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Oumar Niasse: Everton to contest striker's 'dive' charge

Last updated on .From the section Evertoncomments274

Oumar Niasse
Oumar Niasse went on to score the equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace

Everton striker Oumar Niasse has become the first Premier League player to be charged by the Football Association for "successful deception of a match official".

The Senegal international won a controversial penalty, after minimal contact from Scott Dann, during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.

Leighton Baines scored the spot-kick, and Niasse later scored his side's second equaliser at Selhurst Park.

Everton will contest the charge.

New laws were introduced in May allowing players to be charged after a game for simulation.

Carlisle forward Shaun Miller was the first to be banned for two games, in October.

Bristol City defender Bailey Wright was suspended for two games earlier this month after being found guilty of simulation. He went down in an off-the-ball incident with Fulham's Aboubakar Kamara, whose red card for the clash was later rescinded.

Manchester City forward Bernardo Silva and Watford's Richarlison have both avoided charges this season.

When asked about Niasse, former Premier League head of referees Keith Hackett told BBC Radio 5 live: "I think on this one, he deceived [referee] Anthony Taylor 100%. Anthony, in a good position, gave the penalty kick from his viewing angle.

"But the cameras behind the goal were clear that it was a dive. I applaud the FA for bringing out the fact that they can review these incidents, and then subsequently if the player is found guilty, punish.

"Why not take this valuable step of introducing the VAR [video assistant referee], so that the team that were playing Everton are not punished by a goal that has been scored by what, in effect, is cheating by the player - allegedly."

An FA statement read: "Incidents which suggest a match official has been deceived by an act of simulation are referred to a panel consisting of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex-player.

"Each panel member will be asked to review all available video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it was an offence of 'successful deception of a match official'.

"Only in circumstances where the panel are unanimous would the FA issue a charge."

Match of the Day analysis on Saturday

Former Everton defender Phil Neville said: "It was a dive. It was 100% a dive. There's a bit of contact but he goes down trying to win the penalty. It's a soft penalty."

Former England captain Alan Shearer agreed: "I think it is a clear dive and he should be punished."

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274 comments

  • Comment posted by Itsonlymyopinion, at 17:12 21 Nov 2017

    FA charge all well and good, but retroactive punishment is no consolation for Palace. Its about integrity on game day and the fact that Crystal Palace (and I am not a supporter) were denied three points. VAR wont come soon enough…... and the cheats MUST be heavily punished. And while you’re at it take the watches of the referees too.

  • Comment posted by User0325579446, at 17:15 21 Nov 2017

    Assuming that Everton lose the appeal the fine/penalty should be increased

    Bad enough getting caught. Even worse not accepting the medicine

  • Comment posted by FootyAddict, at 17:22 21 Nov 2017

    It still isn't enough to deter players from diving. They still gain points from successfully conning the ref. OK they get banned for next two games but the points are already in the bag. They willl believe it is still worth the risk.

  • Comment posted by Jason, at 17:22 21 Nov 2017

    There should be no more of this ‘if there’s contact you can go down’ nonsense. The contact needs to cause you to fall. But on the flip side, refs should give pens for when players are knocked into a stumble and mishit because of a foul for which they didn’t go down.

  • Comment posted by JRW02, at 17:15 21 Nov 2017

    Banning him now is actually worse for palace. VAR NOW!

  • Comment posted by D1674575102711, at 17:23 21 Nov 2017

    Loads the FA could learn from how Rugby Union use assistance for the ref but won't. Why?

  • Comment posted by Top Balcony Blue - Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, at 17:31 21 Nov 2017

    It was a soft penalty, but Dann stepped in front of Niasse without getting the ball - more obstruction really, but they are never given these days. Perhaps if Palace had defended their 2-1 lead better, this would not be an issue.

    It's odd that pundits are now saying that you are not entitled to go down if there is contact, when just a few weeks ago it was fine. Plenty worse divers out there

  • Comment posted by charlieboy, at 17:38 21 Nov 2017

    @33. You making same mistake as many fans. A touch does not mean its a penalty. Else there would be 20 a game. Is the touch heavy enough to bring someone down. In most cases its no. If you walked down street and someone touched your foot would you go to ground? Watch clips of old players with heavy challenges. They stayed upright if they could.

