Diving (or simulation - the term used by FIFA which is used for any simulated foul, not just those resulting in a "dive") in the context of football (soccer) is an attempt by a player to gain an unfair advantage by diving to the ground and possibly simulating an injury, to appear as if a foul has been committed. Dives are often used to exaggerate the amount of contact present in a challenge. Deciding on whether a player has dived is very subjective, and one of the most controversial aspects of football discussion. Players do this so they can receive free kicks or penalty kicks, which can provide scoring opportunities, or so the opposing player receives a yellow or red card, giving their own team an advantage.

Punishment

Famous incidents

• Franny Lee of Manchester City, Derby County and England was one of the first players in English football to get a reputation for diving. In one season he scored 35 goals, 15 of which came from penalties mainly won by him. This inevitably led to accusations of simulation and he was dubbed Lee One Pen or Lee Won Pen.
• During the 1998 World Cup, in a quarter-final match between Argentina and the Netherlands, Ariel Ortega received a red card for headbutting Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, after van der Sar confronted Ortega on his play-acting attempt to draw a penalty. Ortega had already been cautioned by the referee for diving, but his "head-butt" was really only an intimidating gesture which didn't actually hit Van der Sar but Van Der Sar fell down as if he had been hit.
• A notorious incident of a player not caught simulating until after the match occurred during the Brazil vs Turkey group stage match during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Rivaldo was about to take a corner when Hakan Ünsal of Turkey kicked the ball at him, as he was annoyed about the time Rivaldo was taking and Turkey wanted to hurry up the game. Rivaldo collapsed dramatically holding his face despite the fact that the ball had hit him on his legs. Ünsal was sent off and Brazil went on to win the match. Rivaldo was fined, but the sanctions were criticised as too lenient. Rivaldo's excuse was "I was thinking in advance, I thought that the ball was going to roll up my body and hit me in the head, therefore I tried to protect myself".
• Arsenal's Robert Pires was accused of diving when he went down easily to earn his team a penalty against Portsmouth in 2003. Arsenal were 1-0 down and the resulting spot kick earned them a 1-1 draw. The Gunners would end the 2003-2004 season unbeaten and would later complete a record 49 match unbeaten streak.
• On 5 February 2006, Arjen Robben exaggerated a fall after being shoved in the face by Liverpool F.C. goalkeeper José Reina, resulting in Reina being sent off. The incident came moments after Reina had made a clumsy challenge on Eidur Gudjohnsen.
• At the 2006 World Cup, late in injury time during the Australia vs Italy game, Italian defender Fabio Grosso was controversially awarded a penalty in closing stages of the round of 16 when he appeared to simulate a dive over Lucas Neil of Australia. Italy won the match 1-0 and went on to win the World Cup.
• July 5th 2006, Thierry Henry went down at the slightest of contact from Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho to earn France a penalty kick, converted by Zinedine Zidane. France went on to defend their way for the duration of the match and set up their 2nd final appearance in the past three World Cups.
• On July 5 in the same match against France, which Portugal lost 1-0, Cristiano Ronaldo was loudly booed each time he had possession of the ball, by French and English fans alike. Ronaldo (and other members of his side) has been accused of trying to influence the referee by diving. There have been similar accusations in the past, and Ronaldo has been booked for the offence more than once in the English Premier League. Shortly after he dropped back to second place in the online voting for Best Young Player, it was reported by BBC Sport that this was partly because of an email campaign by an England supporter urging people to vote for Luis Valencia, who was the second place player to prevent Ronaldo from winning the award. Though the online vote only affected the nomination process, FIFA Technical Study Group awarded the honours to Germany's Lukas Podolski, citing Ronaldo's behaviour as a factor.
• On 28 March 2007, Steven Gerrard of Liverpool and England was accused of making a "ludicrous dive" in a failed attempt to win a penalty for England against Andorra during a Euro 2008 qualifying match.
• On October 3rd 2007, during a Champion's League game between Celtic and A.C Milan , 27-year-old Celtic fan Robert McHendry ran onto the pitch towards Dida, touched him on his shoulder, and ran away. Dida attempted to chase after the fan but fell to the ground moments later, holding the side of his face; he was eventually stretchered off the pitch with ice on his face and substituted. [1] Milan announced after the match that they would not seek any punishment against Celtic. McHendry turned himself in to police the next day and was given a lifetime ban from Celtic Park. An investigation of the incident by UEFA resulted in Dida being banned for two games for simulation, whilst Celtic were fined £25,000.

References