Why Footballers Spit Out Drinks on the Sideline Revealed

Behind the scenes in major tournaments like the World Cup and the UEFA Champions League, footballers swishing drinks in their mouths and spitting them out on the sideline is due to a method called carb rinsing.

The practice of footballers swishing drinks in their mouths for a few seconds and spitting them out during big matches is explained in sports science by the carb rinsing method, which means rinsing the mouth with carbohydrates. When a liquid containing carbohydrates is swished in the mouth, sensory mechanisms in the oral cavity are activated, and this affects activity in regions of the brain associated with reward, motivation, and motor control. In this way, athletes can gain a limited performance advantage without swallowing the liquid, although the method does not provide real energy to the body.

Since consuming high-density carbohydrate drinks during intense physical activities can lead to nausea, bloating, and digestive problems, the mouth-rinsing method serves as an alternative for those wanting to avoid these risks. Scientific studies show that the method can provide minor advantages in endurance exercises, but the effect varies depending on the athlete's nutritional status and exercise intensity. Additionally, this practice does not replace the water and carbohydrate consumption needed throughout the match.