Spectacular black spots

DERBY striker Cameron Jerome and Brighton’s Ezequiel Schelotto had penalty appeals rejected on Friday night and Saturday lunchtime when TV replays showed both were very good claims.

The problem was both players exaggerated their falls and, in doing so, made the respective referees believe they had dived instead. The argument will be that unless they go down spectacularly then referees won’t see it as a foul and won’t give the spot-kick.

I just hope that as VAR moves forward and becomes more slick we can introduce a referral system in the box — two per game, say — and hopefully stop players diving... or feeling the need to.