26 Aug 2009

FOOTBALL CHEATS: No 1 - Eduardo (Arsenal v Celtic - 2009)

In this new series, I'll be highlighting blatant cheating in football, whether it's diving, feigning injury or any other dubious method of gaining an unfair advantage. The naming and shaming of cheats does happen enough in the sycophantic mainstream media, which is more concerned with putting players on pedestals than telling the truth. I'll kick off the series with Eduardo's shameful dive against Celtic tonight in the Champions League.

The footage is not the greatest but there's no doubt in my mind that this is a dive:



Disgraceful. Eduardo is a top player - there was no need for him to dive.


No player in any team in world football will be exempt from being named and shamed in this series, and that includes Liverpool players.

You can get involved - if you come across any video footage of any form of cheating, please send me the link and I'll add it to the site as part of the series. historical incidents can also be included, so please send in any clips you come across, past or present, to the following address: editor@liverpool-kop.com

Please include any comments you may have about the incident and I'll include your views in the article that goes with the video.

There is never any excuse for cheating, and the preening, overpaid primadonnas who do it on a regular basis should be condemned in the harshest way possible.

The integrity of modern football is in the gutter - it's time for football fans to take action and show how much this shameful behaviour is truly despised.

NB. Dives will be added to the site as and when they happen. By starting with Eduardo, I am not suggesting that his is the worst ever (!)

If you leave a comment below, please refrain from personal insults against players. Such posts will be deleted.


93 comments:

  1. You should really worry about your own team. To be fair, if I was a Liverpool fan, I would be watching Arsenal games too ;)

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  2. I wouldnt dream of bringing up Gerrard's Penalty record

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  3. A dive yes, I agree. But coming from someone who watches Steven Gerrard throw himself around all over the place week after week it's a bit fucking rich coming from you mugs.

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  4. Diving is a problem for every club, which is why I'm not just focusing on Liverpool.  And I have highlighted Liverpool players diving many times, including Steven Gerrard, as evidenced in this article here:

    GERRARD DIVING

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  5. A dive yes, I agree. But coming from a Liverpool supporter who watches Gerrard throw himself all over the place week in week out I think you should look a little closer to home first. Mug.

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  6. oh yh! den wha bout gerrard diving against atletico madrid. wasnt dat a dive or were u 2 stupid! luk at ur own team b4 u start pickin on others!

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  7. Gerrard dives sometimes, I agree, and if he does it again, I will highlight it in the same way.

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  8. I'm sure Stevie G will be proud to have a gallery of dives all to himself.  I look forward to seeing you add them through the season!

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  9. Will you feature our own Steven Gerrard, too, Jaimie? And it the order in which you present the cheaters random or do you think Eduardo is the worst of them all?

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  10. No2 dive what about Ryan Babel, Champions League. Thought you would get that one straight away. Or is it just another typical piece of selective memory?

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  11. Very surprising.  Of all of our players Eduardo is the last one that I would have expected to cheat.  That was the first time I have ever seen him dive, fake injury or even complain to a ref.  That is why I was certain it was a penalty until I saw the replay.

    It just goes to show that even the most honorable players are willing to dive. Maybe the mindset is that if I don't do it and everyone else does, I am then putting my team at a disadvantage.  I hate the mindset of "if you're not cheating, you're not trying".

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  12. Great. I look forward to the coverage of Gerrard's umpteenth dive of the season.

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  13. talking abt eduardo...see gerrad dive around all d time...heh :) ....wht happened in d mid-week against villa i hear 3-1... :)

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  14. Our boy Gerrard loves to dive and beat defenceless people up

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  15. Are you going to include steven gerrard, ryan babel and fernando torres in there then????

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  16. I'm a lifelong Gooner and this looked like a dive. Pires used to do it quite often. I think there should be some kind of retrospective punishment for divers. No place for it in football in my opinion - even if you're Italian.

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  17. Remember when Ryan Babel's dive cost Arsenal a trip to the champion's league semi finals?

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  18. you should have started with ryan babel against arsenal!!!

