Set-Pieces - Dealing with Simulation

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Set-Pieces - Dealing with Simulation By Julian Carosi.
(A series of articles on how to officiate in a proactive way by improving how you deal with specific incidents and how to become a better Referee).

"Simulation is one of the worst things in football. It's a cancer in football. And not from a refereeing point of view, because some people think that simulation is against the Referee.
(Ex-FIFA Referee Pierluigi Collina 2001)

'The credibility of the result goes out of the window if a game is settled by a dive. The only way we can stop simulation is to give a caution.'
(Ex Premiership Referee Graham Poll 2004)

'One issue that concerns me personally, is technically termed `simulation. Let's get real - this is diving. Cheating in fact. We've all got to show more honesty here. Every week, Referees are coming under intense scrutiny when making split-second judgment calls in this area. It's impossible to get them all right and everyone has got to take a greater level of responsibility. Respect for the game is paramount and respect for the Referee is essential.'
(Brian Barwick 2005 The FA England)

How to deal with Simulation.

Introduction:

Diving by players has become a scourge of the game. It takes a brave Referee to quickly flash a yellow card for simulation when an attacking player tumbles down too easily in the penalty area. Most Referees in their career will have chastised themselves on several occasions for not having the courage of their conviction by cautioning perpetrators for simulation. Simulation is a difficult decision to make, especially when players are jostling each other at fast speed. If Referees allow simulation to continue as it is, then they are failing their duty as the guardians of the game and its image.

There is a big drive worldwide to protect the 'Image of the Game'. And one of the areas under the spotlight remains simulation.

The Law requires a Referee to caution for unsporting behaviour any player where simulating action is intended to deceive him. However, a Referee should be 100% certain that a player has simulated (feigned) an unfair challenge before cautioning him for unsporting behaviour. The Referee must be convinced that there has been no (or very little) physical contact whatsoever by the player who is challenging for the ball.

If, however, the Referee is not totally sure but there is a hint of simulation, the Referee is advised to take the earliest opportunity to be seen to speak clearly to the player(s) involved. It is not recommended that a referee makes any gesture with arm or hand as this may inflame the situation.

Players who clearly simulate injury in order to deceive the referee must also be dealt with under Law 12, International Board Decision No. 5.
(FA Learning Advice on the Application of the Laws of the Game booklet.)

When a player gets away with diving, it may not cause his opponents physical injury as a foul might, but there is no doubt the game is hurt. It is hardly surprising, that attention is now turning to the vexed issue of gamesmanship.

Players acknowledge that it is a difficult aspect for Referees to punish simulation. There is no easy way to be 100% accurate when deciding if an incident has been simulated or not. Players are expecting Referees not to sit on the fence, but to actually do something about it by eradicating it from the game! In this article (which focuses mainly on the diving aspects of simulation), you will find some guidance that can help you (as a Referee) to deal more confidently with simulation. And just as important, this article encourages you to be brave, make strong decisions and apply the correct punishment (a caution) when you have to.

The FA direction has always been there. Your duty as a Referee, is to mandatory caution perpetrators at all levels, for unsporting behaviour in accordance with the Law 12 Decision No. 4:

Any simulating action anywhere on the field, which is intended to deceive the Referee, must be sanctioned as unsporting behaviour.

Types of Simulation:

DIVING: Attacking players very often dive and fall easily to the ground inside their opponent's penalty area. This normally occurs at speed, with the aim being to dupe the Referee (and/or the Assistant Referee) into awarding a penalty kick, when in effect, no foul has been committed on the attacking player.

There are four types of simulation to look out for:

Firstly, when there's clearly no contact.
Secondly, when there's minimal contact and it's exaggerated.
Thirdly, when the player drags his leg; and finally,
Over-reaction, such as when a player goes down clutching his face after an opponent brushed past him.

FEIGNING INJURY: Thankfully, this is becoming less prevalent in the game, but it still occurs from time to time. A typical example of this occurs towards the end of a game, when players on the winning team use it as a ploy to either waste time, or to stall the positive momentum of the opposing team.

Simulation - How To Identify It

By R.D. Britto. Found on the Referees' Association England discussion page 3 July 2006:

A player who is tripped, will pitch forward, his head will go forward and down, his back will arch away from the ground, his arms will fly forward and down and he will try to recover the tripped leg under him to avoid an uncontrolled fall. When a player simulates a dive, he will do the opposite of these things to one degree or another. He pitches forward, of course, but he throws his head up and back, he arches his upper back away from the ground, his arms fly up and back and the leg apparently tripped, he leaves behind him with the toe pointing towards the ground like a ballerina. He deliberately engineers a controlled fall by curving his body away from the ground to maximise the impact in the eyes of the Referee.

