The issue of players diving, or ‘simulation’ as it seems to be called, has been brought back to the top of the agenda by the antics of Arsenal striker Eduardo in their Champions League qualifying win over Celtic.
Incident
The incident in question came with the second leg score at 0-0 after Arsenal had won the first leg 2-0. Midway through the first half the referee awarded Arsenal a penalty when Eduardo appeared to be brought down by Celtic keeper Artur Boruc. Eduardo got up, converted the penalty himself and Arsenal went on to win the game 3-1.
TV replays suggest that there was no contact made on Eduardo or at least, if there was, it was minimal and couldn’t possibly have caused the theatrical fall to the ground that followed.
Opinion about whether or not it was a dive is divided at around 50-50. That is half the people who have expressed an opinion are Arsenal fans and say it wasn’t and the other half are neutral observers who all say it was!
Sympathy
It is certainly a shame that Eduardo, who after suffering the most horrendous injury a couple of seasons ago had the sympathy of the entire footballing world, has now made himself something of a public enemy.
There is no doubt that Eduardo did not do anything that Cristiano Ronaldo, Steve Gerrard, Fernando Torres and many other players haven’t done but that does not make it acceptable.
UEFA have announced that they are going to investigate the incident and if he is found guilty of ‘simulation’ or as I like to call it, cheating, he could and should face a two match ban.
Agree
Everybody wants diving to be stamped out of the game. I don’t know anybody who thinks otherwise. The problem is that few people agree about how to do it.
Retrospective punishments to players such as that likely to be handed out to Eduardo are a start but they do not help the team that have been cheated.
Many people are calling once again for the fourth official to be able to use technology to assist the referee and watch a TV replay and tell the referee whether or not he is right. Others are calling for extra officials to assist such as the two additional referees trialled in the European under nineteen championships.
Uefa president Michel Platini believes additional assistant referees behind each goal line would combat diving:
“One day players will give up simulating because refs will see them. I am convinced that you have referees nearby, then you will stop this.”
Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith is a supporter of using technology:
“Last night’s incident also brings the whole issue of video evidence to the fore. I see no reason why we cannot use technology to assist referees. We need a serious debate on these issues. Everyone in football has a responsibility to set the right example to our youngsters. We can talk all we want about Fair Play campaigns, but taking action would be a much more powerful deterrent and would send the right message to players everywhere.”
Even Arsene Wenger accepted that the incident involving Eduardo probably asked more questions than it answered:
“I do not go as far to say Eduardo dived. He went down, for what reason I do not know. Having seen it again on television, it doesn’t look a penalty. I do not think he would have complained if the penalty was not given.”
So what is the answer? Retrospective punishments, video technology or extra officials?
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