Dic·tion·ar·y

Simulation

1. A politically correct term employed by FIFA to describe the unsportsmanlike act of “taking a dive.” Punishable with a yellow card and round of jeers from the opposition’s supporters.
2. The reason cited for sending off Italy’s Francesco Totti during a second round match in World Cup 2002. Unfortunately, controversial referee Byron Moreno got it wrong: Totti was fouled and the second yellow given against him was a woeful injustice. Of course, that’s not to say that some people may still be quite bitter about that call…

See also under: Robert Pires, Pavel Nedved and Luis Figo.

sim·u·la·tion
Etymology: Offered up by FIFA prior to the 2002 World Cup, presumably to gloss over the inevitable controversy surrounding football’s darkest art.