Speaking on the back of the furore surrounding Morten
Gamst Pedersen’s tumble on Saturday, Sam Allardyce says players
will always be inclined to dive so long as referees are
loathed to award fouls when they remain on their feet.
Pedersen threw himself to the ground despite not having an
Arsenal player within his immediate vicinity and, although he
failed to win a foul, he also escaped a yellow card for
‘simulation’.
The Norway winger has, as expected, been lambasted for his
actions but Allardyce feels that it is only to be expected while
officials continue to tow a lenient line.
"He is one of many Premier League players who are guilty of
diving, but the bottom line is simple enough,” he said in the Daily
Mail.
“Until Keith Hackett decides that fouls should still be given
for players who manage to stay on their feet, then people will
always cheat.
"I would rather he did not do it at all and there can be no
doubt it should have been a straightforward yellow card.
"But what about players who are dishing out fouls all the time?
I would like to see them being punished, not least because it would
mean those on the receiving end would not need to resort to
diving.
"It just strikes me at the moment that when a player stays on
his feet, a referee thinks 'That can't have been a foul, because
he's still standing. It doesn't look like a foul to me so I won't
give it'.
"That's where the frustration creeps in. players feel they are
being denied what is due them and start wondering if there is any
point trying to stay on their feet.
"They inevitably reach the conclusion that, next time there is
any contact, they might as well go down."