During the first two weeks of the football World Cup, exponents of the beautiful game have treated all sports fans, even those whose primary interest is rugby, to dazzling displays of teamwork and skill. With the tournament at the quarter-final stage there is much more to anticipate and discuss and
much to keep us on the edge of our seats.
It is a pity, however, that players possessed of such superior talents should go and spoil it all with their frequent and unmanly resort to the tactic known to Fifa as "simulation" but to ordinary people as "taking a dive" or "doing a Hollywood". Whatever it is called, the intent is the same: to milk free kicks from the referee by faking grievous injury.
No spectator can fail to be irritated by the histrionics of grown men flailing their arms about and writhing in agony on the turf clutching their shins, only to bounce back to their feet the moment their dishonest objective is attained. On one lamentable occasion a player was stretchered off with what appeared to be a career-threatening injury but returned to the field of play moments later, as agile and as fleet-footed as a gazelle.
Not only is such conduct unsporting, but it is invariably bad acting. Yet it is surprising how often referees fail to see what seems so obvious to the thousands in the stands and the billions watching television. It is of course easy to blame the referees for this as for much else but the real responsibility lies with the players.
They ought to see that, whatever short-term advantage they may gain, their behaviour is a blot on the beautiful game. Moreover it must harm their personal reputations as they expose their dubious ethics and ham-acting skills to the uncompromising gaze of a global grandstand.
Everyone - footballers and fans alike - would be much better served if the players stuck to doing what they do best and left the Oscars to Hollywood.
