Source: Daily_Mail
Players have to come clean: Graham Poll's verdict on the fall guys who must stand up and be counted
It was on the eve of the start to the Barclays Premier League season, when Sir Alex Ferguson spoke with authority and insight. 'Players who cheat are killing the game, not the referees,' observed the manager of the champions.
How right and prophetic those words have turned out to be. We've only played four rounds of fixtures and there is an avalanche of players cheating.
The problem when the prize is so great is that the desire to succeed is breeding a win-at-all-costs mentality and it is no good blaming referees for failing to detect highly skilled professionals who are completely at ease when cheating to win.
Eduardo
Converting the kick: Eduardo slots home after winning a dubious penalty in Arsenal's Champion's League qualifier against Celtic
Dougie McDonald
You're off! Referee Dougie McDonald gives Aiden McGeady his marching orders at Easter Road
There is a clear issue in football that has been present for many years but never so prevalent as now and it cannot be resolved until all involved accept that there is an issue and agree to work together to improve the game.
Just look at Arsene Wenger’s reaction when referring to Eduardo’s dive to win a penalty against Celtic last week.
'He’s not a diver, he was just getting out of the way of the keeper.'
Now look to what Celtic's Tony Mowbray, following the dismissal of Aiden McGeady for his second caution on Sunday.
McGeady simulated a foul when it was clear that there was no contact between the players. Mowbray said, 'He didn’t dive, never in a million years.'
Video replays are conclusive that in both incidents there are clear acts of simulation – and those two are not isolated incidents. In the two live games on Saturday I saw Michael Ballack dive to win a free kick just 20 yards out in just the 5th minute of Chelsea’s game against Burnley and of course Emmanuel Eboue’s pathetic attempt to deceive Mike Dean in the 70th minute of Arsenal’s defeat at Old Trafford.
Of these four incidents referees only detected two dives and issued cautions. That is down to viewing angle which if referees get right makes detection of dives much, much easier and I trust that more training will be undertaken in the coming fortnight to help the referees get a higher percentage right.
HAVE YOUR SAY...
JOIN SPORTSMAIL'S CAMPAIGN TO NAME AND SHAME THE DIVERS Sportsmail has launched a campaign aimed at shaming football's divers and we need you to be a part of it. Former top FIFA referee, and Sportsmail columnist, Graham Poll will highlight the cheats and if you do the same, we can embarrass them into staying on their feet.
eduardo
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
These acts are not always so clear cut, there are question marks over the way that Liverpool’s Fernando Torres went to ground after a tackle from Zat Knight when Liverpool were trailing 1-0 to Bolton. On that occasion there was doubt in referee Alan Wiley’s mind and so, following guidelines, Wiley did not penalise. In that the problem is clear; the rewards for diving currently far outweigh the risks. If successful the diver can win a penalty and perhaps see his opponents reduced to ten men; if caught, he gets a yellow card.
In response to this some suggest that simulation should become a red card offence. I am not in favour of this as it would apply too much pressure on the match officials who would naturally err on the side of caution.
It is little wonder that UEFA are now looking at imposing a two match ban to those who are successful in their attempts to deceive the referee – and yet whilst their intentions are honourable, their solution does not seem to be fair or equitable as the same unfair act is punished in very different ways. It is also nigh-on impossible for UEFA to judge every potential simulation unless they intend to review every second of every match played under their jurisdiction.
The solution of course lies with the perpetrators of the crime, the players and their managers who appear unable to see the wrongdoings of their own players but eagle-eyed and quick to apportion blame when they are on the receiving end.
We should see the PFA working tirelessly to stop their members from this clear act of cheating to win and the LMA urging their members to work in training to open the eyes of their own players as to the damage they are doing to the game. In the meantime the FA, in consultation with UEFA and FIFA should work out a consistent punishment for divers to ensure that the risks start to outweigh the rewards. A two match ban, whether the referee sees it or not, seems to the best way, because fines are irrelevant for millionaires.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Old master: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has slammed the tactic of diving in the past
The 'three strikes and out rule' might be worth exploring too; wherby clubs whose players consistently cheat will eventually collect a points deduction, or an elimination from a competition. Under such a scheme, Arsenal, with two recent incidents, would be one away from further punishment, although Eduardo and Eboue went down in different competitions, so that may not be so easy to enforce.
We in the media can only name and shame the culprits – like I say, it's the players have the power to put an end to this debate by staying on their feet.
This week’s verdict:
Eduardo – YES - A clear dive in an attempt to win a penalty – I cannot agree with claims that he was jumping to avoid contact with the keeper as he was past him before falling.
eduardo
Dive: Eduardo looked to be playing for the spot kick at the Emirates
Emmanuel Eboue
Dive: Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue went down without any contact
Eboue – YES - A clear dive as there was absolutely no contact with the tackler, Patrice Evra, who was already on a yellow card and could have been dismissed if Eboue had been successful.
Rooney – NO – This is not simulation despite Rooney’s legs crumbling before being hit. Emmanuel Almunia missed the ball completely and would have wiped Rooney out potentially causing a nasty injury.
rooney
No dive: Wayne Rooney took evasive action before falling at Old Trafford
Fernando Torres
Dive: Theatrical looking Fernando Torres hits the Reebok turf
Torres – YES - I can see no reason for him to fall in the way that he did. Would he have gone down like that if Liverpool had not been losing 1-0?
McGeady – YES - Another clear dive. Yes he had ridden two tackles but that does not explain his legs being thrown out when there was no contact from Paul Hanlon who pulled out of the challenge.
Aiden McGeady
Dive: Aiden McGeady was booked and sent off for his antics at Hibs
Chelsea
Dive: Michael Ballack went down in an attacking position for Chelsea
Ballack – YES - The way the German went down and the area on the pitch confirmed to me he had dived. Luckily no one was cautioned and Chelsea did not score from the resultant free kick.
Lucas
No Dive: Liverpool's Lucas went down in the Bolton box and won a penalty
Lucas – NO – Gary Megson was right that Lucas slowed down in order to draw a foul from Sean Davis who was tracking the Liverpool player. The duty of care though lies with the tackler. Lucas though should have been cautioned for insisting on a card for Davis – poor sportsmanship.
