This paper introduces the Expected Booking (xB) model, a novel metric designed to estimate the likelihood of a foul resulting in a yellow card in football. Through three iterative experiments, employing ensemble methods, the model demonstrates improved performance with additional features and an expanded dataset. Analysis of FIFA World Cup 2022 data validates the model's efficacy in providing insights into team and player fouling tactics, aligning with actual defensive performance. The xB model addresses a gap in fouling efficiency examination, emphasizing defensive strategies which often overlooked. Further enhancements are suggested through the incorporation of comprehensive data and spatial features.

Do you want to take part in the biggest sporting event ever held in Qatar? Everyone is counting down the days until November 21, 2022, when the FIFA World Cup will officially begin. More than anything, we are interested in the variety of this game. The excitement is actually in learning how AI will play a crucial role in this amazing event. Debatable referee decisions were a big concern in prior world cups.