Weekend Football (24/25) - sponsored by Shane Longs "dive"

[biscuitman]

Wow. That Villa game on Tuesday is quite big.

[soggy biscuit]

That 8 year contract Pardew was given currently looking a gr8 decision.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Really confused how Ballotelli got that yellow for diving

[genome]

What an absolutely shocking game of football, I've wasted 3 hours of my life on football this afternoon and not a single goal was seen.

[buzzby]

What an absolutely shocking game of football, I've wasted 3 hours of my life on football this afternoon and not a single goal was seen.

Throw in yesterdays Arsenal v Villla game to make it 4 1/2 hours.

[Hoop Blah]

If there is contact, and you're running, you'll go down....how Mike Dean came to the conclusion that Shane Long dived, i don't know

I guess it was because, like Ashley Young and Suarez, Long's previous antics are starting to go before him and refs are away how easily he goes down and how often he is looking to earn a foul by running across defenders and leaving his leg in positions to get caught.

When I saw the incident I thought Long had trod on O'Shea to get a foul and so, once I'd realised he hadn't sent O'Shea off, I wasn't too surprised at a yellow card. I've not really seen it back since, but was there more to the contact than that?

[FORSTERS_RIGHT_FOOT]

Really confused how Ballotelli got that yellow for diving

This.

[TBM]

Really confused how Ballotelli got that yellow for diving

This.

Its a joke - a dive is surely when there is no contact. Giving a player a yellow card for falling over when a player makes contact with you is just fcuking retarded.

At least Howard Webb had sense, any other ref yesterday would have booked Jay Tabb if they thought that wasn't a pen, just cos he went to ground.

[REMTARDROYAL]

Really confused how Ballotelli got that yellow for diving

This.

Its a joke - a dive is surely when there is no contact. Giving a player a yellow card for falling over when a player makes contact with you is just fcuking retarded.

At least Howard Webb had sense, any other ref yesterday would have booked Jay Tabb if they thought that wasn't a pen, just cos he went to ground.

I can't remember if its no contact or more mealy mouthed



Looking at that, it could be that there's no attempt to play the ball by Balotelli and he's just run into Luiz. Like obstruction but from the attacker. And really rubbish.

Is the booking definitely for diving?

[TBM]

Balo tried knocking the ball one side and running round the other to get it - Luiz stood his ground and Balo ran in to him.....no way is that a dive

[Hoop Blah]

Might not be a dive, but it might be barging or unsporting in the eyes of the ref. As paps pointed out above, the yellow might not've been for diving.

Had he made any/many fouls before that?

[TBM]

Might not be a dive, but it might be barging or unsporting in the eyes of the ref. As paps pointed out above, the yellow might not've been for diving.

Had he made any/many fouls before that?

Luiz moved into Balotelli whereas you can see Balotelli move his right arm in to try and get round him.

First offence

[Hoop Blah]

The ref might've seen it differently though, ie that Balatelli was just putting the ball past him to then run into him and try and win the freekick. That might be seen as unsporting conduct, or even dangerous play.

Seems an odd booking yes, and even more so if he's booked him for diving, but I can't see a justification for that.

Stan Collymore was talking about refs talking to the media last night, and although I think that would just further increase the pressure on them and the focus on their mistakes, I do think some factual information about what a player was booked for etc might help their cause. Almost like making public the referees report so that these kind of things become a bit more clear.

The last thing I'd want is more attention on referees and every decision they make.

[Hoop Blah]

It was a weird one. The tackle was awful and clumsy, but it looks like he dived as well.

I disagree it was awful or clumsy.

The way I see it is that Johnson is sliding in to prevent Ridgewell from getting in his cross. He wasn't looking to win the ball as much as make it difficult for the ball to get past him and into the danger area.

Awful dive though, but you can understand why the ref gave it.

[MouldyRoyal]

From the ref's angle and at normal speed, only a Sunderland supporter would have thought it a dive.

[REMTARDROYAL]

Football 365 column suggests this about Balotelli

Speaking of alleged simulation, some heads were scratched when Chris Foy cautioned Mario Balotelli in the Chelsea v Manchester City match. Although I don't necessarily agree with the decision, in response to those being incredulous about Mario being booked for 'diving', remember that simulation is not just 'diving'.

To quote from the Laws of the Game; 'A player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour if (he)...attempts to deceive the referee by feigning injury or pretending to be fouled.'

A referee could decide that by deliberately running into an opponent then rolling around on the deck that Balotelli attempted to con him. I think that was the conclusion that Mr Foy came to.