What are your thought on players that dive for personal and team game?

1. 78

   CyclingFitnessposted 13 years ago

   Is it fair that the beautiful game should have such a malicious presence within it?
   
   Should teams be able to lodge appeals against such an action for retrospective punishment?
   
   I've watched too many games recently which have infuriated me. Barcelona have a great attacking full back in Dani Alves who in my opinion ruins the game by diving to try to gain free kicks- should this be tolerated or maybe he should have some kind of punishment for which he will appreciate the use of his legs more. Cristiano Ronaldo was very similar at times when playing for Manchester United and it completely ruined him as a player for me!
   
   Or is it simply a part of the game which should be embraced?

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   1. 83

      SimeyCposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think they should be punished like any other cheat, or even more harshly. Start banning players for three matches for a first offense, six after a second offense, for a season after a third offense and for life after that - they'll soon stop cheating!

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      1. 88

         I am DB Cooperposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I think this is the best solution. This allows the league to review a play after-the-fact and see if there was a dive, and then punish the player for it. The fact is, referees are human and in real-time speed it's often hard to tell whether a player dived on purpose. With your solution, even if a player gets away with it during a game they can still be punished for it later by the league, similar to the way helmet-to-helmet hits are handled in the NFL.

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         1. 83

            SimeyCposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I'm an English fan and was always proud that England won the 'fair play' award at major championships - it's a shame to see the English players beginning to use the same tactics that other teams use to try and win!

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            1. 60

               samtenabrayposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Well i even saw Walcott go down very easily when gently flicked in the face buy the Marseille keeper in their recent fixture, this then stopped the game and prevented us a scoring opportunity!

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      2. 60

         samtenabrayposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Definitely agree with everyone's suggestions some hardened bans need to come into place and some third eye footage should be used!

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2. 71

   Donnacha Cposted 13 years ago

   diving is a disgrace, but is up to the referee to deal with such things during the course of the game, i.e yellow cards, free kicks etc. It would lead to absolute mayhem, if teams started lodging appeals after the game against a player who dived. In my opinion it`s up to the managers to make sure their players won`t result to this stupid act. However, it does happen, and even the very decent ones do it every now and then....

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3. 60

   samtenabrayposted 13 years ago

   It makes my heart sink when i see a favourite player of mine take the slightest of knocks then throw themselves to the ground. They need to put further punishment on diving!

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4. 60

   rus-leelaratneposted 13 years ago

   The problem is football has got too commercial.  Even if you are really in it for the sport (and not the money) you have to keep one eye on the bank balance.  You have to ask how much is a goal worth.  It could be worth millions.  Then ask yourself, what would you do to get a million for your club.
   
   I am not trying to defend anyone who dives.  I think it is disgraceful, but you can see why they should do it.  I think clear cut dives should be a red card (not yellow).  A player that is consistently diving should be suspended for a certain period.  Make a dive cost more than what is gains.  Make a player think twice that diving may cost more than it gains.

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   1. 78

      CyclingFitnessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Italians and Spaniards have been diving for years so I'm not sure its a commercialisation issue rus-leeratne. However the importance of money within the game can't be mis-underestimated.
      
      I beleieve the Scottish league has introduced a referal system for players who dive- has anyone seen the effects of that in action.

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      1. 71

         Donnacha Cposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         CyclingFitness - how can you say Italians and Spaniards have been diving for years...what a cliche! footballers of all nationalities have been diving for years, end of! Diving is a personal choice not something that comes with nationality. So basically you are saying that English, Dutch, Portuguese, Urugayian footballers etc do not dive? please, get a grip

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         1. 61

            Matt in Jaxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            It's true that it is an individuals choice to dive and certain players do excessively (i.e. Ronaldo and Robben,) but I think Cycling is simply stating that the Italians and Spaniards tend to have the most players who do dive.

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5. 76

   The Suburban Poetposted 13 years ago

   I hate it. The parallel is "flopping" in basketball. I've seen it happen in city league basketball and I taunted the player for doing it. He just ignored me. I think they should review the games after the fact and heavily fine players who clearly dive. And if the players don't like a bad review then don't dive. As an American I can say that it spoils the whole thing....
   
   To me this goes to the greater issue of winning at all costs. Nationalism apparently is so engrained in the minds of humans that they will become arrogant because they won and ignore how they won. They decide that cheating is part of the game and rationalize it so they can pretend to be superior human beings. It is an indication of emotional immaturity.
   
   I don't mean to attack the country of Spain but the way the protected Alberto Contador after he was caught cheating was telling. In the US people have made it their lifes work to out Lance Armstrong yet Spain vindicates their own star. Why is this? I feel that the Spaniards cannot accept anything but an outcome that makes them feel better about themselves. Why is that?
   
   To be fair there is clearly a similar mentality that occurs in the US. In racing they say "if you ain't cheating you ain't trying" and everyone knows the rappant cheating that takes place in college football recruiting (USC, Ohio State, Alabama, Florida etc) yet the fan base not only ignores this they apparently revel in it.... it's pretty sick if you ask me. Why do they need to brag so much over what it clearly vicarious pleasure derived from the efforts of total strangers.....

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