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Culture Clash

Obsession with diving will hurt Premier League sides in Europe -- Mourinho

The Chelsea manager warns that Champions League referees will be much more lenient than the current trend in England’s top flight.

CHELSEA BOSS JOSE Mourinho says that the frantic push to eradicate diving from the English game could hurt Premier League teams in European competitions.

During a 2-0 FA Cup win over Derby County today, Ramires became the second Chelsea player in as many games to be cautioned for simulation after referee Andre Marriner waved the yellow card.

Fellow Brazilian Oscar received the same punishment from Martin Atkinson against Southampton in the Premier League on New Year’s Day, and while Mourinho backs calls to stop diving in the English game he believes there could be repercussions in European competition.

“I don’t know,” Mourinho said when asked if he felt some managers did encourage diving.

“We do the opposite, but I am worried about the European competitions.

“I know English teams will be punished in European competitions because we are all fighting against it, (but) in the Champions League and Europa League we will get referees from other countries, players without the education that we are trying to do, and in the Champions League and Europa League something against English teams will happen for sure.

“The referees are attacking it (diving); the managers supporting the referees; we are doing well; let’s see if the others (countries) do the same as us.”

The 50-year-old insists his players are not divers, but refused lavished praise upon the referees who booked Ramires and Oscar this week.

“I maintain it (Chelsea players do not dive), they (the incidents involving Ramires and Oscar) are isolated episodes.”

“This time I didn’t watch on TV but (referee Andre) Marriner was so close, so if he made that decision it is because he is right.

“The last time (on) Oscar just was completely correct; this time I didn’t speak yet with Ramires but if the referee was there then perfect.

“The reason (the two players were booked) was the referees were very good. In other clubs there are divers and they are not booked; we had two of the best referees in the country and in Europe.”

Has Mourinho got a point or is he just deflecting blame away from his players. What do you think?

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