Manchester United won a second ‘dodgy’ penalty in a row in their 4-0 win over Aston Villa this weekend. Could there be repercussions?
For all the talk of foreigners and diving, it is England star Ashley Young who has caused the biggest storm of its kind this season.
Nobody is suggesting there was not contact between him and Shaun Derry against QPR and Villa’s Ciaran Clark, but it is fair to say Young made a meal of it on both occasions.
When even his own manager suggested the same, you know there is something amiss.
“I think it was a dramatic fall, I think maybe he overdid the fall. But it was a penalty, there was no doubt about that. I don’t think there can be any complaints as he does take him.”
‘Overdoing the fall’ constitutes manipulation of the situation ie. exaggeration and essentially diving.
Even Newcastle United defender joined the debate – calling Young a ‘disgrace’ and a ‘cheat’.
Is it time for football’s authorities to get tough?
This is not a crusade against Ashley Young. There have been a number of high-profile instances of players being accused of diving this season.
Gareth Bale, Andy Carroll, Didier Drogba and Luis Suarez have all either been booked or had to defend themselves from accusations from opposing fans.
Whenever a World Cup comes around, FIFA bangs the drum about how diving is killing the game, nobody is punished- perhaps the odd booking, and then it goes away again.
When our eyes to turn Spain’s ‘El Clasico’ meeting between Barcelona and Real Madrid this weekend, there will likely be all sorts of polished theatrics which will leave Ashley Young thinking he needs to go back to drama school.
Should the FA get tough?
United fans would see any action against Young as a double standard- and claim ‘witchhunt’ as they did when Wayne Rooney was punished for swearing at a camera, but sooner or later an incident is going to occur which is the straw that breaks the camel’s back- and why not this one?
We think they should get tough, but how they do it is up to them. The way we see it they have two options.
a) Ban Ashley Young for one game to serve as a punishment and a deterrent/warning to others who cannot ‘stay on their feet’
b) Set up a three-man advisory panel for next season made up of ex-players, who can assess referred incidents swiftly and on a game-by game basis post-match, dishing out one-game bans if they are warranted.
You can bet, especially with the second, it would eradicate the problem.
As for Young, expect Ferguson to have a quiet word in his ear and watch him become a reformed character between now and the end of the season.
What do you think- should Young be banned or is a new set of disciplinary rules across the board the way to deal with simulation?
image: © nasmac
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