Jose Mourinho Continues to Believe that Chelsea Players Don't Dive

Jose Mourinho has been outspoken on diving in the English game since returning to Chelsea and on Sunday claimed there is a sustained campaign against his side after Cesc Fabregas was booked for simulation. Here Press Association Sport looks at some of the diving incidents since Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge.

DIVING LIKE TOM DALEY

Luis Suarez felt he had been fouled by Samuel Eto’o in the penalty box during Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat of Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in December 2013.

Mourinho on Suarez: “Now he’s doing an acrobatic swimming pool jump to try to get the penalty.”

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers: “Luis will always provoke a challenge from defenders, that’s why he’s world class.”

AND THE OSCAR FOR BEST ACTOR GOES TO…

Oscar was booked for diving in an attempting to win a penalty following the slightest of touches from Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis in the January 2014 win at St Mary’s.

Mourinho said: “Oscar is a clean player. He was waiting for the goalkeeper to come and smash him because that’s what normally happens in those situations.”

OSCAR PERFORMANCE REVIEWS

Mourinho continued to defend the Brazil playmaker the following week.

Mourinho said: “I want to make it clear: there are many divers in the world of football. There are many divers in some big clubs in the world of football. There are some divers in England. Not many, some. In Chelsea, no divers, no divers at all.”

HAZARD-OUS PROFESSION

Mourinho insisted that Eden Hazard is frequently not awarded free-kicks and penalties when he is fouled.

Mourinho said: “It looks like opponents who can do anything to him and nothing happens. With Hazard it doesn’t matter in the box, outside the box. And this kid is anything but a diver.”

RAMIRES ‘RAMMED’

Ramires was booked for diving in an FA Cup third-round win at Derby in January 2014, a decision Mourinho accepted.

Mourinho said: “Isolated episodes. The referees attacking it. The manager supporting the referees. I think we are doing well. Let’s see if the others do the same as us.”

COSTA CARDED

Striker Diego Costa was booked for simulation when his trailing leg was actually caught by Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton during August’s opening day victory at Turf Moor.

Mourinho said: “It was a penalty, but the linesman decided not to give it. The kid (Costa) presents himself here today with a fantastic, competitive, clean and polite attitude. I hope he doesn’t get more unfair decisions.”

BRUCE BRANDS BLUE A BALLERINA

Willian and Costa were booked for simulation in a match Chelsea won 2-0 against Hull, whose manager Steve Bruce was angered by the officials’ failure to dismiss Gary Cahill for a dive, which would have been a second-bookable offense.

Bruce described Cahill’s fall as “like something out of Swan Lake”.

Mourinho said: “That big, honest guy, I don’t believe he dived in the opposition’s box.”

IRON IRE FOR IVANOVIC

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was angry with Branislav Ivanovic for going down “looking for a penalty” in the Boxing Day defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Allardyce said: “I thought he went down looking for a penalty. They try and make the referees’ mind up for them.”

Mourinho said: “On television it looks a penalty, for me. I think the other guy grabs him.”