Home > Football > Q. What do Chelsea's Drogba, Manchester United's Ronaldo and Liverpool's Gerrard and Torres have in common? A. They're all CHEATS
Q. What do Chelsea's Drogba, Manchester United's Ronaldo and Liverpool's Gerrard and Torres have in common? A. They're all CHEATS
Diving and feigning serious injury used to be just a horrible foreign anomaly, but it seems to have become just another part of the game in England. It's time we took a stand against those that love to take a tumble.
by Claire Bee on 24 April 2008
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There was a time when football was a matter of two teams of 11 men trying to stick the ball into the back of the opposition's net. It was a good, honest sport, and if the tackles started to fly around a little bit then that was just part and parcel of the game. Players got up and got on with it - at least in Britain anyway.
When we did have to play foreign teams or international matches, we were often left astounded at the blatant diving going on. Players would fall over in the most dramatic fashion at the slightest contact. If that didn't con the referee then they would stay down and fake an injury, effectively saying: "Look at me! I was so badly fouled that I can't even get up!"
The problem became so epidemic that the rules were changed to try to combat it. Players had to leave the field if they received treatment, the idea being that if faking an injury meant your team had to play with 10 men for a few minutes, fewer players would do it. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked.
Somewhere over the last 15 years or so, instead of being disgusted at players cheating we have come to not only expect it, but accept it. Indeed, in the media we hear not only an acceptance of the situation but an approval for it. "Was that a penalty, Jim?" "Well, there wasn't much contact but there was some so he was entitled to go down and ask the question, Bill".
Comments (24)
by Rob Hobson on April 24, 2008
Guess you never watched dirty Leeds in the 70s then, you ignorant sod. This is an article written by someone whose sole experience of the game is "the Premiership" and whose frame of reference is the analysis of Mark Lawrenson. If you think cheating is new, think again, 10-year-old.
by Dave Carr on April 24, 2008
I would like to add Michael Carrick to that list. At least three times last night he was caught in possession, Barca attacked and he threw himself to the floor without any contact and got the foul. Outrageous play acting
by LondonGooner on April 24, 2008
Good article in my opinion, I'm an Arsenal fan and have watched with morbid horror at players like Eboue plainly and without a care in the world embarrass themselves and everyone connected with the club with their antics. Players that are English ala gerrard and Rooney have dived many times and feigned injury Rooney at OT when Campbell dare went near him, Gerrard many, many time also, but the media will still pick on Eboue and Drogba as cheats but call Gerrard and Rooney "clever" If ever there was an oxymoron that was it! Ronaldo has had a magnificent season but has dived as often as in the past, but it is overlooked because of the rest of his game is flourishing the same. Biased press coverage and rose tinted views from fans will always allow this type of dreadful behaviour continue. Its shamefully embarrassing and needs to be cut out!
on April 24, 2008 on April 24, 2008
100% agree, unfortunately the antics brought over by the foreign imports is beginning to rub off on the English players to, I suppose its a case of if you cant beat them, join them! does make me laugh though watching these six foot plus powerhouses like Drogba and Adebayor falling about like frail old men and then crying like a baby wanting its bottle!
by Alex on April 24, 2008
completely agree, last night's game at the Nou Camp, especially first half, was punctuated every couple of minutes by someone falling over and winning a free kick. It is one of the main parts of Christiano Ronaldo's play which irkes me most, the fact he ahceives plaudits for 'cleverly' winning free kicks. It is cheating, plain and simple. If he had not gone down so easily for the second penalty claim, he may well have been 'actually' fouled and won one, or gone on to win the ball. The way of the game to play for penalties and free kicks rather than playing to score really gets to me.
Eto deserved a penalty even though he stayed on his feet, he was still fouled and if the ref had of give it, it may encourage players that they don't have to fall over just at the slightest touch!
100% agree
by Jaimie on April 24, 2008
Overseas players get the majority of stick but that's because of rampant Xenophobia in the media. Uk players are just as bad, and Gerrard is a major diver. Against Blackburn recently, he dived three times blatantly, and then had the gall to vehemently protest afterwards. He dived at Goodison park earlier on in the season and that led to a penalty. in that incident, he also moaned at the ref and got the player sent off. Gerrard also dived against Milan in CL Final to win the penalty. Of course, Gerrard fans will not accept it , but he is a major diver. I think Torres gets a bit of a bum rap though. Perhaps he goes down a little easy sometimes, but I don't think there's any real intent there. Most of the time, he fights hard to stay on his feet. The only time I would say he genuinely dived was in the CL game v Inter Milan at Anfield, where his dive got Materazzi sent off. That was out of order, even if Materazzi is an idiot...
by Jon Arnold on April 24, 2008
Defenders cheat equally as much as attackers - sneaky shirt tugs or 'accidental' barges when there's a counter attack in progress are par for the cause. Terry, Carragher, Gilberto, Makelele, pretty much the entire United outfield last night all give away niggly little fouls to stop he opposition attack. It goes both ways but defenders get commended for smart professional play whereas attackers get slated. Diving's always been with us and always will - there isn't a professional alive who wouldn't dive in the last minute of a cuup final if it meant a potential match winning penalty, even if they did managers and pundits would slate him for not being professional enogh.
