Former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires has hit back after pundit Danny Mills suggested he 'brought diving to the English game'.
Writing in his Times column on Tuesday, Mills spoke of his 'fractious relationship' with Pires and also criticised the Frenchman for attempting a pass penalty against his Manchester City side in 2005.
While the former City full-back was full of praise for Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, who successfully executed a similar penalty against Celta Vigo earlier this week, he branded Pires's failed attempt 'disrespectful'.
"When Messi and Suarez try it, it's magical but when Pires and [Thierry] Henry try it, it's a lack of respect. That doesn't make any sense," Pires responded in The Times on Thursday.
But it was Mills's allegation that Pires was guilty of encouraging a diving culture to blossom in England which prompted the strongest reaction.
Arsenal's Premier League run-in
"I didn't bring diving to England. There was one controversy against Portsmouth, but there was contact," Pires insisted.
"When you run fast with the ball and dribble, a slight touch from a defender or even movement towards you can unbalance you.
"I looked for a foul sometimes, I provoked the defender for sure and most of the time I dribbled past, but I never dived and have never intentionally disrespected anyone."
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