Liverpool Legend Slams Hypocrites Over Wayne Rooney’s Dive For Manchester United

Mark Brus

10 years ago

Former Reds ace hits out at biased fans.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has hit out at biased fans in his column for the Daily Mail, saying that many who have criticised Wayne Rooney for diving ignore cheats in their own team.

The former Reds defender, who admits he and most other players he played with would cheat as much as they can to gain an advantage in the game, believes it is unfair for fans of Chelsea and Liverpool to leap on Rooney, when ignoring the antics of players like Diego Costa or Luis Suarez.

“There is a lesson to learn from the storm that erupted around Wayne Rooney at Preston and it is this: we are all cheats and hypocrites,” Carragher said.

“Within seconds of the Manchester United striker crashing to the floor at Deepdale to win a penalty, the uproar was predictable. Rooney had to contend with accusations that he had dived to secure the opportunity.

“The irony is clear. Chelsea fans, for instance, will berate Rooney but turn a blind eye to Diego Costa stamping on someone; Liverpudlians who were aggrieved by Rooney felt Luis Suarez was being unfairly scrutinised when he was involved in his many controversies.

“If there is a chance to take an advantage, a footballer will grasp it. In my playing days I’d give the man I was marking a little nudge in the back virtually every time I went for a header.

“I wasn’t tall enough to dominate big strikers like Peter Crouch and Didier Drogba in the air, but fouls were rarely given. Was that cheating? Some would say so but I would call it being clever. And there were other things.

“I would hold shirts at corners and made a point of speaking to referees to try and influence them.”

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