Comments on: When is a dive not a dive?

By: Ahmed Bilal

Ahmed Bilal — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 03:14:38 +0000

Here’s the thing – in many such incidents, there’s an element of doubt and if you can’t remove that doubt, you’ll have serious backlash if you sanction those players.

HOWEVER, there’s one situation each weekend (roughly speaking) where the dive is 100% clear. Banning those people (or sanctioning them as Oliver says) may be a deterrent – or like capital punishment, do fuck all except give us the satisfaction of punishing the offenders.

By: John M

John M — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:50:19 +0000

i agree with big d that certain teams and players are highlighted more than others, last night eboue clearly dived against liverpool but i have not heard a word about it, yet any time ronaldo or drogba goes to ground it is a dive.

By: evaneo

evaneo — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:24:54 +0000

Id just like to see the outcome had this been commited by miko of hearts? or any other hearts player for that matter.he cheated blatantly imo altho it won`t be classed as that,… being an old firm player
Simple

By: Graham Fisher

Graham Fisher — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:53:23 +0000

Big D,

If it had been a Celtic player I would have written absolutely the same aticle.

Being a Watford fan I have an inferiority complex with most people

By: Big D

Big D — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:47:24 +0000

I find it amazing the outcry when there are suspicions of a Rangers player diving. Nobody reacted this way when Nakamura dived blatantly against St Mirren to earn a decisive free kick. This article also smacks of the blatant hypocrisy that surround these issues and how they are highlighted when certain teams are involved. Rangers, Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea. Maybe this is indicative of the inferiority complexes of others.

By: Danny

Danny — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:03:56 +0000

In Scotland we have the worst referees on the planet. Week in week out they make the most outrageous decisions ever, yet their boss, Don McVicar – himself being totally crap in his days – simply turns a blind eye, stating that they do a superb job.

At least in England the refs have the balls to admit making mistakes and the Football Association deal with persistent bad refereeing accordingly.

In Thomson’s case, it was quite honestly one of the worst attepmts to cheat I’ve ever seen, although his buddy Kirk Broadfoot was not far behind! What was the assistant referee doing – he had a clear view if the ref claims not to have had.

A Lithuanian player was slaughtered in the press in Scotland for diving whilst playing against Scotland, yet there has been no outcry against Thomson. Think it tells you who the press and media up here pander to eh?

Divers and cheats should be hammered. Too many peple blame diving as a ‘foreign’ disease. Sorry, but Thomson & Broadfoot are as Scottish as haggis!!

By: Mort

Mort — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:44:12 +0000

Good comments about Kevin Thompson’s dive. Compare that with Scott Brown of Celtic in the firsat half of the same match. He was going through on goal and Whittaker of Rangers got behind him and clipped his ankles. Brown didn’t go down at this juncture but tried to get a shot away. A less hoonest player would have went down but as the match was at ibrox it’s doubful a penalty would have been given anyway.

By: Marq

Marq — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:08:46 +0000

Execllent article.

It is an impossible situation for the ref, having to decide within a split second, whether it is a dive or a foul. Many times, even video replays prove inconclusive, as such, we really have to pity the ref. However, I believe video replays will help the ref. For this case of Thomson going down, it was clear from the replays that he has already started the motion of falling down before contact was made, as such, it shld be defined as a dive, and for the way he defended himself, I would call him a cheat as well

By: Oliver Fowler

Oliver Fowler — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:20:44 +0000

The only way to stop diving is to sanction any player found guilty of it. Two weeks wages and three games suspended would focus a lot of minds.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:20:04 +0000

Kevin Thomson dived, no ifs, buts or maybes. He was already on the way over when he “bumped into” Samaras. The Celtic player didn’t actually move in any direction once the ball had been knocked past him so I don’t know how anyone can suggest Thomson was tripped. Why is there any dispute over this particular incident, it’s one of the clearest examples of cheating I’ve ever seen??!!

For him then to come out with the time honoured “it’s not in my nature” insults the intelligence of every football fan who saw the incident.