To Dive Or Not To Dive, That Is The Question

Simulation, one of the uglier aspects of the beautiful game, is a practice that has been a part of the sport for a long time now. However, with football becoming more competitive than ever, many professionals seem to play under the impression that the ends justify the means. A number of teams are falling victim to blatant cheating, and it's time to put an end to this menace. This week, The Controversial High Line takes a look at how diving can be put to bed once and for all. 

During the Premier League fixture between Arsenal and West Brom this weekend, diving standards hit an all-time low. Santi Cazorla had the ball inside West Brom's penalty area when Steven Reid lashed out at the Spaniard. Cazorla went down like a sack of potatoes, flailing at the air and clutching his foot. Referee Mike Jones had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. At first it seemed like the right decision. However, replays showed that there was no contact at all and that it was a classic case of simulation. Simply put, Cazorla dived. Many were shocked that a player of Cazorla's ability felt the need to resort to cheating. Then again, we've seen it happen before. Ashley Young, Luis Suarez, Gareth Bale.... all top players for their respective clubs, all have been given that dreaded tag: Diver.

Dear Platini, PLEASE Don't Mess With The Champions League Format

The Controversial High Line is back after a bit of a sabbatical and this time, the target is none other than UEFA president Michel Platini! Recently, the most powerful man in European football confirmed that certain changes were being considered for all European club competitions. So.... are the changes under consideration viable ones or yet another harebrained scheme that will eventually come to nothing? See for yourself! 

UEFA president Michel Platini recently confirmed that the prospect of scrapping the Europa League and merging it with the Champions League is under consideration. His exact words were, "There is an ongoing debate to determine what form the European competitions will have between 2015 and 2018. We're discussing it, we will make a decision in 2014. Nothing is decided yet." Another idea under consideration is to to offer a place in the Champions League to both finalists of the Europa League from 2015.

It's No Longer A Conspiracy Theory....

"Referee United", "Fergie Association", "He's big, he's red, he sleeps in Fergie's bed... HOWARD WEBB!"....

The Harsh Reality Of High Transfer Fees In Football

Last week, I looked at why football fans should not believe the hype that surrounds Brazilian starlet Neymar. This week,  I shall examine the phenomenon of high transfer fees that almost everyone seems to have an opinion on. Enjoy! 

Ever since Roman Abramovich spent his first million on Chelsea Football Club, it’s become a common sight to see Chelsea spend large (sometimes extravagant) sums on top-quality players. Many people chided the club for spending so lavishly on players, but it’s not something that ever bothered Roman or the Chelsea fans. When Roman bought the club, the finances of the club were in shambles to say the least. It was a relief to quite a few that the club was still in operation. Hence, no one really complained (let’s be honest, why would they?) when Roman left no stone unturned to ensure that the club became one of the biggest clubs not only in England, but also in Europe and the whole world.

Neymar: Don't Believe The Hype

Note: This article is NOT about the prospect of Neymar joining Chelsea. This article is the beginning of a weekly series that will attempt to analyze matters in the footballing world outside the realms of Stamford Bridge. Hope you enjoy reading my views! 

Neymar: Don't Believe The Hype

Whenever I ask someone who they think is the best footballer in the world, the answer is either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. Personally I believe that Messi is a more complete player than Ronaldo, but I can see why people rate Ronaldo so highly. Love him or hate him, you can't deny the fact that the guy's got loads of talent (the same could be said about Messi). But to be fair to the two of them, let's just say that at the moment they are, without a doubt, the 2 best players in the world. No one is at their level. But there are quite a few people who believe that Brazilian "wonder-kid" Neymar, currently plying his trade for Brazilian club Santos, can be compared to Ronaldo and Messi in terms of skill. "He's just as good as Messi or Ronaldo", is something I hear a lot.