GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 04: Lyall Cameron during a Rangers press conference at the Rangers Training Centre, on August 04, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Aberdeen manager Peter Leven wants his players to cheat to earn penalties.
Presumably this instruction applies to all matches and not just against Celtic.
Aberdeen equalised with a 19th minute penalty following a foul by Liam Scales.
After losing 2-1 Leven told Sky Sports that Lyall Cameron should have taken a dive to try and win a stoppage time penalty.
As Celtic cleared a corner the ball went to the edge of the box.
Without checking what was happening behind him Reo Hatate took a swing at the ball.
ABERDEEN BOSS LOOKS FOR PENALTIES
Cameron took the ball round his opponent then ran it out the park.
His manager feels that he should have fell to the ground. Risk a booking for the reward of gaining a penalty.
?? “We need to be a bit more streetwise”
Aberdeen caretaker manager Peter Leven speaks following his side’s home defeat against Celtic ?? pic.twitter.com/lajSFRDOKD
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 4, 2026
Leven said:
It’s about being a wee bit more clever. There’s a couple of things, little pushes where we don’t go down.
I think Lyall’s got to ask the question [of the referee] right at the end there in the box.
But the boys never gave up and I can’t fault their effort.
Nick Walsh had a clear view of the Cameron incident. It would have been checked on VAR by Chris Graham.
With Leven’s message being broadcast match officials know to look out for dives from Aberdeen players.
Leven won’t be the only manager issuing those players, he is probably the only one to go public with the policy.
Pre VAR it was a reasonable policy with many clubs having a diver that would go down easily.
That could be by seeking out contact or just going down easily even before contact is made in the penalty box.
On Saturday Aberdeen areaway to Dunfermline in a televised Scottish Cup match.
By highlighting his views Leven has made the task for his team more difficult.
With Aberdeen 13 points behind Falkirk in sixth place the Dons are almost certain to be involved in the bottom half of the SPFL after the split.
Currently Aberdeen are eight points above Kilmarnock in the play-off spot.
If that gap narrows before the split things could get very nervous for the Dons as they watch Falkirk and Motherwell chasing for UEFA places in the top half of the SPFL table.
Refs hardly need any motivation to give against us.
But this just proves how difficult a job reffin is when literally every single player is out to deceive u on every decision.
Also great to see sites like this chat gpt free.
Real words written by real people.
Shameful comments from a guy who has guided his team to one win this year.
Clearly he thinks he’s doing a great job, just his players aren’t asking enough questions.
Would be funny if Lenny’s Dunfermline asked the question on Saturday.
I’m surprised more hasn’t been made of this. They really are disgraceful comments, there is no contact and he’s disappointed his player didn’t cheat? Aberdeen will be better off without that manager.
Is that not bringing the game into disrepute…
But nah – Silly me it’s again these pesky Fenian Ba*stards so all ok…
Will he be brave enough to encourage them to do it at Liebrox on March 21st…
No chance – He probably supports Sevco !
Let me show you a hun without him saying he is a hun. Came across as Steven Gerrard Intelligence level. What a fuckin tit of a man. Cheating hun bastards always show their true colours EH. Couldn’t get to the end of the interview his constant EH done ma fuckin head in.