[17GD]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30466308

It's a hot topic at the moment, and we've been on the end of a few bad decisions in recent seasons, and although it wasn't classed as a dive, our visit to Stamford Bridge last season saw a dodgy penalty given to Chelsea.

So let's have some suggestions as to what the FA can do to get diving out of the game.

I've added some ideas into the poll but left an option for 'Other' where you can make a suggestion in your comment.

Personally, I think if the PL deduct a point from a team for each dive that happens, that will soon get managers and chairmen off their backsides to stop the cheating.

[Mister AT]

I think the player ban would be more than sufficient and would cut it out the game.

For example, Poco the weekend, after his dive and booking, if he was faced with a 3 game ban, im sure he would think twice the next time.

Would be the end of Ashley Youngs career 

[FallOutBoy]

Players have been banned before, it makes no difference. You need to go nuclear now - take off and nuke the site from orbit. Deduct points for it. Money means nothing, bans don't stop it, we need to hit teams where it hurts.

And do it retrospectively too.

[Adder]

Players should face 1 match bans. Even with endless replay's it's a nightmare sometimes to judge - especially when the player going to ground has kicked the floor OR deliberately caught his leg in the defender OR dived out of the way for self protection.

[Quakes Fan]

Bookings -- lots of bookings. If the ref is uncertain, it's simulation. Give players strong incentives to stay upright.

And anyone who collapses and writhes on the pitch after the briefest contact to the face gets sent off.

[Mister AT]

Players have been banned before, it makes no difference. You need to go nuclear now - take off and nuke the site from orbit. Deduct points for it. Money means nothing, bans don't stop it, we need to hit teams where it hurts.

And do it retrospectively too.

The only problem with deducting team points is, a coach/manager could be the most honest person going and demand all week long that his players stay on their feet, then come match day someone could drop like theyve been shot. Aint really fair on the clubs/fans to have to lose points for one mans idiotic behaviour.

1 weeks wages and a 1-3 game ban if they are caught diving, im sure it would soon filter out.

[FallOutBoy]

The only problem with deducting team points is, a coach/manager could be the most honest person going and demand all week long that his players stay on their feet, then come match day someone could drop like theyve been shot. Aint really fair on the clubs/fans to have to lose points for one mans idiotic behaviour.

1 weeks wages and a 1-3 game ban if they are caught diving, im sure it would soon filter out.

If we really want it out the game, then we have to be harsh. That player has just cost his side a point, which could have potentially serious ramifications for the club. You watch the backlash against him, and you see if he does it again.

Then again, most people would probably blame the FA. The country as a whole, and the Premier league in particular, have no respect for laws and rules, so why would this be any different. "We don't like that rule, it should be gotten rid of" and so it continues.

[tommcneill]

I said deduct a point.

Money makes no dent in the problem nor do bookings anymore

I hate seeing players dive and it should be the same for players feigning injury too.

Diving is disgraceful in my book as is conning the ref with injury.

The usual suspects will soon stop diving as the clubs would put an end to it

[PsalmXXIII]

Deducting points is crazy - a referee could effectively relegate teams that way. Say Mr. Marriner decided that he wants his lowly Villa to stay up and is refereeing a game with relegation rivals in. He's allowed to referee that game as it doesn't contain a team local to his place of birth. He then makes decisions against said teams that lose them points, preventing them from overtaking his team. Could be easier to manipulate the league with match fixing and influencing final positions. All sorts.

Only thing that can be done is a ban. I'd like to think diving could incur a straight red card to immediately punish said team and make the perpetrator think twice but would need better enforcing mid game - a wrongful dismissal due to subjective circumstances and ref leniency/strictness could cause all sorts of problems. Suggesting a dive would need to be 100% proven with video technology before a sending off is given. It also could potentially put referees off making decisions about diving due to the severity of the punishment. It's a lose-lose situation really.

[tommcneill]

Well No that couldn't happen at all....

It would have to be a proven dive which would mean all action was taken retrospectively by a judiciary

[tommcneill]

Also players have been known to dive to influence and fix games so in reality it would stop a lot of match fixing!!

You couldn't have referee sending players off for diving and the club instantly loses points it would have to be reviewed. Also it may be a player dives but no action is taken during the game by the referee but the player is seen to have dived on TV and then retrospective action was taken.

