As readers of Sports Shorts will remember, the FA council approved the retrospective “Successful Deception of a Match Official” offence earlier this year. You can read our thoughts on the subject here.
While the offence has been in force since the start of the 2017/18 season, yesterday, Carlisle United’s Shaun Miller became the first player to be charged by the FA.
Miller has been accused of simulation (colloquially known as diving) after controversially winning a penalty against Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night. Wycombe’s Daniel Scarr was subsequently booked for the challenge before Jamie Devitt stepped up and converted the penalty. The match ultimately finished 3-3.
The offence itself is found in Schedule D of the FA’s Disciplinary Regulations 2017-2018:
A player [can be charged with Misconduct] under the Rules of the Association for incidents relating to the successful deception of a Match Official by way of a clear act of simulation which leads either to a penalty being awarded or the dismissal of an opposing player.
Miller’s charge reads:
“Incidents which suggest a match official has been deceived by an act of simulation are referred to a panel consisting of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex-player.
“Each panel member will be asked to review all available video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it was an offence of successful deception of a match official.
“Only in circumstances where the panel are unanimous would the FA issue a charge.”
The current pool of panel members is as follows:
Former players / managers:
- Nigel Adkins
- Rachel Brown-Finnis
- Terry Butcher
- Lee Dixon
- Alex McLeish
- Danny Murphy
- Chris Powell
- Trevor Sinclair
Former match officials:
- Keren Barratt
- Steve Dunn
- Mike Mullarkey
- Alan Wiley
- Eddie Wolstenhome
Carlisle United have since confirmed that Miller has denied the charge:
The three man panel will now have to decide whether the charge is proven. If they reach a unanimous decision that it is, Miller will be suspended for two matches. Scarr’s caution may then be reviewed under paragraph (e) of Schedule D:
In the event that a Charge is proven or admitted, the Regulatory Commission shall consider, at its absolute discretion, whether or not to rescind an associated caution or dismissal received by an opposing Player as a result of the act of simulation.
Whether this will appease Wycombe fans however is another question. An eye for an eye; or two games for two points?