Hot Topic - Simulation

Simulation has been a hot and controversial topic of recent weeks, following accusations from managers, about opponents trying to con officials and cost their team, whilst players have been backing their team-mates that they are unfairly treated as their reputation goes before them.

However, I believe most simulation could, potentially, have been cut out, if, in the 3rd minute of the Community Shield, referee Kevin Friend cautioned Chelsea's Eden Hazard for a blatant dive just inside the Manchester City half. Unfortunately Friend didn't book Hazard and didn't set a precedent to warn players that diving will not be tolerated.

The amount of simulation so far this season, has been somewhat shocking. Professional footballers trying to cheat their fellow professionals by theatrically throwing themselves to the ground is plain and outright cheating; the FA and other football governing bodies, need to act now before simulation causes fans to lose interest in the sport because now it is already a much widely debated subject in our beautiful game. The players need a deterrent, so heavy fines and bans need to be implemented to reduce or even better, cut diving out of football.


Carroll booked for a ridiculous dive against Newcastle last season.



It is hard for referees during matches, the pressure not to make a wrong decision because whichever way you look at it, they will get abuse from vocal supporters and then their decisions will be scrutinised in the media. Trying to spot a dive in a split-second is hard enough, but when working out who initiated the contact and if the opponent won the ball, makes it ridiculously harder for match officials. There have been many examples of diving this season, some correctly spotted and penalised by referees and the others that show the referees and opponents have been conned by their opponent.

After the Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic match, Latics manager Roberto Martinez slammed young referee Michael Oliver for favouring the bigger club in his decision. This could have been proved after watching the first 5 minutes of the game, as Danny Welbeck was adjudged to have been brought down by Wigan stopper Ali Al-Habsi; however replays suggested that the Man Utd striker had initiated the contact, meaning he was looking for the penalty, otherwise known as diving. Luckily justice was done as Al-Habsi saved the penalty. Then, last weekend Michael Oliver took charge of Chelsea vs Stoke at Stamford Bridge. There were two penalty shouts from the home faithful, both dives, one of which, from Oscar was correctly punished with a caution. It shows that referee Oliver had learnt from his mistake previously at Old Trafford. Premier League managers also need to learn the law because Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo claimed the second incident on Oscar should have been a penalty because there was "contact". If penalties were awarded for every time there was contact in the penalty area, then we would be in for goal-fests, with at least 5 penalties a game.



Ivanovic's dive: SEVEN!

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and full-back Glen Johnson have defended Luis Suarez, saying that they feel he is "unfairly targeted" by officials because his reputation goes before him. It is fair to say that Suarez has become renowned for his simulation; however I have to disagree with what Gerrard and Johnson have said.  An incident on Sunday saw Suarez go down inside the Man Utd area, for me Johnny Evans got to the ball before Suarez and referee Mark Halsey was right not to point to the spot. This has probably surfaced after the Uruguay international was cautioned after a dive, in their away trip to Sunderland. His act of pure theatre doesn't do him any favours, especially with the exaggerated fall, usually a small screech and then the acting.

Here is an example of Suarez's theatrics - earning a penalty against Arsenal, despite the decision seeming harsh on Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny.

 

The FA now should start to take action. Start by banning players for 1 match, then keep increasing the ban for every time they get caught diving. Retrospective action is used, in cases of violent conduct, so, it should be used for diving. The FA says they can't take action against a player if the referee has cautioned the player or reported the incident; however they should then ban the player. If the FA decide the need to ban players for simulation, then they might as well change the law to sending a player from the field of play for simulation. Even if it contradicts a referee's match day decision, a player should still be banned by the FA.