5 rule changes that will improve the game of football

#4 Retrospective bans for deliberate diving

Diving is the biggest scourge of football that needs to be done away with once and for all.But are FIFA, UEFA or countries respective FAs doing anything about it? The answer is a resounding NO!

All they do is hide behind the referees match reports citing existing rules which state that any action can only be taken if the referee jots it down in his match report (although violent acts like biting are excluded).

Referees do give yellow cards if they see that a player has dived to win a free kick or a penalty. But there are times when the referee and linesmanare the only ones in the stadium who failto notice such deliberate acts of diving that make 40,000 people roar in anger and then frustration as a decision goes against the defender.

Players like Luis Suarez, Arjen Robben andNeymar have been in the limelight for such acts and it hurts rival teams when they go unpunished. What makes it worse is when they feign injury and signal the bench, only to get back on their feet immediately after their team wins the ball back.

Gary Neville once said that players diving wasnt exactly black-and-white and that they could go down to avoid injuries. But weve seen a number of players dive at the drop of a hat with absolutely no contact or no danger of anything resembling a leg-breaking challenge coming their way.

Hence, bans for diving must be doled out to cleanse the game we all love. Football can take a cue from the NBA who fine players for flopping (the equivalent of diving) after watching video replays.

Proposed rule change: Retrospective bans by Football Associations for players who deliberately dive (after reviewing video evidence). Repeated offences to be given stricter punishments by extending bans.