Won't get fooled again

By Mark Chaplin

English Premiership referees have pledged from next season to crack down on players who 'simulate' - this is dive or feign injury in an effort to influence officials' decisions. The referees say that they are determined to punish dishonesty on the pitch but admit they will need the help of clubs, players and coaches in their quest.

New drive
The new drive became public last week following one of the regular meetings of the country's top match officials, who spoke for colleagues throughout Europe in emphasising the difficult nature of their task in, for example, distinguishing real fouls from the increasingly sophisticated simulation that takes place on the field.

Stricter stance
This clampdown comes, say the referees, because of fears that simulation is on the rise in the élite English game. As a result, coaches and players will be warned that referees will take a much stricter stance from next season on players who dive to earn free-kicks and spot-kicks, or exaggerate contact or injury.

Problem areas
Referees have identified a number of areas where their decision-making is being made difficult. These include situations where players go down when there has been no contact, over-exaggeration of contact, deliberately causing contact, and overreaction.

Warning to players
"We won't sit by and watch," said former international referee Keith Hackett, who manages the élite and national list of referees in England. "Instead of erring on the side of caution, when people are trying to get a penalty we will issue a caution."

Need for improvement
Experienced English referee Graham Poll added: "Players are very good at simulation. It is also clear we are not yet good enough at spotting it. There are penalties which should have been given this season which have not because referees have suspected simulation."

No longer 'foreign problem'
Hackett said: "Referees want to be 100 per cent certain. They are hedging now because they have to consider is it a foul? Is it simulation? And bear in mind if it is the denial of a goalscoring opportunity it means a red card. We used to say, 'It's a foreign problem'. It is here. We will increase the intensity of action for simulation this coming season. The aim is to try to reduce it."

Summits with clubs
Meetings are likely to take place between élite English referee representatives, the players' bodies and clubs, and the latter will be encouraged to play host to referees who will visit them to put across their point of view.