Arsenal Ladies and England footballer Casey Stoney, who hit the winner against Liverpool on Sunday, says she would be embarrassed if she ever caught a team-mate diving.  Picture: The FA via Getty Images

Published: 4 July, 2014

ARSENAL Ladies and England star Casey Stoney has said that Arjen Robben “should be ashamed” of himself after admitting that he tried to con the referee during the Netherlands’ 2-1 victory over Mexico on Sunday in the last 16 of the World Cup. 

Robben revealed that he “took a dive” in the game, but not to win the decisive injury-time penalty that earnt the Dutch a quarter-final clash against Costa Rica. 

Casey, who was on the score sheet on Sunday as the Gunners beat Liverpool in the Women’s Super League, said she would be embarrassed if she ever caught a team-mate diving. 

“In my opinion there was contact and if you leave your foot in you are asking for trouble, but I don’t think there was enough contact for him to go down in that manner,” she wrote in her column for the BBC. 

“It’s the theatrics which get me. I absolutely hate it, especially as a defender and especially because Robben is a world-class player. 

“You can dress it up any way you want to but in the end it is cheating and I am just thankful that you do not see that sort of thing in the women’s game.” 

Despite his admission Fifa decided not to punish Robben for cheating, a move that Casey believes was a step in the wrong direction. 

“I coach kids and there is a growing trend of them copying their role models. That is why it is disappointing that retrospective action has not been introduced,” she added. 

“It happens for elbows and off-the-ball violence so why not for diving? If you get a three-game ban, you’d think twice about doing it again. 

“I understand that there is an added pressure to win in men’s football because it is more established and at club level there is more money involved but I hope that women’s football will remain honest, however professional it becomes. 

“I want games to be won through great skill, technique, or tactical awareness rather than blatant cheating. 

“Robben is a world-class player and unplayable at times and when he dives it tarnishes his reputation. 

“When he dives it just puts me off watching the game. And in this World Cup I do not want to switch off.”