‘Vile’ Neymar and other ‘divers’ deserve red cards and three-match bans say ex-refs

Former referees have slammed footballers who dive – and have demanded players should receive their marching orders instead of just a yellow card.

Currently, if footballers are caught trying to deceive the referee, they will be booked. However, ex-Scottish referees have demanded tougher sanctions for simulation – and one even called out Neymar for his on-pitch antics.

Des Roache said, via Grosvenor Casinos: “If you deliberately cheat, you’re doing that to disadvantage the opposition to try to get someone sent off or win a penalty.

READ MORE: Britain’s oldest ref will keep dishing out red cards – even if he needs a moped

“The only sanction for this is a yellow card, and that simply isn’t sufficient. I think if you get caught for simulation, it has to be a red card – and on top of that, an automatic three-match ban.

“It’s one of the weaknesses in our laws, and if it was tightened up, managers would be giving players merry hell for landing a ban for diving.”

While Steve Conroy added: “The paradox is that while the on-field punishment is a yellow, players can land a two-game ban if they are subsequently sanctioned. I agreed it should be a red card for diving AND a three-game ban.

Do you think players should suffer tougher consequences for diving? Let us know in the comments section below

“It is vile, and we have to try to get rid of it. Neymar is the worst exponent on the planet. I don’t know how any ref can give him a decision. The other thing that really gets me is players running into the box and then purposefully tripping over an outstretched leg.

“They are so good at it that it looks like they must be practising it, so is it being sanctioned by their club?”

Neymar was given his marching orders over the Christmas period when he was deemed to have dived in PSG’s clash with Strasbourg, the Brazilian was already on a yellow card.

READ NEXT: