FA confirm ban on diving

The Football Association has approved a proposal to extend its powers to punish simulation retrospectively. The idea, which has been used in Scotland since 2011, has been passed after a period of consultation with stakeholders over the past few months, and will be in force from the start of the 2017/18 season.

A three-man panel will review the footage of the weekend's matches to try and determine if a player has attempted to deceive an official. If found unanimously guilty, players will face a two-game ban. The aim is to cut down on simulation, which has been a growing problem in football in recent years.

The statement from the FA read: 'Although attempts to deceive the referee by feigning injury or pretending to have been fouled is a cautionable offence for unsporting behaviour, the fact that the act of simulation has succeeded in deceiving a match official and, therefore, led to a penalty and/or dismissal, justifies a more severe penalty which would act as a deterrent'.

'This process would be similar to the one used now for a red card offence [violent conduct/serious foul play/spitting at an opponent] which was not seen at the time by the match officials but caught on camera. In this situation, three ex-elite match officials review all the available video footage independently of one another and then advise The FA as to whether they believe it was an offence worthy of instant dismissal'.

We’re committed to cleaning up the game. From 2017-18, players who successfully deceive officials will be punished: https://t.co/Hfn8p9JG8a

— The FA (@FA) 18 May 2017