  • Comment posted by Blue Kipper, at 17:25 21 Nov 2017

    I would have no problem if this was applied consistently, but this is the first such charge after 120 PL games. Really? The first or even the worst case this season? I dont think so. Once again there is one rule for the favoured top 6 and one for everybody else. Many thanks to the pundits on MotD, who now seem to decide who gets charged and who gets sacked.Same bias to big clubs and LFC applies.

  • Comment posted by BrexitSmexit, at 17:16 21 Nov 2017

    Diving, grappling in the box, time wasting....all horrible aspects that have crept into the game as players look to cheat their way to victories. Retrospective punishment may stop players doing it and that can only be a good thing. Soon their will come a time when clubs start filing lawsuits about lost points and lost revenue when they feel they were cheated out of points. The floodgate has opened

  • Comment posted by User0425633733, at 17:29 21 Nov 2017

    Craig Bellamy last night suggested that it wasn’t a penalty and that he made the most of if (went down easily) but it wasn’t a dive, when asked is he encouraging Cardiff youth to do the same, he said ‘do you have to put it like that’.
    Here’s the problem, players believe if there’s any contact they are entitled to fall over, maybe the rule makers need to make a statement dispelling this myth.

  • Comment posted by STORMZ, at 20:38 21 Nov 2017

    Why isn't Zaha getting banned too? He clearly dived in the last minute trying to get a penalty. Regardless of whether it was awarded or not it was a clear attempt to cheat and should be punished too. Drogba, Suarez and Gerrard being doing this for years. RS BBC bs

  • Comment posted by HaroldGodwinson, at 17:37 21 Nov 2017

    As an Everton fan this is long overdue.

    Obviously I am not happy our team is the first to be prosecuted but for the good of football it is absolutely essential.

  • Comment posted by Blue Kipper, at 18:27 21 Nov 2017

    Successful deception of an official......claiming a corner, goal kick, throw in when you KNOW that it should go the other way? Isn't that more cheating and dishonesty than a man being impeded and going down. Hypocritics, everyone who has ever shouted for a decision they KNOW not to be theirs. That includes you Phil Neville, Alan Shearer etc.

  • Comment posted by Blue Kipper, at 17:56 21 Nov 2017

    There was contact. Minimal. There is confusion here. It was a foul. A pen. Dann did not make an attempt to play the ball. He impeded Niasse. If Niasse had just stopped, a la Messi, would he have got the foul? No. He is not Messi who just stops playing and gets the free kick whether a foul or not. Messi won't ever be accused of diving becaise he doesn't need to. But he still simulates.

  • Comment posted by D1710763456504, at 17:30 21 Nov 2017

    I'm a Palace supporter for my sins and for us, this potential ban is absolutely useless. It does not give us the points we deserve, but also the confidence that a win would have given us at least for the next few games ...

    and Everton coming out and saying that they will "Contest the Charge" means that they are publically condoning cheating and they are proud of it!!!!

  • Comment posted by sirdukeoflondon, at 21:21 21 Nov 2017

    Firstly, Raheem Sterling deserves a 10 match ban for persistent diving (most recently his blatant dive vs Arsenal).

    Secondly, if the referee is so poor as to be 'deceived', then let him sit out a couple of weeks too.

  • Comment posted by User0126244157, at 17:39 21 Nov 2017

    The result still stood though!

    The sooner the VAR is introduced the better, even if it does stop the 'big six' from getting an unfair advantage!

  • Comment posted by Ryan OH, at 20:39 21 Nov 2017

    The pundits are very hypocritical on this. If Niasse had not gone down from the contact they'd be screaming at him for not going down and winning the penalty. This is all subjective and I don't see how the charge can stick

  • Comment posted by sirlemons11, at 20:03 21 Nov 2017

    202 - Not necessarily, it would have been a different game, who knows how the game would have panned out, maybe Everton would have scored 10, maybe Palace would have won.

    Retrospective is nonsense, do it there and then, review all contentious decisions and all goals, or don't use video evidence at all.

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