MX23RW : Thursday, April 3 06:37:47| >> :600:245861:245861:

Michael Owen: 'Diving is getting worse'

Owen: 'Diving is getting worse'
© PA Photos
Former England striker Michael Owen says that diving has become more of a problem in the Premier League since the influx of foreign players.

Stoke City striker Michael Owen is adamant that diving has become more of an issue since the influx of foreign footballers to the Premier League.

The former England striker admitted that he went down easily in the past in order to gain a penalty for his side.

Despite Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale both being deemed to have dived at the weekend, Owen believes that it's unfair to criticise just one or two people.

"I'd say it's worse now than it was 10 years ago and I would have to say that [it grew] with the foreign influence of players coming from South America, Spain and Italy," said Owen.

"When I was a kid and I used to watch Italian football you would see a lot of simulation and you didn't really see it in England. Now it's something that England players do. It's a worldwide problem. English players are just as guilty as foreign players of doing it.

"It'd be unfair to single just one person out. It is a widespread problem in world football and I'd say in England it's been one of the last places to catch on but now prizes are so high people will push the boundaries, just like in any walk of life. It's something that everyone wants to stamp out."

Owen also admitted that he still wants to play for England.

ID:49440: cacheID:49440:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2463:
Written by
Matt Cotton
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Luis Suarez, Dean Whitehead
Read Next:
Boyce calls diving "a cancer"
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool30227170274373
2Arsenal301710355253061
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest30176750351557
4Manchester CityMan City30156957401751
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle29155949391050
6Chelsea29147853371649
7Aston Villa3013984445-148
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton30121174845347
9Fulham3012994440445
10Bournemouth301281049381144
11Brentford30125135147441
12Crystal Palace29101093734340
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd30107133741-437
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton30713103237-534
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham3097143350-1734
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves3085174158-1729
18Ipswich TownIpswich3048183063-3320
19Leicester CityLeicester3045212567-4217
20Southampton3024242271-4910


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!