    Football cheats: No 1 - Ryan Babel (Arsenal v Liverpool)

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  19. I cant believe that I am going to bookmark a Liverpool FC website but I am going to have to come back and check your claim not to exclude your very own somersault with pike expert Mr Gerrard - I am amazed that this comes up now but then you have to distract yourself from your own teams inept start to the season aomehow I suppose

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  20. Yes, I will feature Steven Gerrard, or any other Liverpool player who dives.  There's no room for personal bias when it comes to cheating.  I've already raised the issue of Gerrard diving in an earlier article anyway:

    GERRARD DIVING


    and yes, the it will be random.  I don't think Eduardo's is the worst, I just started with him.  Thanks for raising that issue, I've amended the article accordingly.

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  21. yep, eduardo did dive and it left a sour taste in my mouth as an arsenal fan.

    there are hundreds of video depicting this certain great player diving. but i can only copy and paste so much...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GKXAKQY-0Y
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXlXYl2p7Xw&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzc5Yaetlc0

    Hope it helps... 8-)

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  22. Lots of top players around the world dive, your captain is one of them. Britain is the only place where it is seen as such a heinous crime. Places like Italy encourage it and call it clever play.

    Get over it. It was one moment of madness in a tie that was already won. I wonder will you highlight your almighty captain's diving? I think not.

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  23. You're all raising examples of dives - find the videos, send me the link and I will add them to the site!

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  24. two words.. Fernando Torres.. champion diver.. u fcking kop.. enjoy Europa league nx season.. cunts

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  25. you will need a whole new space for the amount stevie g dives

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  26. Gerrard against Sheffield Utd..

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  27. The difference between Eduardo and Gerrard is that Gerrard has repeatedly dived over the years, Eduardo hasn't. How you can highlight Eduardo after doing it only once baffles me.

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  28. Actually, yes I will.  And I have already in this article:

    STEVEN GERRARD DIVING

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  29. You are talking sense. As far as I know fouls can be punished retrospectively if they were not punished during the match (no upgrade from yellow to red possible) so it should at least be possible to give players yellow cards and hefty fines, but at the end of the day you will always have those 50-50 incidents where it isn't clear. True sportsmanship has died a long time ago.

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  30. I got INVOLVED - hers a few to start you off  - lets hear your analysis on these then Mr seeker of truth and justice - or is that the fat Ginger Scouser who supports the Toffees on TalkSh1te Radio - apologies for the insult

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVb2gbMtN3I
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GKXAKQY-0Y
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwfgbHOZHE0

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  31. make sure you stick Babel (CL qtr final @ the emirates) and gerrard on your list

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  32. Come on, Chris - whether someone does it once or repeatedly makes no difference; diving is diving, end of story.
    Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:27:37 -0700
    To: editor@liverpool-kop.com
    From: js-kit-m2c-1HN7V1URS4IRKRV3QIO6TCO2FRQ2A4H0I723D923RVN06C204BSG@reply.js-kit.com
    Subject: Reply to your comment...

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  33. Come on, Chris - whether someone does it once or repeatedly makes no difference; diving is diving, end of story.

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  34. Please drop the text speak - further text speak comments will be deleted.  Sorry, it bugs the hell out of me :-P

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  35. we all forget that liverpool are the last bastion of great sportsmanship! i cannot count how many times foul play and trickery has got them goals over recent seasons, if not a penalty, a free kick from an excellent position! it amazes me how more is being made of this dive than when the guy had his ankle snapped! i agree it was a dive thou! however more people do it on a more regular basis! besides i suppose celtic fans shining laser pens into his eyes can be forgiven? 

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  36. WOW ARSENAL HAVE A FULL TEAM FOR THE NEXT OLYMPICS AND BY THEN THEY SHOULD ALSO HAVE TOM DALEY.

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  37. Funny reading all this. Remember how Kuyt fouled Hleb in the box a few seasons ago and the ref overlooked it only to go to the other end and give a penalty for Babel diving. Now Gerrarg is te master. Talk about your players before looking at others.

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  38. oh was it eduardo... for a moment there it just looked like a stereotypical Gerrard dive

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  39. nono it was tom daley.

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  40. For the hundredth time - I've already criticised Gerarrd many times for diving.  Evidence:

    --->> Article about GERRARD DIVING

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  41. arsenals new striker    (.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2xozJDKbyY)

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  42. Totally agree.  There should be retrospective action against cheats.  I don't see the argument against it - the truth is, football authorities are too afraid lest they alienate footballers and give the game a bad name.  The fact tha cheating might stop if there was severe action taken (combined with highly publicised naming and shaming) doesn't seem to register with the bureaucrats at the FA, UEFA and FIFA.

