Wenger: Forensic evidence proves Eduardo no diver

Shao Wei SG

By Soccernet staff

Arsenal striker Eduardo has won his appeal over a two-match ban for diving during the Champions League play-off win over Celtic.

JohnWalton/Empics
Eduardo scores from the penalty spot

The Croatia international was accused of duping the referee into awarding the penalty which gave Arsenal the opening goal of the game at the Emirates on August 26.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was furious with UEFA's decision to ban the player from their opening two group games away to Standard Liege and playing host to Olympiakos. He claimed there had been a media "witch hunt" against his player to make sure action was taken.

Wenger has now been vindicated by UEFA's decision to over-turn the decision.

A statement on UEFA's website read: "The UEFA Appeals body today accepted the appeal lodged by Arsenal FC against the two-match suspension handed to striker Eduardo.

"Following examination of all the evidence, notably the declarations of both the referee and the referees' assessor, as well as the various video footage, it was not established to the panel's satisfaction that the referee had been deceived in taking his decision on the penalty.

"Therefore, the decision of the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body of 1 September, in which the player was suspended for two UEFA club competition matches, is annulled.''

Eduardo said: "I certainly feel relieved now. I have had great support from my family, friends and of course everyone at the club. Now I just want to forget about this and think about our match against Standard Liege on Wednesday. I was always prepared for the match in Belgium because I had good feeling and I always remained positive about the outcome.

"Now we have a final result, I can now look forward to helping the team on Wednesday night.

"All I remember of the incident is that as soon as I had possession of the ball I headed towards goal at full speed. I was very close to the Celtic keeper and felt contact on my foot and then lost my balance. I know perhaps more than anyone else that when you have contact at speed it can be dangerous.

"I just want to say that I'm a fair player. To score goals you must take your opportunities and I'm not the type of player who needs to be dishonest to score goals.''

A statement on Arsenal's website said: "We are grateful that the appeal body focused on the evidence and made the right decision in this case. We were able to show that there was contact between the goalkeeper and Eduardo and that the decision of the UEFA disciplinary body should be annulled.

"We fully support the drive for fair play in football and believe it is important that UEFA provide clear and comprehensive standards that will be consistently enforced going forward. We are glad to put this incident behind us and concentrate on the games ahead.''

zocoss SG

Actually, no point already as the damage has already been done... Uefa twist and turn but they have already hurt his reputation and it won't go away with this latest chance of decision... He is still going to get the boos as a perceived diver when he goes to play away matches... Anyway, the first 2 games are easy so with or without him won't make any difference... The problem here is, this decision won't change other club fans opinion of him...

iceFatboy SG

so funny, I do believe the evidence present before and after the ban would be the same or not too different so why the wild goose chase?? so that the world knows UEFA is working??

limpper SG

lol, step so much in the end appeal only then no ban

Redster SG

all the evidences are against him yet he still can escape.. dive until so obvious somemore

Saltiga SG

easy?? the ball is rounded..

Googooboyy SG

Maybe UEFA just wanted to show that it can flex it's arms and still be merciful at the same time. Heh.

But I've never doubted that Eduardo didn't intentionally dive -- being a footballer, its too easy to go down when you're moving at high speed.

Plus the fact that Eduardo's had a horrific experience last year, I'd expect him to jump away, unfortunately getting caught by the keeper in the process. Heh.

reyes SG

arsenal threaten to use some scentific method to provde eduardo was touch. thus UEFA back down.

qing zhe zi qing.

angel7030 SG

so if man city wanted to prove that ade have no intention of stepping my persie with scientific method, can FA drop the case??

iceFatboy SG

so if man city wanted to prove that ade have no intention of stepping my persie with scientific method, can FA drop the case??

how to prove? Lie detector??

angel7030 SG

how to prove? Lie detector??

why not? let say if ade is facing a board of inquiry

Panel: Mr Ade, is it true that you deliberately stamp Mr Van Persie face when you can alway divert your boot away? Please explain

Ade: No, that's not true, it is only an assumption you all taken from the TV perspectives, I have no intention of hurting my former teammate Mr Van Persie, the incident you saw on the TV was a flip of a second action whereby i had to stamp my feet strongly on thre ground, at that moment, his head swayed inward and I had no time to react, if you noticed my eyes, i was looking at where the ball is going, that is my job, stay focus on the balls. And if this panel thinks and assume that I stamped MR Van Persie with intention of hurting him, I could had stamped on his whole head if I had that in mind, but that was not my intention and never will be.

limpper SG

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insist FORENSIC EVIDENCE proves Eduardo did not dive for his penalty against Celtic.

Eduardo, Arsenal's Croatian frontman, will play tonight against Standard Liege after an independent appeal panel overturned UEFA's decision to ban him for two games for diving.

Wenger said: "I thought first during the game that it was no penalty, which is what I said afterwards.

"But, having talked to him, he told me he was touched.

"We employed a forensic expert who proved he had been touched.

"They looked at the replay and proved he was touched on his ankle and like UEFA I believe what they tell me and what he tells me."

Wenger argued making capital out of a foul in the box was part of the game.

He claimed: "Did Rooney not make the most of it when he dived against us?

"Sometimes a striker makes the most of it because he wants to cheat, sometimes because he wants to protect himself and sometimes because he wants to show the referee that he has been touched.

"So you have to identify what is the right reason behind it. I believe sometimes it is a reflex. It doesn't mean the player is always cheating."

iceFatboy SG

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insist FORENSIC EVIDENCE proves Eduardo did not dive for his penalty against Celtic.

Eduardo, Arsenal's Croatian frontman, will play tonight against Standard Liege after an independent appeal panel overturned UEFA's decision to ban him for two games for diving.

Wenger said: "I thought first during the game that it was no penalty, which is what I said afterwards.

"But, having talked to him, he told me he was touched.

"We employed a forensic expert who proved he had been touched.

"They looked at the replay and proved he was touched on his ankle and like UEFA I believe what they tell me and what he tells me."

Wenger argued making capital out of a foul in the box was part of the game.

He claimed: "Did Rooney not make the most of it when he dived against us?

"Sometimes a striker makes the most of it because he wants to cheat, sometimes because he wants to protect himself and sometimes because he wants to show the referee that he has been touched.

"So you have to identify what is the right reason behind it. I believe sometimes it is a reflex. It doesn't mean the player is always cheating."

wow, CSI went to dust his socks and boots, and found sample of the celtic's GK's sweat and hence proves there were contact...

reyes SG

why not? let say if ade is facing a board of inquiry

Panel: Mr Ade, is it true that you deliberately stamp Mr Van Persie face when you can alway divert your boot away? Please explain

really SS angel? i seem footage, forensic method will only justify ade stamp on RVP wor.

it is a lost cause, ade knows it, man city knows it. hoping accepting it and close the case fast. the stamp on RVP is clearly a deliberate stomp with extra power putting on it. it is different kind when u step just to keep yourself balance.

Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1) SG

lolx ty

Forensic evidence ?

can someone explain?