[acid911]

I think a 3-match ban would be enough for a dive after it's proved with video replays.

Yeah, I'd go with 5-match bans once it's proven. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) The deal is to prevent people from diving, not punishing them. A big, long punishment, or even a 5-match one will help with that. This will be in the players' mind and they will get up as soon as they can. When they can't, that's when they will stay down. Keep it positive, people!

[CHU-LIP]

Yeah, I'd go with 5-match bans once it's proven. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) The deal is to prevent people from diving, not punishing them. A big, long punishment, or even a 5-match one will help with that. This will be in the players' mind and they will get up as soon as they can. When they can't, that's when they will stay down. Keep it positive, people!

Keep it posivite? This is very negative.

You guys are going way over the top here. If there's one thing that should be prevented, it are tackles that can cause of long term injuries. And you know what? Often they get barely punished. And actually, preventing goes by punishing them, acid. Weird sentence you got there.

By the way, to most people it's obvious Boateng dived. A dive is possible even when there's contact. So my question to you is: would you be okay with Boateng getting banned for five straigt games now?

This post has been edited by CHU-LIP: Dec 19 2011, 01:01 PM

[Zed.D]

Nah, 5 match is way too much, acid! IMO 2-3 is enough, depending on the nature of the dive and how it affects the outcome of the game.

Sometimes there's contact, but the player exaggerates in going down, that would deserve less bans than, for example, Gila's dive against Celtic where there was no contact at all and Gila dived 2 seconds late.

At the same time, diving in a regular Serie A game that's almost won anyway cannot be punished as severely as diving in a title decider or a CL semi-final.

Well, it's not as easy to set a rule on diving as one thinks!

[acid911]

You guys are going way over the top here. If there's one thing that should be prevented, it are tackles that can cause of long term injuries. And you know what? Often they get barely punished. And actually, preventing goes by punishing them, acid. Weird sentence you got there.

Yes, because higher the punishment, the more people fear not doing the crime. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Punish a few people and hand them a few matches ban, and they'll think 90 times before doing it again. And for the record, anyone that goes in with those pathetic tackles (and two-foot challenges) should be out of the game for six months, and the club fined as well.

It's just a sports, not war, and well a player does not have any right to seriously injure anyone or break their leg, etc. What they do is basic stuff, yellow and red cards, and sometimes hard tackles earn a few matches ban. We need more strict policies. Just like drugs are not allowed in FIFA, and players/clubs are banned for years. Now we see few and few drug abuse and steroid cases.

But careful analysis is needed after the match, using video replays, and of course, you have to check the intent of the player at fault. If he couldn't help it (for example he was going in one direction, and another player hit him) or tried to slow down, then lesser penalties. And for proven criminals bigger ones. Like I said, the game should be played in a positive spirit and frame-of-mind - making it enjoyable for everyone.

By the way, to most people it's obvious Boateng dived. A dive is possible even when there's contact. So my question to you is: would you be okay with Boateng getting banned for five straigt games now?

If there was contact, it was not a dive, the keeper lunged towards him, and Boateng instead of getting a shoe to his body, went up (reactionary decision, so it's okay), and went down. What he did (playacting and crying in agony) is another thing, but the aggressor in this case was the GK. So not a dive. A dive is where there is minimal or no contact.

And yes, I'd be fine with a 5-match ban for Boateng if he cheated and dived. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Perfectly fine. Usually when a player dives with malicious intent, he looks back at the referee for the penalty, does some playacting, and shtick like that. That's a million miles away from sportsman spirit. Crooked behavior should be kicked out.

In genuine injury case (minor or a hard knock), players usually take their time to come back on the pitch, if at all.

[acid911]

Nah, 5 match is way too much, acid! IMO 2-3 is enough, depending on the nature of the dive and how it affects the outcome of the game.

Well anything that creates the fear in their mind. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) And just take this pathetic exercise out of their system. Maybe 2-3 for first offense and higher number for repeat ones. I mean, what Gilardino did deserved a big slap on the wrists, ban plus fine. Same goes for that actor from Barcelona (who peaked through his fingers).

And really, 5 matches are not too much, come to think of it, usually a month on the sidelines. Players spend three or four times as much visiting hospitals. But like I said, the real point is preventing people from deliberate diving. It is a negative thing, reflects poorly on the game as well as the club, and is plain cheating. Same goes for harsh and vicious tackles.

I mean, if Pato did not have such a fear of harsh tackles, he'd let lose every Sunday. You know it. I know it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Just like the good old days. Now when I see Pato, the guy is just too careful so as not to get hurt or injure himself.

