When is a dive not a dive?

[Nearly Sane]

When you are entitled to go to ground....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39969813

[wigginhall]

It's quite interesting, as strikers tend to argue that they are entitled to go to ground, if a defender shoves a leg in their way, in other words, there is contact.   But then some strikers do very theatrical dives, which look as hammy as hell.

I suppose a set of rules will gradually emerge, as in Scotland.   It may be difficult to distinguish cases where a defender has tripped someone, and  the striker falls naturally or unnaturally.   But being tripped is an offence, irrespective of how the attacker reacts, isn't it? 

[Nearly Sane]

It's quite interesting, as strikers tend to argue that they are entitled to go to ground, if a defender shoves a leg in their way, in other words, there is contact.   But then some strikers do very theatrical dives, which look as hammy as hell.

I suppose a set of rules will gradually emerge, as in Scotland.   It may be difficult to distinguish cases where a defender has tripped someone, and  the striker falls naturally or unnaturally.   But being tripped is an offence, irrespective of how the attacker reacts, isn't it?

The question surely is does contact constitute tripping. There are times where contact is legitimate, but the fall wouldn't be.

[wigginhall]

A lot of this has come about because the only way to get a penalty, if you're tripped, is to go down.   If you don't go down, no penalty, usually.   

Yes, you are right that contact is not tripping, but then you can award a foul with no contact also, if the approach is considered reckless or dangerous.  It's quite rare.   This is from ancient memory, and maybe it's changed.   For example, a defender swings a leg at an attacker violently, misses, but is still penalized.   Actually, it's not that rare, saw it recently.

[ad_orientem]

The question surely is does contact constitute tripping. There are times where contact is legitimate, but the fall wouldn't be.

Yes. Football is still supposed to be a contact sport.

[jeremyp]

A lot of this has come about because the only way to get a penalty, if you're tripped, is to go down.   If you don't go down, no penalty, usually.   

That seems absolutely reasonable to me. The object in football is not to get penalties but to score goals. If the defender didn't do anything to warrant you getting a penalty, why should you get a penalty?