The controversy over Luis Suarez's alleged racial abuse of Patrice Evra may have overshadowed Liverpool's (forgettable) draw with Man United at the weekend, but it also took the focus away from two blatant acts of cheating during the game.
As you will see from the evidence below, United's Ashley Young and Liverpool's Stewart Downing were guilty of trying to con the referee with outrageous dives.
Ashley Young dive
Young launches himself into Lucas as if fired by some invisible cannon (!), but there's no contact at all.
Stewart Downing dive
Young's dive was pathetic, but this is just inexcusable. There is no contact whatsoever yet Downing contorts his body and goes down like he's been shot.
What was Downing thinking? You don't go down like that unless its he very deliberate; plus, he was clear of Evra's challenge and could've made a run to the byline if he'd stayed on his feet, so so he robbed the team a promising attacking situation.
The disturbing thing about both these dives (and cheating in general) is that it seems to be ingrained in players to act like this; their instinct is to cheat, and they do it without thinking.
I've said it once and I'll say it again: the only way things are going to change (long-term) is if fans have a zero-tolerance approach to any kind of cheating. That means castigating players on their own team for cheating; showing their contempt whenever it happens (in the ground; with friends, and online); and ridiculing UEFA/FIFA for their failure to tackle the problem
Just because 'it's part of the game' (a growing excuse used by fans and pundits to turn a blind eye) doesn't mean it should be condoned. If players felt the disgust and wrath of the fans then they would think twice about cheating (IMO).
In this case, both Man United and Liverpool fans need to condemn the behaviour of Young and Downing, and make it clear that it's not acceptable.
Jaimie Kanwar
As you will see from the evidence below, United's Ashley Young and Liverpool's Stewart Downing were guilty of trying to con the referee with outrageous dives.
Ashley Young dive
Young launches himself into Lucas as if fired by some invisible cannon (!), but there's no contact at all.
Stewart Downing dive
Young's dive was pathetic, but this is just inexcusable. There is no contact whatsoever yet Downing contorts his body and goes down like he's been shot.
What was Downing thinking? You don't go down like that unless its he very deliberate; plus, he was clear of Evra's challenge and could've made a run to the byline if he'd stayed on his feet, so so he robbed the team a promising attacking situation.
The disturbing thing about both these dives (and cheating in general) is that it seems to be ingrained in players to act like this; their instinct is to cheat, and they do it without thinking.
I've said it once and I'll say it again: the only way things are going to change (long-term) is if fans have a zero-tolerance approach to any kind of cheating. That means castigating players on their own team for cheating; showing their contempt whenever it happens (in the ground; with friends, and online); and ridiculing UEFA/FIFA for their failure to tackle the problem
Just because 'it's part of the game' (a growing excuse used by fans and pundits to turn a blind eye) doesn't mean it should be condoned. If players felt the disgust and wrath of the fans then they would think twice about cheating (IMO).
In this case, both Man United and Liverpool fans need to condemn the behaviour of Young and Downing, and make it clear that it's not acceptable.
Jaimie Kanwar
downing doesnt go down you plum!!! he falls over because the ball was going out of play and he was disgusted with his control... did you see him ask the ref for a free kick like the diving young....
ReplyDeleteFans have no influence over it. It is down to managers. Downing's dive clearly shows his lack of confidence/ability. He is happier looking for the free kick rather than getting past his man and getting the cross in
ReplyDeletewhat about the fat scottish cunts dive?
ReplyDeleteIt's a dive, no matter how insane your rationalisation.
ReplyDeleteyou forgot to mention the blatened dive by Adam.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't a dive. There was contact; Ferdinand admitted it after the game.
ReplyDeleteAdam did not dive. There was a slight contact which resulted in him collapsing looking for penalty (outside the box)! It will bite you one day! Enjoy one point for now!
ReplyDeleteDowning look off balance when Evra swing his leg in... do you want player to let their leg being kick with the force and spend several week on the treatment table. For me, it was not a dive... it's up to referee to decide... other wise start using a video like american football & rugby.
ReplyDeleteYES THAT COULD BE THE CORRECT VIEW.BUT JUST FALLING OVER IS KILLING THE SPORT
ReplyDeleteis it football or turfskiing
ReplyDeletei guess you clowns will say that is luis fault for diving, diving is part of the game is wrong but it happens. at least is not as bad as other leagues.
ReplyDeleteyes,yes he did not appeal for a free kick he probably just lost his footing.and adam's dive was a contact.
ReplyDeleteThis actually gets to the heart of the issue - & as much as I'd love to 'kick' cheating out, Jaimie; the fact is that this sport has been taken over by greedy, corporate entities who couldn't care less about morality.
