BRIAN BARWICK, the new FA chief executive, swept into Soho Square in January asserting that the eradication of “simulation” from the game would be one of his aims. “I call it cheating or diving,” he said on the FA’s website. “That’s something that aggrieves me.”
Yesterday that brave declaration was looking as convincing as an El-Hadji Diouf swan-dive when Tal Ben Haim, the Bolton Wanderers defender, was cleared of an FA charge of improper conduct for what had appeared to be blatant simulation in the match against Manchester United on December 26.
The Israel defender attracted widespread derision when he reacted to a shove in the face by Wayne Rooney as if he had been struck by lightning rather than a podgy teenager. Rooney was suspended for three games for violent conduct but, at the time, the fact that charges were brought against both players bemused Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager. “If it is violent conduct, Ben Haim should not be charged,” he said. “He is being charged, so they therefore believe that he is guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.”
Sam Allardyce, the Bolton manager, reasoned that as there was no question that Rooney had struck Ben Haim, his player had done nothing wrong. That view seemed until yesterday to place him in a minority, but the disciplinary panel agreed after hearing evidence from Ben Haim and Dermot Gallagher, the match referee, and found the charge not proven.
Roy Keane, Rooney’s team-mate, waded into the debate yesterday. Keane said that he was bemused when Ashley Cole apparently dived when the pair went for the ball at Highbury this month.
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“Before the game there was all this stuff about anti-racism. It would be a good idea to start wearing wristbands for anti-diving,” Keane said. “It’s not just about foreign players because Ashley Cole is English. It’s something that has crept into the Premiership. Players are going down far too easily and it seems to be getting worse.”
Ben Haim is clear now to play in Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at the Reebok Stadium against Fulham, who face disciplinary problems of their own after the FA charged Collins John, the Holland Under-21 forward, and Zat Knight, the defender, with improper conduct. The charges relate to their celebrations after Papa Bouba Diop’s late goal in the 2-1 win away to Birmingham City on January 22.