Back in May it was announced that a new system to retrospectively punish diving and other forms of cheating would be introduced from the 2017-18 season onward.
That could see players who deliberately cheat banned for up to two games, with decisions made by a panel of experts.
It’s a step forward, and it’s something that pleases Arsene Wenger as we head into the new campaign.
“I’m a big fan because you want to get the cheating out of the game as much as you can and I would say you have to respect for the fans who pay money,” he said.
“They come to watch football, not people who dive. They want to see the game. We demand a lot of money from our fans now so we want to make the game as clean and fluent as possible.”
As for the implementation, the Arsenal manager’s comments illustrate how there may well be some teething problems.
It has to be completely obvious,” he said, “and that will be down to panel, because sometimes a guy touches your leg, you have to fall down, but you make more of it.
“To make more of it is a bit playing with the rules that is normal and part of the player. To dive when nobody touches you, you have to get that out of the game.”
The people tasked with reviewing the incidents were announced this week. They are former players/managers: Nigel Adkins, Rachel Brown-Finnis, Terry Butcher, Lee Dixon, Alex McLeish, Danny Murphy, Chris Powell and Trevor Sinclair, while Keren Barratt, Steve Dunn, Mike Mullarkey, Alan Wiley and Eddie Wolstenhome are former referees/officials.
Yes. Lee Dixon is in
Love the picture you used, fucking Rooney ruining 50 games unbeaten
Good and necessary scheme but can’t say I’m hugely enthused by that panel of former players. Danny Murphy and Trevor Sinclair? Alex McLeish? Really?
Panel of experts. They do qualify.
Isn’t is only when a penalty of won? Surely that means diving will continue because players will be happy to take a ban for the three points? It seems a redundant system.
Danny Murphy? The man who NEVER critisises even blatant diving? Ffs! I hope the crack down on ‘engineered’ contact – aka the Gerard/Bale special
Deduct 3 points to punish the team as well. So both the actor player and the team bear the responsibility.
Doesn’t go far enough. All forms of cheating should be punished retrospectively, with a lengthy ban. That would soon put a stop to it.
That better be it for Robben the cunt.
Is the sideways leg dangle for contact included in this?? I hate that fucking shit!
I am not sure I want to see making more of it”either.
Funny how you have the picture of Rooney swan diving, shame this rule didn’t apply back then!!! Hope he got plenty of pizza in his face lol along with the rest of those scummers
Willian the latest Chelski diver to be booked…when will they learn.
Cheats.
Cunty Vardy and Costa immediately come to mind. Vardy ‘earned’ more pens in their title year, than any other TEAM in the prem. He perfected that leg sweep that initiated contact, and it worked wonderfully for him and of course, Leicester. Twatface did it to Nacho, which lit up the internet with did he or didn’t he foul? I’m glad to see this. I’d like to see the goal rescinded, if the result of the dive ends in a score from the spot.