Diving in Football
I have been watching plenty of Champions League football over the last few weeks and months and most of it has been great. The Champions League brings the best clubs in Europe together to compete against each other for the biggest prize in club football and some of the talent on display is unbelievable at times.
Rooney, Ronaldo, Lampard, Gerrard, Buffon and Lionel Messi are just some of the superstars who regularly feature in the Champions League with their respective teams. The British club dominance of the Champions League in recent years has been excellent for British people, but for the neutral, it has made things a little stale. However, with the success of Barcelona last year, perhaps things are starting to change again.
As I mentioned earlier, the Champions League showcases some brilliant football and some memorable matches have been played out such as the Champions League Final of 2005 between Liverpool and AC Milan. However, something has become more and more prominent in European football over the years that is not good, and that is diving, or “simulation”as it is called these days.
This part of the game is incredibly annoying to see as players try to cheat the referees and their assistants by faking an injury or falling over and pretending to have been fouled. Personally, I believe culprits who may not have been caught by the referee but who have been caught by camera should face lengthy bans and pay large fines. A harsh punishment is an effective way to get rid of this annoying habit that is becoming all too common.
Whilst I don’t want to label certain countries as main offenders, there is no doubting that the clubs from mainland Europe dive far more than those clubs from England and Scandinavia. Even domestic club games in such leagues as the Serie A and Ligue 1 see a large amount of diving or very “soft”free kicks being given by the referee. It is a shame and needs to be stamped out soon.
I think I have a solution everyone will agree upon for what we should sort out for Gillian’s pre-wedding weekend. Who would be up for a unexpected trip and putting up a bit of income on some three valleys ski resort accomodations. I think that it will be a great way for her to start off married life!