UEFA and the FA's intentions may be well intentioned but the application of these new guidelines is going to open up a can of worms.
I recall writing a blog last season about a perceived trend of players 'simulating' in the A-league at the time. Adrian Trinidad was the principal offender being discussed, after winning a contentious penalty decision that ultimately decided a result.
My fairly naïve argument at the time was that technology should not be introduced to review these decisions, that basically the inherent 'goodness' of mankind would win through in the end and that these real time judgements by referees would all even up 'in the wash' so to speak. To an extent I still hold to the later theory.
Recent incidents in the EPL, SPL and Champions League and UEFA's tough new stance has thrown a considerable spotlight on this issue yet again. Arsenal's Eduardo has been suspended for two games after video review for 'deceiving the referee' and winning a decisive penalty as a consequence.
For Arsene Wenger, a culmination of perceived injustices manifested in the amusing sight of him being banished to the stands towards the end of the Manchester United v Arsenal blockbuster match last weekend.
Of course, the ever elegant Frenchman found himself with literally nowhere to go, climbing on top of what looked like the roof of the players tunnel, and standing there surrounded by United fans that were enjoying a moment so sublime in its absurdity that I don't think they knew whether to hurl invective, or shake Mr Wenger's hand. Certainly, Wenger at least looked amused (even if he was the likely recipient of some fairly nasty abuse).
During the week Wenger had expressed disgust at UEFA's 'witchunt' in regard to Eduardo's alleged dive, claiming that they could not objectively determine that Eduardo had in fact intentionally sought to deceive the referee. To an extent, his argument is a good one. More on this point later.
The Man United v Arsenal contest really could not have brought the issue to a head more clearly as several decisions really highlighted how problematic policing 'deliberate' deception actually is.
There was a non-penalty for Darren Fletcher's clattering of Andrei Arshavin in the box. Then a decisive penalty awarded to Wayne Rooney after firstly losing control of the ball prior to being touched by the keeper. He also appeared to begin to fall prior to contact. Eboue 'simulated' outside the box late in the game and was carded for it. The game ended with Arsenal robbed of a result by a line ball offside call (and I'm a Spurs fan!).
Little wonder Wenger did the old 'Dave Mitchell'in frustration. UEFA and FA clearly need to make sure all innocent water bottles are not abused in this way, so its fair enough I guess.
All of this drama, particularly the Rooney penalty, contrasted against the Eduardo incident, suggests we will have some really interesting talking points this season. Was Rooney guilty of deception of the referee? If he was falling prior to contact, was it deliberate? What about the fact that he had effectively kicked the ball out of play?
The same questions are likely to asked of some penalty decisions in the A-league this season, although I sense that we don't have as many players that tend to fall over with the slightest of touches.
For me the 'dark arts' as it has been described previously here, can be categorised into two distinct realms. The first are those actions that do not deceive but skirt the line of professional fouling (ie subtle shirt pulling, climbing over, clipping etc), the second is however much more insidious, and that is blatant cheating through deception. This is the realm of simulation, and the more I see it, the more I believe that the actions UEFA/FA have taken will certainly make players who resort to this stuff think twice.
There are a couple of players I can think of who need to keep their feet with a little more determination (and one of these is a Mariners player). For those of us who have played this great game always in the spirit intended, it is very difficult to understand the reasons why a player would seek to compromise their character by deception.
However, as Arsene Wenger has pointed out, objectively judging these acts and effectively branding a player a cheat presents a major dilemma for administrators.
Briefly, in previewing the weekend's game for the Mariners against Perth, all I can say is that the team needs to lift itself back to the type of intensity displayed in the opening game. The last few weeks have been very ordinary, with the only positives being the workrate of McGlinchey, good defensive organisation and the promise of Nicky Travis.
I'd like to see Travis in the starting line up, he seems to have quality touch, and good passing skills. I think he could provide the attacking flair that is missing at the moment.
The addition of Jamaican international Wolry Wolfe also looks interesting. If he gets a cameo in Canberra it will add another talking point for the game I'm sure. Mariners fans need a bit of a lift, so Lawrie needs to do something a bit different on Friday night, and catch Glory unprepared.
I'd love to see Dave Mitchell assaulting the water bottle again.
