Players' chief backs retrospective action on diving and fouls

Players’ chief Gordon Taylor will argue for rules on retrospective action to be widened to allow both diving and dangerous tackles to be dealt with at English footballer’s stakeholders’ annual meeting this summer.

The Football Association is going to look at the issue surrounding retrospective action again after the furore that followed the decision to take no action against Wigan’s Callum McManaman for his tackle on Newcastle’s Massadio Haidara.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has said the incident should have been regarded as “exceptional” which would allow retrospective action to be taken and Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Taylor agrees - but wants to go still further.

Taylor said: “We are not saying matches should be re-refereed on a Monday morning but my feeling is there has got to be room to review such incidents.

“If there is a high-profile incident and the referee has not seen it and the referee’s assistant has not seen it clearly then that should be dealt with.

“We could have a review panel made up of experienced people from within the game and it could also look at incidents of simulation, which I feel is another big problem in the game.

“If we are not careful we will get into areas of ambiguity and saying a dangerous tackle is ’not exceptional enough’.

“If there is any doubt for such incidents, for red cards that are being challenged and for simulation there is no reason why they shouldn’t be looked at.”

The FA is keen to look at the issues again, while Scudamore believes the rules do not need to be changed, but that incidents such as McManaman’s tackle should be regarded as exceptional.

The Football League may prove the sticking point however as it is understood it was the body most opposed to any move to review more incidents after matches.