Costa Rica Coach Jorge Luis Pinto warned officials to “watch out for Arjen Robben diving” in today’s quarter-final.
The Netherlands got through a tense 2-1 win over Mexico, in which Robben confessed to diving, though not for the decisive penalty.
Costa Rica Coach Jorge Luis Pinto warned officials to “watch out for Arjen Robben diving” in today’s quarter-final.
The Netherlands got through a tense 2-1 win over Mexico, in which Robben confessed to diving, though not for the decisive penalty.
“This is one of the most important questions in the World Cup: diving,” Pinto told reporters.
“We’re really worried about it. I would like the referee and FIFA to watch Robben closely.
“He’s one of the three or four best players in the world. I have a website and I analysed him as a player on it: he’s amazing.
“But we have to say that there have been mistakes in this World Cup and we’re really worried about Robben’s diving, which he admitted. He admitted it!
“So I hope that the officials are very careful. I urge them to watch out. This is very important and could have a big impact on the result.”
Pinto agreed that a booking for the first simulation of the game would be “the most logical conclusion. Maybe he would get sent off for diving twice. That could happen.
“But you know what? I want to trust the referee, so let’s just hope nothing happens.”