Fake injuries at World Cup 2022: Why do players dive, flop and simulate?

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Football, or soccer as some know it, has an unfortunate reputation for players faking injuries. 

Otherwise also known as diving or simulation, these fake injuries often rub fans the wrong way and can leave players red-faced if they aren’t convincing enough.

The practice has been part of the sport for many years but has become more prevalent over the past 20 years, as referees clamp down harder on dangerous tackles. 

But in the modern age, with thousands of cameras pointed at a pitch, players are being caught out more for faking injuries and taking a dive.

MORE: World Cup injuries tracker (real ones!)

Why do players fake injuries?

Feigning injury is done for a number of reasons but one of the most common is to encourage the referee to take greater action against an opposition player. 

For example, if an opponent is guilty of a foul while tackling, the player fouled may fake injury to ensure their opponent is shown a yellow or even a red card. 

Exaggerating contact and its impact can influence referees to take greater action than they otherwise would. 

Fake injuries are also often used to buy time for one’s team. A player may pretend to have a more serious injury that requires treatment to wind down the clock, or give their side time to regroup. 

While injury time often accounts for some of this, it rarely evens out on the whole, so faking injury while ahead in the dying stages of a match is a common practice — much to the frustration of the opposing team and fans in general.

Though football is less of a contact sport compared to other codes, it’s important to remember that serious injuries can still occur and proper process is required for the safety of players. 

Neymar World Cup diving

Brazilian superstar Neymar is one player that has become synonymous with accusations of diving and apparently faking injury at World Cups. 

At both the tournaments in Brazil in 2014 and Russia 2018 he was singled out for going to ground too easily. 

One particular challenge saw Neymar roll along the pitch repeatedly, which inevitably led to some social media gold. 

It’s worth noting that the Brazilian attacker is often targeted by defenders who are eager to stop Neymar before he can work his magic in the final third of the pitch. But few would argue that the 30-year-old is not guilty of exaggeration at times, and when it’s done at a World Cup people will inevitably notice. 

Current Brazil coach Tite even called out Neymar for his antics back in 2012, when they crossed paths at club level. 

“Today we have seen how Neymar fell, spinning around and when the opponent was expelled, he got up as if nothing and it was good,” Tite said at the time. 

“Pretending to take advantage like that is not part of the game. It is a bad example for the children, for my son and for all those who see this.” 

Players known for diving and faking injuries

Neymar isn’t the only footballer who has an unfortunate reputation for being accused of dives or fake injuries. 

One of the greatest ever players in Cristiano Ronaldo has often been the subject of claims over diving in the final third to win penalties he’s more than willing to convert.

Like Neymar, Ronaldo is also targeted strongly by defenders and his sheer pace does mean slight contact can have a big impact. 

Uruguay star Luis Suarez is another player who has made headlines over occasional theatrics.

One of his more infamous moments came during the 2014 World Cup, where he bit Giorgio Chiellini and subsequently went to ground in sensational fashion clutching his teeth. 

At that same World Cup, Arjen Robben said sorry after admitting to a dive during Netherlands’ Round of 16 win over Mexico.

“I must apologise. The one [at the end] was a penalty, but the other one was a dive in the first half. I shouldn’t be doing that,” Robben told NOS at the time. 

Do players get punished for faking injuries and diving?

While fake injuries are hard to detect, let alone punish, diving has been targeted more and more by referees in recent years. 

If a player is spotted taking a dive or simulating contact, a foul can be called against them and a yellow card can also be shown. 

With the introduction of VAR, players are being increasingly caught out diving in an attempt to win a penalty. VAR now has the power to overturn an awarded spot-kick if replays suggest there wasn’t adequate contact.

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