Gareth Bale doesn’t need to dive (Video)
Having just received his fifth booking of the season, this time for diving, Gareth Bale will miss his side’s game against Reading on Tuesday.
The Tottenham winger received a yellow card for going down in the area after a challenge from Craig Gardner, but despite his contentious reputation, it is fair to say that there was contact between Bale and the Sunderland player. Referee Martin Atkinson’s decision, however, was clearly based on the previous occasions the Wales international has gone to ground too easily.
A similar incident earlier in the match saw Jermain Defoe go down in the box, only for the striker’s fall to be ignored by the referee completely. There was definitely no foul from a Sunderland player in this instance, yet no action was taken. Would this have been the case had it been Bale?
Like many players, the most frustrating thing about seeing them dive is the knowledge that there is no reason for them to do it. In other words, they are good enough to gain an advantage without having to deceive players and referees alike.
Gareth Bale is certainly in this category. He may have earned himself the wariness of referees, but he has the quality to eventually regain their trust and eradicate such controversy from his game.
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