Foul stats

Fouls describe how a match is contested. Heavy foul counts point to physical, stop-start games, and they feed directly into card markets when a strict referee is in charge. Fouls won is the other side of the same coin and highlights the players defenders cannot contain cleanly.

For bookings, the card stats page shows team and player totals, and the referee stats page covers how strictly each official punishes fouls. For player card props with live odds, use the player props finder.

The teams that commit the most fouls are usually the high-pressing and counter-attacking sides that break up play in midfield, rather than the possession-heavy teams that keep the ball. Use the team and player tables above to see who is giving away the most free kicks this season across the Premier League and 115+ other leagues, sortable by total or per game.

For what actually counts as a foul, the different types of offence and how fouls turn into cards, see our guide to fouls in football.

Fouls committed counts the times a player gives away a free kick. Fouls won, sometimes called fouls drawn, counts the times a player is fouled by an opponent. The two tables on this page rank players for each.

Defensive midfielders and centre backs usually commit the most fouls because they break up play in central areas. Forwards who press from the front also feature. Style of play matters as much as position.

Dribblers and forwards who run at defenders tend to win the most fouls, since defenders are forced into challenges to stop them. Strikers who hold the ball up with their back to goal also draw a high number.

Players who commit a lot of fouls are more likely to be booked, especially under strict referees. Foul counts are a useful input for player card props, though referee tendency and game context matter just as much.

Per-game averages from one or two matches can be misleading. The leaderboards only include players with at least five appearances so the figures reflect a settled pattern of play.