Exaggerated flops by professional soccer players is one of the main reasons why soccer sometimes gets a bad rep.
The Columbus Crew and San Jose Earthquakes were tied 0-0 in the second minute of stoppage time. Columbus Crew defender, Giancarlo Gonzalez, delivered a clearly deliberate elbow into the side of San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski. Wondolowski popped right back up and looked to remain in the play. He grazed Gonzalez who then busted out in a ridiculous flop. One of the most theatrical flops I have ever seen.
Neither player was punished (though Gonzalez clearly should have earned a straight red for the elbow, and at least a yellow for the flop), and the game ended 1-1.
The MLS Disciplinary Committee later fined Columbus Crew Gonzalez an undisclosed amount for his embellishment during the game. Many critics of the disciplinary committee point out that minor repercussions, such as the fine, do not do enough to denounce this type of behavior.
Video of the flop: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2014/04/15/giancarlo-gonzalez-incident-vs-san-jose-earthquakes-disciplinary-committee-action?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=webvid&utm_campaign=Paid