Must we vilify the football cheat?

There is a phrase in rugby which exists from the grass roots right to the very top of the international game. It goes: “it’s not illegal until the ref sees it,” and many a career has been built with these words lodged firmly at the front of the rugby playing brain.

It sounds paradoxical, but in rugby, to be a good cheat is a great virtue. A good piece of cheating is celebrated by its benefactors, grudgingly appreciated by opposition support and often highlighted, without condemnation, by pundits. Cheating is taught and cheating is tactics.

During the 2011 World Cup England Prop David Flatman spoke about New Zealand captain Richie McCaw. “Credit to McCaw,” he said, “the only way to reach 100 caps as an openside flanker is to learn how to cheat and he’s perfected that art. You see him more than any other No.7 in the world, lying in awkward positions and slowing down ball. He is a class apart. What’s more impressive is how often he gets away with it.”

McCaw is one of the greats of modern rugby – cheating has not only enhanced this reputation, it makes part of the foundations. It is an “art,” it is “impressive.”

Why then, in football, do we see players crucified for being cheats every week? Luis Suarez has become the Premier League’s pantomime villain, and yet in diving to win a free-kick or penalty he is only doing the footballing equivalent of what has made McCaw a legend.

This is not to say cheating is ethical, it isn’t, but in top level sport it is expected that as the very best, you should be doing whatever it takes to win. Sometimes, cheating is what it takes.

The amount of time Didier Drogba spent on the ground, breaking up the flow of the game, was arguably as vital to Chelsea’s semi-final defeat of Barcelona in last year’s Champions League as his first-leg goal.

Suarez’s handball in the 2010 World Cup which prevented Ghana from scoring a last minute winner resulted in his side progressing to the semi-finals on penalties. Harsh on Ghana, yes, but also heroic – Suarez missed the semi himself, he was sent off for the act. The ultimate self-sacrifice?

There is a culture of negativity which surrounds modern day football, much of which is built on prejudice. Why should a footballer buying a penalty with a dive be condemned (and take over media coverage of the game in the process) whilst a rugby player blocking off a tackler to allow a team mate to run through and score be labelled clever?

Cheating happens in every sport and football is certainly not above this. Nor should its audience be.