Tottenham might have recorded an impressive third successive victory in the Premier League at the weekend but Gareth Bale made the headlines again, this time for the wrong reasons.
The Welshman had to be replaced on the hour mark, after straining a hamstring which is likely to keep out for at least three weeks.
However in the first half, he received another yellow card for simulation. It is the fourth yellow he has received this season for supposed diving.
This raises the question then: Is Gareth Bale a diver?
Unlucky at the weekend
His latest act which got him in trouble came at Craven Cottage. He was clearly clipped by Steve Sidwell in the middle of the park and should have been awarded a free-kick.
The 23-year-old (pictured being tackled by Ashkan Dejagah) was cautioned though by Chris Foy for ‘diving.’ While it clearly wasn’t a dive from the midfielder, his reaction didn’t go down well.
When Sidwell caught him in the challenge, Bale should have either attempted to stay on his feet or go down to earn Spurs a free-kick in a normal manner.
Instead, he decided to go down in a style that won him no fans. He didn’t dive but the way he went down, it would have been a dive that would have made Tom Daley proud.
In this day of age, you simply can’t do that. Bale is now one booking away from a one-match suspension and he is picking up cheap bookings, perhaps harshly but also unnecessarily.
In the Lilywhites’ previous match against Liverpool, Bale was booked for an almost identical offence.
Again, replays showed that he was unfairly tackled by Daniel Agger but his diving reaction saw him get into trouble and pick up another silly caution.
He might be quick, skilful and is a nightmare for full backs across the planet but like Luis Suarez, Bale is getting an unfair but a bad reputation at the same time, for the easy prowess he seems to have in going down to the turf.
AVB defending him
Portuguese manager Andre Villas-Boas is understandably defending him as best as he can.
On Saturday, he said: “Yes, he is frustrated about it. It is difficult for him, particularly in the last two games.
“If he has a reputation I think it’s a little bit unfair…the last two have been unfair.
“I think he uses it as a precaution from different types of challenges. I’m not saying all of the players that challenge Gareth are malicious but the action is so quick that it might look like it’s not a foul while it is."
His reaction of applauding Foy at his decision to book him though was unsporting and could have led to a ridiculous red card.
Wayne Rooney once did that in a Champions League tie in Villarreal and got sent off. The best thing that the Welsh wizard could have done was accept his frustration without showing it off so clearly.
At times, I have felt that he is spoilt. The way he pulled out of Team GB’s fruitless Olympics campaign because of an ‘injury,’ yet played on Tottenham’s American tour in the summer left a sour taste with many.
He might be extremely talented but Bale has not covered himself in any glory over this diving storm.
Getting out of control
Away from the Bale controversy and we have got to the point where diving is getting out of control.
The Daily Mail revealed recently that 19 players have been booked in the last 12 sets of Premier League matches for simulation offences.
It isn’t quite as bad as Serie A – 39 players have been carded for diving this season but that isn’t a surprise considering that players who play in Italy, often have a reputation for going down as if they had just been assassinated.
Back in England and prime offenders this season along with Bale have been Fernando Torres, who has been booked twice for diving, Suarez unsurprisingly considering the amount of times he has hit the deck and Mario Balotelli at Manchester City.
Other players booked this season so far for simulation include Robin van Persie, Andy Carroll and incredibly, Phil Neville in the Merseyside derby.
Referees are attempting to clamp down on the amount of ridiculous diving that is occurring in the game, so it is hardly surprising that more yellow cards are being shown this season.
Perhaps red cards have to be considered as a possibility, especially for serial offenders.
Don’t forget, Torres was sent off against Manchester United for supposed simulation, although that was a second bookable offence, not a straight red.
The diving argument is sure to rumble on. I’m sure Gareth Bale doesn’t dive deliberately but he isn’t doing himself any favours.
However – it isn’t quite as bad as Abdelkader Keita’s shameful and pathetic attempt at diving which got Kaka sent off during the 2010 World Cup.
We haven’t reached those levels quite yet…
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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