Golden Goal: Altruism versus Toxicity and the Soul of Football (Soccer) Simulators

This paper examines contrasting player behaviors in two of the largest online football simulation franchises, EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA) and eFootball (formerly Pro Evolution Soccer). Its central argument is that, while toxic conduct in multiplayer games receives considerable attention, these communities also display substantial altruistic, prosocial, and collective behaviors. The authors position these behaviors as mirroring broader football fan culture, including commemoration, protest against game publishers and football owners, and advocacy on social and political causes such as support for Ukraine, Palestine, LGBT+ rights, and charitable fundraising.

The paper draws on existing literature on toxicity in multiplayer games, which describes negative conduct as complex, systemic, and often normalized within gaming environments. It argues that competitive modes, reward-based incentives, and football tribalism create particular conditions for toxicity, though it focuses its analysis on positive behaviors. Key observations include the role of the community-coined phrase "Git Gud" as a common response to player complaints about scripting, lag, bugs, or difficulty; the development of external tools that reduce grinding or player error; and the sharing of tactics and tips through social media. Reciprocal courtesies such as the "gg" message are presented as sources of social capital.

The analysis further considers how players reshape game design to suit their own needs. A central example is the "Golden Goal" convention, in which players collectively agree to end matches at the first goal to avoid repetitive full-length play and to resist designs seen as encouraging microtransactions. The authors conclude that these practices reflect intergenerational and multicultural themes found in real football, where rivalries can be set aside for shared celebration, commemoration, and commiseration.