Referees to act on 'diving'

FIFA has told its top referees that simulation – commonly known as “diving” – is damaging the image of the sport and must be stamped out at this World Cup.

But referees say the onus is not just on referees to spot cheating but on players to stop it.

“Diving can stop,” Yuichi Nishimura, Japan’s top referee, told The World Game.

“Football is a gentleman’s sport. If gentleman forget that then the sporting spirit it is broken. Who breaks football? It is the responsibility of the player.”

Howard Webb, one of UEFA and the Premier League’s top match officials, said that FIFA wants referees to protect the image of the game and that matches at the upcoming World Cup should not be won by cheating.

“Some of the messages from FIFA are about referees being strong on things that damage the image of the game,” Webb said.

“People don’t want to see games won by somebody cheating. It is simple as that. It turns people off football. That is where we all have a responsibility to protect the image of the game.

“We then also protect the players as well in the terms of serious fouls and tackles. They are the two key areas: protecting players, the skilful players, the ones who want to play properly, and protecting the image of the game, the game that is shown around the world. Football has a unique place as the number one sport in the world.”

Webb said that diving is a problem that everyone on football must take responsibility as it is difficult for referees to control the disease on their own.

“Players have a big responsibility in the area,” he said.

“I think it is a problem that all of us in the game have a responsibility to deal with, from a refereeing point of view and a player’s point of view.

“We have to keep working hard to consistently and strongly punish it when we identify it. It is not always easy to identify it but that is when the players come in as well. No one wants to see it.”


http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/2010-world-cup/news/1006685/Referees-to-act-on-diving