ReplyDeleteThe day that European football, as well as many individual European countries, including Britain, refuses to sign disgustingly perverse contracts worth billions of Pounds (or Euros), & equally immoral players contracts; could be the day when we start, & no more than that, start the journey towards having an honourable sport. Until that time, any amount of bleating will have no impact
I think on this game alone Liverpool know the tricks Man Utd get upto with their constant theatrics,surrounding the ref diving looking for fouls so I think Liverpool wanted to be on a level playing field as this game was vital to our season.I remember one interview with dalglish being interviewed approx 4 years ago and his opinion on diving was to play fair,but if the opposition is diving and getting away with diving off the ref you must level the game up after all we start level at 11 a side so why should one team gain an advantage by winning through diving.Like I said Dalglish starts fair and respects fair play off fair opponents but Man Utd are not fair opponents. what happened in the fa cup last year when Berbatov won the match for manutd because he fell over and won a penalty off Howard Plebb.I remember the great Platini saying when you are a player and you see an injustice you want to rectify that injustice any way you can.
ReplyDeleteUnited fan here, completely agreed on both accounts. Cheers for being neutral and calling a spade a spade.
ReplyDeleteJamie's not neutral -- Manc in sheeps clothing. wind up artist
ReplyDeleteThe biggest dive has to be Adams, the ways in excess of 13stone, and if goes down like he's been shot after the slightest touch, his missus must moan like hell going shopping with him in a crowded city, he must spend all his time rolling around on the floor.
ReplyDeleteYoung is a diving, cheating cnut, he should have been booked for the one you've highlitedI didn't want United to bid for him let alone buy him, we had a decent winger in Valencia, now he can't get a look in.
On Downing there was a worse one than that, when he was in the penalty area.
I cannot believe that they dived ...its foreigners who dive..we British do not fall unless we are bulldozed..we only kick and pull and elbow when the ref is looking other way .
ReplyDeleteif you mean for the free-kick, ferdinand already confirmed that he fouled him !
ReplyDeleteYoungs was a blatant attempt to con the referee & get Lucas sent off .
ReplyDeleteDowning on the other hand seen Evra coming in with his studs up & his natural reaction to avoid getting his leg broke seen him ride the challenge he anticipated , it isnt his fault Evra pulled out of the tackle , & Evra swinging his studs like that over the top of the ball on its own should have seen him get booked .
Ferdinand should have been sent off for 2 bookable offences as well .
Bloody awful refereeing no matter which way you look at it .
How much does Nani Weigh ?
ReplyDeleteIf ya tell me I can let Charlie kno to go on a diet so he can roll around & cry like a Pansy the next time a dishonest dirty player like Ferdinand trips him when he is dribbling at speed through a defence .
Had he been given the free kick would he have gotten up and said no, I just fell down coz i lost my footing and din't you see , i never appealed !!!
ReplyDeleteYou are deranged if you can find any ground to defend these blatant acts of cheating (both downing and young). And please don't bother taking out irrelevent example from the past and wasting everybody's time. It was wrong. And there is NO justification.In my personal opinion adam went down too easily but had it happend with Rooney with carragher in place of Rio, even Id simply shrug my shoulders and say, 'Contact !!!' So no complaints there.
So Berbatov fell over (according to you anyways) and earned a penn. So now any blatant diving by Pool players is justified. wow. You really embody the true spirit of the game. Its fans like you who are driving this beautiful game to the ground because this is what you'll teach your kids too.
ReplyDeletePlus the way to rectify injustice is to cause injustice !!! Did you go to school ???
No he didn't, he just said that there was contact. As in touching his bootlaces.
ReplyDeleteDiving is just as bad as pulling on players shirts and getting away with it, how can anyone criticise diving and dont say a word of how players scored goals by pulling shirts etc, cheating is cheating and it is part of the game,,,i am sure you cheat on your taxes and other things so dont take the higher ground and point fingers at players..you would be the first person to criticise the players when they lose, so if the take a dive and win i am sure from a winning "point of view you will accept it,,,won't here you saying that you must decline the points gained would we now!!! football is the beautifull game beacause of the controversy it causes, people talk about games gone way into the past beacause of this phenomenon..we still talk abt the hand of god issue...enough said!!
ReplyDeleteso you are up for giving back ur champions league win whe gerrard dived for that penalty then?
ReplyDeletefool
ReplyDeleteThe last thing Downing saw was Evra swinging his leg wildly in his direction no attempt to play the ball I reckon Downing was expecting the impact and it never came,could you imagine the injury if he did and why did Evra attempt the tackle when Downing had already beaten him?Evra did pull his leg away at the last moment conning the ref,assistant and Downing.
ReplyDeleteYoung blatant cheating.
hahahahahahahahaha
ReplyDeleteseriously ... how do you guys live with yourselves ??
ReplyDeleteHAHA! Charlie Adam at Speed!
ReplyDeleteTell me why Evra has swung his leg in Downings direction when the ball had gone??????
ReplyDeleteWhy does Evra need to make the tackle when the ball had gone, he his the player looking at the ball and the man, when Downing was looking at the ball.
ReplyDeleteIt impede his run of interfered with his progress or we could just call it a FOUL!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that some people on here are defending Downing. That's one of the funniest things i've seen in a long time, and the defences are even funnier. in both instances the players are hoping for the contact that will turn it into a foul. Unfortunately, as in many other respects, Ashley young is much better at it than stewart downing.
