To see the yellow-and-blue tumbleweed - otherwise known as Neymar - roll around on the turf during Brazil’s World Cup win over Mexico may offend some who watch soccer.
Sometimes Neymar was truly fouled, resulting in a grab of the ankle or shin and a roll or two on the grass. Sometimes the histrionics were so great it seemed as if someone had set the striker on fire right there in Russia and he was trying to extinguish himself.
The optics are a problem for soccer.
The sport gets few windows, the ongoing World Cup for example, in which it can lure first-time viewers. Trying to get those who follow traditional sports where diving, as Neymar’s actions are called by soccer supporters, is anathema. It can turn off neophyte viewers for good or give a tainted opinion of the sport.
Neymar isn’t alone with the antics. If it helps, some soccer players aren’t fans of the diving either.
“There are players around the world that try to use it as a strategic advantage,” Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan. “They do it for all sorts of reasons. You don’t like to see the diving, the embellishment of a foul. You just want to see a proper game, played hard, in the right ways.”
So, why is there diving?
One reason is to influence the referee to call a foul, which can set up a goal-scoring chance with a free kick, or the jackpot combination of foul, yellow or red card, free kick and goal.
It is not exclusive to soccer, players insist.
To the purists of sports that are of most interest in North America, blatant attempts to influence officials or to create strategical advantages happens in football, baseball and basketball. All the time. It’s just done differently.
In football, pick a play in which a cornerback or wide receiver gets up either throwing an imaginary flag or simulating a push, an indication there was interference. Holding calls are asked for on nearly every play, with defenders falling to the ground with arms raised as if indicating even those in heaven could see the infraction. Attempts to influence.
In baseball, batters will stand like a statue if they think a pitch is even five millimeters off the plate to try to influence an umpire that it was five feet wide of the strike zone. Managers arguing balls and strikes? Attempts to influence.
In basketball, men who are 7-feet tall and 250 pounds will tumble at the slightest contact, or sometimes none at all, to try to influence the referee to call a charge. Some with throw up shots that they wouldn’t attempt in a game of HORSE should a defender get within their personal space to convince a referee that they were fouled in the act of shooting. Attempts to influence.
Some sports, where winners are based upon judges’ scoring, may not be nearly as exciting without the ability to influence officials with whatever is allowed within the rules.
While diving may offend some, it’s not unique to soccer. It just takes on different forms in different sports.
“I think you have it in every sport, not just in soccer,” Atlanta United midfielder Julian Gressel said.
Gressel admits he has gone to the ground in the past to try to gain influence. He said it’s not like all 22 players on the field are hitting the ground at the same time like the world’s worst flash mob.
“It’s 2-3 guys here, 1-2 guys there,” he said. “It’s not like it happens a lot. Haven’t had a guy in MLS that’s diving around, just looks for fouls basically. I don’t think it hurts the sport in that sense.”
It’s a fine line for players.
At its worst, a diver goes to ground before contact is even made. Neymar appeared to do that a few times against Mexico. But when it happens game after a game, a player known as a diver can get the play-on sign from the referee even when he was legitimately cut down.
“Every player has a different style and way they like to play,” Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino said. “It’s the responsibility of the referee to know the different characteristics of each player and the way that that they play. In Neymar’s case, sometimes the referees have temptation to look for plays where he’s diving. In a lot of cases, there’s some pretty visible fouls that are going on.
“It’s more on the responsibility of the referee to recognize the styles of each player.”
FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, has made attempts to cut down on diving. Referees can give yellow cards to divers. The replay system in use at the World Cup and in other leagues around the world, including MLS, can help a referee spot if he’s made a “clear and obvious error.” It doesn’t exclude diving if it has resulted in the awarding of a penalty kick.
MLS also took the step in 2011 to review plays after games to look for simulation, and hand down punishment if diving is found. It can also rescind a card given to a player because an opponent dove or simulated.
Even soccer recognizes that diving is bad for the sport.
Will it be enough to change the mind of potential new viewers?
“If they watch more soccer, they will get a different experience,” Gressel said.
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