Morning:
6°c
Arsene Wenger has claimed there is a witch hunt against Eduardo after UEFA charged the Arsenal striker over his dive' in the midweek Champions League win against Celtic.
The Croatia international faces a two- match ban if found guilty of “deceiving the referee” at a disciplinary hearing next Tuesday over the penalty he won under minimal contact from goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
Eduardo then scored the resulting spot-kick and Scottish Football Association chief Gordon Smith was sufficiently angered to brand the 26-year-old “disrespectful” and called for UEFA to act.
But Wenger hit back, insisting the decision was unfair, had set a dangerous precedent and claims the rules of football may now have been irreparably distorted.
The boss, who will be without Cesc Fabregas for tomorrow's trip to Manchester United, also revealed Eduardo has privately protested his innocence and he said: “I think it is a complete disgrace and not acceptable.
“We will not accept the way UEFA have treated this. I believe you can debate it was a penalty or not but this charge implies Eduardo tried to cheat the referee. Having seen again the pictures, nothing is conclusive on that. Again, it singles out a player in Europe to be a cheat and that is not acceptable. UEFA have taken an action that is not defendable.
“I fought my whole life against cheating and I have seen some obvious cases where UEFA didn't intervene. On and off the pitch, things have happened where UEFA did not act at all.
“In this case, it's the first time that a situation that has been judged by the referee is not accepted by the football bodies. So they open a door here which means every single decision by a referee can now be challenged.
“For me it is a witch hunt and not an objective judge of a case that has happened in the game. Eduardo has been touched by the goalkeeper and we can prove that.
“I am the first to say it does not look to be a penalty but it is another to judge that he did go down with intent. I wish you good luck to prove that, having seen the pictures again.
“When you see his leg being tackled, I don't blame him for getting out of the way of the goalkeeper. Of course, we will argue that.
“It is completely lack of logic in this case. Why? Because people have reacted emotionally, which I can understand.
“Secondly, because this case has been ruled by the media, and, thirdly, emotionally by Scotland, by the Scottish FA, and by Scottish people working at UEFA who think that this case is a bit more sensitive because they have more influence there.”
Eduardo would miss the Champions League opener against Standard Liege in Belgium on 16 September and the home clash with Greek side Olympiacos 13 days later.
A UEFA statement read: “Having studied video evidence of the incident in question, the UEFA disciplinary inspector decided to charge the player concerned. The UEFA control and disciplinary body will examine the case on 1 September.”
If Eduardo is banned it will be the first time that a referee's decision has been overturned by the football authorities.
However, in 2007 UEFA handed Lithuania winger Saulius Mikoliunas a two-match suspension after TV footage showed he dived to get a penalty against Scotland.
Reader views (27)
I think EUFA are quite correct to charge Eduardo with this. He was half way down before the keeper got near him. Did Eduardo forget he was wearing the 'RESPECT' badge on his sleeve which is supposed to be about respecting the referee and the other players. Celtic were pure and simply outclassed and there was no need for this blatant cheating.
However, Gordon Smith needs to have a look at all the SPL games involving Rangers and Celtic and the number of dodgy penalties they get week in week out.
- Duncan The Hibby, Edinburgh, 28/08/2009 16:45
Report abuse
UEFA never would have taken this action were it not for the xenophobic witch hunt conducted by the media and the Scottish FA.
You have to wonder why Ashley Young's questionable penalties last night for Villa, Gerrard's dive against Atletico last year, or Rooney's dive against Villarreal didn't elicit such a mass overreaction by the media.
If you want proof of the xenophobia in action here, just take a look at Kenny Dalglish's laughabe comments as a pundit on ITV, blaming all diving on foreigners and saying the English lads just copy these underhanded foreigners. Trying to make out this is only conducted by foreign players and that the British players are whiter than white.
And to reinforce that, check out Celtic defender Daniel Fox's comments today about how, with there being more foreign players playing in England, diving seems to be considered acceptable.
If those comments, the overreaction from the media to Eduardo's dive and the underreaction any time a British player dives, don't prove that this is xenophobia at its worst then I don't know what does.
It is patently obvious that UEFA will not enforce bans in future cases of diving because their action in this instance has been driven by the bitterness and xenophobia of the SFA and the British media!
- Dan, London, 28/08/2009 16:22
Report abuse
Football is being ruined by cheating players and insecure managers who play the cheats. It is obvious that the league and cup governing bodies have got to bring in the ten minute sin bin instead of meaningless bookings. A player who spends more time in the bin than on the pitch will soon be benched or moved on. It works in rugby and doesn't spoil the game. The cheat only damages his own team where it counts, on the pitch.
- Sid, hull, 28/08/2009 16:22
Report abuse
Is Arsene Wenger for real, all footballers cheat, they cheat the referee the fans and the public generally. Its blatant and not subtle in any way most of them are not articulate enough to really con anybody.
