Players will receive retroactive two-match suspensions for diving this season in a rule change that the FA "hopes will deter them from deceiving match officials," according to Alan Smith of the LONDON TIMES. The bans, which come into effect on Friday when the League Championship season begins, are "only set to apply to incidents that result in a penalty being awarded or the dismissal of an opponent." Unlike in Scotland, where an independent compliance officer decides on retroactive action after reviewing video evidence, the FA will use a three-person panel that "must unanimously agree that a player be charged." The FA is "wary of investigating every incident," so only instances with "clear and overwhelming evidence" of a player succeeding in deceiving a match official will be referred to the panel. A pool of up to 14 former referees, managers and players will be used, with one from each group set to review each case. There are plans to "fast-track" decisions to ensure that a player "falsely sent off" will be available immediately for his club's next fixture and, likewise, for the offending player to be suspended for his team's next game (LONDON TIMES, 8/1).
PREMIER FOCUS: In London, Paul MacInnes reported drug testing in football will "increase to unprecedented levels this season, with the Premier League coming under the greatest scrutiny." The FA, in conjunction with UK Anti-Doping, conducted more than 3,250 tests on professional players last season. But the game's governing body "promised to raise that total to more than 5,000 over the coming year." Football has the "highest anti-doping budget" in all of U.K. sport and also a "far higher number of athletes to test." Figures published this year showed that, in the '15-16 season, "at least 39% of players in the Football League were not tested." The new proposals would double the number of tests taken and the FA is "hoping to be seen to be taking the issue seriously." Professional footballers can be tested at any time or place throughout the year on a "no notice" basis. Clubs are responsible for notifying doping authorities of their players' whereabouts for out-of-competition testing and "a potential change, under review, would see an increase in fines for clubs who fail to meet that obligation" (GUARDIAN, 7/31).
