Cape Town – Former Chelsea and Leicester City centre-back Robert Huth has revealed that due to the amount of diving in El Clasico, he can no longer bring himself to watch.
The German defender featured in the Blues' 2004/05 and 2005/06 Premier League title-winning seasons before starring in Leicester's sensational 2015/16 triumph later on in his career.
However, Huth suggested that he was not as excited as most in the football community for the potentially decisive La Liga clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona on Sunday at Camp Nou.
"I don't even watch Barca v Madrid any more. It's s*** – 20 guys surrounding the referee, some holding their face," the former Germany international told The Sunday Times.
The 34-year-old took aim at pundits such as Gary Neville, who defend players' right to go down in certain challenges.
"What I can't get is how, afterwards, you can face people," he said.
"As a man, I find the whole problem embarrassing. Diving, I can't understand. There's no difference between diving and me grabbing someone.
"You're bending the rules but pretending to be hurt – it just goes against any sport. The weakness of it all p***es me off. I can't think of another sport where it's acceptable.
"You listen to it, to Gary Neville and all the others [saying]: 'He had the right to go down.' No. There is no right to go down. We spent the past 15, 16 years with nutrition, gym work, making footballers the strongest they can be. Are you telling me a [small touch] is enough to make one go down?"
Huth, who has struggled with injuries in recent years, is without a club after leaving Leicester following the end of last season.
