The controversy surrounding “fake injuries” in football has flared up again after Manchester City’s 3-2 win over Leeds United. Former PGMOL boss Keith Hackett has come out strongly against the practice, labeling it as “cheating” and calling for changes to the laws of the game.
The incident that sparked the debate occurred during the second half of the match when Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma appeared to go down injured. The game was halted, allowing City’s players to receive instructions from Pep Guardiola on the sidelines. Donnarumma was subsequently deemed fit to continue, and City went on to score the winning goal in stoppage time.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke expressed his frustration with the situation, stating that it wasn’t “fair play.” However, he stopped short of directly criticizing Guardiola, instead highlighting the need for clarity on the rules. Farke revealed that he had asked the fourth official what they planned to do about the “fake injury,” only to be told that the referee’s hands were tied.
Hackett, a former FIFA referee and head of the PGMOL, was more forthright in his criticism. “The action of a player going down feigning injury to enable his manager to have a technical time out is becoming a regular approach by a good number of teams at the professional level,” he said. “It’s a difficult one for the referee who often is forced to take the safe option of stopping the game for the alleged injured player to receive treatment.”
Hackett argued that the practice is not only disrupting the flow of the game but also allowing teams to cheat. “Football, either through agreement or consideration of a law change, must put its house in order,” he said. “The facts are that it’s cheating to get the game stopped. We see suddenly players sprinting to the touchline for a technical de-brief. We also see referees adding on three minutes of added time when it should be more.”
The issue raises questions about the balance between player safety and the integrity of the game. While referees are tasked with ensuring players receive proper treatment, the line between genuine injury and simulation can be blurred. Hackett’s comments highlight the need for the authorities to take action and find a solution to curb this practice.
In this case, the incident didn’t seem to have a significant impact on the outcome of the game, as City went on to win the match 3-2. However, the debate surrounding “fake injuries” is likely to continue, and it’s up to the authorities to find a way to address the issue and maintain the integrity of the game.
