Harry Kane has certainly won a few free-kicks in his time (Picture: Getty Images)
Chris Sutton reckons Harry Kane is the worst diver he’s ever seen, but gets away with it and has avoided a reputation for simulation because he is the England captain.
Kane has definitely won plenty of free-kicks and penalties during his time with Tottenham, England and now Bayern Munich and Sutton reckons not all have been won fairly.
The former Blackburn and Celtic striker was speaking on Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast, with co-host Ian Ladyman naming his top five divers from five down as Jurgen Klinsmann, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez, Rivaldo and Ashley Young.
However, Sutton feels two men were very fortunate to escape that top five, saying Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is guilty of ‘scandalous’ diving and Kane is the worst culprit of all.
‘I’m just going to mention two quick ones who you’ve left out,’ said Sutton. ‘Scandalous how you’ve left them out. Bruno Fernandes. One of the worst.
‘And the winner by a country mile, but you can’t call him out because he’s England captain, Harry Kane. He’s the worst diver.
‘He is a prolific diver and gets away with it week in week out – all the time. Harry Kane is a serial diver. The worst I’ve ever seen. Brilliant player, wonderful goal-scorer, got everything, but he’s a diver.’
Ashley Young is still in the top flight at 38 years old (Picture: Getty Images)
Everton’s versatile veteran Young was pinned with the tag of ‘worst diver’ by Ladyman, who said: ‘There was a time during his spells at Aston Villa and Manchester United where Young was absolutely ridiculous.
‘It almost felt like it was every week.’
He did not say he dived, but admitted that he did use his body to draw fouls and did his best to win games of football.
‘I have never felt I should apologise for diving – and hopefully I don’t have to,’ Kane said back in 2019.
Kane has scored 36 goals in 34 games since joining Bayern Munich (Picture: Getty Images)
‘It happens in football. I am someone who uses his body well, which as a striker you have to do. On the half-way line it’s a free kick every day of the week.
‘In the penalty box you don’t always get it. People’s opinions are their opinions. I wasn’t concentrating on that sort of stuff. For me, it’s about doing my best on the pitch and the most important thing is winning games.’
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