Stoke City: 'Diver' Luis Suarez is dragging forwards down, warns Michael Kightly
STOKE winger Michael Kightly says Luis Suarez's theatrics are giving forwards a bad name.
The City players were fuming over Suarez's performance against them in the goalless draw at Liverpool on Sunday, particularly for a second-half dive which went unpunished by referee Lee Mason.
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FALL GUY: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was accused of diving and acting theatrically when challenged during Stoke City's visit to Anfield at the weekend.
Mason booked six Stoke players, but none from Liverpool to leave the City squad scratching their heads.
However, Kightly says play-acting puts enormous pressure on referees, and believes football would be a much better spectacle without theatrics such as those seen from Suarez.
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He said: "When you get a little touch – and he is screaming like he has broken his leg, you do think, 'Is he hurt?' But nine times out of 10, he's not.
"It is something we are trying to get out of the game. Glen Johnson, on the other hand, got a good whack and got up straight away.
"Referees have to try to stamp down on it.
"There is a difference between winning a penalty and just diving. Sometimes players know a tackle is coming in and ride it and go down. That's good play, winning a penalty.
"But sometimes, when you just dive with no touch at all, that's not good for the game."
In more fall-out from the Anfield game, Robert Huth has denied deliberately stamping on Suarez in the first half.
The defender landed his right foot on the striker's chest, leaving a mark on the Uruguay international.
However, Huth defended himself on Twitter, saying he hadn't meant to connect with the striker.
The Germany international said: "Not intentional – I made sure not to stamp. He was caught under me.
"But a good tussle with him. He's tougher than he lets on."
And Huth was given the all-clear yesterday when the referee confirmed he had seen the incident during the match and opted not to take action.
Meanwhile, Kightly says the Stoke players are proud to have Ryan Shawcross called-up by England.
The 25-year-old defender has joined Roy Hodgson's squad after being called up for World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland – at home on Friday and away next Tuesday respectively.
And Kightly has no doubt his captain will prove his selection is deserved if he gets on the pitch to earn his first cap.
He said: "He has been different class this season. He's a rock at the back, and if he gets his chance, he will do the job.
"We wish him all the best and hopefully he gets a cap."
Shawcross's only other call-up was for a friendly against Egypt in March 2010 when he was an unused substitute.
Should he get on the pitch, the centre-half will become the first Stoke player to play for the senior side since winger Mark Chamberlain in 1984.
Comments
by Latthink
Thursday, October 11 2012, 4:37PM
“Boothernender, yes I agree with some of your scribble. Every club has its famous period in time, just as most other forms of entertainment enjoy.
Stoke enjoyed their around the 1947 period but have mainly been onthe sidelines since while the Man u'S Arsenals, Chelseas etc enjoy prolonged periods of success. However Liverpool are doing nowadays it must still be recognised they WERE one of the best British clubs ever! Oh for a Shanks at the Brit!”
by Juzzah
Thursday, October 11 2012, 8:30AM
“boothernender - Really I think you will find Anfield is regarded as one of the best stadiums in the country and is a lot better than the half finished Brittannia”
by boothernender
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 9:14PM
“I see we have Vale and Liverpool fans on here entering the dispute about dives. Can't argue really since they are experts on dives as both their clubs play their home games in one.”
by boothernender
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 6:01PM
“Liverpool used to get decisions Juz until they became known for cheating.”
by laythevale
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 12:37PM
“Oh dear! Pulis has cheats in his own ranks. Michael Kightly quote in last night's Sentinel is an admission of guilt.
"There is a difference between winning a penalty and just diving. Sometimes players know a tackle is coming in and ride it and go down. That's good play, winning a penalty."
Good play?
CHEAT FELL OVER!”
by Juzzah
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 9:36AM
“lilbro - You state 'hard yes, uncompromising yes, but thugs no.!!' well I will tell you something, if you play against Man Utd like you did on Sunday you will be down to 9 men within half an hour, with the decisions they always seem to get from referees!!!”
by lilbro
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 8:36PM
“i wonder how long this issue of Suarez is going to drag on, we know ,fans and players alike what nhe is, a cheat and a con artist but i am getting a little concerned about our reputation as a team of thugs, i know we are not, hard yes, uncompromising yes, but thugs no.!!
i feel a lot of referees are very intolerant about our up and at em style and do not put up with it.what we need to do now is for us a club from the bottom to the top is to show the rest that we can play good football and get on with getting results and let the rest worry about who is doing what etc.
i had to smile when the Liverpool manager said his younger players stood up the the test against "real men".
lets now look forward to the next game against MUFC with confidence, we have been a match for the best thats been thrown at us, lets crack on and get some points on the board.
sorry for going on a bit but i am just sick of the media and all the carp written about our club.
rant over.!!!”
by PeterPotter
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 6:17PM
“Liverpool haven't been a team good enough to beat Stoke in quite a few years now, pity we aren't good enough to beat them however oreven score against them! I have to laugh at the closed minded, they don't mind our players stamping on people, or elbowing them in the head(ask Upson)after all, somebody on every team does it. that's ok, but anybody on any other team do it and they are the scum of the earth. How about a little perspective and open mindedness instead of the opposite from some”
by boothernender
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 5:53PM
“Maybe you don't know it Lathink but I am Johnson and I have never gone quiet. I think you and your "cohorts" and "shabby lot" are talking rubbish. Stoke are no angels but we are no better or worse than most of the rest. Van Persie elbowed someone in the chops at the weekend but nowt happens. The thug thing is a convenient excuse used by the big clubs because Stoke won't roll over and give them the points. The fact is Liverpool are a has been club who are no longer good enough to beat the likes of Stoke and they don't like it. Tough !!!”
by spenser
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 5:31PM
“As Kightly's comments appear to have been misrepresented on the Mail Online website,is he going to contact them and put them right as to what he actually said to stop the ill feeling that they appear to have caused?”