Question Number: 31663

Law 3 - The Players 7/30/2017

RE: Adult

mark rich of royalton , vermont usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 31654

Thank you for taking the time to answer my second ' note' to you. YA_ I really agree about the 'injured' player . Messi probably gets fouled and knocked down more then average --- 1st- he usually makes a real effort to stay on his feet. 2nd If he does go down he gets right up ( even with a little limp )staying down only when actually injured. Just as I myself always did as a matter of self pride . If they can ' do it ' for high school they should be able to get the pros the heck off the field --- they give a golly card for wasting time -- I would feel pretty stupid knowing in that in the stands and thousands of people viewing on T.V. were watching me 'sauntering'. It is almost as bad as taking a dive. Which reveals NO self respect. Thank you again . Regards Mark

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mark,
we appreciate your taking the interest and time in questioning the antics of what passes for fair play on the pitch. As you can tell we too are unimpressed by those that grandstand but not all things are exactly as we perceive even if we might be 100% correct on most!
As we all have a right to an opinion.
I can not say with justification a dive as the same level of meaning in a match
as a sauntered exit except perhaps to publically demonstrate ego. Certain individuals will do what is required to put a W in the win column, others will not. I have watched MANY of the worlds best players destroy the word integrity as I have watched others hang their head and admit to their misdeeds to restore it!
Cheers.