Hippolyte and hypocrisy

Sean Murdoch clearly gets a hand to the ball before Myles Hippolyte dives to win the penalty. Photo: News Group Ltd

In the past hour, Falkirk winger Myles Hippolyte has been issued, and has accepted, a 2 game ban from the SFA Compliance Officer for diving in the Pars v Falkirk game on Saturday. This proves what we all knew, but does not help Dunfermline losing a crucial goal, and in the process being denied the chance to achieve a promotion play-off place. 
After the game, Falkirk manager Peter Houston refused to criticise his player. Losing 1-0 and without a serious effort on target, Hippolyte dived without making contact with Pars keeper Sean Murdoch, and was rewarded with a penalty kick which Falkirk equalised from. The Scotsman reported the incident as follows: 'Dunfermline Athletic were left fuming after Falkirk were awarded a penalty following an elborate dive from Myles Hippolyte, which involved a somersault. The Pars were leading 1-0 through a first half Nicky Clark goal when Hippolyte took a tumble in the box as Dunfermline goalkeeper dove at his feet to push the ball out for a corner. The incident was picked up by footage from Dunfermline who shared it on their official Twitter account. It shows Hippolyte spotting his opportunity, planting his foot beside Murdoch’s hand before springing forward then over.'
Instead of condemning his player, Houston merely said: "I didn't see it. But if the referee gives it, it's a penalty."
This is the same Houston who has a history of alleging refereeing corruption against his own team. In December 2016, after Dunfermline were awarded a penalty against Falkirk, Houston had this to say:
"The referee gave them a bit of help. How he can tell the ball hit our player on the hand, I don't know. I thought they needed a bit of help to get the goal and the referee was willing to do that."
So much for, "if the referee gives it, it's a penalty."
In October 2015, after a Rangers v Falkirk game, Houston accused referee John McKendrick of being influenced by the Rangers manager and coaches: “The Rangers manager and backroom staff were having a right pop at the referee going up the tunnel at half time about giving them nothing," said Houston. "He certainly gave them something in the second-half. You wonder if pressure like that has got to the referee. I don't know. I am totally aggrieved with the fact that he gave a foul against us when Tom Taiwo clearly won the ball and the man fell into him and went down. It was never a free-kick in a month of Sundays. It was not a foul. Shocking decision. It cost us the match, 100 per cent. For me the referee has cost us a couple of points today. I went into see him. He is reporting me to the association for my language." 
So much for, "if the referee gives it, it's a penalty."

Peter Houston

In October 2010, when manager of Dundee United, Houston had this to say about referee Dougie McDonald:
“He always awards penalties against us and could not point to the spot quickly enough. I don’t know what goes through his head, but it looked like he couldn’t get his finger pointing at the spot quickly enough when he awarded the penalty. I’ve seen it again on the monitor, and it was never a penalty. The referee’s performance today was below average. I need a more consistent performance than that from a referee."
So much for, "if the referee gives it, it's a penalty."
Meanwhile, in another incident involving his own team, Houston had this to say in May 2016 when referee Alan Muir failed to award Hibs a penalty against Falkirk in a promotion play-off semi final game. TV footage showed that a penalty should have been awarded. Houston said: “I didn’t see it.” (Sound familiar?).  He then trotted out that old cliche: “These decisions even themselves out over a season.” 
There is no honour in cheating, or in inventing conspiracy theories, as Peter Houston is on record doing. His denial of the Hippolyte dive reflects very badly on him and his club.
Finally - and this is particularly Falkirk fans who have read this blog this week, many of whom have been abusive, I want to make the following very clear:
I have no time for cheats: I would never want to see our club resort to such behaviour in order to win a game. Football should be won fairly, even if mistakes contribute towards a goal. Without fair play, the game is dead. ​
In October 2016, Joe Cardle was booked for diving in a Challenge Cup game against Queen's Park. Here's what Pars Review said about it:
"The first half's main incident was when Joe Cardle tried and failed to get a penalty by diving, only to be correctly yellow carded by referee Nick Walsh. It was an embarrassing dive, and a deserved yellow card. This has to stop." 
Diving has no place in football. Neither does hypocrisy. I would rather lose than win a game by cheating.