Graeme Souness: Kai Havertz 'dive' was perfect setup for blue card – we could eradicate it from the game
Kai Havertz's 'dive' during Arsenal's clash with Brentford was the perfect setup for a blue card, according to Graeme Souness.
Football lawmakers shocked the world earlier this year when they announced plans for a blue card be tried for dissent and “anti-football” actions.
These could include simulation, cheating, and referee abuse, with the punishment being a spell in a sin container before returning to action.
Those plans have since it has been archivedeven if the idea of introducing a rubbish bin is still being explored.
However, Havertz was a central figure in Arsenal's 2–1 victory over Brentford after scoring a late goal in the game. Thomas Frank was not impressed for believing that the German star should have already been expelled.
Havertz, who had already been booked, charged into the box while trying to win a penalty, but due to the VAR decision, a second yellow card was not allowed to be awarded.
Souness had previously spoken of his feeling that Havertz could have been given a blue card for his antics, something he explained on Monday's White And Jordan show.
Asked if he thought a blue card could have been a worthy punishment for Havertz, Souness said: “100 percent.
“If you ask 100 people what bothers them most in football, they would say it's diving or pretending to be injured, so we'll eradicate that in two weeks if we introduce a rubbish bin.
“What would happen is that a team goes down to 10 men, in some cases concedes a goal and then loses the game, so the coaches would be behind them.
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“I was working with Mica Richards on Sky one day and said that Jack Grealish 'buy faults'. I asked him to explain and he told me 'he buys faults, he falls when they barely touch him'
“So you are trying to influence the referee and no matter how you dress it up, you are cheating and that is why in two weekends of the Premier League we will eradicate it.”
Jim White then explained a scenario in which Havertz spends 10 minutes in the sin bin and then comes out to score the winner, to which Souness said, “But maybe Brentford score in those 10 minutes.
“You are stupid? For 10 minutes he is off the pitch and they are down to 10 men, which means Brentford have a huge chance to score a goal and maybe win the game 2-1.”
Simon Jordan He added: “What I agree with Graeme on is that if a boy gets a yellow card and fakes it, I don't think he should get a blue card, he should get a red card.
“But what Graeme is saying is that if the player has no infringements on the field, he has no yellow card and therefore the first time he does it he gets a yellow card, which means there is no effect on the equipment.
“But if that player receives a blue card and spends 10 minutes off the field, then it goes to the player who receives the consequence and the team that receives the consequence.”
Souness then expanded: “Today coaches encourage their players to fall in the box and, if they fall, they pretend that they are injured.
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“It's not something I've ever done and it's not something I've encouraged players to do, but today's coaches will encourage it.
“That is now part and parcel of our game and everyone does it. Does that make it correct?
“There are two ways blue cards should be used, that's one of them.
“The other thing you should use a blue card for is if you abuse a referee, then go and sit there for 10 minutes.
“You're looking to improve the game. All I can say is that when I've talked to people who play and people who have achieved good results in the game, after I say what I just said, they start nodding their heads.
“It's frustrating to see people throwing themselves on the ground, malingering and cheating.”
Late Havertz winner leaves Arsenal Premier League leader on goal difference, with both Liverpool and city of manchester both within a point of them.
