I think we can all agree that diving is a big turnoff, and a contributing reason that soccer hasn’t really caught on in the U.S. But as fake fouls go, you have to admit that Arsenal’s Eduardo took it to the top level in a Champions League game against Celtic last week.
Somehow, Eduardo got the ref to buy it when he flopped near the goal while being challenged by Celtic keeper Artur Boruc. Of course, Boruc threw a royal fit, because he clearly didn’t touch anyone. (Video below). But here’s a surprise: The UEFA has retroactively banned Eduardo for two games for the trickery.
This of course has opened a giant can of — um, what do they eat from cans in Europe? Almost no one is happy with the ruling. I have my opinion on that, but first, let’s go to the dive itself. I think you’ll agree that it’s sublime:
John Ley of THE TELEGRAPH shall represent the overwhelming disagreement with the ruling. Excerpt:
And, if the retrospective manner of their charge and suspension continues, what next? Every club who feels aggrieved over a costly defeat in Europe will be scanning every video recording, TV show — even fans’ phone video shots — to find a sly foul, dive or even illegal throw-in.
I would not be surprised if a club that feels hard done by actually ask their supporters if they have any proof on their phone that so-and-so kicked you-know-who off the ball.
Because I’m not capable of running 90 feet without making a sharp turn to the left, I’m no good at soccer. But it seems to me that what you have here is the world’s most popular sport — and because it’s played everywhere, you’re going to have different interpretations of what’s really blatant cheating and what isn’t.
(Down goes Eduardo! Oh, the humanity!)
This especially goes for the top squads in Europe, which are real melting pots. In Eduardo’s old Rio de Janeiro neighborhood a dive like that might have been heroic; who knows? Even if they make tougher rules, how are they enforceable? Do you go to an instant replay system? Or as in this case, do you go back and look at every controversial play in every match? There are always going to be those practiced actors who simply get away with it.
It’s been happening since the ancient Aztecs kicked about the heads of their vanquished opponents for sport. If someone really wanted to do something about it, it would have happened by now.
7:27 pm on September 2nd, 2009
The head of UEFA (Michael Platini) has an issue with Arsenal which most likely resorted in this suspension. He does not like Arsenal because they find young talent from around the world & turns them into superstars. But he rather see Real Madrid or ManUre spend Millions & are in debt be successful that way. He is French….nuff said.
7:35 pm on September 2nd, 2009
any articles you can point me to which reflect that theory? I don’t doubt it, just want to read more about it
1:15 am on September 3rd, 2009
Greg Louganis never made a dive so perfect! Fans, this is another reason soccer has a serious challenge taking hold in America - not exclusively, but another nail in the coffin.
3:12 am on September 3rd, 2009
Granted my being an Arsenal fan makes me hopelessly biased, but I’m totally with Wenger here. Eduardo’s dive was fairly blatant, but it was no worse than any of several dozen more that will occur that will be wrongly called by referees this year, most of which will be forgotten soon after. I wouldn’t be against limited video replay, as long as it only applies when goals or serious injuries are at stake, but even then there are so many factors involved that slow motion might not solve anything. For example, can you always tell the difference between a trip and a dive? If a player anticipates contact and jumps before falling, can you distinguish that from a dive? What if a player gets a small knock and goes down instinctively; should he be punished if it’s not a serious injury? (Remember that when you’re running and full of adrenaline, it’s not exactly easy to tell when a knock is minor or severe. Your brain just registers “SHOOTING PAIN!” and sends you down to evaluate the situation further, which is why players sometimes seem to crumple under the lightest touches). So for the most part, diving should be left for referees on the field to decide anyway. There’s just too much gray area.
9:13 am on September 3rd, 2009
Celtic are garbage anyway… MON THE GERS!!!!!!!!
4:19 pm on September 3rd, 2009
He dove, it’s obvious. You dive, you sit out a couple games, seems reasonable enough. But Celtic lost 1-5 on aggregate, the aren’t victims, the dive/penalty made no difference in who advanced and who didn’t.