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  43. I must confess Eduardo certainly dived but I find all this very rich coming from a Liverpool perspective as Steven Gerrard is one of the more notorious players in the premiership for diving, and generally getting away with it.

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  44. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2xozJDKbyY

    arsenals new striker.

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  45. Once is a mistake, repeating the offence knowingly cheating and not caring to gain an advantage. I just take objection to you highlighting a guy who has done this once, whereas there are far bigger divers in the game eg. Drogba, Ronaldo etc

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  46. why dont you put up Babel's dive, two years ago in the champions league//

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  47. I must admit Eduardo certainly dived but I do find this very rich coming from a Liverpool perspective, especially as Steven Gerrrard is one of the more notorious players in the Premiership for diving, and generally getting away with it.

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  48. Cheats?????  That's RICH considering Babel's dive two years ago in the Champions League.  Arsenal play attractive football and deserved to win regardless, Liverpool don't....so you should SHUT IT

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  49. Find the video, send me the link and I will include Babel's dive in this series.

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  50. I like what you are doing with your efforts at shaming cheaters. I hope that one day the governing bodies will choose to suspend players for diving to earn a penalty based upon video evidence.  IMO this will put an end to it.

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  51. you sir are
    a fair man, give you that

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  52. I agree Glenn.  Cheating has been going on for years and the powers that be need to take action.  Their apathy and procrastination over the issue just makes things worse.

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  53. here is one, alonso trying out for long jump
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W75xQMTyU24&feature=related

    here is the babel dive
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkgvzbYf_Og

    i reckon there is no point posting bout your cheating skipper

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  54. Jaimie...I apologize for us Gooners who are providing knee-jerk reactions to your article.  I think most of us are just as peeved as you when we see one of our own dive.  Most people don't know this, but the reason that us fans first turned on Eboue was the fact that he dives, feigns injury and complains all the time to the ref.  All of us were so mad at him (and embarassed by him) that it just took some bad playing form on his part for us to boo one of our own.

    That being said, Babel not only dove but he started his dive outside the box.  I am still angry about that semi-final.  

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  55. I think the Alonso one is debatable - it's not clear-cut and I doubt he intended to dive.  Only cynical, blatant, premeditated dives will be included in the series. The Babel one on the other hand looks like a proper dive.

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  56. No sweat, Glenn. It's only to be expected.  Cheating is a highly emotive issue.  I posted that Gerrard article a year and a half ago and I'm still being called a traitor to this day!

    I agree with you re the Babel dive, and I'll include that in the series.

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  57. The funny thing is that I am much more angry (still to this day...we should all get lives, shouldn't we?) about the lack of a call on Kuyt against Hleb in the first leg.  That was one of the easiest penalty calls I have ever seen.  And by rule Kuyt should have been sent off.  Whereas the Babel dive fooled the ref who did show courage, the only reason the ref couldn't/wouldn't call the Kuyt penalty was that he did not have the courage to display a red, which he would have been required to do if he called the penalty.

    BTW, which game did you like better?  6-1 at Goodison Park or 7-0 at Highbury?

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  58. This coming from a team that has Gerrard, Babel, Torres as prima donna divers.

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  59. As I've said already, dives by Liverpool players will also be highlighted.  And as I've proved several times on this thread, I have, in fact, written an article about Gerrard's diving in the past.

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  60. pal, lets be fair this was totally disgrace by him. we all know how honest eduardo is but he has putting his name in shameful players like ronaldo, drogba and SG indeed. shameful player to be honest. 

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  61. Makes up for having the shit kicked out of us last week at Celtic Park

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  62. Who made you judge and jury on who did and who didn't deliberately dive, fool?

    I'm sure FIFA, UEFA, the Premier League and the FA, to name but a few, are delighted by your efforts and scrambling for a pencil and notebook.

    By the way, I *am* a Red before you start sending out the "you're a manc troll" nonsense.

    Get a grip, lad and get on with something more productive.

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  63. I couldn't care less what people think about this series - I'm still going to run it.  And I'm not doing it as some attempt at gaining the attention of football's governing bodies; I'm just a fan who - like many people - is unbelievably frustrated at how cheats are runing the game.

    if you don't lke it, tough.  You can always choose to not visit the site.

