Simulation!

Following Heath’s FA Trophy victory over Aylesbury United (three-one, 26th October 2019) I settled down at home to watch Burnley v Chelsea from the start. Being a Chelsea fan, I enjoyed the game up until Chelsea switched off and Burnley launched a two-goal comeback. I was however, disappointed when the decision to award Chelsea a penalty was overturned following a VAR review. This disappointment was not because VAR had denied Chelsea a penalty, but because the Chelsea player had correctly been adjudged to have ‘dived’.

Conversely, a caution for simulation at The Emirates was overturned and a penalty awarded to Crystal Palace after a VAR intervention showed that the player did not dive!

Yes, this week my contribution will look at simulation!

So, what is simulation? The Laws of the Game define it as an attempt to deceive the referee. This can be by pretending to have been fouled or by feigning injury. Or by taking an action which creates the impression that something has occurred when it has not. This can lead to the referee giving an incorrect decision or taking unwarranted disciplinary action.

Players guilty of simulation are punished with a caution for unsporting behaviour and if appropriate the award of an indirect free kick.

Well that’s the theory, so let’s look at the practice through some examples.

The most common form of simulation is a player ‘going to ground’, trying to ‘win’ a free kick or penalty.

In these situations, if there is any contact by the defender, it is minimal, and in no way constitutes a foul. The contact must be the cause of the forward falling and not simply an excuse to go down. I once heard an interview when a player said “I felt a touch and went down” implying that they simulated a foul!

Some players also contrive to trip themselves when running next to an opponent, by tangling their own feet by crossing them or by tapping the back of one ankle with the other foot. Another method is to suddenly slow down so that their opponent appears to run into the back of them. Sorry, nice try, but this is also deceit.

Next, I have seen incidents where a player followed the ball through a non-existent gap between two opponents and went over their legs. Finally, anticipation. This is where a player goes to ground in expectation of being fouled, but before any contact occurs. This is difficult for referees as players are allowed to avoid being injured by uncontrolled tackles.

Let’s now move on to players feigning injury. A simple example is a player going to ground after minor contact, trying to convince others that something more sinister has happened. Years ago, there was an incident in a World Cup game when the ball was kicked into an opponent’s midriff. He reacted by rolling around for several seconds while holding his face. Frankly it was pathetic! (Rivaldo for Brazil against Turkey, World Cup 2000?).

One incident that sticks in my mind from my own refereeing days was an occasion when a player reacted to a ‘nothing’ foul by falling theatrically and rolling around feigning injury. His opponents were incensed by his play acting and I cautioned him for simulation. Frankly, I feared that by inaction I would have undermined my own authority.

Hopefully, this contribution has opened your eyes as to what constitutes simulation.

In conclusion, I was once asked why I had not awarded a penalty when it looked as though the attacker had been fouled. My response was simply that it did not ‘smell’ right!

Image by Graham Lehkyj. Left to right Dave Ellmer, Barry Thomas and Paul Hartman- three Haywards Heath volunteers.