• Arsenal are finally living up to the hype
• Blog: Cops and robbers as Celtic come to town
• Poll: Did Eduardo dive to win the penalty?

Reader views (57)

 Add your view

Last Saturday a CELTIC player made a dive and he was caught on camera. Now I await for Mr SMITH of the Scottish FA to SUSDPEND him for 2 days like he wanted for EDWARDO.
MR SMITH show us you are not one sided.
A.Messina

- A.Messina, Malta, 02/09/2009 09:43
Report abuse

This will all make the annual Arsenal capitulation even sweeter.......

- Manila_Spur, Manila, Phillipines, 28/08/2009 09:45
Report abuse

go to youtube , see the celtic v man u game at parkhead and see how the guy dives for the freekick ,that leads to the goal for celtic.....
they have been famous for divers in there team since 1888!!

- Big Jock, kent,uk, 28/08/2009 09:02
Report abuse

Strange that Ronaldo done his 'dying swan' act on a regular basis for Man Utd, and not only got penalties but also got fellow professionals sent off, and there was nothing in the paper.

An Arsenal player is alleged to have done the same thing (got a penalty, that is) and there is uproar

- Steve Hamilton, Totnes, Devon, 28/08/2009 02:36
Report abuse

Wow! In my opinion- a poor decision- it appears Eduardo just tripped and fell - there was hardly any contact with the goalkeeper- yes - Eduardo cheated .
Another example for the FA to bring in a 4th official behind the goalposts . With the World Cup only months away, FiFa need to get video technology in place or at least a 4th official.
Games have been won and lost due to poor decisions on the part of the referees- the technology is available- lets use it.

- Shafique Motani, toronto, canada, 27/08/2009 22:39
Report abuse

UEFA won't take any action against Eduardo. If they did, then they would be taking action against players all day, every day. Apart from all that, there was contact, however minimal, so to 'prove' he 'cheated' is all but impossible. And why did we not hear this furore every time Ronaldo donned his speedos and goggles I wonder? If he had had to answer for all his diving he might as well have moved to Switzerland and lived next door to UEFA's offices!

- Redboris, Bangor NI, 27/08/2009 22:13
Report abuse

Couple of facts please. 1.Eduardo dived but it didn't make any difference to the result, but that doesn't make it correct dive. 2.Arsenal were a better team over two games..... I was at both games and in Glasgow, couple of Arsenal fans in our end had a great time and cheered their team on. Last night, we were ejected when we complained Eduarod dived and some, a minority, of Arsenal fans around us took exception to this. We were asked to leave as Arsenal fans were very aggressive. Having been at Old Trafford and Anfield in the past few years some Arsenal fans were a disgarce to their club.

Re comments about our quality. The only difference between both clubs is Sky TV money, simple as that. No point in abusing Celtic quality when we are not on level playing field. If Sky TV pulled the plug on you guys, you are down The Tube, we would survive. Enjoy the ride at present as history tells us that powerbase in fotball shifts in cycles. We will come again. Best of luck in CL group stages.

- Gutted Celtic Fan, Glasgow, 27/08/2009 20:32
Report abuse

So Captain Black it don't matter what others do. Thats an arguement is it what for being inconsistent. Ban the ref, linesman, ground staff and fans for appealing. Where does it end without replays the ref is in charge if he fails to see it and gives a pen he gives a pen, last season a player said it wasn't a pen but the ref still agve it. Ten out of ten to the first one who names that player.

- Mark, Aylesbury, 27/08/2009 19:15
Report abuse

Without a doubt the best "team" won over the two games. Yes it was a dive but I dont think it would have altered the result. Pre Sky tv income, Celtic the much bigger club,and the very first UK club to actually win this tournament would have wiped the floor with Arsenal. The sooner Sky tv goes bust the better for world football. By the way Arsenal there are actually some very good English players around...you should try them. The wee Govan man is gunning for you and Saturday.

- Glaswegian, SALOU,Spain, 27/08/2009 18:47
Report abuse

There was contact - minimal but contact nonetheless. Nothing however justifies this moral outrage from the media and public. You would think that Eduardo had killed somebody - Lets get a sense of perspective - when an English person does the same (yes you Mr Rooney at Highbury) then this is 'winning ' a penalty - and nothing made - the amount of nonsense spouted on ITV and on these pages is pathetic. By all means stamp out 'diving' in the sport - but do this properly with rules and regulations and apply it across the board not apply it retrospectively because the morons at ITV decided to make a big deal out of it.