Its very easy, hit teams where it will hurt for players that cheat and that is in the points on the table a 25k fine or a red card means nothing to teams these days as the squads tend to be bigger especially the 'big clubs'.

Infact a lot of the diving seen is from the players at the clubs. A points deduction would hit them harder than a small fine and a player that cant play for 1-3 games as they have the squad to deal with it.

It has to be points deductions for me, there is already a fine and booking procedure in place and it isn't working

[Mister AT]

Also players have been known to dive to influence and fix games so in reality it would stop a lot of match fixing!!

You couldn't have referee sending players off for diving and the club instantly loses points it would have to be reviewed. Also it may be a player dives but no action is taken during the game by the referee but the player is seen to have dived on TV and then retrospective action was taken.

Its very easy, hit teams where it will hurt for players that cheat and that is in the points on the table a 25k fine or a red card means nothing to teams these days as the squads tend to be bigger especially the 'big clubs'.

Infact a lot of the diving seen is from the players at the clubs. A points deduction would hit them harder than a small fine and a player that cant play for 1-3 games as they have the squad to deal with it.

It has to be points deductions for me, there is already a fine and booking procedure in place and it isn't working

Could also be used to a players advanatge in terms of match fixing, for example player A who plays for Burnley and they are hovering above relegation, puts a large sum of money on them getting relegated. Couple of dives later, they are in the bottom 3. Points deduction would never happen.

The harshest punishment I can see actually happening is game bans or fines, this will be the most severe punishment the FA will sanction.

[PsalmXXIII]

Also players have been known to dive to influence and fix games so in reality it would stop a lot of match fixing!!

You couldn't have referee sending players off for diving and the club instantly loses points it would have to be reviewed. Also it may be a player dives but no action is taken during the game by the referee but the player is seen to have dived on TV and then retrospective action was taken.

Its very easy, hit teams where it will hurt for players that cheat and that is in the points on the table a 25k fine or a red card means nothing to teams these days as the squads tend to be bigger especially the 'big clubs'.

Infact a lot of the diving seen is from the players at the clubs. A points deduction would hit them harder than a small fine and a player that cant play for 1-3 games as they have the squad to deal with it.

It has to be points deductions for me, there is already a fine and booking procedure in place and it isn't working

Ok so say player dives and the referee doesn't see it but it is deemed a dive after the match, as you've suggested. But in this instance the unspotted dive won that team a penalty and they scored and won the game. The game cannot be replayed, the team who lost can't be awarded the points. The penalty changed the game and even if you took the points of the winning cheating team they cannot be given to the losing team because the dynamic of the game after such an event changes - there's no guarantee the team would have replicated the result had the penalty not been given.

So how do you deal with instances where a cheater has unfairly won a foul and that unfairly changes the result of the game?

[tommcneill]

Im not here to set out the rules.....you tell me what you think would happen in that situation??!

What if a player does that in the current system? Nothing happens right? Is that also fair?

Im just stating what I would like to see happen as im sick stupid fines that have no effect on clubs that make tens of millions every year! 25k is not going to hurt them

[tommcneill]

Also the team who won unfairly would in my opinion lose a point for a dive still.

So they may be need that extra point at the end of the season to win a title, get into Europe or avoid relegation

im not on about changing results but deducting a point for any proven dive. it would still have the same result over a season

[OldburyWBA]

Retrospective 1 game ban for first offence increased by 2 further games each time that player is convicted of diving by an independent panel of ex players and referees

[tommcneill]

Retrospective 1 game ban for first offence increased by 2 further games each time that player is convicted of diving by an independent panel of ex players and referees

That does seem a fair way to do it.

Perhaps clubs should be made to withhold a weeks wages for each game ban they get for the offence with the money being put back into the lower leagues or grass roots football

[17GD]

With regards point(s) deduction, the outcome would not be decided by the ref, it would be a panel who decides after the game.

Let's face it, most dives occur in or around the box in order to increase the chances of scoring. If the player dives, wins a penalty/free kick, then it's an unfair advantage as is disgusting. It needs to be a harsh punishment in order for it to have any effect.

