A new ‘Deep Diving Audit’ has revealed a vast disparity between the men’s and women’s game when it comes to simulation.
By analysing match footage, referee reports, and league data provided by Opta, Dave O’Brien (AKA Statman Dave) was able to uncover a trove of insights about the clubs, players and sexes most likely to hit the ground in an attempt to deceive the referee.
He found that Bristol Rovers lead the charge in the men’s game with eight dive bookings across the past three seasons, followed by Chelsea and Burton Albion with seven, and Manchester City, Newcastle United, Crawley Town, Accrington Stanley and Barrow with six.
But the women’s game was revealed to be significantly cleaner on the simulation front than the men’s.
Just one booking for diving was found on record from the last three seasons in the Women’s Super League, compared to a whopping 250 in the men’s game.
Football Analyst, Statman Dave comments: “Diving has always been a part of the game, but when you look at the numbers, it’s clear that some clubs really know how to keep things interesting.
“Whether it’s tactical, instinctive, or maybe even hunger-related, one thing is for sure, when players are off their game, it shows. And sometimes, it’s not just the ball that goes rolling.”
Delia Lendais-Metral, Senior Brand Manager, Snickers comments: “Let’s face it, when you’re hungry, you’re not quite yourself. The Snickers Deep Diving Audit taps into those moments when things go slightly off, on or off the pitch. Whether it’s a mis-timed slide or a full-blown flop, this is a fun reminder that staying fuelled helps keep you on your game.”
Snickers have teamed up with football experts Statman Dave and Nada Allali to bring the findings to life in a new tongue-in-cheek video exploring whether players are really diving, or perhaps they’re just hungry and feeling a little off their game.