Adriano Banned for Diving to Win a Penalty

• Eurosport, Friday, April 20, 2007 2:56 PM

This may be a first: Serie A's disciplinary commission banned Inter Milan striker Adriano for diving over Roma keeper Alexander Doni in order to win a penalty that was later converted. The commission must have used television evidence to make its ruling, because TV replays show that Adriano, realizing he had no angle to score after taking the ball around Doni, clearly dove. Despite the con, justice was served as Roma went on to win the match, 3-1, thanks to a lucky deflection from a Francesco Totti free kick in the 89th minute.

According to a statement from the disciplinary commission: "The forward committed simulation by dragging his left foot along the grass to search for contact with the goalkeeper's body. The Inter player's fall to the ground was not preceded by any meaningful contact." Ernesto Paolillo, Inter's general executive manager, replied, "This judgment has not been applied in other cases. I think it is unjust and not good enough. Adriano did not want to trick the referee, that was his only way to fall over."

The Brazilian striker, who's had a controversial season to say the least, missed training on Thursday after being spotted at a nightclub on Wednesday night. He'll surely be fined for that, in addition to the two-match ban, which Inter is expected to appeal against, but kudos to the Italian commission for using TV evidence to punish a clear dive.

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