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Eduardo: I knew I'd beat diving charge
15.09.09
Arsenal striker Eduardo just wants to focus on his side's Champions League clash against Standard Liege after his two-match ban was annulled by UEFA.
The Croatia forward was initially suspended for allegedly diving to win a penalty against Celtic in their Champions League qualifier at the Emirates at the end of August.
Eduardo successfully converted the spot-kick himself and the Gunners went on to win the game 3-1.
Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith was quick to call for action against Eduardo and UEFA subsequently began an investigation, which Gunners boss Arsene Wenger lambasted as a "witch-hunt".
The Premier League club lodged an appeal against the ban which would have ruled the player out of the games against Standard Liege as well as the home match with Olympiacos in a fortnight.
However, UEFA have now announced the ban has been quashed and the 26-year-old has welcomed the end of the episode.
A statement from the Croatia international on Arsenal's website read: "I'm very pleased that we have finally arrived at the truth. All we needed to do was to prove what happened and we have managed to do that. This decision makes me feel a lot better.
"I certainly feel relieved now. I have had great support from my family, friends and of course everyone at the club.
"Now I just want to forget about this and think about our match against Standard Liege on Wednesday. I was always prepared for the match in Belgium because I had good feeling and I always remained positive about the outcome.
"Now we have a final result, I can now look forward to helping the team on Wednesday night.
"All I remember of the incident is that as soon as I had possession of the ball I headed towards goal at full speed. I was very close to the Celtic keeper and felt contact on my foot and then lost my balance. I know perhaps more than anyone else that when you have contact at speed it can be dangerous.
"I just want to say that I'm a fair player. To score goals you must take your opportunities and I'm not the type of player who needs to be dishonest to score goals."
The north London club had been furious with the initial ban and welcomed UEFA's action.
A statement read: "We are grateful that the appeal body focused on the evidence and made the right decision in this case.
"We were able to show that there was contact between the goalkeeper and Eduardo and that the decision of the UEFA disciplinary body should be annulled.
"We fully support the drive for fair play in football and believe it is important that UEFA provide clear and comprehensive standards that will be consistently enforced going forward.
"We are glad to put this incident behind us and concentrate on the games ahead."
UEFA had earlier announced their final decision on www.uefa.com, saying: "The UEFA Appeals body today accepted the appeal lodged by Arsenal FC against the two-match suspension handed to striker Eduardo.
"Following examination of all the evidence, notably the declarations of both the referee and the referees' assessor, as well as the various video footage, it was not established to the panel's satisfaction that the referee had been deceived in taking his decision on the penalty.
"Therefore, the decision of the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body of 1 September, in which the player was suspended for two UEFA club competition matches, is annulled."
Reader views (13)
Paul - I also heard the idiotic nonsense spouted by the so-called expert, who no doubt has never played premership football & probably never been able to run as fast as Eduardo was when he was faced by the large figure of Boruc hurtling towards him. The fact is that the referee was in the closest position & did not rescind his decision & the UEFA appeals body obviously agreed with the him. As for Fonteyn, I prefer Darcy Bussell by a mile & would love to practise diving with her any day.
- Rob Gooner, North London
He may have touched the keeper after he had already launched himself into the air. As some expert said, if you're falling you put your hands down to save your face, you don't throw them up in the air like Dame Margot Fonteyn at her best.
- Paul, London
Jas - Eduardo clearly didnt dive, there is contact with Boruc's leg, hence the charge was dropped. Captain Black - The contact has nothing whatsoever to do with Eduardo's face & hands, its at the rear where he comes into contact with Boruc's lower body. The referee's opinion both on the pitch & having seen video evidence was taken into account, with no change in his original verdict. Eduardo comes across as a decent pro & this type of xenophobic witchhunt should cease, especially as we have our own English 'Tom Daley's', in Wayne Rooney & Steven Gerrard.
- Rob Gooner, North London
Whinge Whinge whinge, Will Arsenal FC, their Manager and fans ever stop whinging. Every time Arsenal lose a game everyone seems to be at fault except them. Their holier than thou fans gave us a fine example of what they are really like, with their racist taunts at Adebayor on saturday. They were demanding that Ferguson should apologise for the Uniteds fans behaviour towards Wenger at old Trafford a couple of weeks ago, a couple of weeks on and the same Arsenal fans are screaming racist abuse at Adebayor a former Arsenal player.
Double standards on a grand scale.
- James, Manchester England
We all knew that Eduardo will be vindicated. The English Press have had their day and they have indirectly and successfully influenced the refs decision during the England V Croatia match. There was a clear penalty when Glen Johnson fouled Eduardo in the box. No mention has been made of this. It could have changed the game. But good for him he scored a wonderful goal. Wayne Rooney dives and nobody says much about it. I rest my case.
