Punishing Diving

[Peter Kay - Top of the To]

I want to start by saying I felt Mike Riley was truly awful yesterday. Nevertheless we are now in a situation in football where players (especially in the premiership) seem intent, almost every game in some cases, to use simulation to fool referees and win games.

My view is that the Football Association should with immediate effect punish players individually for diving by using video evidence after matches. Large fines will be the only way to stop this cancer ruining our game.

Perhaps we should start a petition, if only Soho Square wasnt staffed by retired schoolteachers we might stand a chance of making progress.

Thoughts please..??

[Row Z Royal]

Money, money, money
Must be funny
In a rich club's world.

[PieEater]

My plan would be to have a video ref analysing slow motion replays. If a player were deemed to dive, they would use a trained marksman with a paintball gun to take out the cheat during the game.

It would make the cheat suffer wondering if they had really got away with it, or if they would they get taken out. When they did, they would be an embarassment to their team and worthy of ridicule but the opposition. It would add to the crowd entertainment value too.

[M4 Junction 11]

Anyone know what Sonko said to Drogba and what was the reply after Lampard ran into Sonko then dived just before the goal? Must save this for the BBCRB phone-in when they next get Sonko in.

[shadesrwrf]

[Row Z Royal]

"...And shadesrwrf we love you!"

[Ian Royal]

My plan would be to have a video ref analysing slow motion replays. If a player were deemed to dive, they would use a trained marksman with a paintball gun to take out the cheat during the game.

It would make the cheat suffer wondering if they had really got away with it, or if they would they get taken out. When they did, they would be an embarassment to their team and worthy of ridicule but the opposition. It would add to the crowd entertainment value too.

why not use a sniper rifle instead. The wind would effect the path of a paint ball much more than a bullet. They're not very accurate after 10 yards or so. Also you don't get re-offending.

[willz_royal]

can u send that around a bit, GURANTEED to do a full circle the world over

[PieEater]

My plan would be to have a video ref analysing slow motion replays. If a player were deemed to dive, they would use a trained marksman with a paintball gun to take out the cheat during the game.

It would make the cheat suffer wondering if they had really got away with it, or if they would they get taken out. When they did, they would be an embarassment to their team and worthy of ridicule but the opposition. It would add to the crowd entertainment value too.

why not use a sniper rifle instead. The wind would effect the path of a paint ball much more than a bullet. They're not very accurate after 10 yards or so. Also you don't get re-offending.

Maybe players should wear something that the sniper could shoot, a bit like in Takeshi's castle.

[Harold]

I want to start by saying I felt Mike Riley was truly awful yesterday. Nevertheless we are now in a situation in football where players (especially in the premiership) seem intent, almost every game in some cases, to use simulation to fool referees and win games.

My view is that the Football Association should with immediate effect punish players individually for diving by using video evidence after matches. Large fines will be the only way to stop this cancer ruining our game.

Perhaps we should start a petition, if only Soho Square wasnt staffed by retired schoolteachers we might stand a chance of making progress.

Thoughts please..??

Riley wasn't that bad. Chelsea have a reputation for diving a rightly so with Drogba's and Robben's antics last season. To say they were cheating yesterday is a joke. Yes there were a few dodgy decisions made by Mike Riley, but as soon as a Chelsea player went down it was inevitable that Reading fans would try and accuse Chelsea of diving with their biased view.

[shadesrwrf]

but as soon as a Chelsea player went down it was inevitable that Reading fans would try and accuse Chelsea of diving with their biased view.

Can't disagree with much of what you say. Inevitably we're going to biased. Show me a true fan who isn't. What's really annoying is that we lost as the result of a goal which came from a free kick that should never have been awarded. But those sort of things tend to even themselves out over the season. So it's on to the next game.

[Im Spartacus]

I want to start by saying I felt Mike Riley was truly awful yesterday. Nevertheless we are now in a situation in football where players (especially in the premiership) seem intent, almost every game in some cases, to use simulation to fool referees and win games.

My view is that the Football Association should with immediate effect punish players individually for diving by using video evidence after matches. Large fines will be the only way to stop this cancer ruining our game.

Perhaps we should start a petition, if only Soho Square wasnt staffed by retired schoolteachers we might stand a chance of making progress.

Thoughts please..??

Riley wasn't that bad. Chelsea have a reputation for diving a rightly so with Drogba's and Robben's antics last season. To say they were cheating yesterday is a joke. Yes there were a few dodgy decisions made by Mike Riley, but as soon as a Chelsea player went down it was inevitable that Reading fans would try and accuse Chelsea of diving with their biased view.

