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'English football is not more pure' – Pochettino backs Alli after dive

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
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People go way OTT on diving, we've already done the retrospective bans thing with the Eduardo case and that didn't turn out very well. I think a yellow card and the negative media focus is enough to eventually stop players from diving around personally.

I'd rather they clamp down on 'tackles' such as Rojo's at the weekend first of all, potential career-enders, that should be getting more focus than Alli's dive.


That's all been around for a while with little or no effect. It has become an aspect of the game which is accepted by many. The problem with trying to enforce it is that Refs are terrified of making wrong decisions in real time. I'd use the citing system from rugby as an example of how it can work. Players regularly get bans for things the Ref didn't see properly/at all at the time when video footage gets reviewed by a panel. The other problem in football is that if our players aren't well versed in diving, play acting, feigning injury etc., we suffer at International level. I remember the Italians being masters of the art way back when the game in England was a lot more honest.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
That's all been around for a while with little or no effect. It has become an aspect of the game which is accepted by many. The problem with trying to enforce it is that Refs are terrified of making wrong decisions in real time. I'd use the citing system from rugby as an example of how it can work. Players regularly get bans for things the Ref didn't see properly/at all at the time when video footage gets reviewed by a panel. The other problem in football is that if our players aren't well versed in diving, play acting, feigning injury etc., we suffer at International level. I remember the Italians being masters of the art way back when the game in England was a lot more honest.

I don't know I just think we're stuck in between a rock and a hard place as far as diving is concerned, if we're too lenient then players will take the piss, if we're too harsh then we'll start opening up cans of worms and set dangerous precedents.

I don't see that as a problem anymore, we were behind on diving but now we've caught up. English players aren't so honest anymore case in point Delle Alli and Vardy.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,392
I don't know I just think we're stuck in between a rock and a hard place as far as diving is concerned, if we're too lenient then players will take the piss, if we're too harsh then we'll start opening up cans of worms and set dangerous precedents.

I don't see that as a problem anymore, we were behind on diving but now we've caught up. English players aren't so honest anymore case in point Delle Alli and Vardy.


The other thing that retrospective punishment would help with is the hostility towards the Refs on match day. I wouldn't want to be booking Rooney for going flat on his face at Old Trafford.
 

rupsmith

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2006
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Fair play, for me, works when everything is fair. All the players, managers and the referees. As it's not, and sometimes obviously so, players need to make the ref's minds up for them.

Rojo not sent off. Bournemouth's first penalty claim. Luiz body checking Aguero and nothing given. The high kick on Walker. None of these things given. Is that fair? competent officials would give these.

Then there are things like Fabregas slapping Fernandinho and edging back to ensure he goes over the boards. Red card for Fernandinho, nothing for Fabregas.

That's just from this weekend. Earlier this season, Arsenal beat Burnley with an offside/handball goal. Given. Er, why!? if Burnley were able to go up the other end and exaggerate a foul to win a pen and equalise, is that justified?

It's become a game of 'if you want it, make it happen' - be it to wind up an opponent so they lose their head and make a mistake/get sent off, or create a foul to win a penalty.

Narrow margins and you cannot, sadly, rely on the referees to get the major decisions right so that the team who deserves to win actually does. There are three teams now, including the officials, and one team must beat two to win the game.

If they were consistent in their decisions and able to spot dives, then great. No diving. They aren't able to distinguish slips, falls, 'avoiding a foul', genuine fouls and dives.. so I can see why players try it. If they are going to make mistakes, at least they can be in your favour. Sad it's like that, though...

Top post. That Fabregas one was really really bad, you described it exactly.
 
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