So what other solution are there? Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher leans a different way when troubleshooting the problem. Gallagher, who was a FIFA listed referee for eight years, told the BBC: “I think most people in this country would adhere to retrospective action. For me, I think an ex-referee, an ex-manager and an ex-member of PFA could look at video evidence and if all three agree on a dive, it’s a three match ban.”
Ashton and Gallagher have good concepts, but both have their flaws. A player in a cup final, for instance, would dive with little concern to a three match ban enforced in the following season. A ten minute sin bin, on the other hand, is of little consequence at the end of a game.
