RSL’s Ned Grabavoy fined for simulation (a.k.a. diving)

There is a basic respect issue in the game that is sometimes honored … sometimes not.

Clearly, it always should be. So Major League Soccer was correct to fine Real Salt Lake’s Ned Grabavoy for simulation. His little dive along the sidelines (a non-threatening position for either team) late in a match that was already decided wasn’t necessary.

The Galaxy’s Marcelo Sarvas got a yellow card for the “foul.” Ordinarily, a yellow card wouldn’t be a whopper of a problem, but in this case it put the Galaxy midfielder over the limit, forcing Sarvas (pictured above) to sit out a match against the Portland Timbers on June 19.

Grabavoy shouldn’t have done this; again, it’s about respect for players and for the game. The problem I have with the fine announced Tuesday by Major League Soccer’s disciplinary committee, however, is this: It happens every week.

It should be dealt with every week. It shouldn’t only be dealt with when it creates a consequence, as it did here.

Deal with the problem every week and issues of “consequence” will become rarer still. Here’s the video from last Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium:

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