Refs - Massive improvement

Ever since our Joes little dive I have noticed refs are not getting suckered into awarding free kick for simply falling over and feigning injury....

Just hope it continues

Made same observation couple weeks ago! (Mason other week) Less the refs give things for diving or manipulating contact the less likely players with do it!

Been a few in the premier league too. Falcao was 1 of them

Been a few in the premier league too. Falcao was 1 of them

Yes saw two other week, BuT fans not happy if doesn't go their way?

Been a few in the premier league too. Falcao was 1 of them

Yes saw two other week, BuT fans not happy if doesn't go their way?

I thought Masons was a penalty and didn't understand why he would go down when he had an open goal but the ref got it spot on.

Hope they are consistent with it

Unfortunately, it's the referees who encourage the players to dive, as they don't react to the actual foul, they react to the player going down. How many times have we seen a player get fouled, try to keep his feet but then loses the ball because he's off balance from the foul?

Until the referees actually give free kicks correctly, players are going to keep going to ground easily. What incentive does a player currently have trying to keep to his feet when the likely outcome will be losing possession and getting no reward for their honesty?

The clamping down on diving recently is good to see and no player should deliberately dive, but the reason players are currently happy to go down easily is because they are given no incentive or reward to play the game honestly and until that changes, the players are going to continue the way they are.

Crystal Palace should have been awarded a penalty when Wilfred Zaha was fouled in the penalty area on Saturday but as he went down,he exaggerated his fall,which made it look like he dived. Referees need to alter their way of thinking and say to themselves,would I give a free kick if this was in any other part of the pitch,and if they would,they should award a penalty.

The speed of the modern game makes it difficult for referees to make the decision on whether attackers are purposely going over a defender's foot or leg or indeed whether there has been a trip by a defender. we as spectators in the stand are normally in no position to judge. The referee gets one shot at it in live time and has to make the instant judgement, unless you have ever put a black kit on you will never know how difficult it is. Cut refs some Slack

Whistler, I agree without the referee,at any level,the game doesn't go ahead. Most of the time,referees get it right and these days,they seem to have a better attitude and realise the game is not about them but the players. Occasionally though,they need to grow a pair and make a decision and not take the easy option. No one forces anyone to become a referee but that doesn't mean they should have to put up with the abuse they receive.