BLEATING ABOUT CHEATING IS SURELY A JOKE

IT HARDLY seems as if a weekend of matches can go by these days without claims players are cheating and diving at every turn.

There can be little doubt diving is a growing problem and it's also pathetic to see embarrassing examples of players feigning injury.

But let me be brutally honest and say cheating is a part of the game.

It always has been and always will be.

Now I accept that's not the mantra FIFA will use to encourage the next generation footballers can be held up as terrific role models. But it's a fact.

Apparently it's now so bad the English FA have called for a new rule to be brought in. Retrospective red cards are the way ahead they say.

That would lead to a host of problems. I will happily admit to winning free-kicks and penalties when I could have stayed on my feet but was I guilty of diving? I don't think so.

After a few years in the game I felt I had the experience to know when to put referees under pressure to make decisions.

Sometimes they went for me, others not.

I believe diving to be when a player throws himself to the ground when no contact has been made.

Others believe if you can stay on your feet and choose to go down that's diving.

Managers and players have been asked to clean up their act and while that's a great sentiment it's meaningless.

Footballers will do almost anything if it means winning and managers, no matter what the offence is, will defend them.

They don't come much better or more respected than Arsene Wenger or Alex Ferguson. Both have achieved so much in the game and have said we must clamp down on players who dive and cheat.

What they really mean is the FA should clamp down on players at other clubs who dive and cheat. The last thing they want is for one of theirs to be made an example of because in the same breath they'll convince you no-one in their squad is capable of such an outrage.

The unwritten rule in management is never criticise one of your own in public so let's not hold our breath over condemnation from Wenger or Fergie the next time Robert Pires or Wayne Rooney "dives" in a game.

Players have always been guilty of taking the rules of the game to the limit and it's only now because of the excellent TV coverage they're being found out.

Push a ref as far as possible and see how much you can get away with - it's been that way for years.

FIFA say it's one of the biggest problems they've faced. They're sure to crack down on diving, feigning of injury - or simulation as they call it - for this year's World Cup.

Really?

Look at what they said four years ago.

Before a ball was kicked at the World Cup in Japan and Korea, Sepp Blatter insisted instructions had been given to refs to clamp down on yes, you've guessed it, diving, feigning of injury and "simulation."

What happened? Rivaldo was guilty of the most outrageous feigning of injury when he went down clutching his face after a Turkish player had booted the ball against his knee.

The world laughed at his antics and waited for FIFA's chance to show how powerful they were.

If ever there was a time for tough action this was it.

The World Cup is FIFA's flagship tournament. It's their showpiece. No-one should be able to sour it and get away with it. But Rivaldo did.

Because he was a Brazilian and arguably the best player in the world at the time FIFA obviously thought he was someone who might score a memorable hat-trick they could sell endlessly as an example of the "Beautiful Game" and they bottled it.

It was a disgraceful decision to fine him a few thousand pounds.

Examples such as Rivaldo's are so outrageous retrospective red cards would be welcomed.

I believe every player cheats in some way. Whether that's stealing yards at a throw-in, committing a deliberate foul or pulling a jersey to stop an opponent getting to the ball first the fact is part of the game involves cheating.

And doing it properly only comes with experience.

Ask any fan outwith Tynecastle what they think of Rudi Skacel.

The chances are they'll say he's a cheating and diving so and so because he throws himself to the ground far too easily.

What about Soti Kyrgiakos? Is he cheating when he wraps his arms around an opponent in the box? Steven Pressley has a similar approach.

If they get away with it good luck to them.

What do the punters think of Sean Maloney or Shunsuke Nakamura when they win penalties or free-kicks? Unless you're a Celtic fan they're both at it.

But then ask them what they would think if a player from their team won a penalty or handled the ball into the net for a vital winning goal.

Surely there would be all-round condemnation? No chance.

Fans only see things one way. If it helps their team win so be it. That's why the hypocrisy in calling certain players cheats is laughable.

In the eyes of the average Scottish supporter Diego Maradona is a cheat - but a loveable one - for punching the ball into the English net at the '86 World Cup and getting away with it.

What about Joe Jordan?

He's one of the best ever Scotland players but is never referred to as a cheat despite punching the ball in a crucial World Cup qualifying tie at Anfield and claiming for a penalty. He was a hero.

The harsh reality is he cheated but it doesn't matter to any Scottish fan. We got what we wanted in the end.

Was Barry Wilson of Inverness cheating when he fell over in the box last week at Easter Road when he could have easily stayed on his feet?

No. He was cute enough to know it was an ideal time to go down.

It went for him but the problem is too many will think he dived.

A clear definition of diving is what`s needed before retrospective action can be brought in.

Taken from the Sunday Mail