International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences Vol. 14(1), pp. 192 - 203
DOI: 10.13189/saj.2026.140119
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The Relationship between Big Five Model of Personality Traits and On-field Disciplinary Behavior among Moroccan Professional Football Players

Nadia Bougrine ^1,*, Abdelkarim El Haoua ¹, Amine Arfaoui ², Majid Brouziyne ^1
1 Laboratory of Sports, Youth and Family Sciences, Royal Institute for the Training of Youth and Sports Executives, Moulay Rachid National Sports Center, Salé, Morocco
² Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Sport Sciences, Institute of Sport Professions, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the relationship between personality traits, assessed through the Big Five model, and on-field behavior among Moroccan professional football players. A total of 264 players from 14 BOTOLA Pro1 clubs were assessed using the Moroccan Arabic version of the Big Five Inventory-2 Short Form (BFI-2S). On-field behavior (yellow card) and playing position (FIFA classification) were sourced from official LNFP and club records to examine their links with personality. Yellow card accumulation during the first 13 matchdays of the 2024/2025 season was recorded. Descriptive, correlational, and comparative statistical analyses were performed. The findings reveal that the players who received yellow cards scored significantly higher in neuroticism (=0.02) and openness (=0.03) than those without cards. Moreover, neuroticism was strongly associated with the number of yellow cards received (=0.29, <0.001). Players with four or more cards displayed markedly higher neuroticism compared to others. Playing position, coded from official FRMF match sheets, was significantly associated with both extraversion (=0.04) and yellow card count (=0.01). Post-hoc comparisons indicated that forwards, on average, received significantly more yellow cards than other positions, although this pattern likely reflects positional demands and match context rather than personality alone. Personality traits, particularly neuroticism and openness, are significantly associated with on-field disciplinary behavior in Moroccan professional football. These findings highlight the importance of psychological profiling in player management, talent development, and performance optimization.

KEYWORDS
Personality Traits, Neuroticism, Openness, Moroccan Football, On-Field Behavior

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Nadia Bougrine , Abdelkarim El Haoua , Amine Arfaoui , Majid Brouziyne , "The Relationship between Big Five Model of Personality Traits and On-field Disciplinary Behavior among Moroccan Professional Football Players," International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 192 - 203, 2026. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2026.140119.

(b). APA Format:
Nadia Bougrine , Abdelkarim El Haoua , Amine Arfaoui , Majid Brouziyne (2026). The Relationship between Big Five Model of Personality Traits and On-field Disciplinary Behavior among Moroccan Professional Football Players. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 14(1), 192 - 203. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2026.140119.