and grosser. It instinctively tries to gather all the moisture so that they don't ooze out and are lost.

Unlike nasal breathing which filters and humidifies air, mouth breathing exposes the inner linings of the mouth to rapid dehydration. There are no filters for the mouth (no pun intended). The air rushing in or out evaporates moisture from the tongue and inner cheeks. Moisture is quickly lost by way of breathing via the mouth. This dries out the mouth and thickens saliva even more that makes it feel sticky and unpleasant. You know how that feels.

The tongue starts feeling like sandpaper, and swallowing becomes as enjoyable as chewing on an old sock. You don't eat food mixed in mucus, do you? That's how it feels for the brain which is always keeping the mouths ready to take in only edible items.

When footballers are running around like lunatics, their bodies switch into survival mode. The struggle becomes palpable. Heart rate shoots up, muscles demand more oxygen and the body redirects energy to the most important functions like keeping them from collapsing in a heap. All these are connected to one another. The result? A sticky bothersome mouthful of gunk that footballers simply don’t want to swallow. Everyone wants to spit out mucus or anything mucus-like. So, what does the footballer do when they feel like they’ve got glue in their mouth? They have no choice. They eject it onto the pitch, obviously. If they don't, the next batch is getting produced and the pileup can begin.

Football players breathing through their mouth during game
Pic credit - performancethroughhealth.com

This isn’t unique to footballers. A lot of other intensely physical games and sports have show this phenomena. Cyclists, runners and even swimmers deal with similar issues. Anything that involves task will have the identical problem. The difference is that footballers are constantly being filmed so their spitting is much more noticeable. No other sport is this popular or telecast widely. If you’ve ever gone for a long run and suddenly felt like your mouth had turned into a glue factory, you’ll know the feeling. That wretched discomfort would go away only when you've discarded that glue. And what’s the quickest way to deal with it? Only one ancient solution since caveman era. Fire a good old-fashioned spit onto the grass.

Fun fact – Have you ever tried sprinting for 45 minutes while breathing only through your nose? No? Why not? That’s because you’d probably pass out. The oxygen you burn is far greater than how much you are feeding the body via your nose. So, if you ever see a player standing hands-on-knees panting like a Labrador on a hot day and then casually firing a glob of spit onto the grass, congratulations – you’ve just witnessed sports science in action. The player was breathing through the mouth.

Why don’t they just swallow? – The hydration dilemma | The rinse and spit technique

You might be thinking “If their mouths are dry, why don’t they just drink water instead of spitting?” Good question! May be that never works at all. The answer lies in the unique way hydration works in sports. That part is crazy. Now, there’s that part where spitting gets weirdly scientific. Ever notice? You might have also seen players take a sip of water or an energy drink, swish it around their mouths like they’re at a wine-tasting event and then…spit it out. Loss of body fluids is compensated by rejecting a drink? What kind of wasteful madness is that? Somebody better explain!?

Rinsing v/s swallowing (Footballer’s mouthwash hack) – Many footballers don’t actually swallow their drinks during a match. Because those solutions aren't meant for drinking. Instead, they swish energy drinks or water around in their mouths and then spit that out. Since they are meant for rinsing only and not meant for consumption, it makes sense to spit them out after rinsing. This technique is called carbohydrate rinsing. It is now a routine exercise in games and sports. It is based on research showing that simply swishing a carbohydrate solution (like a sports drink) in the mouth can trick the brain into thinking it’s getting an energy boost even if you don’t swallow it. You know the placebo effect, right? This method helps players avoid feeling too bloated or heavy which can happen if they gulp too much liquid. Ingesting liquids during intense physical activity can bring out lethargy and make the players inefficient. It also keeps them refreshed without slowing them down. That's a major game hack which the stakeholders have schemed up.

Too much water can be a bad thing – Drinking excessive water during a match can actually be counterproductive. You might expect water to do magic but reality is that it doesn't. Footballers sweat a lot but they don’t always need to replace every drop immediately. A lot of factors are at play too. If they drink too much water, they might dilute their blood’s sodium levels which would lead to hyponatremia. That is really not good. It is a dangerous condition that can cause dizziness, nausea and even serious health risks. Imagine an incandescent light bulb running since several minutes and is suddenly sprinkled with water. It has the similar effect on our body's internals. So, rather than risk feeling like they’ve swallowed a small pond, many players prefer to just spit out excess fluids. Better rinse that clogged mouth and feel relieved than drag the glue plus extra water load into the system.

The secret behind carbohydrate rinsing

One of the most counterintuitive reasons footballers spit so often is that they don’t always swallow the fluids they drink. It's a very necessary thing to do. That’s not just wastefulness but is really helpful. The technique of carbohydrate rinsing actually is backed by sports science. Studies have aided in developing the carbohydrate rinsing practice. It turns out, sports scientists have discovered that simply swishing a carbohydrate solution (like a sports drink) in your mouth works magic during strenuous routines. It can trick the brain into feeling at ease.

