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This is football’s biggest problem and it’s time to fix it:

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Every week there’s something that happens in the match that creates a headline. A shock result, a great goal, a sending off. Any number of things are possible. However, I’ve noticed something that I really don’t like. Diving. Diving, unfortunately, has been part of the beautiful game for a while but its now right under the media spotlight and is creating tensions. For me, this is the worst form of cheating in football and something needs to be done.

Why am I so anti-diving? Well, that’s fairly simple to answer. I’m a football fan, so therefore I love football. Diving should not be part of the game we adore. Conning the referee into giving an incorrect decision is inexcusable. The officials get enough on their plate as it is, without having some overpaid superstar flinging themselves to the ground in dramatic fashion in the hope of gaining an advantage. You wouldn’t pick the ball up and throw it into the net, so why do so many players try to gain an edge by this form of cheating?

You could argue that it’s passion, that they are just desperate for the win for the fans and the benefit of the club. You could take the approach that the player does not have enough belief in his own ability, or that the team itself doesn’t believe they can secure victory without taking drastic measures. Either way, I see it differently. The fact of the matter is that there isn’t much to lose and a hell of a lot to gain by adopting simulation into your playing style. Sell your attempt correctly and you could win a penalty, a free kick or even get an opposition player punished, whether this be a caution or a sending off. Get found guilty of diving by the referee and all you receive is a yellow card. One incident that could dramatically change a match of football and perhaps further, is punished by a simple caution. Then that players back the next week and will probably try the same thing again.

The Football Associated needs to fix this issue. It’s not going to go away without the approach to offenders being changed. You could call for fines but with players earning the amount they are it’s not going to affect them massively. The only plausible option I see fit is punishing the player more severely, with suspensions. A team could also be docked points. Whatever is decided, something needs to be. It’s ruining the game and creating tensions at matches, which could escalate and turn nasty.

I won’t name names here. I’m not posting this article and my views to start a hate brigade against a certain player. This isn’t aimed at the players at all, clearly they won’t take notice as they are slated in the media every week but still don’t change their ways. This article is aimed at you, the fans. The most important people in football are the supporters, without them there wouldn’t be a game.

So what can you do to help? It’s fairly simple. Sign the petition I made, which can be found at the bottom of the page, and share it with your friends, family and fellow fans. Individually we are just a solitary voice in the crowd but together, we can make a difference. We should make a difference. We will make a difference.

Sign the petition here.

Follow me on Twitter: @Challies11

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18 year old Multimedia Journalism student at Teesside Univrsity. Avid Arsenal and Athletic Bilbao fan.

Follow me on Twitter: @challies11