Leicester City's Wilfred N'Didi was given his marching orders by referee Martin Atkinson for a comical dive during their 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium this afternoon.
Palace were two goals to the good at half time thanks to Christian Benteke and their talisman, Wilfried Zaha. However it went from bad to worse for the Foxes as on the hour mark, when N'didi was given a second yellow for trying to deceive the referee to award his side a penalty.
Leicester went on to lose the game 3-0, a Backary Sako goal deep into injury time secured all three points for Roy Hodgson's side who are now up to 14th position, two points clear of the relegation zone.
Here is N'didi's dive below:
The four Palace players reaction says it all . . .
And from a different angle:
N'didi was anticipating that one of the two players would attempt to win the ball.
Neither defender stuck their foot out, and the Nigerian is already crashing to the floor with the referee in a great position. . .
N'didi won't be receiving a call from the Golden Globes or the Oscars anytime soon. Falling over like a sack of spuds.
The Nigerian received a pass from Riyad Mahrez inside the opposition's penalty area and was immediately surrounded by four Palace players, N'didi took a chance by anticipating that the closet defender in front would stick his leg out so he could con the referee, but credit where credit is due, Atkinson was in a superb position to make a decision and he was given no other option but to send him off.
It would seem appropriate if players that are sent off for diving would be given a sterner suspension, but unfortunately that's not how the rule's are shaped, bizarrely.
