Blackburn Rovers fullback Michel Salgado has accused Tottenham youngster Gareth Bale of diving during Saturday's defeat at White Hart Lane.
Bale went over twice in the second half of Spurs' 3-1 win - firstly when Salgado challenged him in the penalty area and then after Morten Gamst Pedersen's tackle - but referee Howard Webb waved play on both times and did not book the 20-year-old.
"They were not penalties," said Salgado. "There was contact but he was diving, in my opinion. The referee was really close to the play and he did the right thing.
"The second one was a dive, too. It's part of the job of the referee."
The accusations at Bale do not mask the problems he gave the 34-year-old, who earned 53 Spain caps, as he was consistently beaten down Spurs' left flank.
"Bale is a great player but I was a little stupid because I changed my defensive position in the first half and it was very difficult for me," said Salgado.
"At my age, it's difficult for me to chase and it was a horrible time for me, but I changed everything in the second half. But he's a great footballer.
"Bale is like Vicente from Valencia. He was a player who drove forward with the ball. He is a good player, with a good future and he's playing for a top team so he has a chance to be a very good player in the future."
