It's probably not a popular idea, but for me the key to both enjoying FIFA and creating more fouls (the two go hand-in-hand) has been lowering speed, accel and agility ratings by up to 90%. It seems the CPU never has the opportunity to foul you unless it can catch you and physically interact with your players. And with the default speed settings, it isn't able to do that; that's my observation anyway.
As well, the game by default, even on the slow speed setting, is too fast for my tastes. And, the only way to get fouls up to an acceptable level is to play on legendary. That's the way it is with all EA's games: the higher the difficulty level, the more fouls/penalties. Fouls in FIFA drop off by 50-70% once you drop down from legendary to world class.
Lowering speed, accel and agility accomplishes several things: it slows the gameplay down to a beautiful tempo, it helps create CPU fouls and cards, and it allows you to comfortably play on legendary as it counteracts the CPU's superhuman legendary stat boosts.