Sean Dyche: 'Retrospective bans only way to prevent diving'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 13 December 2016

Sean Dyche insists that diving would be eradicated from English football "within six months" if the FA introduced retrospective bans for those caught.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche has become the latest Premier League boss to call for retrospective action to be taken against players caught diving during a match.

The issue was back in the spotlight this weekend after Robert Snodgrass went to ground under no contact to earn Hull City a penalty in their 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace at the KCOM Stadium.

That incident came seven days after Dele Alli also flung himself to ground in Tottenham Hotspur's 5-0 win over Swansea City, with many top-flight managers being asked about the topic during their pre-match press conferences this week.

"Introduce retrospective bans and it will be gone," Dyche told reporters. "I'm stunned it's not been introduced. Certain teams would have three or four players done immediately, from a warning in private to the manager up to a three-game ban.

"It's simple to officiate. You have a panel of experts and give out bans. Within six months the panel would be defunct because people wouldn't be doing it anymore."

Hull chief Mike Phelan added: "I think video technology is just around the corner, because of the high demand for the correct decisions and because the rewards are so great now.

"We've created this environment now where everything is scrutinised so closely, because it can be, that it's just a matter of time before things are going to be judged in real time."

The rules have already been tweaked in Scotland, where the Scottish FA has the right to ban any player caught diving after the incident takes place, with Hearts' Jamie Walker being handed a two-match suspension earlier this season for such a case.