Home > Football > Surely even Liverpool fans could see Torres was cheating!
Surely even Liverpool fans could see Torres was cheating!
It seems to be part of the modern game, diving and conning the referee, but isn't it time this behaviour was stamped on?
by Joe Baker on 20 February 2008
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Fernando Torres is an amazing footballer, a lethal finisher and one of the best strikers on the planet. However, last night also proved what many had previously already thought - he is also a ‘cheat’.
I know Liverpool fans are a proud lot, and they have every reason to be. The Merseyside club is one of the biggest in the world, but surely they cannot have been blind to the Spaniard's actions?
It would be easy for anyone to say “they all dive” or “what about Ronaldo?” Sometimes it's easier to play the pass-the-buck game, but let's get down to the brass tacks; Torres effectively got Marco Materazzi sent off, simple as that.
Yes Julio Cruz dived about twelve times in the game also, but two wrongs don’t make a right! I was under the impression that cheating officials was going to be stamped on, but it seems very rare for players to be booked for simulation. I am all for post-match video reviews of matches and incidents that could then punish offenders, because something needs to be done.
Comments (59)
by Colin Mallia on February 20, 2008
Torres is no cheat. The two fouls were indeed fouls because in both cases Materazzi impeded Torres. Having said that definitely not both fouls deserved a yellow card. But does a referee's mistake make a player being fouled a cheat? No!! The ref was not up to standard, both for the red card, and for the Viera hand's ball incident.
by stwe quinn on February 20, 2008
if you look at the two yellow cards, torres did not dive, he did not throw his body like a swimmer would, he got pulled twice, fell to his knees and was standing straight within 5 secs, so im afraid buddy that he did not dive and they were two bookable offenses, so he deserved to be sent off,
by Jas Liverpool on February 20, 2008
The sending off was harsh, BUT it wasn't Torres that made the ref book Materazzi twice. If you look on the replays there was contact, Torres went down NOT THEATRICALLY. It wasn't serious and he wasn't trying to get him sent off and they were free kicks so no he didnt cheat. Cheating is when you dive when there is NO contact aka Patrick Viera against Hamann a few seasons back. Not picking on Arsenal just trying to give you an example of what i perceive as genuine cheating No contact and rolling over the ground!
by Steve on February 20, 2008
I agree, Torres is no cheat. Both were fouls and both deserved a booking. If Torres went down a little soft (I'm not saying he did) then thats not cheating - tugging someones shirt is cheating, fouling him because Torres did him for pace is cheating. Deliberately handballing AKA Viera, is cheating. Yeat another poor article from a poor writer on a poor site. No doubt a bitter Everton 'fan'.
by . . on February 20, 2008
What a load of rubbish... torres was fouled... the two fouls did not warrant yellow cards (well the first one definately did not).. However its a bit rich coming from an arsenal fan considering Eboue is a not afraid to throw himself to ground!!
by Andy B on February 20, 2008
I Have to say, Last night was fantastic, We were sat in the Upper Annie Rd, atmosphere was great. Behind us were 3 Hungarian Inter Fans, We all looked at each other in disbeleif as the Red Card was raised. The 1st Torres foul was a faintest of brushes against the legs (Torres made a meal or that in my opinion) Materazzi then did 2 cynical fouls and was warned about them. Then the last foul Materazzi committed warrented his 1st yellow card or maybe the time befor should have been his 1st yellow with the latter being his final warning. I have to say I thought it was harsh. However Liverpool played pretty well in the 1st half, without ever troubling Inter. 2nd Leg totally different kettle of fish. We should be able to pick them off knowing they have to attack. A B
Well that sums it up. You want to talk about cheating and diving? Did you see the Adebayor dive on Saturday? I'd have sent him off for that - now that my 'armchair fan' friend, is cheating.
by Otto Olsen on February 20, 2008
He did not dive Materazzi pulled him and Torres did not spice it up by throving himself to the ground. Torres was faster and Materazzi was trying to cheat by pulling his shirt according to fotball rules pulling is not allowed so he got the yellow card fair! If you don't know the rules in football and want to be wrighting about fotball you should either learn the rules or don't wright about fotball. I whent in here becuase i saw the title but i'll not look at this webpage again, every time i go in here there is some rubish with a fanzy headline. It's always been a waiste of time reading your articles. So this will be my last words on this subject and on this waiste of internet space page (although the internet is limitless). Have a nice day and get a job at the sun.
