The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word SHUTOUTS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
S
H
U
T
O
U
T
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "they deny opportunities for some of the players" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case they deny opportunities for some of the players = shutouts.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SHUTOUTS mean?
SHUTOUTS noun- Closing and forbidding entry, as a lockout in which management prevents works from working.
- A game that ends with one side not having scored.