Cheat Olsson makes mockery of Respect campaign
SIR Alex Ferguson was drawn earlier this month to describe the FA's disciplinary panel as "a dysfunctional unit."
He added: "I don't know what they are doing."
And it seems the FA don't either.
Respect and Fair Play are two of the in-vogue, but insincere, phrases branded about by the Football Association and the Premier League.
The domestic game's governing body appear to value neither.
Burnley, who, incidentally were sixth at last count in the Premier League's Fair Play League, have been on the receiving end of some rough justice this season - or cheating, to give it it's proper name.
The latest injustice came in the East Lancashire derby on Sunday when Blackburn Rovers' Martin Olsson won the match-winning penalty from Mike Dean after going to ground under no contact.
Despite admitting his pre-meditated actions - going as far to say Dean had been targeted by Rovers as he gives more penalties than most referees - the FA have sat on their hands and done nothing, and, in an instant, undermined any campaign to encourage the correct spirit of the game.
They have only served to encourage the divers and cheats.
FA officials do not believe there is sufficient evidence to charge Olsson with improper conduct - not sufficient evidence? There is a video of his deception and play-acting, as viewed by millions, and quotes attributed to him.
It's not as if it is the first time it has happened this season to Burnley - Tony Hibbert's swan dive earned Everton a penalty at Turf Moor in August, which Louis Saha squandered.
And Phil Dowd, the man who pointed to the spot, was conned again by Portsmouth's Hermann Hreidarsson's outrageous Platoon-like collapse at Fratton Park in December - although, again, the spot kick was missed by Aruna Dindane.
Referees, in some instances, can be forgiven for not spotting the cheats, although Dean had no excuse for giving the penalty as he admitted he did not know whether Brian Jensen or Tyrone Mears had clipped Olsson, nor did he consider the third option - he brought himself down.
But retrospective action must be taken now to dissuade the divers - and the courage to go through with it, unlike the stance taken by UEFA when they banned Arsenal's Eduardo after diving to win a penalty against Celtic, only to overturn the ban on appeal.
As former referee Graham Poll said this week - while advocating a charge of improper conduct for Olsson: "Anyone involved in youth football - as I am - will know that boys will copy their heroes, whether with daft goal scoring celebrations or with dives, and so players really should be aware of the responsibility they have.
Referees are often blamed when they are duped by a dive, but the blame should lie completely with the cheat who simulates contact.
"This week it is Olsson who should hang his head in shame but I expect he was too busy celebrating his team's win to consider the effect his dive will have in local parks across the country."
Take the emotions of a Burnley-Blackburn game out of it, it is appalling seeing anyone bend the rules to their advantage in such a fashion, and the FA have to act by imposing suspensions as a deterrent.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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