Diving, Acting & Faking It

So, as the World Cup is in full flow, yet these so called “professionals” still choose to dive, act & fake injuries in order to gain possession or just to get an opponent sent off.
It all is “part of the game” according to Patrick Vieira. Lee Dixon (all credit to him) says something needs to be done to clamp it down as it is wrecking the game. Youngsters will only copy their “idols” whether they do fancy tricks or a fancy dramatic dive.
A classic example is when a player is “apparently” fouled; he rolls & rolls & rolls & rolls & rolls, then lies there in agony clutching his shin pads, while waving an imaginary red/yellow card at the ref!!! Talk about being multi-talented!

I cannot believe that in this day & age that nothing is being done about it. Referees, FIFA and even the player’s fans and clubs turn a blind eye. Though, to be fair on the Refs, they do have a hard enough job as it is and have started to clamp down and even booking divers in the penalty area. To think that the pitches are caked with cameras it does make one wonder “Why???” The evidence is played on YouTube for all to see.
I mean, Brazil's Neymar is supposed to be the “New Pele”. Ok, Neymar is hugely talented with the ball, but he is also hugely talented at conning the referees and getting away with it. Click here for his top 5 dives (yes really).

I will let you decide.

Am I be being unfair on this one player? I think not. There are plenty of them out there. For example German player Thomas Mueller yesterday “made a meal” of it when Portuguese player Pepe “hit” him on the chin early on in the game. This resulted Pepe being sent off for retaliation. The Germans won the game 4-0. As you do.

I could go on & on, but football is supposed to be a “beautiful game” and it just boils my blood more & more as these players get paid even more & more yet still do it. What’s wrong with the good old-fashioned kick about with jumpers for goal posts? I mean, I don’t ever recall myself or my friends or even my younger brother trying to dive whilst having game of footy. And when we did, it was for piss-taking purposes only!

Despite all this, football has progressed more & more over the last ten, fifteen years or so, especially within the smaller/minor countries that take part in these major tournaments. Though these countries do rely on “foreign” coaches/managers etc. All these modern advancements in science, nutrition, training, psychology, footwear has made the game much faster and sweeter to watch (if you subtract the play-acting that is!). And at least goal line technology has been introduced for the first time in this World Cup: if only we had it 4 years ago! Maybe we might have beaten the Germans, then gone on to win the cup?

And I love that “disappearing spray” the Refs use!

So what should be done with these players actors? Should they be shot? Should they be banned for life? Or should they be forced to play Sunday League Football, for life?

I would choose the latter.

On the plus side our strawberries are growing nicely, despite not being quite red yet and Kasabian’s new 48:13 album is just awesome!