- Frank, Ballybay Ireland, 28/08/2009 16:17
Report abuse
It really is time for a video ref, if a player goes down ref stops play and decision goes to video ref, it works well for Rugby why not football.
- John Clark, Aberdeen, 28/08/2009 16:10
Report abuse
So what if he did dive,at the end of the day Celtic were outplayed and outclassed,they are out of the competition so just move on.Arsenal have had decisions made against them,one of those decisions cost us the champions league final.Sometimes you get the luck sometimes you dont.Celtic should move on to the Europa Cup which is more their level,and be thankful they are still in a European competition,as they are clearly not up to Champions League standard.
- Jim Ex Pat,Islington N1, thailand, 28/08/2009 16:00
Report abuse
I agree with Wenger, however his comment that “In this case, it's the first time that a situation that has been judged by the referee is not accepted by the football bodies" is incorrect.
4 years ago Michael Essien was booked for a tackle on Hamann of Liverpool. Thanks to a Sky led media crusade, UEFA decided to ban Essien for 3 games despite the referee dealing with the incident. The tackle was worthy of a red card, however plenty of tackles as bad have subsequently happened, yet nothing has been done to those players.
We either have to retrospectively issue cards / bans to everyone or do nothing. I prefer the former.
- Tom, London, 28/08/2009 15:42
Report abuse
Drogba never dived for a penalty, true he goes down like a big girls blouse, or he did, but Arsenal are a cheating club, always have been. and when their manager, who never watches the game, because he has never seen any incident, actually defends Eduardo, the mind boggles.
Did you see Ashley Young last night? I don't think either of those penalties were awarded correctly, is anyone going to do something about that? still the Villa got what they deserved. Fancy not being good enough for the Europa not very good league.
- Kerry, Purley, 28/08/2009 15:40
Report abuse
The hypocrisy of your readera astounds me. If it was one of their team memebrs facing trial by media and used facing charges under retrospectively then they woudl be up in arms. Their Manager would also be livid and compalin although probably not as eloquently as Arsene. Drop your double standards and if diving suddenly bothers you so much then lobby FIFA to make a rule chage to apply to everyone (even your palyers) from a set date. I assume other aspects of cheating such as shirt pulling , haranging the ref are all OK - until an Arsenal player does it perhaps??
- Heather, London, UK, 28/08/2009 15:40
Report abuse
Did he dive or not has been decided by the authorities.I am not an Arsenal supporter,but I find it very suspicious that now Ronaldo has gone to Real the authorities are now looking at diving and want to punish players.Fair enough, but where were you for the past few years when this player was diving all over the place to get free kicks and penalties.Methinks it stinks..
- John, benidorm,spain, 28/08/2009 15:23
Report abuse
Hello London,
Why can't footballers just play the game?.
If they want to be stuntmen they are in the wrong profession.
Cheating to try and win is without a doubt wrong,...... remember the "HAND OF GOD"?.
Only last week a rugby player owned up to having fake blood capsuals in his mouth to make the REF send off a player for a foul.
Big fines and the missing of games due to this behaviour must take place , and in some cases the player must be BANNED ALTOGETHER.
- John L., Scarborough N.YKS. England. U.K., 28/08/2009 15:19
Report abuse
So all the self righteous gooners want the same for Drogba. Don't recall any of his so called dives winning a penalty against Barcelona last season. Unlike the son of Pires against Celtic.
- Bluetooth, London, 28/08/2009 14:57
Report abuse
If the football governing board takes action against Euardo, we would then want to know if they will punish Christiano Ronaldo for all the penalties he won for United through diving and fake injuries. The problem in this country is that we want to fix the outcome of the season. Eduardo was out for more that 12 months after being 'murdered' by an opposition player. The offender was allowed to continue playing for his club while Arsenal suffered the loss of their most important player. Why was that guy not suspended for all season and criminal charges pressed against him? Why wouldnt Eduardo jump for his life after that horror. Did he ever ask for a penalty??? Was he supposed to be player & ref? We have a problem with foreign players-dominated teams in this country and unfortunately, it is only Arsenal. If a British player seriously fouls an opponent (usually a foreign opponent), it is a mischivious tackle and display of passion on the part of the British player- If a foreign player does the same, it is a 'stupid tacle'. The media and commentators are the chief culprits promoting this xenophobia. We see it, only we have no platform to say it.
Finally, congratulations to you UK, on discovering the first dive in a football match and tell you what, you are going to nip this problem in the bud. On second thoughts......, there are two many people with small minds and ...., shame on you.
- Keeno, London, 28/08/2009 14:55
Report abuse
Eevn though i am glad he has been charged,this must be the same criteria for ANY player in Europe,no matter who they are,be it Kaka,Messi,Villa, im sure it wont be long before the divers club (Drogba,Gerrard,Ronaldo,and Dani Alves) are up on the same charge.
