LONDON — Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers Thursday said that his controversial striker Luis Suarez could face punishment from the club after admitting that he dived to try to win a penalty in a league game with Stoke City. In an interview with Fox Sports Argentina, Suarez admitted “falling” during October's 0-0 draw between the clubs at Anfield, prompting Rodgers, who had defended him from criticism at the time, to hit out. “I think it is wrong. It is unacceptable. I have spoken to Luis and it will be dealt with internally,” said Rodgers. “(Diving) is not something we advocate. Our ethics are correct.” Rodgers spoke to Suarez Thursday and said he had been “totally understanding on where I am coming from as manager of the club. “What was said was wrong. He takes that and we move on,” he added. Suarez hit the headlines for a theatrical fall in the Stoke game after he went to ground under a challenge from Marc Wilson in an unsuccessful attempt to win a second-half penalty. FIFA vice president Jim Boyce was moved to describe Suarez's tumble as “cheating”, adding that the tendency for players to easily fall to the ground was a “cancer” in the game. Suarez has been accused of diving at regular intervals during his time in England and he admitted in the interview that he had gone down on purpose. “I was criticized for trying to win a penalty by falling in a match against Stoke,” said the Uruguay international. “It's true I fell because we were drawing against Stoke at home and we needed to do something.”— AP
