Fifa can take action over Robben dive

By Mike Keegan - BBC Sport

Arjen Robben could face retrospective punishment from Fifa after the Netherlands winger admitted diving in their 2-1 World Cup win over Mexico.

The 30-year-old said he did not cheat to win a decisive injury-time penalty but told Dutch TV: "I apologise. In the first half I took a dive."

Furious Mexico coach Miguel Herrera accused Robben of diving three times.

Fifa, world football's governing body, states it can "sanction those who violate the principles of fair play".

That section of article 57 of Fifa's regulations comes into play after Robben admitted his guilt.

Meanwhile, article 77 gives Fifa's disciplinary committee responsibility for "sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention" and "rectifying obvious errors in the referee's disciplinary decisions".

In February, Fifa president Sepp Blatter called for retrospective action on players who dive, fake injuries and time waste.

He wrote in the organisation's monthly magazine: "Video evidence can be used for serious breaches of the principle of fair play such as brawling, spitting at opponents, verbal insults and racist slurs, or for incorrectly awarded red or yellow cards. In cases such as these we must make use of the avenues already open to us and intervene after the event if necessary.

Robben was fouled for the decisive penalty in injury time

''In this context, we should include the faking of injury, intentional diving or time-wasting in our considerations."

Blatter expressed disappointment that existing bodies were not using the rules to take retrospective action.

In 2012 Fifa vice president Jim Boyce said that diving was becoming "a little bit of a cancer in the game".

Mr Boyce declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport.

The Dutch FA, KNVB, have released a statement claiming Robben's comments were misinterpreted by the media and that he actually said he "fell too easily".

Robben is due to comment at a news conference later on Monday.

For the best of BBC Sport's in-depth content and analysis, go to our features and video page.

Related to this story

Featured in this story