Name & Shame

Keith Hackett the referee from yesteryear, who is in charge of the unfeasibly titled Professional Game Match Official Limited has gone on record as saying that there are 50 divers (see here for the Sporting-Life's take on it) So few I hear you cry.

You have to say he is dead right in his assertion that it's down to the players and managers to decide how this international shame plays itself out. FIFA with it's ongoing stance on Fair Play surely has it, in it's power to allow national associations to stamp it out. Video evidence would easily out the persistent offenders, relieving the refs of the difficult task of punishing every Olivier and Gielgud. Once they realise that they are found out, fined and publicly shamed perhaps the pratcice will stop. They ruin the game - so if they can't stop they must be stopped.

I can already hear the cries of victimisation from the usual suspects, but that's just tough, isn't it.

The other challenge for Hackett must be fitting all his details on his business cards. What's the betting they're either red or yellow.