9 Oct 2012

Tony Pulis wants match ban for diving

11:49 am on 9 October 2012

The manager of Stoke City, Tony Pulis, has blasted Liverpool footballer Luis Suarez for diving and wants the Uruguayan and other divers banned.

During the nil-all draw between Stoke and Liverpool at Anfield, Luis Suarez collapsed in the Stoke box near defenders Marc Wilson and Dean Whitehead, to the fury of Pulis.

Tony Pulis says simulation puts pressure on the referee and a three match ban would stop players from simulation.

He says refereeing is hard enough as it is and the added pressure of judging when there is a dive or not is too much.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has sprung to the defence of Suarez, and complained media coverage was focussed on his diving and an incident where the Urugauyan was stamped on went unnoticed.