FA introduces retrospective action and two-match bans for diving

[Taricco the yid]

Players who win a significant advantage by diving will face a retrospective two-match ban in new rules being introduced by the FA this season.

The governing body are hoping the change will act as a strong deterrent to players attempting to deliberately deceive match officials but will only be made on incidents deemed a clear violation of the rules.

Incidents do not necessarily have to be included in a referee's 'extraordinary incident report', with the FA willing to investigate 'not seen' matters from all four divisions, but they are keen to avoid rigorously reviewing every contentious matter.

Incidents will be dealt with by an independent panel comprising of an ex-player, former manager and ex-referee, drawn from a list of around 14 individuals currently being drafted by the FA.

These individuals will be chosen to avoid any links to the clubs concerned, including potential rivals, and their decision must be unanimous.

Any player who is mistakenly sent off as a result of an opponent diving will have their red card overturned, and the FA will also increase the length of bans for recurring offenders.

The rule change comes into immediate effect, meaning it will apply to the opening match of the new EFL season, which begins live on Sky Sports on Friday night with Nottingham Forest against Millwall.

 

[Spursex]

Overdue action, they should be congratulated for it.

However, I do wonder what effect it will have on EPL teams in Europe, where they won't be introducing it and cheating is a huge part of the game and is viewed as much of a skill as anything else....players become conditioned to acting/behaving a certain way and it might well put them at a big disadvantage in Europe in and around the penalty box if they stay on their feet and don't do the near standard shot swan-dive when touched?

This retrospective approach has transformed the pub league in Scotland and the effects have cascaded down the leagues up there right down to the kids, it will be interesting to see if it has the same effect here..

 

[meee93]

To be honest diving isn't the entire issue, the problem is there is too much to gain by falling to ground. That needs to change by change in interpretation by referees.

Often it seems free kicks are given on the basis of if a player falls or who falls over first.

They need to start giving free kicks that are justified to players who don't fall over. Too often players need to fall before they are given anything and that just encourages...theatrical.. falls or diving.

Theatrical exaggerated falls are something that needs to be dealt with too. I often think refs should be able to give yellows to players who they think are doing so, even if they were justified to get the free kick(but the player still has the free).