Torquay United Football Club

• Nickname:Gulls
• Founded:1899
• Manager:Martin Ling

• Ground:Plainmoor
• Capacity:6283

Gulls face diving ban

22 Nov 2006 - 09:18:19

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Torquay United chairman Chris Roberts has threatened to sack players for diving and play-acting after growing tired of the antics creeping into the game.

Roberts has started a "three strikes and you're out" policy at Plainmoor and says his move has been largely welcomed by his players.

He told BBC Sport: "It's only getting worse and I sincerely believe clubs have to stand up and take responsibility for the conduct of their players.

"I want to win football matches, but I want to win matches without cheating.

"What we are suggesting may sound draconian, but a player has to do the same thing three times to be dismissed.

"We are talking about black and white incidents, not situations where a player goes down and some say he dived and some say he didn't.

"The older players were very supportive. Some others were surprised and some are probably still thinking about it.

"But at the end of the day, diving is never accidental."