http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_2215755,00.html MANCHESTER UNITED defender Jaap Stam has caused a further stir in his autobiography by claiming that Sir Alex Ferguson encouraged his side to dive in an attempt to earn penalties when playing in Europe. The Dutchman says that the English players in the squad found it hard to adopt the policy of going to ground easily, but that Ferguson believed that it was fair game on the continent. "It's got to the stage where he has even told us: 'Don't try and stay on your feet if you're in the box and get a slight kick," Stam revealed in his autobiography being serialised in the Mirror. "He wants us to copy other sides we face in European competitions and go down to win a penalty. "Far too often English players seem determined to keep running after getting a whack on the leg, even though the chance to get a shot in has gone. "I don't think diving has caught on with the English youngsters yet, as their fair-play mentality stops them from taking a tumble. "Coaches at academy levels are honest and would stamp out that kind of cheating from their team. Stam says that he does not advocate diving, as he is often penalised as a result of a forward going to ground under one of his challenges. "I admit to becoming frustrated by the frequency of diving in the Champions League. "Players from Holland and Scandinavia aren't divers, but those from Spain and Italy go down far too easily for my liking. "Even players in Germany are used to taking a dive. In all those countries it looks like they have been brought up with it since their schooldays. "It's tricky for me to take a dive, though. If I fall down under the slightest kick, I'm going to look stupid falling down like I've been shot." .
been saying this all week to UIR. Fergie told players to Dive, Staam was got rid of partly because he openly said about that. Fergie Calls Suarez diver and then tells his own to dive. Makes the pathetic Rooney apology all the more rank and comical. I wonder is Alex Ferguson is a hypocrite
I'm sure you were one of the LFC users saying that there was contact with Suarez so it was a penalty ???/ You might want to read what SAF said in the above article - the part about going down under contact might be important to you
My view on Suarez the other day was that he slipped over and then acted on it to try make it look a foul. It was no way a full dive. Its still immoral. But I have seen much worse.
Thanks I win. Fergie has been slating Suarez, whats all this you type. Thats another thread mate, think you're lost. Fergie has said this and has put it into action and says he doesn't and Staam let the cat out of the bag years ago. No wonder Rooney was pished off, Fergie says dive and when he pulls a bad one Fergie then makes him apologise I never read the article, Staam said it years ago, it's no secret Fergie told players to get any advantage possible, it is his slating of everyone else after he told players to do it
Bringback continuing his fight to become the biggest clown on the site. Its going well. As Eric said you havent read the article. You read the headline and jizzed in your pants. As I aslo said, Stam and Fergie fell out so its not impossible for Stam to be a little bitter.... Like oh........I dont know...........that girly looking fella at Chelsea who slags Liverpool off all the time...... I suspect hes telling the truth then aswell.....
You're right there and I agree not least cos Collina said so! please log in to view this image Valencia was not touched though as far as illegal contact goes, shoulder to shoulder is contact but no peno there matey
My massive issue with all of this is that the ref chief said refs give decisions based on predispositions. If this were to happen and ref admitted to it, you would be entitled to have a replay. When the ref gets the rules wrong a replay can be requested. And as far as I know there is nothing in there rule wise about judging a player on games played previously. In fact it states clearly that the ref must see it and be certain before he makes a call. And no, contact alone is not good enough. Sure wellbeck could have stepped over that keepers hand against San Marino and just planted his boot and went down for the penalty instead of continuing which is his entitlement these days but Welbeck could have stayed up there easily
This is nothing new, as I recall at the time there was a massive issue around European teams looking for a pen as soon as they got into the box rather than trying to create a chance. Dislike Fergie as much as the next bloke, but I'm pretty sure Fergie won't have been the only manager around to tell his squad to give as good as they got. I don't interpret this as a manager saying "go out and cheat", not trying as hard to stay on your feet if you're fowled is different.
Totally agree with Fergie not being the only manager. It is his total hypocrisy slating Suarez for it when he has 3 prolific divers and some not so prolific and tells them to do it. Noone comes out against United, no FA FIFA rep.. not a one had a go. The outlandishness of this whole affair.. blame one single identifiable entity on the worlds diving woes. Bit of Goebbels type stylings there by the FA and media
