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Van Persie: I exaggerate falls

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 27/09/2009
Football betting

Arsenal's Robin van Persie has revealed that he has often exaggerated a fall in order to win a penalty.

The Netherlands striker insists he thinks diving is wrong but says he would always go to ground if he had been pushed by a defender.

Asked if he had ever exaggerated a fall, van Persie told The Times: "Yes, I did. Sometimes when you are in the middle of an action and you get a little push and you know there's nothing more to take.

"Then you are in the right to show in a way to the ref that you are pushed. That's not really diving. It's just showing 'Come on, he just pushed me, so I can't score now."

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Portsmouth owner Sulaiman Al Fahim has revealed that he plans to pump £50million into the club before the end of October.

Pompey fans are reeling from their team's dreadful start to the season which has already made them favourites to be relegated.

The club have also rejected reports suggesting chief executive Peter Storrie has left the club.

Mark Robins, recently named as Barnsley's new manager, has been handed his perfect draw in the fourth round of the Carling Cup, after the Tykes were paired with the club where he spent most of his playing career, sportsbook favourites Manchester United.

Elsewhere, Arsenal will play Liverpool while Manchester City host Championship new boys Scunthorpe United.

Last season's beaten finalists, Tottenham Hotspur, play Everton at White Hart Lane while Chelsea face Bolton Wanderers.

There is an all-Premier League clash on Wearside where Sunderland will play Aston Villa while Peterborough United have a tricky trip to Blackburn Rovers to look forward to.

Finally Portsmouth, without a point in the Premier League, but in the last 16 of the Carling Cup after beating Hereford United and Carlisle United, entertain Stoke City.

England cricket captain Andrew Strauss believes his side could be the dark horses at the ICC Champions Trophy.

England shocked one of the tournament favourites, Sri Lanka, in Johannesburg on Friday, romping to a six-wicket victory by reaching their target with five overs to spare.

In rugby league, Catalans Dragons caused a major surprise as they won through to the Super League play-off semi-finals with a 16-6 victory at Challenge Cup finalists Huddersfield Giants.

The French side only secured their top-eight finish on the final day of the regular season but beat Wakefield last weekend and deserved their victory at the Galpharm Stadium which came courtesy of tries by Clint Greenshields, Dimitri Pelo and Olivier Elima.

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton was quickest in the final practice session for Sunday's Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver posted a fastest lap of one minute 47.632 seconds to edge Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel back to second while Williams' Nico Rosberg was third quickest.

Brawn endured a difficult session with championship leader Jenson Button 14th and team-mate Rubens Barrichello seventh.

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