Uefa could be opening a can of worms here,and they must deal with it in a professional manner,not just have it for the English clubs who they are not exctly fond of.
Diving and cheating is unfortunately common sight these days and i for one would love to see it disappear, though some so top class players seem to thrive on it.
- Phil, herts, 28/08/2009 14:44
Report abuse
European football's governing body. Ha! Ha! Oh dear! Ha! Sorry, thats funnier than Arsene Wenger saying the striker was taking evasive action.
- Colin Stevens, USA, 28/08/2009 14:17
Report abuse
Diving, Diving Arsenal !
- Paxton, N17, 28/08/2009 14:04
Report abuse
Drogba may go down easily but he doesn't dive.
The Voyeur didn't see the one the other night suprisingly
- Matt, Richmond, 28/08/2009 13:49
Report abuse
So a two game ban for diving, Didier Drogba will have to retire as he'll never get a game again. Christiano Ronaldo will be alright he plays for Real Madrid. Stephen Gerrard will be alright in England he's allowed to go down if a player thinks about tackling him. He's even allowed to get his retaliation in first. And Ryan Babel will be alright he spends most of the game on the bench anyway.
- Mick, London, England, 28/08/2009 13:46
Report abuse
If it helps us win Steve, who cares? There should be more of this in the game. Go support Chelsea you idiot!!!
- Andy, highgate, 28/08/2009 13:30
Report abuse
"As an Arsenal supporter I would like to thank Eduardo for letting me hear all this season the "same old Arsenal, always cheating" chant, probably starting tomorrow. Was it really worth it Arsene ?" - Steve, London
Come off it, man. We were gonna hear that regardless.
All the mug fans from other clubs always sing that. The first moment one of our players hits the floor, whether fouled or not, the opposition fans start singing that nonsense. Who cares if they start singing it now?!!!
- Mike, London, 28/08/2009 13:23
Report abuse
This is a disgrace. I expect UEFA to enforce this rule from now on with ANY player caught diving to win a penalty. However, that's extremely unlikely because it is the reaction from the SFA and from the media that has forced UEFA's hand and I guarantee there will be no such outcry in future.
The overreaction to this incident reeks of hypocrisy, double-standards and downright xenophobia. I watched Villa play Rapid Vienna last night and saw Ashley Young slump to the floor in the area twice under minimal contact, but the most I've heard about those incidents is that they were "soft" penalties.
Where are all those asking him why he didn't stay on his feet? Why he went down so easily once he was in the area, having stayed on his feet when tackled much harder a few seconds earlier? Oh no, wait, he's English isn't he and he was playing against a foreign team, so different rules apply. Luckily for Rapid they still went through, but I'm pretty certain there wouldn't have been such an uproar had Young's theatrics resulted in Vienna's exit from the competition.
Eduardo dived, that is a fact. But will UEFA be consistent and ban everybody caught diving. I don't think so, especially since most caught diving will get their punishment from the referee... a yellow card.
But somehow, Eduardo is facing a two match ban?!!! It's an utter joke!
- Steven, London, 28/08/2009 13:17
Report abuse
It's about time.
Spurs Fan.
- Phil, Raynes Park, 28/08/2009 12:56
Report abuse
Where has Article 10, paragraph 1c been kept all this time? down the back of Platin's sofa I suspect!
I, for one cannot recall any player being charged under these rules before.
If Monsieur Platini has anything to do with this charge he will, after disclosing, in today's Telegraph his dream of diving to obtain a penalty in the World Cup semi-final, be revealed as the biggest Hypocrite in football history.
- John, Hevingham UK, 28/08/2009 12:52
Report abuse
Why Mr Smith shut up and mind his own business. During the match there were other incidents more dangerous than that in volving Celtic players abd left play to go on with ou even showing a Yellow or Red card to the individual concerned. One instance the blatlant foul on A Ramsey who had to leave the pitch and left Arsenal to carry on with 10 men.
- Charles Taliana, Swieqi, MALTA, 28/08/2009 12:50
Report abuse
Is it possible that Mr Smith never saw a dive in the Scottich league? What action did he take?
With or without the dive Celtic are inferior to Arsenal in all sectors. Therfore I take it as a vendetta from MR Smith
because Celtic failed to qualify.
However I expect Mr Smith to report to EUFA every dive in the Champions league game ,like Ronaldo, Messi.Drogba and so on.
A,Messina
- A.Messina, Malta, 28/08/2009 12:46
Report abuse
As an Arsenal supporter I would like to thank Eduardo for letting me hear all this season the "same old Arsenal, always cheating" chant, probably starting tomorrow. Was it really worth it Arsene ?
- Steve, London, 28/08/2009 12:32
Report abuse
Drogba, you should be next!
- Paxton, N17, 28/08/2009 12:14
Report abuse
