Dyche: Premier League lets cheats off hook

BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche launched a remarkable attack on the Premier League after his side’s loss to Arsenal yesterday, claiming they have allowed ‘cheating’ to creep into the game.

Dyche complained about players diving after losing 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium. He says it has become commonplace in English football and even likened it to a kid cheating in a maths test.

‘The game is in a really poor state, with players literally falling on the floor,’ Dyche said. ‘Tony Adams, when he was captain here. Can you imagine? Do you think he would have accepted it?

‘Do you think he would have accepted it if it was his own players, let alone the opposition? I doubt it. When I used to play, if you clipped the striker and he goes down, you’re stupid. Simple as that. He goes down because you clipped him. That’s a whole different ball game. I’m on about no one touching anyone and going down. They go down, spring back up and sprint after someone. That cannot be accepted. The game is in a really poor state.

‘It’s cheating. Your kids, they go do a maths test. The teacher comes to you and says, “Your kid cheated”. “That’s all right, well done”. Do you do that? I don’t think so.

‘You say, “What are you doing?” You agree with the teacher. It’s unacceptable. This is professional sport. You can literally cheat and get a yellow card.

‘I was at a Premier League meeting a couple of weeks ago and they told us the worst that can happen is a yellow card. So basically every player in the Premier League can cheat at least once a game. Have you ever thought about that?’

Asked what would be his solution, Dyche said: ‘Simple. Ban them. It would be out of football within a month.’