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Sydney FC should be congratulated for “drawing a line in the sand” over diving. And Craig Moore is right that many NRL and AFL fans view divers as “sissies.” But will Sydney’s anti-diving stance have any effect or is it just a clever ploy for publicity?
The Sky Blues were incensed when striker Mark Bridge was handed a two-match ban during the week for his stoush with Melbourne Victory defender Roddy Vargas in a fiery season opener.
Sydney CEO Dirk Melton told The Daily Telegraph’s football writer Tom Smithies his club wanted to take a stand, announcing an official club policy of “no simulation.”
“This is an excellent opportunity for our club to draw a line in the sand and say we won’t dive,” Melton said.
“It is important for all in the game to acknowledge that Australians do not look favourably on anyone in sport who deliberately tries to milk a free kick or penalty.”
Technically speaking, Vargas didn’t actually dive but rather feigned injury and while the merits of Melton’s sentiment are up for debate, what shouldn’t be overlooked is the fact Bridge clearly strikes Vargas with an elbow to the throat.
And while Melton agreed Bridge’s reaction was inappropriate, Sydney FC have effectively created a smokescreen around the player by publicly proclaiming an anti-diving stance.
It’s an interesting tactic in that it raises as many questions as it does provide answers.
Will referees suddenly feel pressured to start awarding Nicky Carle free-kicks and penalties every time he tumbles under a challenge, simply because Sydney FC are self-proclaimed “anti-divers?”
Or will the Sydney players start self-policing tackles, standing over players with a snarl in a manner once perfected by none other than Kevin Muscat himself?
And what happens if one of the Sydney players is caught diving? Who decides it’s a dive and what punishment will be meted out?
The whole thing smacks of an attempt by Sydney FC to divert attention away from Bridge’s dismissal-worthy retaliation and place the focus elsewhere.
And with coach Vitezslav Lavicka under pressure following last season’s disappointing campaign, it makes sense to try and fuel a siege mentality around the club in a bid to inspire some results.
That said, there’s no doubt many fans are turned off by diving and as former Socceroos skipper Moore suggests, it’s an aspect of the game pilloried by fans of rival sports.
Bridge undoubtedly raised him arm towards Vargas but the Melbourne Victory defender deserves a cameo in ‘Home And Away’ for his dramatic interpretation of events thereafter.
Perhaps the most salient point to come from Bridge’s dismissal is the fact the judicial process doesn’t allow for players to personally state their case to the match review panel.
That means the referee’s interpretation essentially trumps that of any player dismissed, without so much as an opportunity for the player to explain his actions.
Whether there’s scope for the system to change this season remains to be seen, but Melton is right to suggest it’s not a particularly fair means of handing out suspensions.
As for drawing a line in the sand over diving, it seems more of a case of drawing attention away from the ill discipline of one of their own players than a genuine attempt to set a principle.
Diving and feigning injury is certainly a blight on the world game but it’s not an especially prevalent one in the A-League, so heaven help the first Sydney FC player to go down easily under a challenge because the weight of every fan of a rival A-League club could soon come crashing down upon them.