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  64. Anyone who says this isnt a dive needs there eyes fucking checked
    eduardo is a disgrace no need for cheating
    (Arsenal Fan)

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  65. So very sad when a top player resorts to blatant cheating and is then supported by his manager. Dreadful example to all. The football authorities should develop some backbone and take retrospective action in such obvious cases of obuse

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  66. It does'nt matter who it is or what team; it's time they were shown up for the cheats that they are. They should be carded and 2nd time a game suspension

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  67. That wasn't so clear! I am not defending Babel, but there did seem to be a shove from Toure and Babel chose to make the best of it I suppose... 
     
    When there is a foul, and you go down, it's not a dive. It's just morally not-so-high, while being legal. Going down when there is no contact is diving. 
     
    Enough about that Champions League match already... it's been years and I can't believe Arsenal fans are still sore about it :-P We've had our share of unfair results too.

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  68. That wasn't so clear! I am not defending Babel, but there did seem to be a shove from Toure and Babel chose to make the best of it I suppose...

    When there is a foul, and you go down, it's not a dive. It's just morally not-so-high, while being legal. Going down when there is no contact is diving.

    Enough about that Champions League match already... it's been years and I can't believe Arsenal fans are still sore about it :-P We've had our share of unfair results too.

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  69. C'mon, Jaimie, you can do with a better video than that. I found this from RoM. 
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txfbXpozBpo

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  70. Thanks, Bikram.  I've replaced it.  At the time I posted the article, that was the only video available.

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  71. Can nominate Vidic for punching Wigan forward Rodallega in the gub? It was seriously played down on MOTD but I can assure you a back fist (which is what Vidic hit him with) glancing off the side of your jaw will bloody well hurt.

    It's also maybe 6 months too late but Pedersens dive from last season was just legendary!

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  72. I'm a Liverpool fan....and those comments about Stevie G are unfortunately true !!! :(

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  73. Last night dive was pathetic...
    I Expected more from Eduardo.

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  74. The powers of UEFA/FIFA will surely stamp down on this just AFTER they have decided to use some technique to show that the ball crossed the line, ha!

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  75. Thanks for that Jaimie. I wanted to comment on hardhitman's poor English, but though I may end up being abusive. May I suggest to put "no text-speak" into your comment policy.

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  76. Maybe the problem is that to hand out retrospective bans those at the football governing bodies would actually have to watch some games. It always upsets me when I watch any random game and players keep diving and falling over. Surely if those suits would watch them games, too, they would feel the same and take imediate action. Thought Platini wanted to eradicate all the wrongs in our game. He should start there.

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  77. Unbelievable.... anyone who doesnt think that was a blatant dive has bias glasses on....
    I think for a team of Arsenals apparent quality... to beat Celtic in the 1st leg with an awful deflection and an own-goal... was pretty poor... but to utterly shatter any hopes of overturning it with such an obvious dive is nothing short of a scandal.
    Ive no complaint about the final 2 Arsenal goals... but by that time Celtic knew they were beaten.

    Eduardo should be forever shamed for that.

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  78. Back in 2005 I was watching the CL final, just like every other Liverpool supporter. I watched the match in a pub withc say 30 or 40 others, who were all neutral so I was the only genuine Liverpool supporter. When Gerrard got that penalty for us, I pointed out that it didn't look like a foul to me and that I thought he took a dive. I remember it to this day and it still amazes me how all those strangers watching the game with me claimed that it actually was a foul. Guess they don't like the Italian clubs too much round here.

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  79. Maybe Alonso took a dive there, but the Arsenal player should have been sent off because he slid in, studs first and foot at about the right hight to break Alonso's lower leg. I would say that the Arsenal player tried to severely injure an opponent player, intentionally off course.

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  80. I agree - Gerrard clearly dived in the CL final.  That's the trick these days; wait till you're in the box, and go down as soon as a plyer is close enough to you. There was probably slight contact but Gerrard threwn himself down, knowing that he would get a penalty.

