Suppose it could apply to any player on the pitch who is in an advanced position, within the opposition penalty area, they become an attacker-My point is that Forwards seem to get the shit beat out of them for diving or going down when there is contact and defenders who foul in the penalty area don't seem to get called out in the same way attackers do when they 'cheat' Have a look at the amount of fouling committed at set pieces by defenders, have a scan through the media the day after a defender gets away with a blatant foul that prevents a goal scoring opportunity, you wont see the furore and outrage that is bestowed on a striker that has 'cheated' in order to gain advantage.

Look at how we perceive what is a fair foul, we hear plenty about 'taking one for the team' when a side break quickly and the opposition are all over the place,that kind of foul is celebrated, it's perceived as almost Honest, yet it's blatant cheating. When a striker dives or extenuates the contact the media and fans start spitting out their cornflakes-Why is that? Are some forms of cheating more noble than others, do we as supporters (and the media) identify with defenders more than strikers, is it because there is a perception that diving, looking for the contact etc is a relatively new aspect in the British game and perceived as a 'Foreign thing' therefore classed as sinister and dishonest?

I played as a defender at a decent enough level, i knew that if i got myself in a poor position or on the wrong side of an attacker and had to make the challenge, then it would have to be spot on, i'd put myself in a bad position and i knew that it was down to me to get the challenge right, i couldn't expect the attacker to help me out by being honest, why should he, he'd done well to put me where i was.

Anyway, Defenders seem to get away with being dishonest, strikers are vilified, why is that?