I would have to disagree with this it's easy to stay on his feet theory. From what I've seen, what happens to Bale is akin to a tap tackle in Rugby. It's very easy to bring down somebody twice your size with a tap tackle. Also, the faster they're moving, the easier they go down. At the speed Bale moves, the lightest of touches would cause him to lose his balance and bring him down. O.k. He doesn't need to do the dying swan act, and it's not helping his cause.
The way you wrote Bales response was as if we should believe everything players say, that was all I was referring to as naive, and if you do believe them at your age you deserve to be called it! No, i do not condone Foy for booking him, I've not said that anywhere, all i said is you can see why. You and the others seem to assume Foy saw contact and should've acted accordingly, how do you know? Imho, it looks like he did not see the slight contact (ok, you can slate Foy for that) and had Bale fell normally he would have just waved play on, no foul. He can't decide to ignore an offence in favour of another! or decide what was worse the foul or the simulation, it wouldn't be simulation if he thought it was a foul! The frustrating thing is Bale IS being fouled, but he's swaying the refs view of it swanning. Not being an isolated incident its something he has to address.
I forget which game I was watching, but a replay revealed a clear penalty. But the penalty victim had only stumbled, and went right on playing without the usual theatrics. He, obviously, was a madman. The problem here is that the entire concept of football penalty calling is total horsesh*t. While there is a certain amount of the referee watching what happens, there's a lot of the referee reacting to what kind of drama-queening the players manage. In US sports, the penalty call happens ASAP (within 1-2 seconds of the infraction), preferrably before anyone has a chance to react. That's important, since it nips the amateur theatrics in the bud. Referees have to make their call quickly and/or learn not to be influenced by player's reactions. Getting out the magic marker and the card may be traditional, but it crucially gives the ref 30 seconds to weigh the reactions of the player, which tends to reward acting. You always feel like you're in a second grade class with the little brats are racing to rat each other out. Referees have to learn a standard, and how to apply it fairly regularly. (More training, higher pay and more reviews are needed, clearly). There have to be enough eyes on the game that the standard gets applied consistently. Replay and retroactive penalties may work well here. Let the game go on, and award a card at the next break in play. (YV has also said this.)
there is no way you can stay on your feet,when you are going at that speed and you are caught,any touch will bring you down,i belive Bale doesn't dive,but the way he goes down does not help him.
