nobble

To injure or obstruct intentionally.

Near-synonyms: hobble, hamper, hinder, impede, embarrass, disable

After 12 successive league wins[…]Charlton were nobbled by the First Division's no-hopers, who profited from a goalkeeping bloomer then held on to their lead for dear life.

To gain influence over by corrupt means or intimidation.

Unlike "noble" vigilantes, the police and court facilities which exist are said to be inefficient and corrupt, and juries are said to be easily "nobbled" or intimidated.

For example jury trials were reformed to allow majority verdicts, so that criminals could less easily nobble them.

To steal.

To tamper with (typically a racehorse or greyhound) in order to prevent it from winning a race.

Every design that villainy could suggest was had recourse to in the hopes of nobbling Wild Dayrell; but never being left for an hour by either his trainer or jockey, he escaped the intended 'coopering', even when the lynchpins of the wheels of his van had been tampered with.

A deliberate act of injury or obstruction.