Pic credit - Sports Performance Bulletin

The tongue has carbohydrate receptors that send signals to the brain. They tell the brain if the body is running full or short of moisture in the mouths.

These receptors on the tongue detect the glucose and tricks the brain it into thinking that energy is being consumed. Hence, carbohydrate rinsing is an essential practice.

The brain, ever the gullible fool, goes ‘Oh wow, sugar is coming! We’re about to get energy!’ The placebo effect on it is at full-swing then.

Except…no sugar is actually ingested. The body just gets a placebo energy boost. It's a good thing that something called placebo exists because it can help keep things moving for us.

This provides a psychological boost without the player actually ingesting anything. The player isn't feeling bulked neither is their mouths going to be dry for a while.

Meanwhile, the player spits out the liquid and is avoiding bloating or cramps. Remember, carbohydrate rinsing solutions aren't meant to be ingested.

So, when a footballer spits instead of swallowing (weird sentence but stay along), it’s actually a performance-enhancing strategy and not mere bad manners. There is science at work behind the act. It’s essentially a hack that lets players feel energised without downing litres of fluid. The edge that players need against opponents in the games. Who knew footballers were also basically playing mind games with their own bodies?

The role of pH & electrolytes – Why spit tastes bad during intensity

Footballers don’t just spit to get rid of thick saliva but sometimes, it’s about the taste. Of course taste because the tongue occupies the major real estate inside our mouths. When we exercise intensely, our bodies undergo a series of metabolic changes including shifts in pH balance and electrolyte levels. They affect how the insides of our mouths taste suddenly.

The acidification of saliva – Heavy breathing and muscle exertion lead to the production of lactic acid which builds up in the bloodstream. Lactic acid will cause muscles to burn out and tire. As a result…

The pH of saliva drops which becomes more acidic. Balance is disturbed due to unusual overactivity from the physical demands of the tasks.

Acidic saliva can feel unpleasant and with a taste metallic or sour. Metallicity and sourness will make you want to get rid of it asap.

To remove this discomfort, players instinctively spit. The saliva would by then be as uncomfortable as a foreign particle.

Pic credit - wwwdotchkdsportsmeddotcom.wordpress.com

Sodium and sweat – When footballers sweat, they lose sodium which is a key electrolyte. Too much of this metal is a danger and so is a lack of it too. It can have an impact in the overall wellness of the human being. But did you know sodium loss also affects saliva?

A lack of sodium can make saliva taste odd which sometimes is bitter or salty. It can shock the senses and give unpleasant reactions.

The hypothalamus which regulates thirst and signals the body to get rid of excess waste through saliva. If you keep holding on to it, it will only become more punishing.

Players feel the need to spit to clear their mouths of this altered taste. It takes the focus off the task until they get rid of it.

Essentially, footballers’ saliva isn’t the same as when they’re sitting at home. Now at rest, they are normal as anyone else's. It changes dynamically based on their exertion levels.

When spitting becomes a superstition – Habitual aspects | The psychological ritual

Football is just like many other sports that is full of habits, rituals or superstitions that players develop over the years. They have their routines. Spitting, for some, is just part of the game. Sometimes for showboating and show-off too. Not everything about spitting is purely physiological. There may be unique dynamics involved in it. Some of it is habitual and mental. Here are some reasons that are obvious.

Focus and mental reset – Many athletes have little routines to help them reset mentally. It is unnecessary but they do it instinctively. Think of a cricketer adjusting their gloves between deliveries or a tennis player bouncing the ball a certain number of times before serving. Spitting also is something like that. For footballers, spitting may act as a subconscious signal to stay focused. The challenges of the game can get to them, especially when the game is unfavourable. It’s almost like shedding tension. Of course, tension builds up rapidly then. Get rid of the gunk, reset and get on with the game. It can subconsciously alleviate their mind off of panic. Some players develop the habit over years and it becomes their second nature. Once habituated, it will keep showing up during the plays. It gives them a feeling of control over their body. They become that way.

Copycat culture – Let’s be honest…football is full of role models. There is always someone better. Footballers are constantly watching and learning from each other and once some habit becomes common, it spreads like wildfire. Tendencies get passed on and picked up. Young players watch their idols on TV even before they land on the main scene. They'd want to mimic the act in order to appear like their icons. If they see a star player like Messi or Ronaldo spitting every few minutes, they’re likely to copy it. Their psyche has been conquered by the star. What starts as a necessity for some (due to physiological reasons) becomes a universal habit for all whether they really need to or not. Soon, everyone is doing it. It’s like when you see someone yawning and suddenly you feel the urge to yawn too. The virality becomes unpreventable. Spitting is just one of those things that gets copied until it becomes a normal part of the game. 4-5 star players are doing it, so it must be done. Soon, “Everyone is doing it!” It gets into the subsconscious. It’s like that lucky pair of socks you refuse to wash because you think they help your team win. There is no valid use of it. It makes no logical sense, but hey, whatever works! We all do it then.

