The FA announced Thursday that simulation will result in a two-match ban next season. What does this mean for the Premier League?
From the beginning of 2017-18, the FA will punish any player found guilty of simulation (which is diving to fool the referee, usually in the pursuit of a penalty) with a two match ban. The new offence will be called ‘Successful Deception of a Match Official.’
Pundits have long argued that in order to stamp out the issue of diving the players need to be punished for it. This is potentially a very positive move by the FA.
Simulation is certainly a problem in the Premier League. Only six of the 20 teams haven’t received at least one booking for the offense this season. That doesn’t account for those who got away with it but would now be punished under the new ruling either.
A yellow card during the match rarely makes any difference to the player (unless it’s this guy) or the final result. But a two-game ban may make them reconsider attempting to con the referee. It’s a longer suspension than players get for a (two yellow card) sending off, after all.
It’s not the first time that this punishment has been used in Great Britain. A Celtic player was suspended for two matches in 2014, after simulating a foul to win a last-minute penalty. This will be the first time the rule has been applied across a whole country, though.
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It will be very interesting to see how this new rule plays out next season. There are bound to be players who receive suspensions who were genuinely fouled. Will that lead to a lengthy appeals process? Players will need to be on their best behavior from August onward regardless.