by LFCfan on April 24, 2008
Sometimes, Fernando makes a meal of things in Europe, but why not if the refs are more generous? I admit, i feel slightly embarassed when he does, but I would hardly call it cheating if they are knocked off balance. In my opinion, John Terry was a disgusting when he purposely tried to hurt Torres, thats worse because there was clear intent.
by salten etazlic on April 24, 2008
ronaldo is a world beater but an outragous cheat. the dive against middlesbrough was typical of him, the replays showed the keeper never got near him, when confronted with the evidence his manager said the intention was there even though he hadn't touched him!!! the game is getting plagued with these divers. the people in the game are even trying to change the name of diving to "simulation" which just insults our intelligence abit more. THEY ARE DIRTY FOOKIN CHEATS AND NOTHING ELSE.
by Dave Griffiths on April 24, 2008
I agree that dirty play is in no way a NEW concept in the top or lower divisions. Leeds, Liverpool, Man U, Spurs etc. have all had their fair share of dirty players, but they didn't act like they were auditioning for the next remake of a war epic. C'mon is it only the viewing millions that can see their antics, surely the FA should set up a "CHEATING DIVING THROW YOURSELF ON THE FLOOR AND ACT LIKE A BIG GIRLIE BLOUSE COMMISION" to view these idiots after the fact. yes it would be a full time job, but something needs to be done. Can I just add one thing that i know i will be berated and shouted down for saying from Glasgow to Portsmouth. I happened to stumble upon a game on satellite between Arsenal and Liverpool where every ball was contested, the pace of the game was breathtaking, it was played with passion and determination and although the tackles were flying in from the first to the last minute, not one player rolled about in agony or tried to get the attacking player booked. they got tackled, they got up and got on with the game. Not one player was booked in the 90 mins, it was a joy to watch as all the players just wanted to play football. Oh did i mention....it was womens football!!! NUFF SAID. Just one message to all those male chauvinist biggots that are readying their typing finger to reply to this comment, get your head out of your backside, watch a game of womens football, then post your reply.
by onabanjo adedeji on April 25, 2008
i love chelsea
on April 25, 2008 on April 25, 2008
100% agree. they should have a panel to review the game post match and look for divers. if the dive resulted in a card or free kick the person should be suspended or heavily fined . i think that would stop once and for all
I agree that dirty play is in no way a NEW concept in the top or lower divisions. Leeds, Liverpool, Man U, Spurs etc. have all had their fair share of dirty players, but they didn't act like they were auditioning for the next remake of a war epic. C'mon is it only the viewing millions that can see their antics, surely the FA should set up a "CHEATING DIVING THROW YOURSELF ON THE FLOOR AND ACT LIKE A BIG GIRLIE BLOUSE COMMISION" to view these idiots after the fact. yes it would be a full time job, but something needs to be done. Can I just add one thing that i know i will be berated and shouted down for saying from Glasgow to Portsmouth. I happened to stumble upon a game on satellite between Arsenal and Liverpool where every ball was contested, the pace of the game was breathtaking, it was played with passion and determination and although the tackles were flying in from the first to the last minute, not one player rolled about in agony or tried to get the attacking player booked. they got tackled, they got up and got on with the game. Not one player was booked in the 90 mins, it was a joy to watch as all the players just wanted to play football. Oh did i mention....it was womens football!!! NUFF SAID. Just one message to all those male chauvinist biggots that are readying their typing finger to reply to this comment, get your head out of your backside, watch a game of womens football, then post your reply.
by Kunal Pradhan on April 25, 2008
if ever there was an exhibition of fine theatrics, it was drogba against liverpool in cl semi final. he went down more times in one evening than a cheap prostitute in Bangkok...nuff said
by ugochukwu okpara on April 25, 2008
They styles of playing football
by ian on April 25, 2008
As a Liverpool fan I have to admit Gerrard is prone to a dive or two, but as for Torres, as was said by someone above, he tries his best to stay on his feet when he feels he can keep the ball, if he has been fouled and will lose the ball, he simply goes to ground unthreatrically, to justify the refs descision. I'm not saying this is the right thing to do, but in this day and age, its the only way to get round it. Drogba however, is leaps and bounds ahead of any other premiership player, Ronaldo included. For me, its not so much how he goes down like he's been shot every time he gets the ball, but its times like in the CL semi when he throws himself into an opponent, and just before making contact, leaps off the ground, and so when the two collide, his arms go flailing around in the air and he receives the free kick. It actually sickens me. I'd love to know how he feels when he watches himself on match of the day. What sickens me even more is he must get a kick out of it, otherwise he would stop. The guy has so much passion for winning, but if he wasnt such an increadible twat he could be a great player, even in the minds of rival fans.
by lestat legolas on April 25, 2008
i agree with the article completely... but i think tht alll the players tht do this shud be punishedd... not only a chosen few tht we tag as foreigners... like drogba and eboue... if ppl like gerreard and ronaldo follow the same tactics they shud be reffered to as wat they trully r and tht is CHEATS!!!
by dave damptash on April 25, 2008
get me a job as kit man, i'd love to wash all those horrible sweaty shorts!
by houzmah golaup on April 25, 2008
i love steven gerrard!!
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