Tony Cascarino, The Times' one-time Irishman, is a former professional who likes to give the players' perspective. He can be hit and miss but this time, perhaps as a result of a lack of his usual self-indulgence, he scores with a decent take on the diving debate that has followed the David Ngog debate.

Players cheat because they can get away with it, pure and simple. It’s a tactic that works and can be decisive in finely balanced matches that may turn on the decision of a referee who must make split-second judgments and is ready to give fouls for minimal physical contact.
he authorities must change this culture of cheating by making it in players’ interests to stay honest. The time to act is now because the next generation of footballers has grown up in the climate of dishonesty that has developed in recent seasons.

They are going to be fabulous divers, even better than the present lot. I watch kids’ football sometimes and I’m amazed by their antics.

Here's Cas's solution to this sickness in football.

The only way to eradicate cheating is to punish it. The odd yellow card for simulation is not enough of a deterrent. The FA should treat diving like violent conduct and hand out three-match bans for offenders. If a referee misses a dive during a game, a video panel should review contentious incidents.

Then managers may tell their players: “Don’t go over, I can’t afford to lose you for three games.” And the players may cut out this cheating that’s poisoning the game.