The problem is mostly that soccer players have higher IQs and are paid a hell of alot more to perform and get results, so some will try and take advantage of everything at their disposal to get an edge over their opposition. Of course there is also the knowledge that a poorly executed tackle can break a leg or end a career and so many have a tendency to overreact when they are taken out.
But it's mostly ingrained in certain cultures. You dont see alot of it in the scottish premier league for example, even though it is pretty aggressive physically compared to say La Liga, where the football is more technical and the contracts have a few more zeros on the end of them.
