Kyle Walker insists Tottenham team-mate Gareth Bale is no diver
Kyle Walker insists Tottenham team-mate Gareth Bale is no diver and deserves more protection from match officials.
Last Updated: 15/12/12 1:13pm
Flying winger Bale has been booked in his last two Premier League outings for simulation, with the Wales international starting to earn an unwanted reputation for going to ground too easily.
Walker, though, is adamant that his club colleague is no cheat, with Bale's pace meaning it does not take much to knock him off balance and send him tumbling to the turf.
He said: "If you get kicked and just stop, you are never going to get the foul. But if you go down you get the foul, so what else can you do?
"He has not said much to me about it and I have not really taken much notice of it. I didn't realise it was two yellows. I just think Gareth is trying to get out of the way a lot of the time.
"You all know how quick he is and sometimes he can knock that ball before you have even moved and you end up catching him.
"I don't know if he falls down dramatically but the referees are sometimes not giving him fouls and maybe that is something they need to look at.
"It's quite possible he will end up with a reputation but refs should take into consideration that sometimes he's going to get caught.
"What is the line, though? You don't want to roll around like a baby but, come on, I've got a touch here and it deserves a free-kick. It is such a fine line. I know if I touch anybody else in the box they are going to go down. What is the difference?"
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