- Heather, London, UK, 27/08/2009 18:11
Report abuse

To Jaime in Spain, the score last night was 3-1. Try and get your facts straight. To John in Hevingham, you seem to forget that both sides of the old firm have reached European finals recently, which makes them serious contenders, albeit, both were UEFA cup finals. The Celtic team at present is restricted by the fact that no quality player wants to play in the Scottish league which is admittedly poor.If Celtic or Rangers played in the English league, they would attract the type of players which would see them emerging as serious contenders in a short space of time. Both are huge clubs at present, each with a huge fan base and the potential for massive financial growth in the right environment. Celtic were poor, but 'poor' Celtic sides have silenced Blackburn, Liverpool and Manchester United in the recent past.Why did Eduardo feel the need to cheat against such a poor team bereft of quality? Arsenal got two extremely fortunate goals at Parkhead and felt the need to cheat their way to a third in order to defeat Celtic.Last night was the first time in recent memory that Celtic have been humbled by an English team. There is an undoubted gulf in class but Arsenal still needed two flooks and a diving cheat to send them on their way.

- Andy, Edinburgh, 27/08/2009 17:58
Report abuse

Rob, just look up, that's where you'll find us....

- Mark, St Albans, 27/08/2009 17:39
Report abuse

Captain Black Of The Mysterons,

If people didn't want only Arsenal players banned, or more importantly only foreign players banned when they cheat against British teams, then why the furore over this incident when hundreds of other instances of simulation (some perpetrated against Arsenal) haven't caused such a media outcry?!!!

I think it's quite obvious that Eduardo is being unfairly crucified because he dared to dive against a British team, plus he plays for Arsenal who are barely considered an English club these days due to their lack of English players. If this had been a player from United/Liverpool (the media darlings) and especially if it was an English player diving against foreign opposition, there never would have been such a reaction and certainly not calls to have the player banned!!!

There is no doubt that Eduardo dived, and those involved with Arsenal from the management to the fans can't justify it by claiming that "everybody does it", but the hypocrisy and obvious xenophobia demonstrated in the overreaction to this incident is truly laughable.

People should now scrutinise the reaction of the media to any similar incidents that arise this season involving players from other clubs and especially English players.

I'm pretty certain the outcry will not be on anywhere near the same level and the words "cheat" and "ban" won't even be mentioned!

- Mike, London, 27/08/2009 17:26
Report abuse

Hey there everybody, first let me begin with saying that these comments coming from Mr Gordon Smith at the SFA are his own and should in no way be read as anything but his.
This same incident happens all over the World every single week in what probably amounts to hundreds if not thousands of games.I noticed that the celtic manager himself has dismissed the incident and admitted that the best team had won.
It is a blight on the game as a whole that we have such cheats plying their trade and getting paid plenty for it into the bargain.
I am left to wonder as to WHY Mr Smith has taken it upon himself to have a go at this cheat 'Eduardo' given that celtic players have been diving around now for many years themselves, namely Larsson, Moravachek, Nakamoura, McGeady, Maloney, Petrov (now at Villa), and worse of all (sinse wee Henrik) McDonald.... now these guys were and are Real Good at diving in and around the box (most weeks) now the question is this : Will Mr Gordon Smith of The SFA report Celtic to the UEFA peoples as well for their blatent cheating ?

- Alan, Glasgow, 27/08/2009 16:57
Report abuse

Players cheat all over the place to get goals and prevent goals, pulling shirts, blocking players' runs, so why the big deal about diving? If a player holds back a defender on a corner or freekick and it leads to a goal, I don't hear anyone calling for that player to get a retrospective ban. It's still cheating, and the player knows exactly what they're doing. I think it's down to referees to make better decisions, maybe with the support of video evidence or extra officials.

Can anyone explain the difference to me?

