A primary school has banned football after a outbreak of diving and play-acting inspired by Brazil’s Neymar. The Brazilian striker is one of a number of players accused of simulating fouls and going down too easily in the World Cup.
The beleaguered headteacher of Home Farm School in Colchester, Essex says a rash of youngsters copying him has led to a need for a school to go back to the rules of the game.
Richard Potter said: ‘Many of the children were reenacting diving and emulating the trained, professional players they had seen.
‘These are four to 11-year-olds who are trying to emulate the older players. This was causing a lot of arguments.
‘So we have said there’s no football for one week, and for that reason each class has to write their own rules so that it is played fairly.’
He says during the week’s ban the pupils will be sitting with the teachers and will write their own rules for a fair match.
The head teacher is not the only one to criticise Neymar, who was widely ridiculed for rolling around on the floor after a Mexican player stood on him in Brazil’s last-16 tie.
His behaviour sparked a series of mocking memes, with even Brazil’s boss Tite saying he was giving a bad example to children.
