World Cup highlights continued blight of diving on the game

Whilst everybody basks in the warm afterglow of the World Cup, it’s perhaps important to put a bit of perspective on things and not paper over the cracks of some of the less positive aspects from the tournament. For example, the need for video technology has been particularly well documented, particularly in this country, following Frank Lampard’s ‘goal’ against Germany. However, equally pressing for the game’s governing bodies to address should be ‘player simulation’, or in other words, diving.

If anything, the situation is getting worse and it was frankly embarassing to see so many incidents of feigned injury during the tournament. It not only disrupts the flow of play but more importantly it is just plain cheating and at its worst can change the outcome of a game. Witness Kader Keita collapsing after being brushed by Kaka and getting the Brazilian sent off. Fortunately for Brazil the game was already won, but imagine if that had been inside the first ten minutes of the game.

Joan Capdevilla could also be criticised for a similar overreaction to a tangle with Ricardo Costa in Spain’s last 16 game with Portugal. Again, Portugal’s fate had already been sealed but it could have been all very different. Referees are becoming gradually more conscious of players’ attempts to dive their way to a penalty or free kick and there were some yellow cards brandished by way of punishment. However, it is clearly not enough as the video below highlights.

Over a year ago we published an article highlighting the damage that diving is doing to the game. Unfortunately, since then next to nothing has been done to eradicate it from the sport and it is threatening to blight the game for years to come unless some preventitive action is taken. What that is remains the big question though, and nobody has yet dared to propose the radical solution that is required.

What do you think? Can you suggest something which might help prevent diving and simulation? Or could it be argued that it adds to the drama of a game, despite its unfair nature? As ever, let us know your thoughts.

July 16, 2010