Former Tottenham midfielder David Ginola says Gareth Bale’s growing reputation as a diver is “unfair”.
Spurs and Wales winger Bale was booked for diving for the second game in a row before going off with a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Fulham.
“This debate really annoys me. The kid is doing so well. He shouldn’t carry this on his shoulder,” Ginola told BBC Radio Wales.
“I don’t understand why we put pressure on him with false ideas. It’s unfair.”
The yellow card was Bale’s seventh of the season and Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas felt it “was a little bit harsh” with replays suggesting there was contact in the challenge with Fulham’s Steve Sidwell.
“He has suffered big, big injuries to his ankles and he might put his body in situations that the referee thinks that he is diving and he is suffering for it,” said Villas-Boas.
Former France international Ginola believes referees should protect players of Bale’s ability rather than punish them.
“When you get a reputation it’s really [hard] to get rid [of],” he continued.
“It’s really easy when you run that fast with that pace on the pitch at players – you don’t need a big tackle to go down. A little push would be enough to lose the balance.
“Football is about entertainment. When you have players like that who entertain you week in, week out, you have to protect that. It’s so precious.”
“You have to take care of them because they are little diamonds in a league like the English Premier League.
“I thought he was a diamond when I saw him play against Inter Milan and score three goals [in 2010]. He is special.”
Ginola, who played more than 100 games for Spurs in three years at White Hart Lane from 1997-2000, and also played for Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Everton, believes Bale has the potential to be even better than another Wales star, Ryan Giggs.
“To be put alongside Ryan Giggs is a huge compliment for Gareth Bale, but one day Ryan Giggs will be very happy to be named alongside Gareth Bale,” stated Ginola.
“He is the complete player and he is still very young. He has got everything.
“He is going to be a huge asset for the world of football in the next few years.
Ginola wants Bale to stay in a Spurs side which he thinks can get better and eventually do well in the Champions League.
“When you have a diamond you don’t sell diamonds – you try and keep them,” he said.
BBC Sport
