A while ago Zokora did a horrible dive and Martin Jol condemned him publicly for it (or said negative things about it anyway). But I can't help thinking that this is one way in which Spurs were not a top team back them. Cheaters DO prosper. Part of the "winning mentality" over the last few years has meant haranguing referees, finding "contact" in the box etc. Bale does dive. So do lots of players. And for me the way commentators and pundits do not totally condemn it is the very worst part. Cos they have zero reason to say bollocks like "yeah - he did move his leg towards the defender to make the contact but there was contact so it's a penalty" like we heard about the Adam Johnson dive a few weeks ago. Diving is the single worst thing about modern football. It's embarrassing. And while even neutral pundits keep talking about "contact" (even when the "fouled" player moved their leg towards the contact) basically equating to a foul there is no hope of it stopping.
In the case of Zokora's dive, MOTD went bonkers about that one and dredged up the diving debate once again - yet they didn;t when Steven Gerrard dicked Sheffiled United out of three points. As I posted earlier, the problem now is there's a culture of diver apologists, fronted by Alan Shearer, who always talk about how a player "could've gone down" when one on one with the keeper as if it's on a par with squaring the ball for a teammate.
Bale was entitled to go down, Arsenal/Chelski/'Pool players are not. I think that is all that anyone needs to know on this particular subject. Next!
i can,t belive people are having a go at Bale,the defender caught his trailing leg as the tv proved.If that tackle had been made on an Arsenal player Wenger would have been up having ago at the 4th official
I remember the Liverpool fans absolutely slating Bale and yet I hear nothing from them when it comes to Suarez.
I hate Bale or anyone else for that matter diving but it is understandable. Bale often gets taken out illegally and referees do absolutely nothing about it. I guess its his way of getting even but it is still cheating and leaves a sour taste in the mouth. However, it is not a new thing, players like Rodney Marsh made a living out of it back in the 60's/early 70's. It is unsporting behaviour and as such should be punished accordingly. A sin bin would be ideal. Retrospective punishment is an option but it should only be used for serial offenders. If a TV replay shows that a player has cheated a red card, suspended for 5 or 10 matches should be awarded. If a player re-offends within that timescale then a suspension should be envoked. Players need to be encouraged to stay on their feet. To help stop diving I favour a rule change, something along the lines of the ref playing an advantage if a player is fouled with the proviso that if a goal doesn't result, the referee could then say 'no advantage gained' so we will go back for the penalty. This works very well in Rugby, the game can go on for a few minutes before play is pulled back. It would also stop players arguing about a penalty decision in the knowledge that if they stopped to argue, the attacking side would continue playing and probably score. It would also benefit the attacking side knowing that they could pile all 11 players forward knowing that they wouldn't get caught 'on the break'. Another rule that works well in Rugby is continuing the game whilst the trainer comes on to treat injured players. Players would get treated quicker and the game would be less stop-start. Football should consider it, it would cut out all of the rolling around on the floor to waste time. Another pet hate of mine.
Bale gets taken out illegally all the time and Referees give him zero protection, it was only the other week at Klanfield that Skrtel basically kicked Bale into the stands and no card was produced (typical Klanfield Refereeing), the tackle was a deserved yellow card. Later in the game (no doubt feeling agrieved that Skrtel had got away without a booking) Bale went down under minimal contact from Skrtel, probably as an attempted pay back. Many players do it and it is now part of the game but the worst I have seen in recent history are Gerrard http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVb2gbMtN3I and of course cheating Suarez.
Gerrard and Suarez (among many others) don't need to be clattered before they dive, they do it regardless.