- Steve, London, 27/08/2009 16:47
Report abuse

The third goal in this game was absolutely crucial. Mowbray even went so far as to say in the press conference that if Arsenal scored first the tie was over.An unusual step for a manager to take before a game. Due to Eduardo's cheating, Arsenal had the cushion they needed to relax and play their game without any pressure.There is no doubting the difference in class between the teams but it would have been interesting to see how they reacted to the pressure of Celtic scoring first, and then pushing for the equaliser. Celtic have proved that they can be a match for the best of the European teams, and have upset the odds many times. Eduardo's deceit robbed the spectators of a potentially fascinating encounter. Wenger should also admit that his player cheated. To say otherwise is disrespectful to Celtic, and anyone else with half a brain and the power of sight.

- Andy, Edinburgh, Scotland, 27/08/2009 16:20
Report abuse

Tony, how crass of you. People don't want Arsenal players alone banned - a touch of Wenger-esque paranoia there, I think - but all who cheat whoever they play for in whatever sport.

- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 27/08/2009 16:17
Report abuse

The only disrespect shown to football last night was by Celtic for turning up with such a poor team. Totally bereft of quality and with only the vaguest notion of how to play football.

Their attempts, and those of Rangers to get themselves admitted to the Premier League look ever more ludicrous.

I wish Celtic well in The Europa League but cannot for the life of me see them as serious contenders.

- John, Hevingham UK, 27/08/2009 16:12
Report abuse

Shall we all try and cut to the chase? Did he dive? If he dived, is he cheat?

I did not watch the game, so I cannot comment on question 1. If, however, the european authorities, who are said to be going to look into this, find that he did, how on earth can any self-respecting football supporter, Goon or otherwise, say he's anything other than a cheat? It beggars belief.

What others do or have done is neither here nor there, whether it be to the Arsenal or anyone esle. A cheat is a cheat - end of story. So, Rob Gooner, alias Rob Hotspurs, argue your way out of that, old son.

- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 27/08/2009 16:11
Report abuse

mark uxbrige
your well hard

- Phil Afc, london, 27/08/2009 16:09
Report abuse

The Celtic supporters can gripe as much as they like, but they lost at home 2-0 and lost 3-0 away. Eduardo´s penalty would not have made any difference in the long run. Celtic were beaten by a far better team.

- Jaime, Madrid, Spain, 27/08/2009 16:06
Report abuse

In rugby someone cheats - they get banned for 12 months the coach resigns and it's a massive scandal. In football it happens all the time. Football is a joke, a simple game for simple people played by overpaid cheating rolling around on the floor babies. It's more like WWE wrestling than a sport. I think the FA should go watch a few rugby games and instil zero tolerance on ANY backchat towards the officials, ban players for cheating. Send players off for swearing and ban players for being pathetic wimps when they get a knock or see blood. If they did this, there would be no football and the sporting World would be a better place.

- Dd, London, 27/08/2009 15:45
Report abuse

Alan, Guildford: what possible relevance to the issue is your posting!

- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 27/08/2009 15:39
Report abuse

Graham, London:-

1. Two wrongs do not make a right; you should know that.

2. Is that an admission of guilt in your posting?

- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 27/08/2009 15:38
Report abuse

I just wonder how much press noise there would have been if this incident had not occurred against a fellow British side. The normal penalty for someone diving is I believe a yellow card - not a two match suspension as we see week in week out when a player is caught - so if any penalty is to be incurred for what was dubious moment then it should be a yellow card, either that or we straight red any instance of 'diving' and then suffer the indignation of thousands of fans as their player is incorrectly sent off. Tough to get it right, but if we are to have a rule then it has to be implemented across the board and not just when the press decide that it is worthy of selling a few papers.

- Julian, Amsterdam, 27/08/2009 15:34
Report abuse

Lets deal with the facts here shall we?

Did Eduardo take evasive action? Yes
Did Boruc make contact with Eduardo? Yes
Did Eduardo claim a pen? No
Therefore did Eduardo cheat? No
Can you justify it as warranting a pen? No
Did the ref get the decision wrong? Yes
Would you complain if it was your team receiving the benefit? No
Would you whinge if it was the opposing team or any other team receiving the benefit? Yes

All teams have benefited and suffered from such decisions and it will even itself out. The lot of you are hypocrites to suggest otherwise. Please can everybody put their toys back in their prams. Thanks.

