Question Number: 31681

League Specific 8/6/2017

RE: Sele t Adult

Peter Babbage of Hjorring, Denmark asks...

I'm a little puzzled about the new sanction from next season in the EPL whereby a player guilty of simulation may get a 2 match ban. As I read it, a player deemed to have 'dived' will receive a yellow card. However, if by doing so, a penalty is incorrectly given or a player sent off, this is what may resultan in a 2 game ban.Surely the intent to deceive the referee is just the same and it could be argued that if the referred is fooled by it and calls it incorrectly, that is when the ban might occur.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Peter,
I too was confused.

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"

I like the idea that these players could get a harsher sentence for cheating BUT MISTAKES , will occur.

I only now realize that the two match suspension is for retroactive video of a simulation that resulted in a free kick/pk or a carded or an unfair send off of the opponent BECAUSE The referee effectively made an error in judgement and was successfully deceived! .

If a referee DOES caution for simulation during the match & awards the INDFK then he was NOT fooled so there is no 2 match ban!

If the referee IS fooled and awards a PK for what a video shows is an obvious dive & the defender involved was unfairly sent off for DOGSO or a 2nd caution I have to wonder would the opponents red card or ban be rescinded???

Apparently no results are to be overturned or a goal taken away if a goal resulted from a fake pk that actually did fool the referee??

Simulation is not a red card offence or send off offence under the LOTG so this direction is going to create some issues?


Have a gander at this link where they are going in a different direction. or so it seems on the other side of the pond
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/aug/07/mls-video-replays-referees-football
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
Any player found guilty retrospectively of simulation on video review after the game will receive a two match ban in the same way that unseen violent conduct by a player receives a three game ban after review. There is also an added twist in that if say a player was cautioned or sent off for the *foul* that was a dive will have the sanction overturned. In the past a red card could be appealed whereas a caution could not.
Unfortunately it does not change the result of the game yet it is an attempt to perhaps identify and shame the offenders.
It is going though to be difficult as for example in the Charity Shield game William of Chelsea was tapped by an Arsenal defenders knee as he went past which tripped him up. Referee Madley cautioned him for simulation. On review afterwards there was much debate about the level of contact (which there was) and was it sufficient to bring him to ground. I thought that it was a penalty myself, other felt he went to ground too easily. If the penalty had been awarded I wonder what the IRC members would have decided.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Peter,
It does appear that you are a little confused by this new disciplinary procedure. It is precisely when the referee is fooled by the simulation and calls it incorrectly, that the retrospective action will be taken and a ban imposed. If the referee spots the deception and penalises it during the match, there is no retrospective ban.

I think the waters may have been muddied by some of the initial reporting on this which seemed to suggest that players would be banned for simulation, regardless of whether the referee had penalised them for it at the time, or not. This is not the case.

A statement from the FA explained this as follows:

''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 [...]

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.''

Also, as alluded to by referee McHugh, another part of the statement says the FA's ''Independent Regulatory Commission will have the power to rescind the caution or dismissal received by the opposing player as a result of the simulation if it chooses to do so.''