Former Tottenham captain Gary Mabbutt has defended underfire Gareth Bale.

Bale is again accused of being a serial diver.

But Mabbutt told The Sun: "At the pace Gareth is running at, any touch means he is going to have to adjust his movement.

"Nobody wants to see cheating and Gareth has been dumbfounded by it all.

"I think when someone dives blatantly it is very easy to see. But because Gareth is suspended it is now very frustrating for him.

"Gareth is a lovely lad and very honest in everything that he does.

"And he's probably one of the quickest players around, too, and I am surprised he is picking up these bookings and being accused of diving.

"The game doesn't like people gaining things that they don't deserve but Gareth is not that sort."