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A reducer, as I understand it, is indeed a 'brutal challenge' against a talented player. It describes the first challenge of the game, which is intended to show the player who is boss. After which, the game proceeds more or less within the rules (assuming the 'reducing' player has not been sent off ...)

Chivu fouled napoli 1

Reducer[]

A reducer is a brutal challenge on a talented member of the opposing side. The term was first coined by bumbling pundit and casual racist Ron Atkinson.

"It's the kind of thing you say to your most competitive defender when he's up against someone skillful: 'Put the reducer on him.'" - Atkinson told popular London Underground seat cushion Metro.

Although the term reducer is relatively new to the language of football, the concept of fouling the other side's best player is timeless. Reducers are often performed by no-nonsense players.

Greats such as Pelé and Diego Maradona spent much of their career being pursued by a gang of less gifted players with evil intent. Initially this lynch mob settled for a few stiff kicks in the groin, later on it became common for at least one to be armed.

Common users of the reducer[]

Roy Keane:[]

Gibbering pundit Roy Keane is a major advocate of the reducer, as growing up in Ireland food was not always guaranteed and the only way to get fresh meat was a swift crunching tackle on the local altar boys. He is noted for his reducer technique and his acceptance of the fact that he was not good enough to actually defend another player, thereby settling for light melee weapons during his matches at Manchester United, where he struggled to adapt to all the shiny lights in the changing rooms.

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