The other alternative is if a goal is directly-conceded from a dive, ie penalty or freekick, then the goal could be disallowed retrospectively, which would therefore change the score. It happens with red cards: if a player is wrongly sent off, it is rescinded and likewise if a player fouls/hits etc another player off the ball and the ref didn't see it, they face a ban.

Why can the same not happen for an illegal goal?

A team wins 3-1 but has scored a penalty from a clear dive. Deduct the goal, which makes it 2-1. The points wouldn't change, but the goal difference would for both teams, which overall is fair and could still change the outcome of position in the table.

[DownInAlbion]

give the fourth official (or a new official) a screen. take about 10seconds. simple.

[Adder]

give the fourth official (or a new official) a screen. take about 10seconds. simple.

not that simple - sometimes it would be but other times it would need repeated viewings and it still wouldn't be clear.

[smosher34]

easy answer have a panel Monday morning view the dives if all agree or vote 1 match ban . next time 2 games and so on and same with cheats .

[PsalmXXIII]

With regards point(s) deduction, the outcome would not be decided by the ref, it would be a panel who decides after the game.

Let's face it, most dives occur in or around the box in order to increase the chances of scoring. If the player dives, wins a penalty/free kick, then it's an unfair advantage as is disgusting. It needs to be a harsh punishment in order for it to have any effect.

The other alternative is if a goal is directly-conceded from a dive, ie penalty or freekick, then the goal could be disallowed retrospectively, which would therefore change the score. It happens with red cards: if a player is wrongly sent off, it is rescinded and likewise if a player fouls/hits etc another player off the ball and the ref didn't see it, they face a ban.

Why can the same not happen for an illegal goal?

A team wins 3-1 but has scored a penalty from a clear dive. Deduct the goal, which makes it 2-1. The points wouldn't change, but the goal difference would for both teams, which overall is fair and could still change the outcome of position in the table.

Retrospective action is used nowadays to try to reduce the level of injustice post event, but still not fair - if a player is sent off in the 10th minute unfairly, that team plays 80 minutes with a disadvantage. Even if that red is rescinded post game, they played and possibly lost a fixture due to the unfair dismissal. Rescinding the ban associated with a red card doesn't bring back the injustice of playing a game and receiving whatever result with 10 men. Say the last game of the season is a deciding game for team A. Team A's goalkeeper is sent off for a foul that didn't happen and they play with a second choice goalkeeper and get hammered, subsequently getting relegated. How is rescinding his red card even remotely close to bringing justice to that situation? You can't replay the game.

Quicker, immediate, correct decisions need to be made to even come close to bringing justice to the cheated team in any circumstance - diving or otherwise. I get the whole 'deduct teams points to put players off diving' angle, but the best and easiest way to police the issue is to make sure dives are punished during play. Better refereeing (with or without technologies help) is the only way you will get a truly just system. Yes ban or fine them after the event, but if an incorrect decision is made during the game, that decision stands and has knock on effects. The legal ramifications of deducting points from teams based on individual actions is sufficiently harsh to put people off, but would breed a culture of appealing every single foul that has dubious contact. You can see league title races descending into farce as Man City appeal to the FA to dock Chelsea points for the sixteen fouls where their players went down 'easily'. You'd effectively have everyone stepping on egg shells. And the FA will have to watch every game and have expert panels to decide what constitutes a dive.

Have referees make the correct decision every single time and you'll find that's your fairest system. Retrospective action only takes out further injustice, not correcting results or loss of points.

[Albionic]

Have referees make the correct decision every single time


really ??

[Mister AT]

Have referees make the correct decision every single time


really ??

I think hes just making the point that, thats the only way you could come up with a fair system, would be if the ref COULD make the correct decision everytime.

[BigFrank20]

http://fallondfloor.com/

[saml30]

easy answer have a panel Monday morning view the dives if all agree or vote 1 match ban . next time 2 games and so on and same with cheats .

Add increasing fines into this and I'm with you

[apple]

I think referees have to take some blame for this situation arising, how many times have you heard "he should have gone down" and a legit penalty hasnt been awarded. I think on the whole referees are reluctant to award penalties and in some instances players feel the need to exaggerate infringements,  it is a difficult one to pass a definite judgment on.