Edward-doh!

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Uefa to probe Eduardo dive claim

 

Uefa is to investigate an alleged dive by Arsenal striker Eduardo during the Gunners' 3-1 Champions League qualifier win over Celtic on Wednesday.

 

Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith has called for the Brazil-born Croatia forward to be banned over the penalty incident at the Emirates.

 

"Last night Eduardo showed disrespect to the game by his actions," he said.

 

"We have shown courage to use retrospective punishment when it comes to simulation. I'd urge Uefa to do so."

 

There appeared to be no contact between Eduardo and Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc but referee Manuel Gonzalez still gave a penalty midway through the first half, which Eduardo converted.

 

A Uefa spokesman told BBC Sport its disciplinary unit will study the incident, and confirmed the organisation's rules do allow the possibility of retrospective action.

 

If charged and found guilty, Eduardo could face sanctions up to a two-match ban in European competition.

 

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted afterwards the penalty award was dubious, although he said it was not clear his player had dived.

 

Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati, however, suggested Eduardo should be banned for two matches.

 

And in a strongly-worded statement Smith said: "Since I came into post I have raised the issue of simulation time and time again - both here in Scotland and with Fifa and Uefa.

 

"I don't think that I have received enough support in my efforts to eradicate what I believe to be one of the most serious threats to the integrity of football.

 

"Last night showed exactly why we must take this issue seriously.

 

"Everything that can be done to stamp it out must be done. Starting right now."

 

 

Celtic had travelled to the Emirates 2-0 down from the first leg in Glasgow, when Arsenal had been the better side but had scored with a deflection and an own goal.

 

The first goal in London, then, was likely to be crucial and Boruc was incensed when Gonzalez pointed to the spot.

 

"Last night's incident also brings the whole issue of video evidence to the fore. I see no reason why we cannot use technology to assist referees," said Smith.

 

"We need a serious debate on these issues. Everyone in football has a responsibility to set the right example to our youngsters.

 

"We can talk all we want about Fair Play campaigns, but taking action would be a much more powerful deterrent and would send the right message to players everywhere."

 

Donati is another who is keen to see Uefa use video evidence.

 

"If it is clear on TV, then Uefa must act and ban him," said Donati.

 

"I think he should get a two-match ban because it wasn't a penalty. I told him that and everyone in the Celtic team told him that."

 

 

Donati believes Eduardo should be treated the same way as Lithuania striker Saulius Mikoliunas, who was punished for diving against Scotland at Hampden Park in September 2007.

 

After that occasion Uefa used video evidence before giving Mikoliunas a two-match ban.

 

Speaking after the Arsenal match, Celtic defender Glenn Loovens also offered his thoughts on Eduardo and his penalty claim.

 

"I don't think he even speaks English so there was no point talking to him," said the Dutch centre-half.

 

"It is very disappointing but that is football. It's sad it happened to us.

 

"I don't think it is really fair. But it helped his team take the lead. There is a referee and a linesman to see those kind of things."

 

Wenger acknowledged Celtic keeper Boruc did not bring down Eduardo in the penalty incident but claimed his forward was taking evasive action.

 

Following the Gunners' eventual 3-1 win, which completed a 5-1 aggregate triumph, Wenger said: "I do not go as far to say Eduardo dived.

 

"He went down, for what reason I do not know. Having seen it again on television, it doesn't look a penalty.

 

"I do not think he (Eduardo) would have complained if the penalty was not given."

[Nutchutney]

If Uefa are going to investigate that incident then they had best dig out the large amount of evidence against Ronaldo and Didier Drogba.

Celtic were crap last night and even if they penalty had not been given they were still going to be well beaten.

[and1inthetree]

i think he thought there was going to be contact and the keeper's sock may have touched his leg, but it was a very funny dive and he had no need for the blood capsule.

 

agree with nutchutney though. celtic were rubbish and arsenal made them look stupid and didn't even get out of 1st gear.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Apologies - I should have added that the above was taken from the BBC website and isn't my opinion.

 

If I had my way I'd send you to the EOL with the Spammers!!

[Eastside Urchin]

cracking dive by eduardo.UEFA Would not even think about suspending a barcelona or madrid player,even though they and the italians have been doing it for years.

Celtic were toilet and as far as they are concerned,anyone who watches scottish football knows that they are at it all the time,they must of won 5 games last season by dodgy last minute penalties.Hope eduardo does it and gets away with it on saturday at old trafford.I have no time for divers but in all honesty UEFA and FIFA have had 20 years to get to grips with teams cheating and haven't done it so if you get away with it now then fair cops as someone will always try to do it to your team

[SEVEN TEARS BOY]

Originally Posted By: Urchin Mentalist

Hope eduardo does it and gets away with it on saturday at old trafford.

Preferably with the 'foul' being by Scholes and him getting a red card into the bargain.

[and1inthetree]

eduardo charged with "deceiving the referee"

platini wants goal line refs.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8223917.stm

 

i agree it was a ridiculous dive and tantamount to cheating, but if he gets a ban, then i hope the FA will follow uefa's example and ban people who take a dive. that way it will send out a clear message that cheating isn't accepted, rather than just singling out big names for big teams in big matches.

[Hornchurch "O"]

Now Ronaldo's with Madrid, he should get all his dives looked into.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

I would love to comment on this subject, but like Mr Wenger I too did not see the incident.

[Eastside Urchin]

My problem with them charging eduardo is they are setting a precedence once an incident has happened.If the ref qwould have seen the dive it would of been a yellow card.in the fiorentina game on wednesday a striker dived for a penalty and was given a yellow card.because the referee missed eduardos he could now get a two match ban,ridiculous.

I have no problem with players getting two match bans for diving but you have to do it to all not just when the scottish bigwigs at uefa feel cheated.

Also it is no surprise to me that so much is being made of it 3 days before an man utd V arsenal clash when the majority of the press and especially sky sports who seem to be the worse culprits are man utd biased.

[and1inthetree]

totally agree rob, and think that if this is what it takes, then make the eduardo dive *the* precedent.

 

players retrospectively banned using the eduardo rule.

 

it would be somewhat ironic that a player jumping out of a challenge to avoid having his leg snapped in half like what happened at birmingham would have his name attributed to a new ruling. and funny as [****!!****] that in the modern era of football that the arsenal player it related to wasn't robert pires.

[coupwotcoup]

I am mortified that Wenger said he saw said incident....and his opinion of it was quite detailed too.. funny that.

However, I have to agree that it is a very poor precedent to set. It will be like a 'child bitten by dog' scenario for the next six weeks.. there will be a plethora of similar incidents over the next few weeks, before it all dies down..until the next time.

[Eastside Urchin]

It reminds me of a few years ago,the FA said that they was going to cut down on swearing at refs,rightly so.In the first month of the season two arsenal players were rightly sent off for the offence,in the remaining 8 months of the season not one premiership player was sent off for foul language,despite the league boasting players liek lee bowyer and wayne "fck off you cnt" rooney

[Eastside Urchin]

will be interesting to see if they charge eduardo,will they charge the 3 players tonight in the super cup who dived to try to win a penalty for their side,i only watched from half time onwards so i may of missed the odd dive in the first half

plus messi headbuts someone and gets a yellow,but thats ok coz he plays for barca

[Hornchurch "O"]

I presume the yellow cards dished out means these players avoid getting a ban.