UEFA to review Eduardo incident

speeds · Aug 27, 2009

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8223917.stm

European football's governing body is to investigate an alleged dive by Arsenal's Eduardo during the Champions League 3-1 qualifier win over Celtic.

If found guilty of simulation, the striker could face a two-match ban.

Uefa president Michel Platini believes additional assistant referees behind each goal line would combat diving.

He said: "One day players will give up simulating because refs will see them. I am convinced that you have referees nearby, then you will stop this."

Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith has called for the Brazil-born Croatia forward to be banned over Wednesday's penalty incident at the Emirates.

"Last night Eduardo showed disrespect to the game by his actions," he said.

"We have shown courage to use retrospective punishment when it comes to simulation. I'd urge Uefa to do so."

There appeared to be no contact between Eduardo and Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc but referee Manuel Gonzalez still gave a penalty midway through the first half, which Eduardo converted.

A Uefa spokesman told BBC Sport its disciplinary unit will study the incident, and confirmed the organisation's rules do allow the possibility of retrospective action.

If charged and found guilty, Eduardo could face sanctions up to a two-match ban in European competition.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted afterwards the penalty award was dubious, although he said it was not clear his player had dived.

Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati, however, suggested Eduardo should be banned for two matches.

And in a strongly-worded statement Smith said: "Since I came into post I have raised the issue of simulation time and time again - both here in Scotland and with Fifa and Uefa.

"I don't think that I have received enough support in my efforts to eradicate what I believe to be one of the most serious threats to the integrity of football.

"Last night showed exactly why we must take this issue seriously.

"Everything that can be done to stamp it out must be done. Starting right now."

Celtic had travelled to the Emirates 2-0 down from the first leg in Glasgow, when Arsenal had been the better side but had scored with a deflection and an own goal.

The first goal in London, then, was likely to be crucial and Boruc was incensed when Gonzalez pointed to the spot.

"Last night's incident also brings the whole issue of video evidence to the fore. I see no reason why we cannot use technology to assist referees," said Smith.

"We need a serious debate on these issues. Everyone in football has a responsibility to set the right example to our youngsters.

"We can talk all we want about Fair Play campaigns, but taking action would be a much more powerful deterrent and would send the right message to players everywhere."

Donati is another who is keen to see Uefa use video evidence.

"If it is clear on TV, then Uefa must act and ban him," said Donati.

"I think he should get a two-match ban because it wasn't a penalty. I told him that and everyone in the Celtic team told him that."

Donati believes Eduardo should be treated the same way as Lithuania striker Saulius Mikoliunas, who was punished for diving against Scotland at Hampden Park in September 2007.

After that occasion Uefa used video evidence before giving Mikoliunas a two-match ban.

Speaking after the Arsenal match, Celtic defender Glenn Loovens also offered his thoughts on Eduardo and his penalty claim.

"I don't think he even speaks English so there was no point talking to him," said the Dutch centre-half.

"It is very disappointing but that is football. It's sad it happened to us.

"I don't think it is really fair. But it helped his team take the lead. There is a referee and a linesman to see those kind of things."

Wenger acknowledged Celtic keeper Boruc did not bring down Eduardo in the penalty incident but claimed his forward was taking evasive action.

Following the Gunners' eventual 3-1 win, which completed a 5-1 aggregate triumph, Wenger said: "I do not go as far to say Eduardo dived.

"He went down, for what reason I do not know. Having seen it again on television, it doesn't look a penalty.

"I do not think he (Eduardo) would have complained if the penalty was not given."
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speeds · Aug 27, 2009

Eduardo defended over dive claims

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8208690.stm

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has refused to condemn Eduardo after the striker was accused of diving in the Champions League win over Celtic at the Emirates.

There appeared to be no contact between Eduardo and Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc but referee Manuel Gonzalez still gave a penalty that Eduardo converted.

Following the 3-1 win, Wenger said: "I do not go as far to say Eduardo dived.

"He went down, for what reason I do not know. Having seen it again on television, it doesn't look a penalty."

The Gunners boss added: "I believe really that it was not a penalty but I am also not sure that the keeper didn't touch him with his right knee, having seen it again.

"I do not think he (Eduardo) would have complained if the penalty was not given.

"Is it acceptable? I never asked in my life any guy to dive to win a penalty but sometimes the players go down because there is no other way to escape the tackling of the keeper. Sometimes they dive."

Wenger attempted to shrug off controversy by claiming that the Gunners were the dominant side as they booked their place in the group stages of the competition.

"I must still say that we were likely always to score the first goal because Eduardo had a great chance before the penalty," he said. "We always looked in control of the game."

He also felt Arsenal had been the victims of dodgy penalty decisions in the past, recalling an incident in the Champions League defeat against Liverpool in 2008.

"We got a penalty two years ago in the quarter-final of the Champions League at Liverpool that made the difference when Ryan Babel dived," said the Frenchman.

"Nobody ever apologised to us. It was a blatant dive and nobody spoke about it."

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray admitted that the penalty was not a key factor in the overall result.

"The referee has given it. But, if the TV pictures show it should not have been given, so be it," he said.

"Over the two legs, Arsenal had more quality and deserved to go through."

The result and performance against Celtic delighted Wenger, who felt it was the perfect preparation for Saturday's Premier League trip to Manchester United.

"We are now in the top, top league in Europe, with all the big names," he said. "Our team here was an average age of 23.9 years. That means if we can get out of the group stage, then in six months we can be even stronger.

"That is what we want to focus on, to continue to improve our team play, the speed of our game and show that we have made big improvements come Saturday. I am happy to go to Old Trafford because it is the first big, big test.

"You want always to have a high level of confidence when you go to Old Trafford, we have that at the moment. For us, it is most important to recover physically because Manchester United did not play in the League Cup tonight."
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Colonel Ronan · Aug 27, 2009

Review my cock, Platini.

speeds · Aug 27, 2009

Yeah, more referees, that's what we need.

Bendtner was offsides yesterday--not by the linesman, who was close, but by the main official, who was trailing the play. More of that nonsense--great, we can't wait.

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UEFA to review Eduardo incident

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