What to do about Players Feigning Injury

[Sponsor of Beer]

There was a bit of it again yesterday. Its cheating! But how can referees deal with it? If their assistants are just there to make up the numbers and wave their flags about for offsides and throw ins, these kind of offences will continue to go unpunished. Referees never see them, because there is nothing to see, and the other officials aren't encouraged to intervene. When was the last time any action was taken against a player in the ESL for this kind of fraud? It seems to me that the relationship betwen officials needs to change, and quickly.

[Ned Flanders]

Dig a hole and bury them!

[enfieldiansr]

A lot is down to the instructions referees give their assistants. Some refs will just ask for the usual flags. Most referees take the view that as the assistants are qualified referees they should let him know any funny business that is going on. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/taz.gif" alt="" />

[Sponsor of Beer]

I am sure that's right, but why then are these offences never picked up?

[MbrunoB]

The Concoard player went down without a challenge Saturday but he was injured so it's not that easy is it?

[JordanB]

brunob abbeynut emailed me the penalty picture. very kind of you mate and a great picture.

[MbrunoB]

I did consider erasing them all but I aint that petty, just a bit ratty.

[theabbeyabbott]

Can I call you Ratty from now on?

[ETFC-jaymz]

as much as i love my footie it does annoy me when players feign injuries especially when its to try & get another player booked.i know im rubbish at football so maybe i shouldnt comment,the modern day game is pretty demanding but is there really any need for players to go down like they have been shot by a sniper & roll over a few times to score a 6.9 ? it doesnt seem to happen in other sports,take rugby,if a player stays down you know he's hurt as its just not part of their game.my other big love of bike racing is another example,defending british superbike champion john reynolds crashed earlier this year 38 days before the new season started whilst testing his new bike,broke his leg in 5 places but was still on the grid for the opening race after having his boot & bike modified just so he could race at up to 180mph.riders often crash out of race 1 on the day but you just know they are gonna make it out for race 2 later on their spare bike even if they are shaken up or have broken something.i know its a different set of circumstances but just shows footballers are abit soft at times.

[The Invisible Man]

I don't think it's that the players are soft, it's more of a tactical ploy, also known as gamesmanship, professionalism or cheating, depending on your point of view. The idea is presumably to win a free kick, waste time, disrupt the opposition's rythm, get an oppomnent booked or sent off, influence the referee or any combination of the above, depending on the circumstances.

[ETFC-jaymz]

hey invisible man all good points ;o) i guess it comes down to players honesty & integrity then when involved in their chosen sport.... maybe thats the point though,its not sport anymore as money seems to have taken over & dictates that players should get involved in cheating/gamemanship/professionalism to gain an advantage.sad really as its us paying fans that suffer mainly.

[onebreast]

ive got no time for divers. divers should get a straight red

[Sponsor of Beer]

But how to make it happen. If players wait until the ref's back is turned what chance do they have of being caught. Especially as I said at the beginning of the thread if assistants are only doing offsides and throw ins they are unlikely to do anything. In any event, the chances are they won't be in the right place to see!

[TB&G]

How about if all players requiring on the field medical attention automatically have to spend 5 minutes off the field recovering from their injury.

 

That might keep the fallers upright!

[MbrunoB]

Feigning injury is not the only cheating that should cracked down on, claiming a player dived when he was clearly fouled, claiming a ball was still in or had gone out when the opposite was true and also claiming that the opposition player was the last to touch the ball when it is clear who really did are ALL ways that players cheat and a crack down would have to include everything.

[Steph]

Using arms to fend off a player is cheating especially if you grab his shirt!

 

It seems to be a tactic that all attackers employ nowadays and I think it has come about because of the removal of the crunching tackle. I dont think any attacker would have dared to hold Dave Mackay's or Ron Harris' shirt.

[zody]

or even Norman Hunter, Stewart Pierce

[Halifax Lass]

I've only been to two Town games and both were against Abbey!

 

I must say that as a health professional I'm extremely worried about certain Abbey players. It would appear that they are suffering from an affliction commonly known as 'dramatitus'. Symptoms of this dangerous and contagious disease which, by the way, appear and disappear almost instantaniously, include...falling down for no apparant reason and uncontrollable movement of the elbow. Up until a few years ago there were few recorded cases of the disease in the UK -it being restricted to South America and some of the warmer countries around the mediterranean.

 

Happily, I have no need to worry about those who sufferer from this tragic condition, officials show remarkable sensitivity when dealing with these poor unfortunate souls. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[ETFC-jaymz]

all ends up being a sporting official must be a nightmare, i know i give refs alot of stick at footie but id never be one hahaha.not sure there is anyway you can stop it ?? id like to see players caught diving looking for penalties either by the officials during the game or after on video evidence banned for say 3 games,maybe that would never work ?? but i feel there have to be punishments dished out for such blatent cheating,it happens week in week out.video evidence for goals has defo got to be brought in after another high profile game involved in a was it or wasnt it in ?? i dont look out for either chelsea or liverpool but id hate to think chelsea were cheated out of a goal against them.

[theabbeyabbott]

Has anyone enquired about Choppers bad back?