Why David Ngog should have saved his dive for when Liverpool take on Arsenal

By Brian Reade

Published 05:04 14/11/09

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If only David Ngog had saved his dive for an Arsenal game, justice would have been done.

Virtually all neutrals applauded UEFA for finally getting tough with divers when they banned Eduardo for two games after he fell to the floor without being touched, against Celtic.

Naturally Arsene Wenger howled with rage, banging on about scapegoating, and heaped pressure on UEFA by claiming they would have to ban every other player they suspected of taking a dive.

So fearing a mountain of work, a backlash from powerful forces, and thus a threat to their cushy jobs, UEFA caved in and revoked the ban. Thus telling every player who fancies conning a penalty to chance their leg.

Had they stuck to their guns and given Europe's individual FAs the right to hand out retrospective punishments to divers, Ngog would now be facing a two-game ban, bringing harm to his reputation, his first-team chances, and a Liverpool team that has more players in sick beds than Holby City.

Which might just have made him think twice next time. But UEFA backed down.

Which is why it's a shame Ngog didn't save his dive for Arsenal, because if he had, and it had deprived Wenger of victory, he may have understood how Celtic felt.

He may even have realised how his defence of Eduardo was as indefensible as the dive itself.

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