Rochdale defy Alli’s dive to earn FA Cup replay with Spurs
Delight for Rochdale as the latest of late goals secured a 2-2 draw with Spurs in the FA Cup. Rochdale fell behind when Harry Kane converted a penalty ‘won’ by the slippery-shoed Dele Alli.
The midfielder has form when it comes to tumbling in the box.
Alli has been booked three times for diving. His is the worst record in the Premiership. He is a persistent cheat. But what about other players not booked for diving outside the box? Pretty much every match features moments when the lightest physical contact sees a player fall theatrically to the ground. Is it fair to pick out Alli?
When Alli burst into Rochdale’a penalty area there was an inevitability about him ending up on his backside. Was it a foul? Should this have been given? Get a load of his legs as he falls over.
Anyone who says that Dele Alli didn’t dive again for a penalty, needs to take a closer look at the incident and explain why, from a standing start, he can move forward 2 metres and somehow end up with his legs so high in the air without instigating the movement himself?#ROCTOT pic.twitter.com/OpugqjlJO1
— Dave Roberts ⚽🎙 (@dlrbrts) February 18, 2018
Rochdale manager Keith Hill says Alli was “looking for” the penalty.
“I’m led to believe he [Alli] was looking for it, but why not?” Hill opined. “If players feel there is an opportunity to be gained then brilliant, I don’t hold it against him. I don’t blame him and I don’t have a problem with it. Whether it’s him, Harry Kane or (Rochdale striker) Ian Henderson, it doesn’t matter who does it. If he does that for England in the World Cup this summer then I will definitely be supporting him.”
How times change, eh. There used to be pride in staying on your feet.
Tottenham have expressed a real interest in this, lad. pic.twitter.com/0ACuJzzK8m
— Big Uncle Knobhead. (@ianwilson69) February 17, 2018
The odd thing is that if you cheat and the penalty is given, the FA can ban you for two matches. But the result secured by a converted penalty kick unfairly earned stands. Cheat and fail, and you get a yellow card. Chris Sutton muses: “There are two many players who are looking for contact. Alli is one, Wilfried Zaha is another. They need to be fearful of what punishment they will face.”
So what punishment fits the crime? A red card? A penalty for the other team? Points deducted?
Posted: 18th, February 2018 | In: News, Sports, Spurs Comments (3) | TrackBack | Permalink