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  81. Seriously! This is the joke of the century! This wasn't even as blatant a dive as some of Steven Gerrard's dives in the past. This is the guy's first and you all feel Gerrard's reputation as a diver is under threat. Man, I seriously held my stomach from falling apart because I laughed so much at this website. You all dedicated a website to find two incidents in the past where Arsenal have cheated. Even a public website like Youtube would have 5 pages on Liverpool cheating. Seriously man, there's no one better than you at making people laugh. I have bookmarked your website especially for this reason!

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  82. Likewise, Boruc coming on to injure a player who has previously and undeservingly been out of action for more than a year. Don't give a shitty reason when you don't have a cause. Reds fans are absolutely a disgrace. You all walk together in shame.

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  83. typically ridiculous nonsense from Britain as usual. If this had been rooney diving to win a penalty celtic would have kept their traps shut. But, no, its a foreigner so lets have a racist night out shall we. I love the way racists try to be logical. Lets, put together a video and show folks what a bad boy eddie is. Soccer, is FULL OF CHEATS, DIVES, BRIBES CORRUPTION. So why all the fuss now? Just hypocrisy and racism rearing its ugly head, just like the Obama haters in the USA.

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  84. Hi Jamie I picked this up from a link an an Arsenal site, if this was any other blog I would have had a go and told you to put up links of Gerrard diving. However Iv been here a few times, know full well that your completely unbiased and really like this site. Im shocked that you get so much stick on here. I always find in depth analysis and balanced opinions like yours far more interesting reading than the vague and biased comfort writing I find on most blogs (including Arsenal ones), keep it up.

    On the Eduardo dive I didnt even celebrate the penalty, I was really shocked to see it from him and have lost a bit of respect, but I still think he's been victimised. I actually think this is a bit hasty at first, but will give you the benefit of the doubt. Ill definitly keep reading this, Im sure you'll do a good job analysing Lucas's attempts to stop Rosicky and Arshavin at the emirates this December :-D .

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  85. Hey Marco - thanks for the kind words about the site.  I agree with you to an extent about Eduardo being victimised; there's probably an element of latent Xenophobia in the overall reaction (not from me though - I attack divers of all nationalities!)

    I really like Eduardo as a player too - let's just hope this is a one-off aberration.

    Lucas vs Arshavin and Rosicky?  Could you get a more tragic mismatch?  I'm still gutted Arshavin is at Arsenal and not Liverpool.

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  86. I agree to an extent, Andy.  The british press always demonise overseas players far more than british players; you just have to look at Drogba and Ronaldo vs Gerrard when it comes to diving; The press ignore Gerrard but fall over themselves to attack the other two.

    Having said that, not everyone is racist or xenophobic.  Cheating is cheating, and I want to highlight it irespective of nationality.

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  87. I cannot understand all the fuss about Eduardo's diving to cheat. After all Ronaldo for Man U and Drogba for Chelsea have been doing this for several seasons and nobody made a fuss about that.

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  88. Thats the biggest load of nonsense Ive heard...
    "Lets have a Racist night out..." get a grip mate.
    It wouldnt have made a difference if it was Rooney, Gerrard or anyone else for that matter. Cheating is cheating, and thats all the matter is. Some serious paranoia on ur part just because Eduardo is foreign. It doesnt make a single bit of difference. Half the Celtic squad is non-uk.

    So cheers Andrew for managing to deflct another genuine complaint about a footballers behaviour and turn it into a racist conversation. Muppet.

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  89. Thats the biggest load of nonsense Ive heard... 
    "Lets have a Racist night out..." get a grip mate. 
    It wouldnt have made a difference if it was Rooney, Gerrard or anyone else for that matter. Cheating is cheating, and thats all the matter is. Some serious paranoia on ur part just because Eduardo is foreign. It doesnt make a single bit of difference. Half the Celtic squad is non-uk. 
     
    So cheers Andrew for managing to deflct another genuine complaint about a footballers behaviour and turn it into a racist conversation. Muppet.

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  90. Jamie.....when are you going to post "Football Cheats No 5 Rooney"?

    You can choose today or his dive in front of Campbell 5 years ago.  I would prefer both.

    I am waiting.

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  91. LOL. Yeah. Eduardo did dive. I don't mind you put him in no 1 spot. But if you do include stevie G dive in any spot of top 10. I think you will be more respected. Deep down you know he deserved a place in top 10. As do drogba, and CR. Include eboue too. LOL.

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  92. Thank You!!!

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