Hackett - Diving 'under control'

Referees' chief says issue of simulation is no longer a 'major problem'

Last updated: 6th May 2008

Referee Steve Bennett yellow booking

Referees: Diving under control?

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Referees' chief Keith Hackett believes the issue of diving is no longer a 'major problem' in the Premier League.

Hackett, the general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, has cited official analysis on his organisation's website, which showed only two instances of referees being duped across 100 top-flight fixtures this season.

"Of course it is a controversial issue but it's under control and at present I don't see it as a major problem in our game and credit must go to the managers and players for that," Hackett said.

"Ultimately, trying to con the referee is deliberate cheating and that has no part in football in this country."

Doubled

However, yellow card statistics indicate instances of 'simulation' have more than doubled this term, with 18 players cautioned for the offence this season compared to eight in the 2006/07 campaign.

Hackett conceded that it is near impossible to completely eradicate the problem of simulation.

He said in The Guardian: "The speed of action in the Premier League has increased by around 40 per cent over the last four years alone, which means that it is very difficult for match officials to distinguish between a genuine foul and a cynical attempt to deceive the referee.

"But for this reason, it's vital that assistant referees let the referee know their interpretation of a situation rather than leave them to reach a decision based solely on what he has seen."

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Comments

Phil Nolan (Derby County fan) says...

Whilst diving has been an important issue in Football over recent years, I think it is actually part of a larger under lying-problem. In my opinion referees just aren't consitent enough. As a Derby County fan I have seen examples of this all season long. A foul may be given to an Arsenal or a Man Utd player, but not to a Derby or Fulham player. It is lack of consistency that infurates players , managers and fans, and with Football now more of a business than a sport, mistakes from referees can cost money and jobs. Something must be done to get this needed level of consisitency. A good starting point would be for the FA, Keith Hackett and the other respective bodies to show a bit more bottle. Petty fines are given out for incidents to both clubs and players. Therfore they don't respect the rules and the referees because the fine they will get is just pocket change to them. Clubs need to be hit where it hurts, with points diductions for major incidents and players shud be given suspensions. I have seen a number of occasions this season where players have surrouded the referee. They are trying to goad him intomaking a decision in their favour next time. But with little support coming from Keith Hackett the referees will always be in consistet because they don't know whter they are doing right or wrong, and therfore the problem will not go away. In Rugby players respect the Referee, he is in charge. They respect him and because of that the games run smoothly and fairly. Power needs to be given back to the referees and the starting point is to get players to respect his authority.

Posted 09:55 6th May 2008

Gary Lacey (Reading fan) says...

I think that its not rocket science to see that it just as bad as last season with diving if you watch Drogba every week he goes down like he's been shot like against man u last week when he grabbed his eye when no one was near him its a disgrace, Also why cant Hackett just watch games after a match when instances of diving has occurred and then fine or ban the players after the match then this would solve the problem all together its a complete joke

Posted 09:48 6th May 2008

M Jeffris (Arsenal fan) says...

Everyone watching at home, including the children, see the diving. There is no good reason officials could not review video after the matches. Post game yellow cards might do the trick.

Posted 09:40 6th May 2008

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