by Rob A on February 20, 2008
All the comments posted are spot on with what happened. He didn't dive at all. It seems that only rival fans seem to be saying he dived. I wonder why? The one thing he shouldn't have done was to wiggle his two fingers towards the ref as Rafa did. Then again, it was obvious he should have received the second yellow as it was a booking.
by Jon En on February 20, 2008
Torres fell but I'm not sure he dived for the first one, maybe the second, as it didnt even look like there was contact. However the referee had a good position on both incidents and even if there was contact neither 'foul' was worth a booking, maybe the ref was a Zidane fan... ...and Materazzi had to remind the ref he had already been issued a yellow card earlier... that is sportsmanship and although he wont be commended for his honesty Materazzi should be.
by The knower of al things ....and LOADS more on February 20, 2008
I don't know why fans get upset at a player diving these days.Professional football has developed and taught these cheating skills for a long time now.Managers infer it and players are taught how to make challenges look foul.You only have to look at last weeks dive be Adebyour against Man Utd.There was no contact and he threw his arms up in the air flailingly and fell in agony.Remember Dida against Celtic? I mean how embarassing for the MAN.....but thats the problem there are no real MEN in football they're all still petulant boys going through puberty.Its no coincedence tht these players were the boys who grew up watching the best player in the world CHEAT,Maradona 86,the problem lies deep in the psyche of football with its origins in Catholocism and Italian football.
by Carl L on February 20, 2008
Materazzi and Inter got what they deserved. They committed plenty of deliberate fouls, countless handballs from Ibrahimovic and one in particular from vieira. Torres was fouled twice and you could argue about whether they were yellow cards or not, but you must remember that in European competition yellow cards are much more easier to come across than in the premier league. To the point, Torres was through on goal if he wasn't held back for the second yellow. End of chat
by Ian Stoppo on February 20, 2008
I agree with the comments of Colin Mallia. I was at the game and I thought, on both occasions, a foul was committed, the first probably more through clumsiness than intent, the second a definite foul as Torres was pulled back. However the first foul did not warrant a booking and I was amazed when the referee produced the card. The second was definitely a booking as he impeded Torres' progress, because the referee made an error with the first decision he was left with no option but to send him off. This was just the first in a number of crazy decisions all night by the referee, who I thought, had a poor game. Torres is not a diver as he has proved in the Premiership, when under very heavy clumsy challenges he has tried to stay on his feet.
by Michael Blankson on February 20, 2008
Iv been reading alot of these revies for a while now, most of the time thinking what the hell is this guy on.. Yes i enjoy the banter afterwards but sometimes you do seem to bring up crap!! This is how i saw the incident yesterday, 1st challenge was torres and Materazzi head to head, Torres gets the better of him and the foul is conceded. But that was not worth the yellow.. Torres did the rite thing by going down then cos he was the only player in a Liverpool shirt within 40yards of theyre half... As for the second incident, Torres once again, with his ridiculous pace, got the better of the Materazzi, and that in my opinion was worth the yellow.. He was clearly pulled back, and regardless of the other defenders around him he was heading for goal.. We all know how dangerous he can be, so i believe the ref payed that into consideration and produced the 2nd yellow... So this brings me to ask/explain.. How the heck can u call him a cheat?... Hes probably one of the only foreign players in the league that will always get up and try and commit himself to the ball even when hes taken down.. On numerous occasions i have seen him go down but hes immediately up and battling for the ball... That, to me, shows a player who is willing to play till the end and not give up by diving.. Hes an amazing athlete, with copious amounts of energy and does not need to go down and stay down, because 99% of the time he will beat the opposing player with pace... SO if the tables were turned and it happened to Carrager, by an attacker like Lionel Messi, who im ny opinion battles to the end regardless when hes taking down, then i would accept that our defender was beaten, but my questioning would go towards the ref's decision, and not the 'So called Cheating' of the attacker... Dont stir trouble and try and create a bad name for Torres, because he is a genuine player with a bright future.. Adios!!
by The knower of all things ....and LOADS more on February 20, 2008
There is not a footballer alive who has the skill and mental hardness/discipline to play the game by the RULES.
by Eamon Gavin on February 20, 2008
Why are the words cheat and diver enclosed in quotes. Do they have have some hidden meaning known only to Mr. Baker. Inter got what they deserved. They set out their stall from the start to stop Fernando at all costs. Now, Viera's "handball", put that in quote, put bells on it, dress it up any way you like and all it shows me is that the ref and his asst were the real cheats. You're not related to Mr. Moyes, the official town crier, are you , Mr. Baker?
by red on February 20, 2008
.. You whinging idiot
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