- Jayt, Watford, UK
As a lifelong Arsenal fan of 50 years plus, Eduardo you are a cheat. If you still believe there was contact made forcing you to the ground it is only because you were already going to ground at that point. Cheating plain and simple. However, I am pleased UEFA have removed their ban as this was only going to cause issues that they could never control or adminster properly. Now perhaps in the coming close season they will issue a set of guidlines for all clubs, managers and players. If a player cheats the club pays hugely. Had Arsenal received a fine of £750,000.00 for the Eduardo fiasco, only a proportion of what they could effectively go on to capture, then I would guess a few rumblings in the boardroom would be heard. That would lead to a quiet few words in Wengers ear warning him of the consequences of his players actions. How can a manager stand so closely behind a cheating episode such as this. Come clean, earn some respect, fine Eduardo more than loose change, let the paying supporters see you mean business and get rid of this disease from the game.
- Steve, London
We are at a point where this is going to get totally out of control. If there is suspicion a player has dived, then the affair should determined solely by the arbitrators of the competition played in e.g. in the EPL by the PL or whoever. In the Chamions' League or Europa Cup, by EUFA. That decision should be final subject to one appeal to the same body but made up of a larger and different panel. Otherwise, it will bring the game down.
I agree, though, that if a player dives he should get a yellow card, unless he does so in the penalty box to get a penalty, when it should be red. Seems fair.
As to Eduardo, you only have to look at the picutre in this article; at his face and the way his hands are show that he dived.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England
Eduardo dived, just look at the pic attached to this article!!!!
The reason the charge was overturned is sensible for UEFA. If they had banned Eduardo, they would have had to potentially look at and review all similar cases in European compeition, which would be a nightmare for them. So it makes sense they overturned the charge but that does not excuse Eduardo. He dived. As do many players in the EPL, but in this particular moment of this particular game, Eduardo threw himself to the turf with no contact from Boruc.
Celtic are an honest team and they were rightly aggrieved but had the sense to acknowledge Arsenal's superiority over 2 legs and not bleat about the incident.
Unfortunately, football is full of divers these days. Only in the Scandanavian leagues or the Scottish Premier do you see a more honest type of play, the big Euro leagues are full of it.
By the way, are any England fans giggling at the thought of Portugal not making the world cup this year? And may I add, England won't win it, despite what any of the tabloid papers hope for. Brazil, Germany or Spain will lift the trophy
- Paul, Cheltenham
And the Irish are all Manc-supporters, Cathy.
- Dasilva, Brazil
I think UEFA got it wrong in the first place making such a fuss about the 'dive', which in my opinion was exactly that. They dug a hole for themselves which they have now 'filled in' again, possibly.
It won't go away until referees sort it out with bookings
for every case of taking a dive and over the next few months divers will be booked and sent off more now than ever.
There's no doubt that Gerrard looks around at the ref, even before he goes down. Rooney is a master at it. Drogba has had goals galore from his diving shennanings.
Even Alan Shearer was a past master at it. A lot of these dives have delivered an unfair three points to the above players teams, so they are successful and worthwhile. It will only stop when it has the reverse effect, i.e. 'A sending off' for each offence.
It seems as though teams with influence 'expect' the odd penalty from the ref when things are going against them.
They are all guilty of ruining the game of football and creating an unlevel playing field.
A dive is a dive no matter who does it, and a dive is cheating no matter who does it.
.
- Kevin, London
what glasses are you wearing,there was no contsct at all,any one with half a brain knew it was a dive and NOT a penalty,im sure anyone who would be given that decision against them would get a lttle upset??
again the authorities have bottled it,so from now on any player who falls even if it is as theatrically as Eduardo (the honest pro..why did he dive then??) will have a resulting penalty..
Also maybe the Arsenal fans who sung and chanted disgusting stuff at Adebuybyeor should be punished also,wasnt it just a few months ago Spurs fans were accounted for in their treatment or Sol Campbell?? if they cant take it dont dish it out
- Jas, north london
Its nice to see justice. Eduardo is an honest pro & it was clearly obvious that his trailing leg came into contact with Boruc's leg, although in my opinion it didnt warrant a penalty. As far as I am aware the referee didnt change his mind after the match & therefore there were no grounds whatsover to punish the player. In any event I find the English obsession with diving extremely strange. Although I dont condone diving, I am much more concerned with cheats who use violence on the pitch against other players, this can be as simple as fouling when tackling or as severe as Adebayor's disgusting intentional raking of Van Persie's face. This type of challenge deserves a minimum 6 match ban, lets see if the FA have the courage to set down a precedent?
- Rob Gooner, North London
........and the world knows that Eduardo is a cheat!!!
- Cathy, Ireland
