Murphy on FA panel to issue bans for diving
FORMER Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy is on the FA’s list of ex-professionals to decide whether a player has dived next season.
New rules, allowing the FA to enforce retrospective two-match suspensions for players found guilty of simulation, kicked in last night for the start of the Championship season.
Murphy (below) has been confirmed as one of 13 names on the FA’s list of people who will be used during the course of the season to decide whether players have deceived referees.
The list also includes ex-England internationals Terry Butcher, Lee Dixon and Trevor Sinclair, out-ofwork managers Nigel Adkins, Alex McLeish and Chris Powell as well as ex-Liverpool Ladies keeper Rachel Brown-Finnis.
Keren Barratt, Steve Dunn, Keren Barratt, Alan Wiley and Eddie Wolstenhome feature on the former match officials list.
Following an incident, each of the three appointed panel members — which will be made up an ex-player, ex-manager and ex- official will be asked to review the footage independently.
Only in circumstances where the panel members are unanimous will a charge be issued.
The panels will be subject to any conflicts of interest, for instance Murphy is unlikely to be assigned any cases involving Everton or Manchester United given his Liverpool ties. The list will be fluid throughout the season, with more names due to be added during the course of the campaign. Similarly, candidates can leave the group if their circumstances change. For example, if Powell lands a new managerial job, his name will be taken off the roster.
Retrospective action can be taken in instances when the offending player’s team has been awarded a penalty or where an opposing player has been sent off.
The rules have been introduced to deal with simulation, but FA chiefs are keen to stress that the new rules will not be used to regularly review diving.
If a player denies diving — after being found guilty by the threeman panel — the incident will be referred to the independent regulatory commission.
The FA will use their fast-track disciplinary system to ensure each instance is heard before the accused player’s next match. If a player is a repeat diving offender, they may face extended bans, longer than the standard twomatch suspensions. The FA have made visits to the majority of clubs to explain the new rules to players and staff.