IT was, by common consensus, the worst example of diving seen in Scottish football this season. Both managers, even the one whose team had snatched an undeserved draw as a result, agreed on that. The condemnation of the offending player throughout the game afterwards was scathing.
Yet, Alex Schalk’s contemptible theatrics at the end of the Ladbrokes Premiership game between Ross County and Celtic at the Global Energy Arena on Sunday afternoon were by no means unprecedented in the 2016/17 campaign. Far from it, in fact.
No, there have been a long line of incidents once again this term where an attacking player has attempted to gain an unfair advantage by feigning a foul by a rival defender in the opposition area in a cynical attempt to be awarded a penalty.
Schalk, who threw himself to the ground to earn a spot kick which Liam Boyce duly converted to level the match and ultimately earn his side a valuable point, will doubtless he punished retrospectively for his actions once Tony McGlennan, the SFA compliance officer, has an opportunity to review video replays of the incident.
But the fact this shameful passage of play is not an isolated event underlines that nowhere near enough is currently being done to hammer the culprits. Far more punitive disciplinary action needs to be meted out than is currently the case if we are ever to rid the game of this truly abhorrent practice.
Schalk, the Dutch forward who went to ground despite Erik Sviatchenko not making any contact with him, can expect to receive a two game ban. That is the number of matches which Jamie Walker, the Hearts winger, sat out after being found guilty of an identical infringement in the opening league game of the season against Celtic at Tynecastle in August.
But is that really going to make anyone think twice about doing the same thing again in future? It is highly unlikely. It certainly hasn’t served as a deterrent so far has it?
Read more: Scottish football's simulation shame: five others who have been labelled divers this season
Not having Schalk, who scored the winning goal in the League Cup final against Hibs at Hampden last season, available will certainly be irksome for the County manager Jim McIntyre as he attempts to steer the Dingwall club away from the play-off spot.
But McIntrye, whose side is three points ahead of second-bottom Dundee with five fixtures remaining as a result of the unjust 2-2 draw they stole at the weekend as a result of their last-minute penalty, should just about be able to cope.
Depriving the County boss the services of his foreign forward for every one of their remaining games, though, would cause him more issues.
Handing out five or six game suspensions, fining the individual responsible heavily, and even the club that he plays for, would send out a far stronger message and drive home to professional footballers that trying to con match officials in order to gain an unfair advantage for your side just isn’t worth it.
Every point is precious for County, and every other club in the bottom half of the table, at the minute. The draw they recorded against Celtic could be the difference between them staying up and going down in the coming weeks. The financial wellbeing of their employers is on the line and livelihoods are at stake. That is true throughout the course of a season. No wonder players will resort to such underhand methods.
The referee is, of course, the man held responsible. Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic manager, described Don Robertson’s decision to award a penalty on Sunday as “embarrassing”. It was hard to disagree. Such flashpoints, and the fallout to them, do nothing for the reputation of officiating in this country.
Whistlers, though, are human and are unable to refer to the repeated television replays which armchair viewers have the advantage of watching back. Inevitably, mistakes can and do happen. The sooner football is dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century and video assistant referees are brought in the better for everyone.
But John Fleming, the SFA Head of Refereeing Operations, told The Herald yesterday that “a heavier penalty for offenders would be a more effective deterrent”. That is the correct call. Until that happens the cheaters will continue to prosper.
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