Fiorèse dives into trouble
Friday, January 17, 2003
Article summary
Paris Saint-Germain FC's Fabrice Fiorèse has received a two-match ban as punishment for diving.
Article body
Paris Saint-Germain FC forward Fabrice Fiorèse has received a two-match ban as punishment for diving in the Ligue 1 match against FC Girondins de Bordeaux last month.
No contact
Fiorèse dived in the area to win PSG a penalty in the 19 December meeting with Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes, despite the opposition goalkeeper, Ulrich Ramé, making no contact with him.
Caneira sent off
He then went to ground again, holding his head, after Bordeaux's Paolo Caneira had approached him to remonstrate - an action that led to referee Damien Ledentu dismissing the innocent defender. Ronaldinho converted the subsequent spot-kick to earn PSG a 1-1 draw.
Video evidence used
The French League's disciplinary commission decided on the two-match ban yesterday, following promptings from the National Ethics Council - a body formed last year to investigate cheating in sport - which had studied video evidence of the incident.
PSG appeal
PSG have already appealed against the decision. Club president Laurent Perpère said: "In the rules, simulation is punished by a yellow card only. This ban is too harsh." The player's coach, Luis Fernandez, said: "Simulation is less serious than some severe tackles we can see in our championship and which remain unpunished."
Fiorèse 'not proud'
Fiorèse himself said: "The pressure is huge in such matches and at the end of a game you're not always thinking clearly. I'm not proud to have done that but I did not injure anyone."
