In news that will no doubt be celebrated by the majority of football fans, the FA are set to vote on introducing a new law that will see players face bans if they are found guilty of diving.
Currently, the only punishment that can be meted out for simulation is during a game, where a referee can issue a player with a yellow card should be believe they have dived or play acted in order to try and win a decision.
Of course, given the huge consequences that can stem from play acting, especially when it pertains to penalties being wrongfully awarded of players receiving undeserved bookings or red cards, there are many in the game who feel the current laws are nowhere near severe enough.
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FA officials have recently spent some time in Scotland, where a rule is currently in place for players to face retrospective action in the form of a two game ban should they be found guilty of gaining an unfair advantage for their team by diving.
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The proposals are set to go to a vote and, should the results be in favour of a ban being introduced, a fast-track three-man panel of experts will be brought in to assess incidents using video footage.
UPDATE: THE FA HAVE JUST RELEASED A STATEMENT, CONFIRMING THAT A TWO GAME BAN WILL BE INTRODUCED FROM NEXT SEASON FOR ANY PLAYERS ADJUDGED TO HAVE DIVED IN ORDER TO GAIN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE FOR THEIR TEAM.
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The statement, posted on the FA's official website, in full:
A new offence of 'Successful Deception of a Match Official' will be in force from the start of the 2017-18 season, after the regulation change was approved by The FA Council today [18 May] and following a period of consultation with stakeholders over the past few months.
Where there is clear and overwhelming evidence to suggest a match official has been deceived by an act of simulation, and as a direct result, the offending player's team has been awarded a penalty and/or an opposing player has been dismissed, The FA will be able to act retrospectively under its Fast Track system.
(H/T Sky Sports)
Topics: Football, Premier League, FA