Luis Suarez's diving is 'an embarrassment' says Tony Pulis

 

Martyn Ziegler
Monday 08 October 2012 15:35 BST
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Luis Suarez has been accused yet again of diving
Luis Suarez has been accused yet again of diving (GETTY IMAGES)

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Louise Thomas

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Liverpool striker Luis Suarez found himself at the centre of another storm over diving yesterday as Stoke boss Tony Pulis labelled his conduct “an embarrassment”.

Pulis was incensed by a blatant dive by Suarez toward the end of the 0-0 draw at Anfield and called on the FA to hand the Uruguay international a three-match ban.

He said: "I thought Suarez again today (Sunday)...I've been on about people falling over and the one incident in the second half...it's an embarrassment being a professional footballer [and doing that].

"He's a fantastic player, he's got great ability and he is the one player we were frightened to death of today, but doing things like that...

"Retrospective decisions are made on a Monday by the FA and they should be looking at this. Give him three games and he will stop falling over.

"What happens is that he puts pressure on the referee and every time he goes down you've got 40,000 Liverpool fans getting after the ref and I don't think that's right.

"I don't know how many times he has fallen over but the one in the penalty box is just an embarrassment and how he has not been booked I just don't know.

"I am concerned about the simulation and putting pressure on the ref. It's a tough enough job as it is. For professional footballers to be doing that is just not right and the PFA should start talking about it."

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insisted he had not seen the Suarez incident but defended his player.

Rodgers said: "I haven't seen the incident so I can't really comment on it, but whatever Luis does there will always be a problem, whether it's media, referees or whatever.

"It gets brought up every week, it's something that is not new.

"I thought he was terrific today, some of his movement and combinations."

Rodgers admitted to being frustrated by the result, but pointed out that Liverpool's record at Anfield this year has been disappointing.

He said: "This is a club that has won only two Premier League games at Anfield in this calendar year and it has been nearly a year since the club has won consecutive Premier League games so to still get the backing of the supporters with that type of record, there's not many clubs would give that.

"The players gave the club everything, and there should be a big appreciation of the supporters.

"There were a lot of real positives and it was our first clean sheet of the season which is important."

PA

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