Cole 'diving' antics anger Keane

Roy Keane yesterday risked re-igniting the animosity between Manchester United and Arsenal by citing Ashley Cole as a diver during a jokey appeal for "anti-diving" wristbands in football.

Roy Keane yesterday risked re-igniting the animosity between Manchester United and Arsenal by citing Ashley Cole as a diver during a jokey appeal for "anti-diving" wristbands in football.

The eradication of "simulation" in the game is one of the priorities of the Football Association's new chief executive, Brian Barwick, who prefers to label it "cheating". Now Keane, in an interview with the official Manchester United magazine, has added his dismay at players who collapse under no, or minimal, contact. Keane was a victim himself at Highbury earlier this month when he pulled out of a penalty-box tackle on Cole, only for the England defender to go down anyway.

"I wasn't quite sure what he was up to," Keane said. "If I had known, I might have reacted differently. Before the game there was all this stuff about anti-racism and anti-bullying. It would be a good idea to start wearing wristbands for anti-diving. It's not just about foreign players because Ashley Cole is English but it's something that has crept into the Premiership. Players are going down far too easily and it seems to be getting worse."

Two of Keane's own team-mates - Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo - have in the past been accused of diving, while Wayne Rooney earned United a penalty against the Gunners at Old Trafford this season when he fell over Sol Campbell's outstretched leg.

Ronaldo, in particular, was warned by team-mates earlier this season that he was falling over too much and to stop it.