[acid911]

Sorry for the triple post, but remember how Ribery got banned from the CL final. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) Even though I think it wasn't that malicious a tackle (he caught the other player on the back of foot). But the world didn't end when he was banned and everyone moved ahead. You get the drift.

If the fine for shoplifting was $10 an instance, people would still do it when they can. If it was six month jail time, few would even think about it. That's just the way human psychology works. Fear can do wonderful things sometimes!

[CHU-LIP]

If there was contact, it was not a dive,

That's not accurate, acid. Actually, it happens all the time someone dives, or falls out free will, when there's contact, because then you can say it's not a Schwalbe (dive). Ideally, when a player feels a very soft touch of his opponent, a touch which does not bring you anything close to unbalanced, I mean, the touch doesn't matter one bit, yet it is there, then the player falls (or dives), and yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, a free kick, or even a penalty kick.

I know it's a zillion times clearer that a dive is a dive when there's no contact, and that it's hard to give yellow when there's been contact. But if anything, hard to make this rule you guys got in mind. Especially for you, because you are not even aware of the zillion times a player has made a Schwalbe when there's been contact (good timing, you can call that).

[acid911]

Yes, well that's a bit of a concern. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) And something I'd leave for the judges that analyze the video. I agree that even with minimal contact some people dive and cheat. Whoever dishes out the punishment will have to keep it in mind. Fact is that, in a perfect world, people who can get up after falling would get up and carry on the attack.

Just like in cartoons. If they are genuinely hurt then yes, well it's impossible and understandable. But acting? No!

[Danny]

Yes,in slow motion it looks really bad.But,what's not been taken notice of is that Boateng was going really fast,and he didn't have much options.Is it a dive?probably yes.Have I lost any respect from Boateng because of it?No.
Also,there was contact from the goalkeeper's knee to boateng's ankle when Boateng pushed the ball forward.


Nice blog,you have there Danny (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) .The design is horrible though,I'd advise you to change it.

I've fiddled about with the design. Some people like, some don't. I need to find some universally accepted design.

[Milan Are Brilli...]

There's no chance UEFA/FIFA would enforce that on certain FA's though, 99% of the best players in the world do it a number of times a season, some more than others but you'd end up leaving a load of superstars at home and watching reserve teams half the time.

As for extra officials behind the goal, the only thing they improve are employment ratings. They are completely useless and just obscure people behind the goal's view without adding anything to the game.

[kurtsimonw]

Long ban for a dive? That's ridiculous. One dive, and you got a long ban? Right...

Yep.

A bad tackle may not even result in injury and you get a 3 match ban. I think that's right because you did something wrong. But in reality you've not affected the game in any way except to make it harder for your team.

A dive may wrongly win your team points. You could change the entire league based on the way you cheated. In my opinion it should be a big punishment.

[acid911]

A dive may wrongly win your team points. You could change the entire league based on the way you cheated. In my opinion it should be a big punishment.

Exactly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) And well, like I said the point is not the punishment - it's avoiding the ban, by not doing cheating and doing stupid shenanigans. Likewise for deliberate handballs that result in goals. Long fines will deter players from these things. And big fans will deter the clubs from encouraging such tactics. Win-win for us as fans.

[kurtsimonw]

Pretty much. If all diving is is a 1 match ban or something, it isn't really a big punishment and is almost worth doing if it wins you points. If you get a long ban for it, players just won't dive, it's not going to be worth it.

[CHU-LIP]

Yep.

A bad tackle may not even result in injury and you get a 3 match ban. I think that's right because you did something wrong. But in reality you've not affected the game in any way except to make it harder for your team.

A dive may wrongly win your team points. You could change the entire league based on the way you cheated. In my opinion it should be a big punishment.

You give me the expression you value a result higher than the health of a person. I can't agree with that.

And BTW, Kurt, when is a ban a long ban to you?

[acid911]

And BTW, Kurt, when is a ban a long ban to you?

Well Kurt will answer that for himself, but I consider a 5 match ban medium length. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) For repeat offenders. I think it should be 3 match the first time, 5 the next, and 7 or more for a hardened criminal. Plus fines for the club. Of course, it requires the officials who watch the video replays to be absolutely sure, plus testimonials from the players involved.

If they are not 100%, and is somewhere between the lines, then they can give it a pass. For the record, I consider cheating and malicious tackles as two things equal, punishable, and out of the game for good!