The authorities have taken drastic action to finally clamp down on the real scourge of football (other than all the racism, corruption and stuff...), reveals Back of the Net's Paul Watson...
Two unnamed footballers have been arrested at LondonâÂÂs Heathrow Airport and face charges of plotting to incite diving in English football, the Metropolitan police have confirmed.
The two men were arrested late last night shortly after their flight touched down and were taken to a Central London police station to be questioned by the Counter Diving Unit.
Diving, long seen as an overseas phenomenon, has started to grow roots in the UK, with shocking pictures emerging of British players committing acts of diving in Premier League matches.
After the stunning revelation from former England star Michael Owen that he had taken part in low-level diving after being led astray by foreign influences, there is pressure on British authorities to prevent the problem escalating.
The Counter Diving Unit is known to be keeping a close eye on so-called âÂÂdiving schoolsâ in the UK where young players watch videos of refereeing mistakes and read passages of Pavel NedvedâÂÂs autobiography âÂÂWell something definitely clipped my heel.âÂÂ
âÂÂThe World Cup qualification period is a challenging time,â foreign secretary William Hague told FourFourTwo.
âÂÂObviously there will be lots of innocent footballers entering the country who have no intention whatsoever of even exaggerating contact let alone diving. But we have to remember that amongst those honest players will be one or two who wish to harm our game.âÂÂ
San Marino players arriving to face England on Friday evening have already complained of invasive security screening procedures.
âÂÂI understand that there need to be [security measures],aâ midfielder Alex Gasparoni explained.
âÂÂBut it really isnâÂÂt acceptable to have security officials backing into us, pushing us, grabbing our shirts and shouting âÂÂsurely you want a free-kick for this you Dogana d*ckheadâ at us.
âÂÂThe whole thing seems completely unnecessary, especially given that we have no intention of getting the ball on Friday evening anyway.âÂÂ
Despite a vast bounty and footballâÂÂs largest manhunt, the whereabouts of ideological diving figurehead Rivaldo remain unclear.
Editor's note: this isn't a serious accusation and all quotes are fictionalised. But you knew that, because you're not stupid.
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