Source: Daily_Mail
Graham Poll: Javier Hernandez is not a cheat
Javier Hernandez did not dive at St James' Park in Tuesday night's goalless draw and should not have been cautioned for simulation, not according to FIFA anyway. However, Manchester United winger Nani did and he should have been shown the yellow card, as should Newcastle United's Jonas Gutierrez, but neither were. I can only state this because, of course, I have the advantage over Lee Probert, Tuesday night's referee, of having seen slow-motion replays. After viewing replays you can argue that both teams could also have been awarded a penalty kick for trips on Peter Lovenkrands and Hernandez. The problem for Probert was that players were falling over far too easily thus making it virtually impossible, in marginal cases, to tell with any degree of certainty whether or not a foul has been committed. Flashpoint: Danny Simpson squares up to Javier Hernandez (left) as referee Lee Probert prepares to brandish the yellow cardWhen a player wipes another one out it is easy to award a free-kick. It is also not so contentious when awarding a free-kick around the centre of the field of play. All too often commentators will say that if an offence that takes place in the penalty area had taken place on the halfway line then a free-kick would have been given. Damn right it would, because there would not be such a big impact on the game and so a lesser degree of certainty is required.Enlarge Punished: Hernandez clashed with Danny Simpson (left)Players must realise this when they dive or go over too easily. They are affecting the chances of their own team in getting a penalty later in the game and if Manchester United or Newcastle are looking for a scapegoat for not getting their penalties they should point the finger at their own players, who made Probert's life almost impossible. What we have seen in the last four days of Barclays Premier League action is a consistent approach from referees within their own matches. Andre Marriner clearly had a lower tariff for his penalty kicks on Sunday at the Emirates and, having givenboth, can be supported.Probert, in denying both very tight calls, can also be supported. The only issue for Probert, which of course Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to highlight, was the incorrect caution of Hernandez, nicknamed 'Little Pea'. FIFA tell their referees that if there is any contact between the players then you should not caution forsimulation. That is the safe option, of course, but if referees are to win the war on the cheats then a few innocent parties will have to be cautioned in a clampdown. The biggest issue for a referee when faced with deciding whether a player has dived is that you are basicallycalling the player a cheat.Considering that the worst thing a player can do to a referee is to call him a cheat, then you must feel 100 per cent certain if you are calling a player one. It is far easier to just wave appealsaway and keep the game flowing but in doing so you do nothing to deter those who are willing to cheat in order to win. That was Probert's biggest problem on Tyneside. Chicha-cheato! Hernandez in diving storm as United slip gives title rivals hopeYou don't know the facts! Upset Owen hits back at Newcastle boo-boysAll the latest Manchester United news, features and opinionAll the latest Newcastle United news, features and opinion Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Jonas Gutierrez, Nani Places: Newcastle