Time to get tough with the divers

Diving. Simulation. Play-acting. Even cheating.

Whatever you want to call it, the topic of players falling over far too easily, especially in and around the penalty area, has been a hot one in the English Premier League this week after Manchester United's Ashley Young won a spot-kick against Queen's Park Rangers.

And it should be a hot topic in the UAE too, at least on the evidence of matches in our domestic competitions.

If you are a fan brought up on the rough and tumble of European football with its physicality then you could be forgiven for being surprised at how easily players go to ground in UAE football.

It is an unedifying sight, does nothing for the game as a spectacle and creates potential problems for UAE players when they come up against overseas teams and players and with referees who are, perhaps, less sympathetic.

Bookings open

How much of a problem is it here? It is difficult to say because although the numbers of bookings players receive is available publicly, the reasons are, as yet, not. To their credit, it is something the Pro League are looking to rectify but because the information is in each individual referee's report, it will take time.

Publishing the reasons why players are booked would be one way of potentially shaming those guilty of diving into cleaning up their behaviour. But, more importantly, it would be great to see referees in this country taking a consistently hard line with offenders. One way of doing that is, of course, to get the yellow card out more readily but another is for officials to be more willing to give defenders the benefit of the doubt in challenges. Football is, after all, a contact sport.

Al Wasl coach Diego Maradona has been a consistent critic of what he has seen as play-acting by players during his first season in this country. Given his skills as a player which meant the opposition was usually looking at ways, either legal or illegal, to try and stop him, few players are better qualified to talk about what constitutes a fair or unfair challenge. As far back as last November, after his side lost to Al Jazira, he said in the post-match media conference: "I think I must train my players how to fall and shout and appeal. Maybe that way we can get the referee's sympathy."

No love lost

Maradona's famous fiery temperament is likely to be tested to the limit this weekend as his team go head-to-head with title favourites Al Ain on Saturday night. Maradona and his opposite number, Cosmin Olaroiu, have had a war of words in the media concerning the clubs' previous meetings this season and that adds an extra dimension to what is already a tasty encounter.

An Al Ain win would virtually seal the title for The Boss and if it did come at the Zabeel Stadium then it would be at the same venue that Al Jazira sealed their title success almost 12 months ago.

The game will be shown on TV with English commentary, has been designated Match of the Week by the Pro League Committee and will feature live DJs, entertainment and activities for all the family, all part of the league's attempts to open up the sport to a new audience.

For Maradona's men it is something of a last chance saloon: a loss will all but ensure a failure to achieve a top-four finish and Asian Champions League football next season.

So, there is plenty at stake for both sides. Let us hope the players serve up a match to remember, something they can do best if they stay on their feet.