Some footballers think they have a right to dive - they don't

Here’s one club who is doing something about it. Australia’s Sydney FC have taken the lead and fine their players if they dive.

During an A League match against Gold Coast United, Sydney striker, Shannon Cole, took a ‘dishonest tumble’ in the penalty box. In fact there was contact made by the defender against the Sydney striker, but it was minimal and not enough to force him to fall. Sydney FC have a ‘No Diving’ policy and consequently fined Cole an undisclosed amount.

Do you know of any clubs that fine their players for cheating? Please tell us.

[Thanks to our Sportsmanship Ambassador, Francois Dumontel for alerting us to this story.]

During the interview I was moaning about the French footballer, Henri handling the ball (see 3 Wise Men) and demanding a replay in the name of Fair Play (as well as marking the end of the ‘non-video ref era’), when a wonderful Wigan FC fan phoned in (as the programme was originally about the Wigan players giving the fans their money back after Wigan were beaten  9-1 by Spurs). He  admitted that one of their players had, in fact handled the ball also, and that they, as true sportsmen, were offering Spurs the opportunity of a replay. Don’t you just love some football fans’ wit & humour? A wonderful Christmas gesture!