Lateral sprains are more common than medial ones, in other words, damage to the outside ankle ligaments are much more likely to occur in soccer players than harm to the inside ligaments.

This could be due to the fact that the outer ankle is more stable than the inner ankle, leaving the foot more likely to turn inward after a jump, which can stretch or tear one of the three groups of ligaments that stabilise the ankle. Nervous and musculotendinous tissue around the ankle can also be damaged.

Both mechanical and functional instability predispose soccer players to sprains of the foot and ankle. Ankle sprains have been shown to be more common in players with previous ankle sprains.

In elite football players, ankle injuries seem to increase a player's risk of developing arthritis in the long run. However, research indicates that uninjured soccer players also have a higher risk of developing arthritis.