Arsenal defender Ashley Cole has denied he dived to get Birmingham player Aliou Cisse sent off in yesterday’s Premiership match at Highbury.
Cisse, the Senegal international captain, received his second yellow card in the 74th minute after a challenge on Cole.
Television replays appeared to show that no contact was made, but Cole fell to the floor clutching his shin after catching Cisse on his follow-through.
"I did not dive. I am not a cheat and I had never tried to get another player sent off. Never," he said.
"The Birmingham player did make contact with me even if it was only slight. I was hurt but I got up again as soon as I could. I didn't stay down for a long time or anything.
"It could have been a lot worse had I not jumped to get out of the way of the challenge. But it is not me who decides what any punishment is. It is the referee," he said.
Cole has been involved in previous accusations of diving and faking injury, notably last season in incidents involving Newcastle United's Craig Bellamy and Danny Mills, of Leeds United.