LONDON (AP) English soccer is introducing retrospective bans of at least two matches for players who deceive referees by diving to win a penalty or get an opponent sent off.
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The English Football Association announced on Thursday that a new offense of “successful deception of a match official” will apply from next season.
The FA says this will be enforced “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.”
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A panel featuring a former match official, ex-manager, and former player will review footage of incidents and have to unanimously agree to charge offenders.