Source: Daily_Mail
Graham Poll: Luka Modric and David Bentley didn't dive
Luka Modric did not dive on Saturday and nor did David Bentley last week. Yet both Tottenham players were cautioned for simulation. [LNB]Given that this season has seen a lot of diving being ignored why have Tottenham players suddenly found themselves being cautioned when others have gone unpunished?[LNB] In the book: Poll says Andre Marriner was wrong to hand Modric a yellow card[LNB] Last Tuesday evening Howard Webb was refereeing Tottenham versus Sunderland and decided to caution Bentley when he went to ground in the penalty area after a clash with Bolo Zenden. [LNB]It appeared that Zenden had mistimed his tackle and accepted that he would not have complained had Webb given a penalty in a post match interview. [LNB] Then on Saturday Andre Marriner not only waved away Spurs appeals after Modric appeared to be tripped by Blackburn's Miguel Salgado but also issued the Croat with a yellow card. [LNB] Caught in a Webb: Bentley was wrongly accused of diving, says Poll [LNB]Maybe he was still thinking about Pavlyuchenko's really pathetic appeal seconds earlier? Whatever, he certainly erred and if you don't believe in coincidences then you might be excused for thinking that the top refs have decided to toughen up the battle against the divers. And not before time. [LNB] More from Graham Poll... Graham Poll: Fabregas and Dempsey should have seen red like Essien11/11/10 Graham Poll: No, Mr Pulis... relegating referees is such a crazy idea08/11/10 GRAHAM POLL: Referees must step up when players go down and keep booking the Premier League divers08/11/10 Graham Poll: Blame Heurelho Gomes not Mark Clattenburg for Nani goal 31/10/10 GRAHAM POLL: Wenger is winning his mind games with referees25/10/10 Graham Poll: Why Neville should have seen red on his landmark day at Stoke25/10/10 Graham Poll: Marriner's big mistake saved Neville from a red card24/10/10 Graham Poll: Why Tom Huddlestone's goal rightly stood... if only Blackpool could benefit from such accuracy 18/10/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE However, if they are to step up the battle then they need to be more accurate than with those two Tottenham cautions. [LNB]I have always accepted that there will be innocent casualties if the war against the cheats is to be won but not those as innocent as Modric and Bentley. [LNB] The problem for referees when dealing with simulation is that players make it very difficult for them and FIFA does not help. Players have to accept that they are making a referees life very difficult by going to ground so easily and so often, apparently happy to 'win' penalties when they don't deserve them. [LNB]FIFA don't help either with the advice that if there is any contact between players then the referee should not caution for simulation. That slight and fair contact which is exaggerated to con the ref needs to be punished if it is to be stopped. [LNB]So have Tottenham been targeted due to their propensity to go down easily? I don't believe so. Having looked at previous incidents if diving this season I am hard pushed to think of an incident involving a Spurs player. [LNB]I can also say that in all of my 14 years of refereeing on the Premier League there was never a concerted campaign to identify certain teams or specific players in an attempt to make a statement of intent - and nor should there be. [LNB]Bentley and Modric were just two innocent victims and the fact that they play for the same team is a coincidence. [LNB]All referees should not be deterred by those errors but strive to improve detection and then resolve to punish those who tarnish the beautiful game. [LNB]Good week for...[LNB]Branislav Ivanovic who escaped a clear red card from Chris Foy late in the first half of Chelsea's defeat at home against Sunderland. Chris Foy was the referee who refused to send Ivanovic off despite a very clear and obvious goal scoring opportunity being denied by the Serb. Mind you given the score Ivanovic probably wasn't grateful for Foy's leniency. [LNB]Bad week for...[LNB]The respect programme which is still limping along according to the FA. On Saturday Rio Ferdinand screamed abuse at an assistant after he was not given a free kick while Nani showed virtual contempt for Mike Dean when he was rightly cautioned. [LNB] Hodgson in the dark over Reds future as fans call for legend Dalglish to returnHoullier is no fool as young gun Bannan runs the show against United [LNB] Explore more:People: David Bentley, Graham Poll, Luka Modric, Rio Ferdinand, Mike Dean, Nani
