The Simulation Game – Arsenal vs Dynamo Kiev

Yesterday’s Champion’s League game between Arsenal and Dynamo Kiev didn’t offer many highlights for the viewers. Frabregas’ cross ball and Bendtner’s goal saved the event from being yet another high-tempo, low-scoring, little value match. There was however a clear low in the game. In fact, the most pathetic thing I have personally seen on a football pitch since the infamous World Cup 2002 Rivaldo face-injury-after-ball-hit-knee incident.

Agonizing pain

Second half, Arsenal are controlling the game, attacking. Dynamo Kiev are defending successfully, hoping for a quick turnover. During one of the Arsenal offensive campaigns, Dynamo-player Olexandr Aliyev falls to the ground after light contact with an opponent. Rolling around the grass like a newly caught pike, holding his ankle, his facial expression suggesting agonizing pain. Seconds later Dynamo win the ball, starting a counter attack. Seeing this, Aliyev loses the grip of the ankle, rushes up, and accelerates from nearly dead to full speed in three seconds. Miraculous recovery? No, of course not. Nothing shy of embarrassing, lowlife, and pathetic cheating.

Now, simulating to gain an advantage is in itself a violation of the rules in football. However, as upsetting as it might be, it is not the most remarkable issue here. For the last decade or so, if a player is injured, the team in possession of the ball kicks the ball over the sideline as soon as possible, allowing treatment for the player down. All in good sportsmanship.

Fake injury

The team that gains possession once the game resumes hands the ball over to the team that lost possession, if needed. Also in good sportsmanship, often applauded by the crowd, the opponents, and sometimes the referees. Fair enough. However, the last couple of years we have seen a couple of examples where players fake injury when the opponents are attacking, in an attempt to deprive the opposing team of a chance to score a goal.

I realize that football players make hundreds of decisions during a football match, most of them in less than a second. Sometimes they make wise decisions; sometimes they make decisions that are less thought-through. Maradona made the snap decision to give the ball a helping hand past Peter Shilton, consequently leading Argentina to a World Cup victory. Rivaldo saw a stray ball coming his way, and decided in an instant to fake a face injury. An opponent was sent off, and Brazil won the game. Zidane heard something, and didn’t think twice before going for the head-butt. Possibly handing over the World Cup to Italy. Fortunately, Aliyev’s action didn’t decide the outcome of the game. Nevertheless, I find it worth bringing up the issue to debate.

Cheating

I would like to see someone with some authority in the corridors of FIFA or UEFA taking action against this. Using technology to uncover and punish this relatively new form of cheating. I know, the ideology of the game is to be able to apply all rules to all levels. Video is already used though to find and take action against dangerous play, so why not use it to get rid of, or at least reduce simulation?

For the referee it’s nearly impossible to determine in a split second if a player is simulating or not. It’s even more difficult to tell if the player is in fact injured, or if he is faking it. I know the game from a practical point of view as well, having played competitive football for a number of years. I know very well that as a player you will get hit. Sometimes the hits cause serious injuries. Sometimes the hits cause instant pain, but pain that last for a few seconds and with no further consequences. Still, it does not excuse trying to gain an advantage, hoping that your opponents will abort their scoring opportunities because of your horizontal position.

Time penalty

With today’s rules, players – injured or not – that receive treatment and cause an interruption in the game are forced to leave the field and enter at the halfway-line at the referee’s discretion. I would like to see an extension of this rule; players who come off the field need to stay off the field for a fixed period of time, say five minutes. This would not be a “time penalty” a la ice hockey. If the player is in fact injured, five minutes is a welcome and in most cases needed period of time for treatment. If the player is faking the injury, five minutes out of play would cause more damage to his own team than the advantage it would gain from simulating.

And how cool would it be seeing a coach go public before a season or tournament, stating; “We will not hand the ball over, it’s up to the referee to decide if the play should stop. If you try to pull that stuff, you’ll only hurt yourself”. I know very well this is a utopia. No one wants to make an announcement that will make them and their team appear to be practicing bad sportsmanship. Ironically, to fight cheating you have to threaten to give up sportsmanship…

Nuisance

Until something is done to eliminate this nuisance, I’m afraid we will continue to see more or less obvious cases of simulation, and in every single game. Probably not as bad as the one Aliyev pulled off though. I’ll finish with the comment from the Dutch commentator (and the Dutch are no strangers to this phenomenon, alternatively praising and cursing tricksters such as Robben and Van Persie) seeing this spectacle: “Belachelijk!” Ridiculous!