Thursday 27 November 2014 10:53, UK
Everton manager Roberto Martinez insists Ross Barkley is no diver and claims the incident where the midfielder went to ground in Saturday's game against West Ham "has been blown out of proportion".
Barkley been accused of throwing himself down on purpose during the first half of the 2-1 Premier League victory over the Hammers at Goodison Park, when he won his side a free-kick even though replays showed there had been no contact on him from his nearest opponent, Kevin Nolan.
Martinez is adamant Barkley is not the sort of player to try to "buy a decision" and says it is understandable the 20-year-old England international might end up on the turf while attempting to avoid some of the "rough treatment" he has to endure in matches.
Asked if he had spoken to Barkley about diving, Martinez said: "Not at all - I don't think it (Saturday's incident) was a dive as such.
"When you are a player like Ross Barkley and you are getting so many knocks and kicks during the game, the only thing he did was anticipate a tackle that didn't arrive - he tried to get out of the way.
"I don't think he looks for those sort of decisions. He wasn't trying to buy a decision.
"It is an incident from the game that you can understand - when you see his legs after the game, you understand the rough treatment he gets.
"It was just a reaction. The whole situation has been blown out of proportion."
