Theo has no regrets over diving admission
Ten days ago Theo Walcott made the unusual decision to admit to diving to try and win a penalty, mass debate ensued about whether he did the right thing and was honest, or stupid for blackening his own name with fans fearing the next time he was toppled in the area he wouldn’t get the decision.
After the Leeds game, in which the dive occurred, he said:
“I want to apologise to the managers because I actually dived, I was trying to win the penalty. I said to one of their players ‘would you have done it?’ and he said he probably would have.
“I am not the sort of player to do it but I own up to it and apologise. It is something I don’t want to see in my game.
I can completely understand both viewpoints here: the fears fans have over him not being given the next penalty decision that comes along – but also the fact he did the right thing which he undoubtedly did in the interests of the game and apologise.
Yesterday Theo went on record again on the subject of diving and doesn’t regret his decision for a second:
“I’ve got no regrets about what I said,” said Walcott, who scored the second goal in Arsenal’s win over West Ham. “I’m an honest player, I want to be honest with my team-mates, Leeds and the manager and all the staff. That’s the sort of player that I am. If I’m going to be punished for being honest then I can’t win.
“It’s in the past, I’ve forgotten about it now and I just want to carry on enjoying playing my football now. With decisions like that, it makes it easier for me.”
He also pointed out the hypocrytical nature of match analysts who say in one sentence that a player should go down if they are touched, yet then castigate that player for diving:
“People say that if you get the slightest touch you should go down and when you do go down they have a go at you for going down so you can’t win.
“I’m not bothered, I’m just enjoying playing football for this team and that’s all I can do. If the referee’s going to punish me or any other players then I can’t do anything about that. That’s just the way I am.”
I would far rather he admit it than be a regular diver who then publishes a book ripping into divers in the Premier League. I also think it is fair to say that if Theo was a foreign lad he would have been ripped to shreds in the press just like Eduardo was a couple of years ago.
Two wrongs don’t make a right, one right and wrong doesn’t make a right… but it does go someway to acting in the games best interests.
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theo is the best
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nice to see some honesty in football. it blatently didnt affect the next penalty decision because he got it in the last goal against the hammers. THEOOOOO Gooner 4 Life
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when will manchester players stop being protected by the FA board for diving and kicking others? dive walcot when needed thats nature of the game!
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out of penalty area if you try and play on and it doesn’t work the ref pulls it back for free kick. IN the penalty area the ref will play on. Whilst referees continue to ignore penalties when a player tries to keep playing, there is no reason for a player to stay on his feet. i blame the refs more for people going down under slight contact
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Theo is just a dam good bloke. Much respect.
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Old news. Let’s just hope he stays on form and looks to score or make a goal in every game, that’s what we need. No apologies
Come on Arsenal……
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wow if theo wanted to confess why not just go to some priest or summin, why tell the world
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honest like thierry, he can only go far
p.s some will say thierry wasnt honest BUT remember how honestly he played until the last world cup…
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Theo can do no wrong in my book. If refs then start not believing him, then they will send the wrong message to young players, like its better to be like Cristiano for instance!
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THEO SHOULD GO TO CHURCH AND CONFESS TO THE PRIEST… HE DOESN’T NEED TO TELL ALL THE WORLD HOW SAINT HE IS…
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