Champions League - Eduardo wins 'dive' appeal

Eurosport - Tue, 15 Sep 09:34:00 2009

Arsenal striker Eduardo has won his appeal against a two-match ban imposed by UEFA for diving in a Champions League qualifying game against Celtic.

2009-2010 Eduardo Artur Boruc - 0

The Croatia striker was initially suspended for allegedly diving to win a penalty in the match at the Emirates the end of August.

"I'm very pleased that we have finally arrived at the truth. All we needed to do was to prove what happened and we have managed to do that. This decision makes me feel a lot better," Eduardo said in a statement.

"All I remember of the incident is that as soon as I had possession of the ball I headed towards goal at full speed. I was very close to the Celtic keeper and felt contact on my foot and then lost my balance. I know perhaps more than anyone else that when you have contact at speed it can be dangerous.

"I just want to say that I'm a fair player. To score goals you must take your opportunities and I'm not the type of player who needs to be dishonest to score goals."

At the time of the incident Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith was quick to call for action against Eduardo and UEFA subsequently began an investigation, which Gunners boss Arsene Wenger lambasted as a "witch-hunt".

The Premier League club lodged an appeal against the ban which would have ruled the player out of the games against Standard Liege on Wednesday as well as the home match with Olympiacos in a fortnight.

"The UEFA Appeals body have accepted the appeal lodged by Arsenal FC against the two-match suspension handed to striker Eduardo," read a statement.

"Following examination of all the evidence, notably the declarations of both the referee and the referees' assessor, as well as the various video footage, it was not established to the panel's satisfaction that the referee had been deceived in taking his decision on the penalty.

"Therefore, the decision of the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body of 1 September, in which the player was suspended for two UEFA club competition matches, is annulled."

An Arsenal statement read: "We are grateful that the appeal body focused on the evidence and made the right decision in this case.

"We were able to show that there was contact between the goalkeeper and Eduardo and that the decision of the UEFA disciplinary body should be annulled.

"We fully support the drive for fair play in football and believe it is important that UEFA provide clear and comprehensive standards that will be consistently enforced going forward."

PA Sport

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  1. Go Dudu, GO!

    From chupachu, on Fri 18 Sep 3:12AM

  2. ukredneck352004 As a Rangers supporter I'm­ surprised that you are able to both read and write, but­ instead of making stupid comments about us Fenians,­ shouldn't you be on the dole line, or at least busy­ with beating your inbread wife you dumb orange @#$%?­ Mon the Hoops! Let the People Sing!

    From seaniebhoy163, on Thu 17 Sep 2:18AM

  3. Boring, boring, Dale A.
    Boring, boring, Dale A.

    INWA

    From Stevie O Jay, on Wed 16 Sep 3:52AM

  4. please please please tell me you guys are not as thick­ as i think you are. "We were able to show that­ there was contact between the goalkeeper and Eduardo­ and that the decision of the UEFA disciplinary body­ should be annulled.". Learn to read for­ Christ's sake

    From Remi J.M, on Wed 16 Sep 2:25AM

  5. LUCKY B A S T A R D

    From Liverpool FC, on Wed 16 Sep 12:39AM

  6. if he wont get a ban ofcourse :D

    From Davis, on Tue 15 Sep 10:56PM

  7. i think that the only person who is guilty in this­ situation is referee. its his game and he needs to see­ whats happening on the field. looked like a dive but­ its no my case and none of yours. your comments will­ change nothing. Arsenal fan! KICK ADEBAYORS A** MAN­ UNITED!!!

