Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that while a player at Newell's Old Boys in Argentina, diving was regularly practised in training.
Spurs midfielder Dele Alli came in for criticism due to his theatrical fall against Swansea City at White Hart Lane at the weekend, winning a penalty as his side crushed the Welsh outfit 5-0 to return to winning ways.
Pochettino has defended Alli though and in the process revealed that as a player in Argentina it was common practice to work to perfect diving in games.
"In Argentina, yes, the people sometimes practise that, it’s true", the former defender was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.
"But many years ago. Now I don’t know", Pochettino continued.
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"But when I was a player always it was part of training to try to cheat.
"At Newell’s, many, many years ago it was part of practice."
Tottenham continue to sit in fifth spot in the Premier League following the weekend's results and are three points off fourth placed Manchester City, who lost at home to Chelsea.
Next up for Pochettino's men is a visit from Russian outfit CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, with Spurs looking to make sure they finish third in their group and qualify for the Europa League as a result.