A further significant feature in all cases of tripping versus diving is that a trip is abrupt and sudden, whereas a dive is relatively slow and naturally graceful.

If Referees rejected appeals in all cases where a player falls down exhibiting the dive characteristics shown above, simulation would soon stop, especially if accompanied by a caution.

Clearly, not all instances of players falling to the ground are simulated. Some collisions are genuine fouls. Equally, on many occasions, the fouled player could have continued without falling down and making a meal of it. It is the Referee's job to differentiate the genuine from the simulated.

The following advice is from Terry Boyd B.App.Sci.(Physio), F.A.S.M.F. Sports Physiotherapist Australia.

Other simulation signs include the tactic of 'flicking up' both feet simultaneously. In this manoeuvre, the cheating player's body can be seen to remain relatively upright, as both feet are smartly kicked up towards their buttocks in a (strangely obvious) manner, to suggest that they have been tripped. In the event of such a trip actually being committed, the fouled player's head and body will suddenly pitch forwards, with the arms outstretched and the perpetrators feet well behind the centre of gravity.

A second "zero points" effort, is when an opponent makes contact with a player fairly at shoulder level, and the player then proceeds to fall as if he has been hit by a bus, shoulders inward, towards the tackler, with his legs sliding away from his opponent. It seems so obvious a dive to most of us: the relevant body parts are moving in the directions opposite to that which would occur if it were indeed an illegal push.

Simulation - How To Be Decisive and Creditable.

The greatest asset that a Referee has in relation to making the correct decision, is his proximity and 'angle of view' during simulation (diving) incidents. This is why it is very important for Referees to work hard in achieving creditable monitoring positions when attacking moves approach the penalty areas. The nearer you are, and the better view you have when making a decision, the more credibility you will have. The one important factor that always sells a decision on simulation, is where was the Referee when he made the decision?

It is difficult to make the right call all of the time. Players have become so convincing, that it is shameful to see the close up camera-shots of (cheating) players who are heroes to some children.

In say out of 10 incidents of simulation, there will probably be one occasion that was a genuine foul. If a Referee can accept that he will occasionally penalise a player for simulation when no simulation has occurred, it will increase that Referee's endeavour to play his part in ridding the game of this blight.

In a televised game, even close-up camera shots can be inconclusive when trying to identify simulation. But in the majority of games, where no cameras are in place, the only people that have any part in the act, are the diving player and the Referee. Most of the other players will not have been in a position to have a clear view of the incident. Therefore, make a decision if you have to, and don't worry whether or not anyone else has a better view, as this is very unlikely.

Key factors to consider before issuing a caution for simulations:

If you decide to caution, you have to be very strong and swift in your action. No pussyfooting about here! Be strong, assertive and believe in your decision. Once you have made the decision, stick with it and deal swiftly with any dissent by issuing a caution in record time! This will take you to the point of no return. In other words. Players will see that you have applied the correct punishment, and know that you will not be changing your mind. The more delay you have in issuing the caution, the more time players have to try and influence you.
Don't make a meal of the occasion by humiliating the perpetrator. A swift caution clearly shows what you think of his antics. Further chastisement by you will only inflame the situation. Get the game restarted as soon as you can.
Forget it, if you are in the centre circle catching up with play. There is no credibility in making a decision from inside the centre circle, involving a simulation act inside of the penalty area.
Be brave. You get nowhere as a Referee if you lack courage. Simulation is no different to a foul. Deal with it.
Trust your instinct always, as it often proves to be correct, even though you believe that you have maybe not assimilated all of the facts.
Accept that you will get a few decisions wrong - but keep this thought, it is possible to make even a wrong decision seem right for the majority of the onlookers.

Summary:
Referees are the guardians of the Game, and it is their duty to punish simulation whenever it happens. In time, a concerted effort by all Referees will hopefully purge the game of this blight.

A Referee who is prepared to accept that he may occasionally punish a player for simulation when no simulation has occurred, is a much better Referee than one who is always too frightened to ever penalise diving, because such decisions are difficult to make!

Stop sitting on the fence and letting players get away with cheating. Be brave and punish simulation. And work hard at getting as near as you can when making your decisions. You will need to sell each decision; so be strong and positive and confident whenever you penalise simulation.

When dealing with simulation, the aim is to issue a swift caution and get the game restarted in record time, This way, you save a heap of grief and force the players into refocusing their attention on the game instead of haranguing you.

Can you play your part in ridding the game of this menace?

Happy reffing.

Regards, Julian Carosi.