Mar
20
2007
How do we deal with diving (cheating) and playing for fouls?
The questions we must ask are:
- If a player is using the rules to his advantage, is that wrong?
- If a player is cheating, how do we punish that?
- If a player is cheating, how do we determine that and differentiate it from “using the rules to his advantage”?
- How do you know whether the player is going down too easily or was genuinely brought down?
- How do you know if a player goes in looking for the tackle or not?
In my view, if a player is using the rules to his advantage, its tactics. If a player is cheating, he should be punished (retrospectively as well as during the game).
There are some who will argue that playing for fouls and going down too easily are actions that go against the spirit of the game.
The thing is - are the rules according to the spirit of the game, or not? And if they aren’t, how can we change them?
What do you guys think?
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I think you fail to make a distinction between plain cheating ie pretending that something has occurred which has not in reality versus intelligent play ie playing for fouls, or to be more specific, inviting the opponent to foul you to get an advantage. As your heading suggests, you are playing for a FOUL which suggests that the opposing player used unfair means to stop the attacker.
Personally, I think the second topic (playing for fouls) is a non-issue and will put it down to one person just trying to outwit the other. Yes, it may be wrong when judged against lofty ideals, but that is the least of the issues in football that test your morals.
Ship Ronaldo/robben to real madrid, they can dive in their country and everyone will love him! if not hope some one munches them both!!
“How do we deal with diving (cheating) and playing for fouls?
The questions we must ask…”
So you think Ronaldo dived? I can’t understand the diving debate anymore. I’m against it, have always been. Years ago more than many of my friends were back then. But nowadays, it is not about tackle anymore, but about the attacking player.
On ManUtd - Boro game, Woodgate’s tackle was simply horrible. It was clear call and nothing to argue about. Bad tackle on the box -> penalty kick.
Spot on, I say.
Richard - if you were being fouled as much as Ronaldo you’d go down too, he isn’t a push over, he goes down easy when running at pace yes, but wouldn’t we all??? So I’d keep stum mate, I hope some one munches you. You must be Liverpool or Arsenal, I can understand your frustration!
Ronaldo is a fantastic talent and is great for Man U let alone the premier league!
I am a CFC fan and happily admit that Robben is a sinful diver. I am often ashamed of his antics and although he is a great player I much prefer j.cole as a wing forward. I hope we sell him and get in another great talented winger.
That said - I do think Manure fans should admit that Ronaldo is also a sinful diver. A good debate would be Ronaldo vs Robben - who is better and who dives more. Whatever the outcome I will never forgive that litte portugese prima donna for what he did in the world cup (yes .. THAT WINK). I think both him and Robben throw their hands in the air when they take shots on goal that never had a chance of going in and look to the gods to ask why they have been cursed with the afflication of not scoring every time they shoot.
Ronaldo is scum and not that great a player. A few stepovers does not mean you should earn £140,000 per week. Do Manure fans beleive that Ronaldo is better then Giggs was in his day?
Diving should be cut out all together and fans should admit it even about their own players. CFC fans booed Drogba last season for his pathetic theatrics and it paid off. This season he has cut it out and eveytime he gets a knock - he gets up quickly. I only wish ManUre fans would do the same to Ronaldo - wishful thinking I suppose.
By the way - congrats on winning the premiership this season - but we will win the Champs League and beat you in the FA cup final.
something about self-righteous indignation…
TrueBlue, are you against diving in particular or just against cheating in general? If it is the latter, what about claiming a throw-in / corner for your team when you know it has come off your own foot last? What about putting your hand up and conceding a free kick / penalty when you know you have committed a foul? What about pulling opposition players back during a set piece to prevent them moving?
By the way, are you aware of the fact that Steven Gerrard and Andy Johnson has gotten more contentious penalties given/not given this year compared to Robben or Ronaldo? Which country should they f*** off to?
This debate will never go away till the rules are changed and the cost of cheating in terms of on field and off field punishments are too high to be worth “cheating”…
Diving is difficult to understand and spot. If a player is fouled, but the referee lets play continue, because he has managed to stay on his feet, this will encourage players to dive to gain the correct decisions. However, most players use it wrongly and the referees are partly to blame. The referee has to be able to spot a foul, and when someone is fouled, they don’t always go down.