I’m an honest guy, insists Robben
HOLLAND winger Arjen Robben says he is “an honest guy” and insists he did not deserve retrospective punishment after admitting to diving during Sunday’s dramatic World Cup win over Mexico.
Governing body Fifa yesterday opted not to take action against the former Chelsea star, since his deliberate first-half tumble did not, in its view, amount to a “serious infringement”. Robben welcomed the verdict, which leaves him free to face Costa Rica in Saturday’s quarter-final, and reiterated his conviction that the injury-time tackle on him by Mexico defender Rafael Marquez that brought a match-winning penalty was indeed a foul.
“I was not afraid [of retrospective action]. I am an honest guy. It had no influence on the game,” said the Bayern Munich player.
“It’s a shame because after the game I was very honest. Maybe sometimes you are punished for honesty, but I always prefer to be honest.
“I said there was one foul in the first half where I went to the ground because I thought he would tackle me, but he took his leg away at the last moment and I went to the ground without a touch.
“It was a stupid action from me, but it had no influence on the game, had nothing to do with the penalty kick. In the first half we should have had a penalty. In the second half the penalty at the end was a clear foul.”