UEFA's supposed clampdown on diving has been brought to a halt after just one case.
In an admission that is bound to further infuriate Arsenal after Eduardo was suspended for two matches for diving, the governing body has, reports The Times, 'confirmed that there are no plans to institute a regular programme of video referral for matches under its jurisdiction or issue an anti-diving directive'.
Rather than set a precedent that UEFA are determined to follow, the charge and subsequent banning of Eduardo is thus set to remain an arbitrary one-off, principally motivated by what The Times calls an 'unfortunate series of coincidences'. It would appear, as F365 reported at the time, that Eduardo has only been singled out because he committed his dive in a match against Scottish opponents broadcast on free-for-all television on a day of the week when no other high-profile games were being played.
'Article 10 (1c), which was introduced by Uefa as a consequence of the furore that followed Rivaldo's feigning antics when playing for Brazil in the 2002 World Cup, exists to punish the worst offenders, but there is no appetite at Uefa to mount a wholesale campaign against diving through the retrospective use of video technology,' reports the newspaper.
Arsenal have still yet to decide whether to appeal against Eduardo's suspension, with the governing body unable to provide the club with the rationale for banning the Croatian until later today. To date, all UEFA have faxed to the club is a single paragraph of text that reads, 'Having examined all the documents of the case which the player charged had likewise examined the control and disciplinary body decides that the player Eduardo is suspended for two Uefa club competition matches.'
The anomaly in that judgement is that Eduardo has been suspended for an offence that the rulebook stipulates should only receive a caution. Any hope that the governing body would issue an amendment to instigate a wider clampdown has, unfortunately, already been dashed. 'Although Eduardo's suspension is similar to that which might accompany a red card, Uefa will not now ask referees to send players off for such offences,' reports The Guardian.
While the news will meet with general disappointment, Uefa's handling of the Eduardo case perhaps suggests that their withdrawal is just as well. Of the two faxes sent to Arsenal on the matter, one failed to arrive and the other was sent to the offices of Arsenal Ladies at the club's Hertfordshire training ground.
Your Comments
tevez56
"I think its great news because i dont like arsenal and i dont like eduardo and its fully deserved. Maybe Arsene "specsavers" Wenger will teach his players not to cheat next time."
jivvv2002
"UEFA will not review future video of similiar case? WHY? Embarrassed by their decision against Eduardo?
It's most unfortunate that Eduardo case being balloned by the others.
UEFA's decision shown inconsistency"
keenanlfc
"Littledutch the whole point is to find a camera angle which shows it clear as day and on the night one camera angle showed it was a clear dive, its a disgrace tho that eufa ban eduardo then admit they will let everyone else away with it"
Wenger_hole
"totalfootball: You're missing the point. This isn't UEFA saying that they can only punish those who are caught cheating, this is UEFA saying that they're not going to bother trying to catch anyone else. To use your strained metaphor, it's as if the government had decided that, after fining one person for fraud, they're not going to have a police force to catch any other fraudsters.
To be more accurate; no police, and they'll only fine fraudsters who are grassed up by Scotish snitches.
It's a farce."
Little_Dutch
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhQF9h4x4Lw
Was it even definitely a dive? Check this angle out. Shows how difficult it is to prove intent."
Yanighted
"Cesc_Bomb
"totalfootball - You take a very relaxed approach to this. I take it you're not a Gooner? And do you think it's right to compare Eduardo to a f**king criminal? He went down easily in a game of football. You are right that there are plenty of criminals who don't get caught but I'm guessing that a crew of bank robbers don't go about their business wearing shirts with their names on the back in front of thousands of people, broadcast on live TV. If they did, you would expect it would be a little easier to punish them. Or perhaps the police could just pick and chose which ones they would like to see punished, as UEFA have done here?"
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And Cesc Bomb, you are taking his comments in the completely wrong context. Get back on point.
Hop Along Eddy cheated."
Frenchy
"One more case of UEFA really losing the plot.
It is only four months or so since the Darren Fletcher incident. An incorrect red card, and the automatic ban, deprived Fletcher of a place in the Champion's League Final.
UEFA's reaction at the time "there is no process of appeal against an incorrect decision by the referee".
Now the new UEFA rule seems to be "there is no process of appeal against an incorrect decision by the referee, unless we at UEFA think he got it wrong, in which case, we will decide what suits us, on a case by case basis, and with no regard for the rules of natural justice, and certainly with no regard whatsoever for consistency".
I am amazed that one of the best football players of his generation, Michel Platini, could be such a lousy administrator, judging by UEFA's performancce this year. "
RICKYROCK
"Well said Cesc_Bomb! The other blindingly obvious point to make in response to totalfootball's ridiculous comparison is that at least the police actively endeavour to prevent crime and take action whenever evidence of a crime presents itsel; they don't just focus on whatever might happen to stand out on a quiet night or solely respond to when someone throws all their toys out of their pram. UEFA are effectively saying they are not committed to actively preventing diving and have no intention of taking positive action to prevent it or consistently punish offenders when the evidence presents itself. They are a disgrace as is anyone who thinks this decision is in any way reasonable, particularly when considering the wider context of lackadaisacal inconsistency."
Cesc_Bomb
"totalfootball - You take a very relaxed approach to this. I take it you're not a Gooner? And do you think it's right to compare Eduardo to a f**king criminal? He went down easily in a game of football. You are right that there are plenty of criminals who don't get caught but I'm guessing that a crew of bank robbers don't go about their business wearing shirts with their names on the back in front of thousands of people, broadcast on live TV. If they did, you would expect it would be a little easier to punish them. Or perhaps the police could just pick and chose which ones they would like to see punished, as UEFA have done here?"
totalfootball
"All governing bodies are inconsistent, that's a shame, and that's life. However, Eduardo got caught, and punished. Some criminals get caught and punished, some don't. Some of you are unrealistic in thinking that all policies can be consistently applied. Hopefully UEFA's action will be a deterrent to others. Unless you argue that no criminals can be charged, as it's inconsistent with those who don't get charged, then accept the punishment and move on.
And let's not use these forums to criticize Scots, other fans or anyone else. "
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