Rooney: I'd never dive
England striker Wayne Rooney insists "I'd never dive" because he is too honest and it harms the sport.
The issue of diving was re-ignited on Sunday when Tottenham midfielder Didier Zokora went down in the box after a challenge by Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes which appeared to make no contact. Referee Chris Foy gave a penalty which Jermain Defoe converted to help his side to a 2-1 victory at White Hart Lane.
Rooney claims it is not in his nature to try to con the referee, and he told FourFourTwo magazine: "I'd never dive. I'd like to think of myself as an honest player. "That's the way I play. I don't like diving, football doesn't need it."
The Football Association are unable to take action against Zokora due to FIFA restrictions, which they have found "frustrating".
A spokesman told the Daily Mail: "We've been restricted by FIFA in the past on where we can take retrospective disciplinary action and that has been frustrating at times."
