I was a diver, FIFA boss admits

(CNN) -- The head of football's world governing body has admitted diving in order to penalize opponents during his career as a player.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter told CNN that when he played football in the top amateur league in his native Switzerland, he would often fall over in an effort to win free kicks.

"I was not a perfect player, I have to say, being a striker," Blatter told CNN.

"A striker cannot be a perfect player. I also argued with the referee but I tried to argue in a polite manner, but I tried also to get some advantages by jockeying with a player and then falling down by saying 'but he touched me.' And in fact it was not that. I did it."

FIFA issued instructions to referees prior to the World Cup encouraging them to clamp down on diving and gamesmanship by cautioning offenders, with Blatter saying in a statement that it was important for players to set a "positive example" as role models.

However, the tournament has been dogged by controversy over instances of alleged diving, with leading stars such as Thierry Henry of France and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo among those accused of having falling over too easily to win free kicks and penalties.

In other instances, referees seemed to indicate they believed a player had dived or feigned injury in an effort to gain an unfair advantage but failed to book the offender.

In a candid interview with CNN's Revealed program, which will air on the network this weekend, Blatter told CNN that he understood why players dived.

"I think that all players -- especially attacking players -- they do it because you go into the 18-yard area and then you lose the ball because somebody takes it away.

"You are frustrated, and then in the frustration you do two things, either you try to get the ball back and then you commit a foul or then you say 'but he touched me,' and then you fall down.

"I think this is a normal movement and I can understand the players acting like that. But now they are at the level of the World Cup and they are the professionals, so they should think about that, but it's in the game."

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