MUCH has been made about David Beckham's cynical tactics in getting yellow-carded in the recent match against Wales but cynicism has been part of the game since it was first introduced.

A defender used to be permitted one tackle before getting himself into trouble and they often judged a full-back on how far he could chip a winger in the first five minutes. That was cynical so it's nothing new to the game. What has changed is the focus of attention, especially on high-profile people like Beckham.

I've heard some of the debates on radio, some in support, some condemning him for his action and then for admitting it, and it's probably cynical of me to say that what he did would have gone almost unnoticed had he not stated that he'd done it deliberately.

Now there's a good chance that the FA or FIFA, or both, will follow up with some sort of disciplinary action.

The other cynical approach in the game in the last five or six years is that diving became prevalent, particularly in the penalty area.

There were some terrible decisions on giving teams penalties when there was never any contact. But some players have now learned how to dive almost convincingly by putting their foot out and running past the opponent and catching him deliberately.

More recently referees have gone the opposite way and there have been incidents when perfectly legitimate penalty claims have been turned down and the players have been booked for diving, then afterwards the referees have rescinded it. It's too late then - it can change the course of matches.

We've always tried to keep a strict disciplinary code on the field here, particularly when it comes to dissent. To a large extent, though, I had sympathy with Jonathan Gould when he was booked on Saturday.

Craig Stanley was brought down in the penalty area and the linesman who was closest to it gave a clear indication to the referee by putting the flag across his chest that it was a penalty.

But the referee, in his wisdom, seemed unsure what to do and gave a free-kick outside the box. The obvious thing, to pacify the whole incident, would have been to go across and consult his assistant but he would not even be persuaded to do that.

That gets players so frustrated when they know it was a penalty. Everyone close to the incident knew that it was inside the box and it was a decision which, I am sure, would have given us the three points.