Fifa rejects FA plan to trap divers

Fifa has ruled out allowing video evidence to be used retrospectively to punish players who dive.

The Football Association's chief executive, Brian Barwick, had written to the game's world governing body asking for video evidence to be used, but Fifa will not allow this. A Fifa statement said that it "strongly opposes any kind of cheating action, including diving, which goes against the spirit of fair play... although a disciplinary committee may rectify serious and obviously incorrect decisions taken by a referee, particularly regarding disciplinary sanctions, a referee's discretionary decision cannot be classed as such".

Fifa pointed out that rules to punish diving already exist, and referees should caution any players they believe have dived. Referees at this summer's World Cup will be asked to crack down on offenders.