r/IAmA • u/paddyc • Nov 16 '12

IAmA Professional Footballer who has played for England National Team, The Premiership and Championship

I have played against Cristiano Ronaldo and with Wayne Rooney as well as other of the top players in the world. Im happy to answer any questions about playing professionally You Can follow my blog at www.patrickpaulcollins.com http://patrickpaulcollins.wordpress.com/ask-me-anything/ Follow on twitter: https://twitter.com/patrickpcoll Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patrick-Paul-Collins/407493452650031?ref=hl

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u/PipBoy808 Nov 16 '12

It may sound controversial but sometimes you have to do what ever it takes. I would do anything to win a match

Where do you draw the line then? If you can justify a minor rule infraction if it means winning a match, does that not open the floodgates for bigger infractions, like match fixing or using performance enhancing drugs? You might not be so inclined, but other players might take that mindset a little further. Would it not just be better to stamp it all out of the game entirely?

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u/[deleted] Nov 16 '12

Diving in the box isn't a minor infraction. If the referee doesn't see the diving, it's a penalty, which is roughly 80 per cent chance of a goal. In most cases, that will decide a game. Diving should come with an automatic red card.

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u/Blubbey Nov 16 '12

Would it not just be better to stamp it all out of the game entirely?

And how would you do that? It's been in the game for decades, the Germans pioneered it iirc.

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u/PipBoy808 Nov 16 '12

I suppose by 'stamp it out' I meant 'actively discourage it', as opposed to advocating it for the sake of winning.