Ashley Young is once again at the centre of a diving controversy, after his Superman impression against Crystal Palace last weekend.
The England winger was shown a yellow card after his audacious attempt to win a penalty by seeking out Kagisho Dikgacoi’s leg to throw himself over.
Later in the game he did win a penalty against the South African, who was subsequently sent off.
The debate is raging over the rectitude of KG’s red card, but the football world is unanimous that Young’s cheating has gone too far.
Not for the first time, even his own manager has called on him to cut it out.
Alex Ferguson was suitably embarrassed by Young’s diving last season, and now David Moyes has called for players to be punished after the fact, in order for diving to be stamped out.
He says he has spoken to Young about his predilection to hit the deck, but that he cannot guarantee that the winger will not go on cheating.
And Young’s team-mate, Rio Ferdinand, has also slammed the act of diving, saying that harsher measures need to be taken in football to stop crafty players from hamming it up.
"You can never be sure it won't happen again but I have had a word with him privately," Moyes said, regarding Young’s aquatic adventures.
"I have said for many years that we should have retrospective video action against diving.
"That would help referees no end. My views haven't changed from when I was at Everton to when I was at Manchester United."
Ferdinand added: "The forwards are cute.
“They know how to do this kind of stuff. It is quite a difficult thing to look at and say: 'He dived.' But retrospective viewings and punishments may be the way to go."
There have even been calls from some disgusted quarters for players to be shown straight red cards for diving.
What do you think the punishment for diving should be? Tell us in the comments section below.
Read: Fergie ‘Has A Word’ With Young
Read: Fergie: Foreigners Dive, But Not Nani
Watch: Young’s Dive Against Crystal Palace
