What should be done to stop soccer players from diving or whining at the referee?

Question

For me, the most troubling aspects of the game are bad sportsmanship by players diving after minimal contact, and whining at the referee. What should FIFA do to diminish these blights on the game?

Answer 1

Surely the answer to this lies in the refereeing. Players will try anything to win and if they are allowed to get away with these displays of bad sportsmanship they will continue.

Answer 2

Chirping at the referees is already covered by the rules in FIFA. It is unsportsmanlike conduct, and as such, is deserving of a yellow card (as is diving, but that's another question altogether.)

As far as the Netherlands/Portugal game goes, the referee allowed the game to get out of control, and then cards were necessary after a point. Just like the NHL this year, when rules are strictly enforced there will be a period where the game sucks to watch because there are so many penalties being called. Eventually though, the players learn to modify their behaviour and adapt to the way the game is being called. The key here is CONSISTENCY.

Unfortunately for fans of soccer, there is no 'quick-fix'. If the unsportsmanlike conduct is to be truly dealt with, it will need to be through stricter enforcement of the rules and fans will have to deal with a few months of slightly different football as they watch these "professionals" trying to adapt.

Answer 3

Diving cannot be remedied through the use of penalties. Refs already have a difficult enough job by making calls in split seconds, which would normally require the average person a few replays to get it right. Dives will naturally increase in occurrence when refs are frequently calling penalties. In the first few minutes of a game, players will determine whether the ref will be harsh or lenient in his calls. They then determine if a dive is worth the risk or not. Athletes will do anything to be the best at their sport, and they would jeopardize their health and lives (through drug use) to be that. So it’s no real surprise that they would dive in order to help their team become the best, especially since the cost/benefit is in the players favor. Replays are not the solution since it would only slow down the game, and calling dives is difficult since many players could receive Academy awards for their acting performances. I believe there are two choices:

1)Call only serious/flagrant fouls. Incidental bumps and questionable fouls would not be called and players would begin to no longer dive since the cost/benefit of doing so would not be advantageous to them. Diving would not get them the call they want and the other team would most likely gain possession and possibly score while the player is still on the ground (attempting to get a call).
2)Although somewhat controversial, this next option would be the most extreme. I like to call it the “Reputation Rule”. Those players known around the league for diving would be less likely to get the call in the future. Any questionable calls would no longer be in their favor.

In terms of whining… not much can really be done about that since it is a part of sports. But penalties should be severe when the whining persists and is taken overboard.

Answer 4

I guess the easiest way to deter soccer players from diving or whining at the referee is to give the players a yellow ticket. The players know that if they get two yellow tickets in one game that it equals a red ticket and they're out of the game. I think that this would be the most practical way to handle the problem.

Answer 5

You know Brian I've been trying to answer the same question myself. I've been lucky enough to see almost every game of the World Cup and I have come down to a couple of conclusions. For one I think it's an engrained culture in soccer in Europe to embelish fouls and injuries. We've seen it in hockey where guys have dived and penalties given, but to see this in soccer might come as a strech. Handing out more cards is not the right way to go. One solution, and I know FIFA has already said no, is to have a second match official on the pitch. I know the linesmen help out the head ref, but i think it's time that a second match offical can see things from a different angle and help make more clearer rulings. I hate to compare soccer to hockey, but it has worked in the NHL now to the point that I don't think the game could ever go back to a one ref system. As for whining to the ref, the answer is pretty simple, one verbal caution to the captain, then a yellow card, then a red. Hope that answers your question Mr. Budd.

Answer 6

You're right , Brian. It shows a total lack of sportsmanship, and the whining and crying will never play for those of us from UK stock. In a game like soccer football such cheating can so seriously alter a game it must be dealt with much more strongly. Automatic red card for first offence by a player. Automatic red and PK against for second offence by any team, and automatic PK for the opponent for any individual caught a second time, PLUS.... a three game ban, and if again, a 10 game ban. If that doesn't work, tie the culprit to a chair and force him to listen to Don Cherry bomasto-logues for a day or two-----that'll cure just about anything I reckon, except maybe italian match-fixing. Sorry, had to get in a Juve swipe. Anyway, you and Paul and James are the best trio since Curly Larry and Moe!!!

Answer 7

i think as an experienced soccer player, ref, and fanatic that there is a lot of complaining to the ref during a game. but we've already got stiff rules on that its just the refs opinion. he or she has the final say on what happens to the player. they can give a yellow card as a warning and then a red if the player doesent stop. that will kick them from the game. but for diving thats unacceptable. if it was an accident the the ref cant do anything because they are part of the feild but if its intentional then that player should be kicked from the game and maybe even expeled from the team so that player wont continue on the behavior

Answer 8

The first rule in playing any game is anger management. The second is to play as a player and not like a winier. I know when playing a game you are all in the mood of winning for your team and country, so is the mental state of the other team. Everybody wants to win and that is the motive of the team and the coach. But in that excitement, they forget the main part of the game which is sportsmanship. By yelling and screaming at someone else, is just degrading the players standards. At times like this the players should be disqualified in total for misconduct.
Also if possible video tape the game and the argument, and show the player his behaviour on the field, which will give him a reality check of how his parents brought him up to be.

Answer 9

For starters FIFA should support the referees instead of blaming them. Its absolutely shameful the way that FIFA is trying to blame the referees for showing too many cards. Disgraceful! They should be giving out MORE cards not fewer until the players start to get the message.

The root of the problem lies much deeper. Because of over-inflated nationalism and over-inflated individual egos football has too big a place in people's lives. It has become too important and too much money is on the line.

The stampede to become rich and famous is trampling on the values of sportsmanship and fair play. And FIFA seems utterly unprepared to slow this down.

Answer 10

Seems to me the answer is fairly simple. Keep a close eye on the game and refuse to impose penalties for play that lies within the acceptable parameters of the game. It's a tough sport, so players should buck up. And players will stop whining if referees stop listening.

Answer 11

It should be like they have in hockey. If there is a foul, give a penalty, but if a player is guilty of diving to try and draw a penalty, they get one also. Also, for whining, make it like they do in baseball. Players can whine at the umps for a bit, but if it goes on too long or gets to intense, then the umps toss them out of the game. Show them a red card if they won't let the matter go.