Daily Mirror

MASTERS OF DIVING

Wenger claims ENGLISH players are the experts...days after Kane and Alli were caught up in cheat rows (& just before North London derby)

- BY JOHN CROSS Chief Football Writer

ARSENE WENGER believes English players have become the “masters” of diving.

The Arsenal boss says English players now have a worse reputation for cheating than foreign stars, and his comments are likely to put referee Anthony Taylor on red alert before tomorrow’s north London derby at Wembley.

Wenger (right) said: “I recall there were tremendous cases here when foreign players did

holding his nose during the row and referee Martin Atkinson included the flare-up in his report from the game between West Brom and Brighton on January 13.

Rodriguez has protested his innocence and used social media last night to say: “Absolutely gutted and in disbelief at the situation I find myself in.

“I 100% deny the false allegation and will take the correct legal advice to prove my innocence.”

Defender Bong said at the time: “He said racist comments. I am a black man. We’re in 2018 and we cannot tolerate this. I hope there will be sanctions.

“He did that because of the colour of my skin. I asked him to repeat what he said and I think he realised what he said and tried to limit the damage.”

West Brom issued a statement offering their full support.

Director of football administra­tion Richard Garlick said: “We remain fully supportive and committed to backing Jay.”

The FA brought in a minimum five-game ban for racist incidents in 2013 but it is understood Rodriguez could be suspended for longer if found guilty.

 ??  ?? HITTING THE DECK Spurs’ Harry Kane appeals to the referee after going to ground in the penalty area at Anfield
HITTING THE DECK Spurs’ Harry Kane appeals to the referee after going to ground in the penalty area at Anfield
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 ??  ?? BACKING West Brom chief Garlick supports Rodriguez
BACKING West Brom chief Garlick supports Rodriguez

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