Thursday Mar 30 2006 10:18
The Football Association have opened talks with FIFA about the possibility of using video evidence to take retrospective action against divers.
A flurry of high-profile diving incidents in recent weeks has brought the issue to the fore, but the FA has been powerless to do anything about it as FIFA regulations prevent them from over-ruling decisions made by referees during a game.
However, with public concern about the issue growing ahead of the World Cup finals, FA chief executive Brian Barwick has urged FIFA to change the rules to allow cheats to be punished.
"We are in discussions with FIFA on retrospective disciplinary action and we have raised diving as a priority area where video evidence could be used," Barwick told the Daily Mail.
"We also stressed the need to tackle the issue by insisting that clamping down on diving should be a priority at this summer's World Cup.
"I have seen the suggestion that diving should be penalised by a red card. This would require a major change to the laws, which cannot be done without FIFA's support."
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