Dip Dip Dive

This is one of the main reasons Americans think soccer players aren't tough and why they think the sport is ridiculous. At least Pedersen didn't get the call but he should have been booked and more importantly, he should be ashamed of himself.

A few more quick points:

- Diving, running into slide tackles, creating contact and then falling down, rolling around in agony only to pop right up if the whistle doesn't blow, these things happen often. I understand that they are just part of the game but these theatrics are a big problem that FIFA hasn't properly addressed. Sure, they have called for harsher consequences to these actions but really, it hasn't helped. In my mind, a possible solution is video replay/review.

The discussion of adding instant replay comes up every once and a while with all the usual pros (correcting poor goal/no goal decisions) and cons (disrupting the flow of the game). Maybe instant replay isn't right for soccer but I think diving is a perfect way to get video replay implemented. For starters, it'd be best to avoid NFL-style coaching challenges and any other stoppages of play during the game for obvious reasons. Video replay should be used at half-times and after games to allow officials (the match referees or better yet, separate officials) to specifically review for unsportsmanlike conduct. Based on the reviews, bookings (and fines?) could be doled out and/or rescinded. Sure, this brings up a whole host of other issues but something like this could be a good first step in cleaning up the game. And as a secondary benefit, it could help hold refs accountable for their performances as well.

(I should note that I'm not sure if they already have something like this in place or not. I don't think they do because I've never read or heard anything about players being suspended or fined for any blatant dive that wasn't dealt with during the game.)

- It's funny how players don't want refs to ruin matches by making too many calls but at the same time, many of them blatantly try to put the refs in position to call fouls that could significantly alter the course of a game. The best referees are the ones that fans, players and coaches don't even notice, so why do players constantly put refs on center stage?

- When it comes down to it, the diving issue is only an issue because at times, it has gotten out of hand. I mean, every single sport has problems with athletes bending the rules and when it gets to a certain point, they should be dealt with accordingly. The NBA has flopping. The NFL has holding. MLB has corked bats and pine tar. Soccer has diving. Problems like these are never, ever, ever going to go away. That's not to say that they should be accepted but it'd be stupid to think that once addressed the sports will have perfect, clean competition. If it's not one thing, it's another. I just think that FIFA should try a little harder to make these diving problems just a little bit better now, and worry about the next thing when it comes.