Captain's blog: Neville shows his true colours in row over diving

While it is a viewpoint I agree with, I think it should be introduced not just for goal-line decisions, but for penalty kicks as well.

It would help eradicate the cheating and diving we see in the penalty box, week-in week-out, if players were less likely to get away with it.

However, one thing for sure is I wouldn’t like to see Gary Neville adjudicating as a video referee if his comments this week are anything to go by. Now I will say right off the rat, sorry bat, that I’ve never been Neville’s greatest fan.

I was disappointed when I found out he was going to be Andy Gray’s replacement as the analyst on Skysports Monday Night’s Football show. Not because Andy Gray was leaving, but the fact that Sky had managed to replace Gray with someone even more repulsive. Quite an achievement I think you’ll agree. However, it did not meet the same amount of disgust I felt when I heard Neville defend Ashley Young’s dive against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Now for those that missed Young’s Tom Daley impression, he basically knocked the ball past Villa defender Ciaran Clark, ran into him and then fell over. The Villa defender didn’t move. See clip below

However, when asked, by the Skysports presenter, was that a penalty? Neville, a defender himself for many years, replied, yes.

“I hope Clark isn’t going home feeling sorry for himself,” added Neville. “That kid could be playing for the Rebuplic of Ireland in the summer; in the European Championships against teams like Italy. I hoping he is not going to stick a lazy leg out because if he does his country will be going home and nobody will be feeling sorry for him.”

How considerate of Neville to think of Clark’s future prospects and point out to the Villa defender; that when international footballers are running at him it is in his best interests to move out of the way. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I always was under the impression that defenders were allowed to stand their ground in the penalty box. Yes Neville, there was contact between Clark and Young, but it was Young who made that contact by deliberately running into Clark. You can hardly expect the Villa player to jump to one side to let him past. However, it is hardly surprising that a footballer with over 400 appearance for Manchester United decided to stick up for his former side, but it does rather insult the intelligence of the viewing audience. Now I’m not saying Sky should bring back Gray as pundit, but the least they could do is let us see the puppet string attached, from Sir Alex Ferguson to Neville’s arms as he talks and moves about the studio, just for clarity.

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