- Jp, We won the league at WHL (twice), 27/08/2009 15:15
Report abuse

Mark from Uxbridge; thanks for the lessons on your courage as a footballer all kids should learn from IF YOU WERE A PLAYER OF EDUARDO'S CALIBER, but YOU ARE NOT?

Mc from London; Ferguson condemned Rooney for the blatant dive v Arsenal, or Ronaldo for constant diving, or Chelsea managers condemned Lampard and Drogba's divings, or Benitez condemned Torres and Babbel diving! (NOT!)
So just leave it, don't delive opinion, it does not suit you!

- Alan, Guildford, 27/08/2009 14:55
Report abuse

It is amazing how short sighted the British press can be. A foreign player dives and he should be hanged, an English player (Rooney, Gerrard, Owen) dives and the incident dies at source. Why can't they show decency and condemn across the board. Diving is a disgrace, no matter who commits it. As an Arsenal fan I was very annoyed at the award of the penalty. Now the British press should concentrate on STUPID Sett Blatter for refusing technology in football when it has been used in every other sport I have watched and not ruined it. In fact technology has enhanced the watchability of the sport rather than harm it. OUT WITH BLATTER, IN WITH COMMON SENSE.

- Sorie Kamara 'Kamsoman', London, UK, 27/08/2009 14:18
Report abuse

I can't believe that nobody has noticed the keepers knee knocks Eduardo's right leg into his left leg, you can only see it from the camera angle behind the goal.
Of all the players in the premiership, Eduardo is one of the least likely to dive, he doesn't need to. You all know how good a finisher he is so stop with the sour grapes. PLEASE!!!
Just as another point, has anyone noticed how good espn's coverage of games has been compared to itv, setanta and sky? They've had un-biased commentary teams, good studio guests and the cameras have concentrated on the ball in play, not long lingering views of the bench and directors box. (missing half the action).
Good work Espn
The only reason your all moaning about Eduardo today is the miserable pundits on itv last night.

- Dave, Islington, London, England, 27/08/2009 14:04
Report abuse

well done arsenal worthy winners,although eduardo's dive would have made a u-boat captain proud

- John Mckim, glasgow.uk, 27/08/2009 14:02
Report abuse

He dived - remember Arsen's comments 2 weeks ago that he sometimes lies. Anyone found to be diving should have a retrospective punishment equivalent to the card they would have received on the pitch i.e. yellow if it is the only transgression or Red if the person has already or subsequently receives a Yellow in the same game.

That goes for any player from any team.

- Jon, london,England, 27/08/2009 13:44
Report abuse

can you imaging what would happen if players were banned who 'dived'. there would be no italian players playing football, all the premier league teams would have half their players banned. but why stop when players 'fall over' in the penalty area? why not all over the pitch? look at all the goalkeepers who fake fouls - why not ban them as well. all these people who want arsenal players banned are just hypocrites.

- Tony, london, 27/08/2009 13:22
Report abuse

oh poor robthe goner,Arsenal are the only team that get fouled and picked on..poor boys.what a lot of rubbish !!for your info i had the same injury if not worse that Eduardo had and i still have a pin in my leg from knee to ankle,i was back playing in 14 months with very limited physiotherapy.
i went back and played with full commitment and never cheated or pulled out of anything,so for him too dive cos he or you thought he might get hurt is nonsense.
you seem to have been quiet lately but now your back with your repetative yawn.
soon im sure you will be saying how refreshing the gooner kids are in the carling cup,and how amazing AW is.

- Mark, uxbridge, 27/08/2009 13:17
Report abuse

The fact of the matter is that although it was a blatant dive Wenger could not bring himself to admit it. Says a lot about the man and a sport that is truly in the gutter.

- James Town, Braintree UK, 27/08/2009 13:14
Report abuse

Lot of fuss about nothing. The ref gave a penalty, he was closest to the play and hasnt said that he was wrong. By the way Eduardo didnt claim a penalty and who can blame him for keeping out of the way of a charging overweight Boruc.

- Robinho Gooninhio, Sao Paolo, 27/08/2009 13:11
Report abuse

I wonder if the ex-Arsenal Olympic diver Robert Pires taught Eduardo how to dive. I've always wondered why there was a swimming pool on their training ground - now I know!

