The FA may have taken preventative measures to try and eliminate simulation from the English game, this season, with retroactive punishments now being dished out for players found guilty of diving, but the same system isn't in place everywhere, although Lukas Podolski probably wishes it was.
The former Arsenal man is now plying his trade in Japan's J-League with Vissel Kobe and received one of the strangest yellow cards of his career in a recent game against Kashima Antlers.
The German striker found himself in the middle of a slight flare up with an Antlers' defender and their goalkeeper, although Podolski was unaware the 'keeper was so closely behind him.
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As the World Cup winner lifted his arms up, Kashima's goalkeeper decided to take full advantage and provided us with the mother of all dives which, somehow, Podolski received a booking for.
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Podolski was, unsurprisingly, bewildered by the decision, which would ordinarily have gone the other way and resulted in a caution or even a sending off for the opposition goalkeeper for deliberate cheating. Although, given the level of shithousery displayed by the 'keeper, it really does deserve lauding, so perhaps a booking for the German was the only reasonable decision.
The former Bayern Munich man even took to Twitter after the match to have a laugh about the booking.
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Perhaps the referee should be looked at by the Japanese FA if that is the sort of 'foul' that he believes warrants a yellow card.
Featured Image Credit: Lukas Podolski/TwitterTopics: Football News, Football
