USA - Italy

[phatneff]

Interesting that you should say that gsf.......

This always seems to be a topic of conversation among those who either dislike, don't know, or don't care about the game, so here is my take on it, as an official.

Yes, soccer players, especially on the international level, do seem to "go down" quite often. However, if you look at the slow mo replays, you'll see that they are barely even touched. As an official, it does look pretty convincing at normal speed. The reason for this "embellishing" is to simply get a call. Given, the only pads that soccer players have are on their shins, they'll make it look like their ankles, calves, thighs, or anywhere else on their bodies got knocked pretty good, all just for a call. The thing about soccer is that set plays make a tremendous impact on the way the game is played. A good set play (free kick) can mean the difference between winning, losing, or tying. That's why fouls are a highly determined statistic in soccer.

On the flipside, you can "embellish" too much and get booked for "diving". It's illegal to "act" as if you were fouled just to draw a foul. A minor booking is a yellow card and a major booking is a red. Two yellows and your out of the game, and in the World Cup two yellows in the round and you sit a game, too.