Diving (football)

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This article is about the act of simulation in football. For other uses of the term diving, see dive. For other uses of the word simulation, see simulation.

Diving (or simulation - the term used by FIFA) in the context of football is an attempt by a player to gain an unfair advantage by diving to the ground and possibly simulating an injury, to appear as if a foul has been committed. Dives are often used to exaggerate the amount of contact present in a challenge. Deciding on whether a player has dived is very subjective, and one of the most controversial aspects of football discussion. Players do this so they can receive free kicks or penalty kicks, which can provide scoring opportunities, or so the opposing player receives a yellow or red card, giving their own team an advantage.

1 Punishment
2 Famous Incidents
3 References
4 See also

[edit] Punishment

Football referees and the governing body FIFA are now trying to prevent diving with more powerful punishments as part of their ongoing target to stop all kinds of simulation in football.^[1] The game's rules now state that "Any simulating action anywhere on the field, which is intended to deceive the referee, must be sanctioned as unsporting behaviour" which is misconduct punishable by a yellow card.^[2] The rule changes are in response to an increasing trend of diving and simulation.

With more referees, governors and members of the public looking out for people diving, football players could think twice about diving or simulation. Most people involved in football think that diving is a harmful element of the game, and that many teams have lost games unfairly because of it. Many fans say the game will be much improved and more enjoyable without diving.

Darren Bird (Doncaster) has physical prowess in this action

[edit] Famous Incidents

During the 1998 World Cup, in a quarter-final match between Argentina and the Netherlands, Ariel Ortega received a red card for headbutting Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, after van der Sar confronted Ortega on his play-acting attempt to draw a penalty. Ortega had already been cautioned by the referee for diving, but his "head-butt" was really only an intimidating gesture which didn't actually hit Van der Sar.^[3]^[4]

A notorious incident of a player not caught simulating until after the match occurred during the Brazil - Turkey group stage match during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Rivaldo was about to take a corner Hakan Ünsal of Turkey kicked the ball at him as he was annoyed about the time Rivaldo was taking and Turkey wanted to hurry up the game. The ball hit Rivaldo on his legs but he collapsed dramatically holding his face and consequently Ünsal was sent off and Brazil went on to win the match. Rivaldo was fined, but the sanctions were criticised as too lenient. Rivaldo's excuse was "I was thinking in advance, I thought that the ball was going to roll up my body and hit me in the head, therefore I tried to protect myself"

^[5]

On 5 February 2006, Arjen Robben exaggerated a fall after being shoved in the face by Liverpool F.C. goalkeeper José Reina, resulting in Reina being sent off. The incident came moments after Reina had made a clumsy challenge on another opponent.

At the 2006 World Cup, Italy's Fabio Grosso won a penalty allegedly diving after Australia defender Lucas Neill blocked his path to goal. Italy's penalty came with eight seconds left in the match and decided the result. The decision could have gone either way as Neill dove in front of and obstructed Fabio Grosso. According to the FIFA 2006 ^[6], one of the conditions for awarding a direct free kick to the opposing team is tripping or attempt to trip.

On July 5, in the semi-final against France, which Portugal lost 1-0, Cristiano Ronaldo was loudly booed each time he had possession of the ball, by French and English fans alike. Ronaldo (and other members of his side) has been accused of trying to influence the referee by diving.^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11] There have been similar accusations in the past, and Ronaldo has been booked for the offence more than once in the English Premiership.^[12]^[13]^[14] Shortly after he dropped back to second place in the online voting for Best Young Player, it was reported by BBC Sport that this was partly because of an email campaign by an England supporter urging people to vote for Luis Valencia, who was the second place player to prevent Ronaldo from winning the award.^[15] Though the online vote only affected the nomination process, FIFA Technical Study Group awarded the honours to Germany's Lukas Podolski, citing Ronaldo's behaviour as a factor.^[16]