ROSS COUNTY STRIKER Alex Schalk has issued an apology to Celtic, fans of the Scottish champions and referee Don Robertson after his blatant dive earned his side a 2-2 draw last Sunday.
Dutch attacker Schalk has been issued with a two-match ban for simulation by the Scottish Football Association but has insisted he’s “not a diver”.
Schalk took a tumble in the box in the 89th minute and Robertson pointed to the spot even though Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko made no contact with the striker.
Northern Ireland international Liam Boyce then stepped up to convert the penalty and earn a valuable point for his side in their survival bid, and consign Celtic to just a fourth draw of the season.
Schalk’s dive was widely met with disgust over the weekend and the 24-year-old has since issued a statement to express his regret over the incident which Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers labelled as “blatant cheating”.
“I really want to apologise, obviously to the referee, to Celtic and to the fans,” Schalk told the Daily Record.
“I’ve seen it back and it’s stupid. I don’t know what I was thinking. There was no contact and I just want to say sorry, really. It will never happen again.
“I’m not a diver. I’ve never dived before, never been booked for diving before — not in Holland or here in Scotland. I don’t know where it came from.
“I did expect contact. These kind of situations happen. I anticipated it and was waiting on him to contact me and it never came obviously because he’s a very clever player.
“I know my apology won’t change anything about it but I do want to apologise, especially to the referee, Celtic and the fans and I’ll take any punishment that happens.
“From now on I just want to let my football do the talking and leave it at that.”
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