Lots of good comments.
To touch on this issue a little more from the officials' perspective, I feel it's an important part of game management for the officials to recognize when teams may deliberately foul in an end game situation and be prepared for it.
To me, one of the most important things the officials need to do when this occurs, is to be right on top of it and call the foul right away. This is not the time for a patient whistle. Delaying the call even momentarily only encourages the players to get more physical and the potential of a deliberate foul becoming an intentional foul increases.
Far too often I've seen officials take the "no blood, no foul" approach in these situations, forcing the defender to almost mug the opponent to get a whistle.
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Meddle not in the affairs of dragons - for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup!
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