Seeing red at those who fake a head injury
...and why they should see red...
Face-holding following contact with the body is a particularly pernicious piece of simulation that has crept into football with all the stealth and disregard for civil behaviour of a thief in the night. Fans seethe with frustration over the time-consuming, joy-draining process of VAR, and delays over throw-ins and substitutions, but what angers most is blatant cheating. So much is exciting about the Premier League, especially the skill at pace and sense of jeopardy, but simulation particularly rankles. Let’s get ready to tumble. And roll around.
The main focus of the Premier League’s commendable crackdown on simulation has come with cautions for diving. Officials have issued twice as many yellows for acts of deception so far this season (0.8 cautions per game) as in the last two seasons. It’s the highest since 2012/13 (0.9). But simulation has become far more cynical and sophisticated than simply a forward throwing himself to the deck to win a penalty.