- Mc, London, 27/08/2009 13:05
Report abuse

Cheating by diving is ruining football. It would be great to see football having the same attitude of Rugby with Harlequins found out faking an injury leading to suspensions for player and manager as well as a massive fine for the club. We clearly need video referees as well as penalties given against players that dive as well as suspensions for repeat offenders.

- Tony Gosling, London, 27/08/2009 13:05
Report abuse

was never a penalty & studying it it looks like Eduardo tripped himself, anyway the best team over 2 legs won.

Uefa will take no action, why? well when the have the biggest diver as european/world player of the year wot do you think?? all the best Arsenal

- Brian Rattray, Aberdeen, 27/08/2009 13:01
Report abuse

How can Wenger remark on Ryan Babel? Robert Pires, Robert Pires, Robert Pires!

- Jamie Silver, London, 27/08/2009 13:00
Report abuse

Eduardo did not look up and ask for a penalty-
The Bhoys were thrashed in both matches.
Try to remember that after the dreadful broken leg suffered by Eduardo last season, it is no wonder he does try and protect himself.
And hey. Terry.4 games. Hah, how many goals, eat your heart out. Watch saturdays match. Man U will suffer defeat again.
And Spurs will end up half way down the division

- Jaberwokie, Bern, 27/08/2009 12:57
Report abuse

Obviously the Totenham fans are coming up with their comments. I see someone dive every week Ronney has done it to Arsenal on at least one occassion and David Ginola was as we all know a terrible diver together with Jurgen Klinsman, and Owen has done it for England. Strangley no one wanted anyone banned on those occassions. I don't like diving it shouldn't happen but it does but if you were to take action against Eduardo take action against everyone else and don't all lets be a hypocrites about it. Plus if you were to take action on this take action against the ref as well because he was the one that gave the pen.

- Mark, Aylesbury, 27/08/2009 12:42
Report abuse

Was it a penalty - no! But how many times has this happened in the past? Player goes down, minimal contact (if any) = penalty. Why is this time so different from the others, I can think of several others, far worse than Eduardo, who repeatedly dive. At the end of the day, the right team went through.

- Rachel, Devon, 27/08/2009 12:33
Report abuse

This is a great shame as Eduardo is possibly the greatest natural finisher English football has seen since the days of Robbie Fowler in his pomp and he really doesn't need to do it.

- Mark, South-East London, 27/08/2009 12:29
Report abuse

Mark & Jamie - Arsenal are continually cheated against by opposing players fouling our players to gain advantage. I see little difference between players kicking, pulling shirts, obstructing etc & diving, as they are all forms of cheating. However, I cant recall anyone being put out of the game for 12 months, by diving, yet true cheats such as Birmingham's Martin Taylor can hardly claim the same. In this case my instincts are that it was not a penalty. However, the referee was in the closest position to see the incident & has not, as far as I know, has not said that his decision was wrong. There may have been minimal contact seen by the referee causing Eduardo to fall, in any event he did not claim the penalty. mark - presumably your team are on another Carling cup run?

- Rob Gooner, North London, 27/08/2009 12:27
Report abuse

Imagine if the decision went against Wenger, we would have been treated to a wonderful tantrum.
A good start from his foreign 11 but it won't last, no strenth in depth in their squad, another season without a trophy, plus no Champions league next season or Fabregas, God knows what team Rob the Gonner will be following with his patronising one sided comments.

- Terry, London, 27/08/2009 12:17
Report abuse

the solution here is simple: the next act of cheating to gain a penalty (a different level of offence outside a penalty area) will carry a risk of a 12 match ban.

- Peter Bench, London, 27/08/2009 12:15
Report abuse

Another reason to bring in video technology a.s.a.p. -I'm not saying Arsenal weren't by far the better team last night, but with Celtic 2-nil down, whoever scored next goal was crucial to the tie. -And so it proved!

- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 27/08/2009 12:13
Report abuse

Eduardo`s injury involving Taylor has nothing to do with this incident, any bloke with an eyesight better than Stevie Wonder could see it was a dive, the nonsense of him trying to protect himself from the keeper is just fantasy,if he is scared of going for a ball with the oppurtunity to score,he should not be on the pitch..football is becoming a no contact sport as it is,and to many of these soft centered players are using it to their advantage.
what happened in the past in other games,so before thew gooners start harpimg on about their misfortune about Babbel last yr,have they forgotten about all the diving Pires got away with.
there is no defence,it was a blatant dive and he knew it,as do any other fan with decent vision..Eduardo didnt appeal for the penalty as it was NOT a penalty to appeal for..

- Mark, uxbridge, 27/08/2009 11:58
Report abuse

I am not surprised by everyone especially the press jumping on the bandwagon. This is a feast for them and they would like to 'sell' the news to whoever wants to believe it. As Wenger rightly said, we were knocked out by Liverpool following a dodgy penalty and no apologies were made. Everyone was happy and the press did not say much about it because their 'prefered' team went through. As a gooner I am enjoying the win and no one can take it away from us full stop! By the way, there was someone pointing a laser at Edouardo eye when he was about to take the penalty. I have not seen that in the press today. Perhaps some form of punishment shuld be given to whoever did it. Come on the gooners. We will give many teams a good run for their money. This might be our season!

- Jayt, Watford, UK, 27/08/2009 11:47
Report abuse

Rob the fault lies with the player that has CHEATED the ref.
Take off your blinker's be a man & admit what every one else saw.

- Jamie, essex, 27/08/2009 11:46
Report abuse

Rob Gooner is back and still full of it. If an opposing team did the same thing to arsenal, he would be up in arms.

The gooner cheated, plain and simple and he should be punished. I can't wait until arsenal are knocked out this year, hopefully by the same thing.

Remember Rob, CHEATS NEVER PROSPER!

- Mark, St Albans, 27/08/2009 11:39
Report abuse

Im amazed to hear this critisicm of Eduardo, who did not even appeal for the penalty. Presumably he was supposed to smash into the keeper to earn a penalty & risk injuring himself. Players continually cheat by intentionally fouling, but thats okay. So presumably we can also use tv evidence to punish players who pull shirts, kick players & cheat in general. Eduardo himself was the victim of an awful piece of thuggery from Birmingham's Martin Taylor resulting in a career threatening injury, which should have resulted in a lengthy ban for the offending player, did it? I agree this incident did not appear to be penalty, but the fault clearly lies with the referee who made the decision or bearing in mind his positioning did he see contact?

- Rob Gooner, North London, 27/08/2009 11:10
Report abuse

DEX, pull yourself together. It was Men against B(h)oys, Celtic were so inferior over 2 legs it was embarassing. If Arsenal needed another 5, they would have scored them, even without Fabregas, Van Persie and Arshavin on the bench!
Rooney, Owen and Gerrard regularly dive to win penalties, but this is never highlighted, with no one getting so outraged.Arsenal totally outclassed Celtic in 2 games; the opposite manager says they were superior and deserved to win. Yet, the English papers love to bash foreign players, especially if they play for Arsenal!

- Alan, Guildford, 27/08/2009 11:00
Report abuse

Beautiful football by Arsenal soured by an Olympic quality dive!!

- Clive, shortlands uk, 27/08/2009 10:54
Report abuse

I didn't see Babel get banned for diving to win a penalty against Arsenal a couple of seasons back, nor Rooney when he did the same having not been touched by Sol Campbell. If divers are to be punished post event then so be it, it is cheating, but it must be the same for everyone.

- Graham, London, UK, 27/08/2009 10:42
Report abuse

Wenger strikes again. Whining about something that happenned two years ago in an attempt to avoid the question. Eduardo disgusted me last night. Arsenal do not deserve to go through. They were lucky in the first leg and cheated in the second.

- Dex, liverpool, 27/08/2009 10:08
Report abuse

Video footage shows the appalling behaviour of Eduardo. Whilst the referee had no choice but to make his decision at the time and he obviously thought there was contact, incidents like this should be looked at when the game is over. It makes it worse when it was so obvious that he had lost control of the ball and went for the penalty instead. He should be heavily fined and banned for a few games. I doubt whether he will be professional enough to make an apology....!

- Dave, gloucester, 27/08/2009 10:07
Report abuse

Add your comment