What started as an additional exercise routine has become lethal.

SAS commandos are known for their grit and strength — if they’re going to do something, they’ll give it their all. Apparently, this seems to mean that SAS troops take football as seriously as they take fighting against terrorists.

A ban has been put into place recently barring soldiers from playing football because they seem to be too injured for duty once they stop. The leadership of one of the most powerful outfits in the British Army felt that things were getting out of hand.

Different media outlets have reported their sources as confirming that the SAS commandos were going overboard during the friendly matches, so much so that there were more injuries in the matches than in the field.

According to the Daily Star, a source reported that, “Like everything the SAS does, exercise is full-on and very competitive. But guys started picking up injuries after every game. You’d finish a game of football and a couple of guys would limp off and then an hour or so later they could barely walk.“

Supposedly, the injuries range from muscle injuries to broken legs. The MoD has offered no comment on the situation.

But why are the games so extreme? The source explained: “In places like Iraq and Afghanistan, there were decent gyms with weights and other kits, but they also needed to do intense aerobic exercise. The key to exercising is to make it interesting. Running can be a bit boring, so boys play five-sided soccer on a big pitch and at a very busy pace.“

Is it surprising that a game of football has turned into a clash of the titans? If you take into consideration that this is supposed to be the fittest outfit in the British Army, it makes sense. And football really does hit most of us in the heart. This is the most interesting news to come out about the troops since we found out that Tom Hardy will be playing a SAS commando in a movie soon.

It’s a good thing SAS troops weren’t playing rugby while deployed.