    From Davis, on Tue 15 Sep 10:53PM

  8. "THANKS TO GOD THAT THE TRUTH HAS FINALLY COME­ OUT" Eduardo. Through all the shi*e I read on here­ the best is from him. I like Arsenal, I respect the way­ they play but this is something else. He cheated,­ everyone knows it the replies show it. On another page­ there's loads of hate about the England team, well­ they don't dive like this twit does. Eduardo, you­ came back from an injury, well done, your a fine player­ why on earth would you say that? If you were playing in­ a semi-pro game you would be walking round with a­ black-eye if you dived like that.
    UEFA... ban people­ for three matches and fine the player three weeks wages­ then they'll stop. Make it clear that if someone­ dives and replays prove it, your get punished. Its­ simple, why can't it be black and white? the rules­ made clearer.

    From webbie202004, on Tue 15 Sep 10:10PM

  9. n

    From cro_tino, on Tue 15 Sep 9:48PM

  10. assassin he is just like me with a different name only­ to be used in emergencies if you know what i mean­ laters fella im off

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Tue 15 Sep 9:35PM

  11. Eduardo's comments about the incident ring so­ insincere. HE DIVED! And the short-sighted, gutless­ suits at UEFA have been conned as well as the referee­ in the game. Arsenal and Eduardo will be pleased but­ they both know they have got one over on EVERYBODY­ concerned. They are both a disgrace to Football. A pity­ Artur Boruc didn't "sort him out" in the­ tunnel!

    From JOHN, on Tue 15 Sep 9:26PM

  12. David, why are you so bitter? The world economy is in­ danger and you are on here crying foul? As if you­ beloved team has not won a game in their history­ through a "cheat" Grow up man!

    From Dale, on Tue 15 Sep 9:12PM

  13. David, why are you so bitter? The world economy is in­ danger and you are on here crying foul? As if you­ beloved team has not won a game in their history­ through a "cheat" Grow up man!

    From Dale, on Tue 15 Sep 9:12PM

  14. No you idiots, just because he's not the worst­ offender does NOT give him a free pass to do it!! The­ start of the season was the PERFECT time to get tough­ on diving, and now they've CHICKENED OUT and we all­ have to suffer CHEATING SCUM from all teams for at­ least another season.

    From David, on Tue 15 Sep 9:11PM

  15. And the stupid Goons STILL can't figger out that a­ diving clampdown would be a huge help to their­ team..DUH.
    If that wasn't a dive the Pope ain't­ old, so Jobs-For-The-Boys UEFA had another Get Out Of­ Jail Free card out to one of their CLIQUE of­ debt-abusing 'Big' (ha ha) clubs...

    What­ they've actually done is they've just handed­ carte blanche to every cheat in Football to carry on­ just as before, bringing the game into disrepute again­ and again, whining, diving, waving fake cards,­ harassing the ref, squealing like stuck pigs when­ anything doesn't go their way, poisoning kids with­ their appalling role-model.

    18 weeks community service­ to get dole money would do them all a world of good. Or­ a tour in Iraq wearing dayglow orange, perhaps.

    From David, on Tue 15 Sep 9:09PM

  16. who is the pitbull Daz ?

    From the silent assassin, on Tue 15 Sep 9:01PM

  17. That's one small victory for a Diver; one giant­ leap backwards for Football.

    From David, on Tue 15 Sep 8:57PM

  18. hola to stevie ojay and silent assassin how you doing­ lads not been on for a bit as i cant be arsed so only­ come on once in a while hope all is good and keep up­ the good work there is also a pitbull in town if you­ see him you may know him im out peace to all

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Tue 15 Sep 8:49PM

  19. Stevie O Jay..clearly, there has to be something better­ to do, other than insult players from other teams, who­ don't even know you exist....

    From Dale, on Tue 15 Sep 8:28PM

  20. Eduardo, how do you fancy a night out? I know another­ place where anything goes. No reprecussions. Sound­ good? The Lunge Inn bar in Southport? Heard of it? We­ could do whatever we want and get away with it.­ C'mon let's go out and break a leg or a few­ heads, ha, ha, ha just my little joke. I need some new­ patsy mates as all mine are doing community service ...­ fools ... ha, ha.

    INWA

    From Stevie O Jay, on Tue 15 Sep 8:11PM
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