It may sound funny to hear a lawyer complain about people who pretend to be grievously hurt so that the neutral referee will penalize the opponent. But, good lord, do I hate flopping in soccer. ("Flopping" is the act of greatly exaggerating one's pain, usually while writhing on the ground, after being lightly touched by the opponent. Note: flopping is not done solely by the Italian national team, but they are considered experts.) For a funny article on the World Cup and flopping, read this essay by David Eggar.
Is flopping ethical or is it cheating? It's a deceitful practice that is formally banned but widely practiced and part of the game's customs. So it could make for an interesting essay. Regardless, it's cheating to me. What offends me the most is the mimicry of human agony. It's one thing to pretend that you caught a ball when you really trapped it off the ground. But the deceitful appeal to the observer's natural sympathy for a fellow human in pain is too calculated for me.