‘He’s a nightmare for refs’ – Ex-PGMOL chief rips into Chelsea star for being worst-behaved player in Premier League
Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho has been identified as the worst offender in the Premier League for simulation and trying to deceive referees.
That is the verdict of former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who has exclusively told Football Insider that he feels diving and timewasting needs to clamped down on further by the Premier League officials.
Alejandro Garnacho is certainly a player who rubs opposition players and fans up the wrong way for the way he acts on the field of play.
He left Man United for Stamford Bridge in the summer, and has already been caught out for diving at his new club despite making just 10 appearances so far.
Referees have been accused of targeting Garnacho and officiating him differently due to his simulation, and he has now been picked out as one of the worst of his kind in the top-flight.
Keith Hackett slams Alejandro Garnacho for constant simulation
Hackett previously told Football Insider that Garnacho was lucky not to be booked against Liverpool after Anthony Taylor waved play on following his dive to try to win a penalty.
Now, speaking exclusively on Football Insider’s Final Whistle show, Hackett identified the Argentine winger when asked by host Georgia Banks who he feels is the biggest diver in the Premier League.
He said: “It’s a nightmare for the referee, I’m telling you, making those judgements as to whether, in fact, it is a dive or if it is actually a foul.
“I’d like to just highlight (Alejandro) Garnacho of Chelsea, because I think he’s a bit quick at going to ground and then moaning.
“Most players are brilliant, and we love to see them play football, but at the moment there are too many falling over.
“And of course, what we are seeing is, in terms of time in the game being lost…like Jordan Pickford in the England game (vs Serbia), going down, rubbing his thigh and then we have a tactical break, all of that is just a nonsense.
“That, added to deliberate timewasting and simulation, is part of a problem in the game at the moment, and is growing, I fear.”
Mo Salah, Jack Grealish and Bruno Fernandes picked out for their consistent diving
Simulation is obviously not just a Garnacho issue, with players seemingly being penalised for such offences more regularly than ever in recent years, despite the introduction of VAR.
Football Insider creator Ollie Farrow was also asked who he believes are some of the biggest, or most regular, divers in the top-flight on the Final Whistle show, and he picked out three high-profile names.
He said: “I think Mo Salah has had quite a few where he has been dribbling, (and goes down) because of his technique, but then also I think Jack Grealish.
“He’s known for his diving, going down on the floor, so I think I’m going to edge it to Grealish, for me.“
Show host Banks then suggested Man United star Bruno Fernandes as an answer to the question, to which Farrow replied: “He’s definitely up there, he likes to dive and is a bit of a moaner as well, I find.”