Riley was a disgrace.

[Royal Rother]

He was pretty poor but not a disgrace.

He started off the game very sensibly and was lenient in the way he dealt with things, but he just ended up getting card happy so there was no consistency over the whole match, which was a shame because it ended up being spoiled.

I thought that apart from Cole's exaggerated salmon leap from Sidwell's challenge Chelsea were not diving / cheating much. Lampard's free kick was a bit weak, but Doyle would more than likely have done the same you know.

[BillBrasky]

I agree that Cole's was the worst. Just wait until he rounds into form, he's an Olympic caliber diver. He would also make a great Pro Wrestler because he does a great job selling the hits, even when they're not there.

[Peter Kay - Top of the To]

My point was more that this is becoming a frequent part of football and its not being dealt with by referees. I didnt state in the original post that Chelsea were that bad yesterday, they certainly have been worse in the past, but you have to admit Lampard went down very very easily for the free kick. I just feel that as a general rule simulation is getting so bad in this country now that something has to be done to stop it.

Im sorry but Riley was a joke yesterday. He set a standard (a poor one) at the start of the game and then was consisitent in applying it throughout. For the record I dont think he particularly favoured either side. He just got decisions wrong throughout the game, and didnt seem to want to take his whistle out of his mouth.

[Henleyensian]

I want to start by saying I felt Mike Riley was truly awful yesterday. Nevertheless we are now in a situation in football where players (especially in the premiership) seem intent, almost every game in some cases, to use simulation to fool referees and win games.

My view is that the Football Association should with immediate effect punish players individually for diving by using video evidence after matches. Large fines will be the only way to stop this cancer ruining our game.

Perhaps we should start a petition, if only Soho Square wasnt staffed by retired schoolteachers we might stand a chance of making progress.

Thoughts please..??

Riley wasn't that bad. Chelsea have a reputation for diving a rightly so with Drogba's and Robben's antics last season. To say they were cheating yesterday is a joke. Yes there were a few dodgy decisions made by Mike Riley, but as soon as a Chelsea player went down it was inevitable that Reading fans would try and accuse Chelsea of diving with their biased view.

That is what we would expect a Chelsea fan to say!

I have always been inclined to like Chelsea as a team but after yeaterday, seeing just a free kick being given, but no card, when Terry elbowed Doyle, I have changed my mind.

[Royal Rother]

I thought even giving a free kick was very harsh. Doyle was backing into Terry somewhat and the elbow was totally without malice.

[Im Spartacus]

He was pretty poor but not a disgrace.

He started off the game very sensibly and was lenient in the way he dealt with things, but he just ended up getting card happy so there was no consistency over the whole match, which was a shame because it ended up being spoiled.

I thought that apart from Cole's exaggerated salmon leap from Sidwell's challenge Chelsea were not diving / cheating much. Lampard's free kick was a bit weak, but Doyle would more than likely have done the same you know.

"1. the loss of respect, honor, or esteem; ignominy; shame: the disgrace of criminals.
2. a person, act, or thing that causes shame, reproach, or dishonor or is dishonorable or shameful.
3. the state of being out of favor; exclusion from favor, confidence, or trust: courtiers and ministers in disgrace.
–verb (used with object) 4. to bring or reflect shame or reproach upon: to be disgraced by cowardice.
5. to dismiss with discredit; put out of grace or favor; rebuke or humiliate: to be disgraced at court. "

I rest my case.

[Spirit of Elm Park]

I thought even giving a free kick was very harsh. Doyle was backing into Terry somewhat and the elbow was totally without malice.

Clattering an opponent has never been acceptable within the game, the defender, in this case Terry, knows to allow for the forward backing up, and then times his jump in accordance, what we saw on saturday was Terry being too far back on his man and then being forced to jump through the player, using his forearm as a barrier. Very lucky to escape a card. That was not the only occasion this happened throughout the 90 minutes. That said, we gave as good as we got.

[faithless the wonderboy]

Simulation is a cancer in the game I love, and I have the cure...

Any player that is booked for diving during the game or, found to have dived following review of video evidence is required to wear a coloured armband (yellow would be good) for, say, the next three games. If they are found guilty of diving during this 'probation' period, they are automatically punished by a ban.

Imagine the grief the players on 'probation' would get from opposing supporters.

Alas, I can't claim the credit for this fantastic idea. I heard it on the radio a while back and think it was going to be trialed somewhere...heard nought since.

PS Hats off to the guys with 'artistic impression' and 'technical merit' score cards in the east stand