Are footballers the worst offenders? – Spitting in other sports

Before you judge footballers too harshly, let’s take a moment to appreciate that spitting is an elite-level skill in multiple sports. It's not restricted only to football. Footballers aren’t the only athletes who love a good spit. Every player is a human with the same biomechanics and cannot escape the science. Plenty of sports have their own saliva-based traditions. The few of them are below.

Cricket – Bowlers used to shine the ball with saliva to help it swing but it got banned after the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a decades' old tradition in the game of cricket and was practiced ever since the game was invented.

Baseball – A long-standing culture of chewing tobacco and spitting but now gum has replaced tobacco for many players. Chewing and spitting has become rare in the game of baseball majorly because the game gets telecasted to a large global audience now.

Cycling – Riders frequently spit to clear mucus buildup from breathing hard for hours on end. Cycling engages every inch of the human body and so there is no escaping that gunk buildup in the mouth.

Rugby – Similar to football, players spit to deal with thick saliva caused by intense physical exertion. The game is more physical than football or soccer. Under extreme conditions, players have to spit to keep up.

However, because football matches are constantly filmed and scrutinised in glorious HD slow-motion. It's the most popular game in the world anyway. Hence, their spitting just happens to be more noticeable. There are still other industries like beach games, rock concerts, wrestling etc. Footballers are just more high-profile spitters. They are elitists.

The gross factor – Is it unhygienic? Should footballers stop spitting?

Let’s be honest. No cap. Spitting is actually disgusting. Both spitting out yourself or watching someone else do, conjures the feeling of disgust. Nobody enjoys seeing a slow-motion replay of a player launching a gob of saliva mid-match. It's repulsive. Some argue that it’s unhygienic especially considering how often players hit the deck and roll around in it. The ejected gunk isn't walking away, so they will end up under players' shoes or their bodies when they fall. That said, many footballers do make an effort to be discreet by spitting towards the edge of the pitch rather than in the middle where their teammates might slide into it (which, let’s face it, is already a minefield of mud, stray dog poo, sweat and unwanted blades of grass in Sunday league matches). Awareness and resolve is everything. Spitting might be a normal part of football. It cannot be stopped due to the strain on the body.

Now, let’s talk about the elephant (or rather, the puddle of spit) on the pitch – Is spitting gross? Absolutely. Should it be banned? Well… good luck enforcing that. Each side has it's valid arguments.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials briefly suggested banning spitting in football to reduce germ spread. It was common sense for that time to be resolute against spitting.

This was met with roughly the same enthusiasm as suggesting banning tackling in rugby. Why? Because it is impossible to fight against natural mechanics and not generate thick saliva for COVID season.

Footballers simply can’t stop spitting—it’s biological, psychological and very deeply ingrained in the game. There is no antidote to the practice in any other similar game.

So, while it might be a bit unpleasant to watch (especially in slow-motion close-ups), the reality is that footballers aren’t just spitting for fun—it’s a genuine physiological response to elite-level exertion.

Final whistle – The spit verdict

It boils down to a mix of biology, habit, hydration management and psychology. To tackle this issue fully is next to impossible. Exercise makes saliva thick and sticky, heavy breathing dries out the mouth and drinking too much liquid can cause discomfort. That's biology. Add in the influence of seeing others do it and a touch of superstition, then you’ve got yourself a perfect storm of saliva projectiles. There is no escaping all this. While it may not be the most glamorous part of a beautiful game, it’s not likely to disappear anytime soon. Why not enjoy the game itself instead of these small ignorable nothings? So next time you’re watching a match and see your favourite player casually tossing a spit missile, just remember that it’s all in the name of peak performance. Don't start hating.

Would banning it make football cleaner? Probably. Would it make it less effective? Possibly. Would it take away some of the game’s gritty charm? Absolutely. So, there you have it. For now, though, if you’re ever tempted to copy your footballing heroes, maybe just stick to perfecting their free kicks rather than their saliva techniques. It'll do you good. Your teammates and the person cleaning your boots will thank you! Making their lives easy should also be one of your "goals" (if you know what I mean). At the end of the day, football spitting is here to stay. Nah huh, not leaving. Unless FIFA introduces an official Spit Ban (complete with yellow cards for excessive expectoration), we’ll just have to accept that spitting is part of the game. Happy gaming.