ReplyDeleteAs for charlie adam, there was definite contact, but he made such a meal of it, the referee wasn't sure enough to send off ferdinand. His fall didn't look very convincing, a bit like when richardson only got a yellow card in the sunderland game, because suarez threw himself into a rather obvious dive.
It's just a thing that all footballers do. They look for free kicks by trying to buy contact, and when it doesn't work, it looks like a dive. There's no point in criticizing charlie adam, other than for being a bit inept at the whole thing. As a man utd fan I only wish rio ferdinand had complained about adam being a 14-15 stone player instead.
Oh and very evenhanded article btw.
ReplyDeleteHopper why does Evra try and make the tackle, when the ball had clearly gone? He had full sight of the ball and player?
ReplyDeletecome on man, downing nearly kicks his own arse.
ReplyDeleteNot answered the question, why has Evra attempting a late tackle?
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the reasons we are seeing more diving coming from late,reckless or pointless tackles coming from players feeding the problem of diving or players taking evasive action.
There was one great tackle on Enrique by Park he slid in on the ball won the ball got up and stormed away with the ball but did n't slide through onto the player or try and make contact with him by lifting his leg.
Even if Evra's tackle was late it doesn't give Downing the right to dive as a result. Evra's foot was nowhere near Downing anyway, so there was no need for the anticipatory dive.
ReplyDeleteEvasive action? Sounds like a euphemism for condoning cheating to me. l
Stop smoking left over tea bags so you can see the facts
ReplyDeleteIf Evra had not attempted a late tackle and ran on and tried to turn and run after Downing would Downing have gone down and would we be having this debate?
ReplyDeleteIf someone swung a leg at you in the street what are you going to do but get out of the way what is the difference on a football pitch?
To many players now think they can make tackles then claim diving and cheating they are just has bad has the divers.
Footballers are so weak ,slightest touch and down they go , imagine if they try playing rugby they might break in half
ReplyDeleteThe difference is I wouldn't exaggerate and dive to the ground; I would jump out of the way. Downing deliberately dived to the ground, a reaction that was clearly disproportionate to the 'offence'. And as I said already, Evra's foot was nowhere near Downing.
ReplyDeleteIn any event, you're just assuming that Evra made a late tackle/had an intention to kick Downing. The footage is slightly slowed down, plus it might appear different from another angle.
Evra went to play the man simple has that which could lead to the end of his or a players career.Where if you look at Lucas he was constantly moving out of Youngs way no traling legs or attempt to foul Young.
ReplyDeleteWhat a joke. Stewart Downing was looking for a free kick. Evra only went for a half-hearted challenge. I bet you anything if that was in the box Downing would have taken the contact for the penalty or at least jumped over his leg and tried to score. I can recall a certain Robbie Fowler diving over a challenge once and ADMITTING to the referee he did. The ref awarded a penalty anyway so what did he do? He missed it on purpose. That's honesty, something neither Downing or Young used in this situation.
ReplyDeleteBut he still went in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNo need to attempt the tackle he could see where the ball was going !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like I say Liverpool play fair and respect all their opponenets who play fair.man Utd dont play fair,under Fergie Man Utd have always gone out to cheat and this is how theyve won all their trophyes under Plum Nose, thats why he will never be classed as great like Shankly,Paisley,Fagean,Benitez and Dalglish.Under Plum Nose Man Utd have conned every single honour they have won by cheating.Your argument is let Man Utd keep getting away with cheating to win and thats fine,well in the bible it says an eye for an eye doesnt it.Typical Manc wants it his way,only man utd allowed to cheat you are saying.Man |Utd are the biggest cheats in the history of the sport,everyone hates cheating and i dont agree with,i just think manutd are a club who no decent fan has sympathy for because they are taught to cheat to win games to keep the plastic fans happy.
ReplyDelete@jmkthemedbeds By far the most rubbish comment I have read on this forum all month. Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
ReplyDeleteThe saddest fact is that someone 'liked' these comments. So it's perfectly fine to expect contact and go down, even if there is no actual contact? You do realise how completely idiotic that sounds, don't you?
ReplyDeleteYoung probably thought that Lucas was going to head butt him. The real controversy is why Lucas wasn't shown a red card for such hypothetical violent conduct.
Get well soon.
ReplyDeleteSo still no explanation from anyone why Evra attempted to make the late tackle on Downing when the ball had gone then?
ReplyDeletePoor timed tackles like that feed diving,play acting or players just trying to get out of the way that is where half the problem STARTS,defenders hanging their leg out infront of players no attempt to play the ball .
My point is why did Evra or any other player attempt to make the tackle when the ball is no where near him but to play the man?
If you look at Youngs left leg he attempts to hook it round Lucas but Lucas is moving out of Youngs way, Lucas is jumping backwards.
Snackbox dived too trying to get Ferdinand sent off but I don't see you slagging HIM off. Why not? Oh that's right - it's because you leeeeeuve him and want to make the sexy sex with him and have his dentally-challenged kids.
ReplyDelete