only way football — Ban Them All: The ONLY Way to Stop Football’s Worst Cheats!
I’m Vince Douglas Gregory, and I’m calling time on the theatre in our game. In this video I lay out a blunt thesis: the only way football will stop obsession with acting and simulation is to treat diving like the deliberate cheat it is. This isn’t about spoiling flair or policing emotion — it’s about protecting the integrity of the sport, the referee’s authority, and the fans who come to see real football, not reality TV auditions on the pitch.
Table of Contents
Eliminating Diving in Soccer
Diving has become an epidemic. Players flop, clutch invisible wounds, and suddenly the referee is left to guess. VAR can catch moments and undo decisions, but it can’t erase the manipulation or the momentum swings that result. We need rules that do more than roll the dice on whether a ref spotted the act in real time.
I believe the only way football convincingly curbs this behavior is to make divers an immediate example. Let the first enforcement be clear, visible and uncompromising so future players think twice before performing.
Diving Solution: Instant Red Card
Here’s my core proposal: if a player is judged to have deliberately dived to deceive the referee — particularly when it leads to a stoppage, an advantage, or an opponent being sent off — that player should be removed from the match immediately. No debate at the touchline, no theatrical appeals; they leave the pitch.
- Immediate removal: An automatic send-off signals that simulation is not tolerated.
- Follow-up sanctions: Match bans or fines for the offender to deter repeat behavior.
- Use of VAR and retrospective review: Where live officials miss it, post-match panels should confirm and apply further discipline.
Some will call this excessive. Others will ask if it risks punishing honest mistakes. That’s why a robust review process must back every sanction: clear thresholds, transparent evidence and consistency. But start strong — make examples of the most blatant offenders so the message sinks in.
Importance of Diving in Football
Is diving “part of the game”? Some accept it as gamesmanship; others see it as cheating pure and simple. I compare it to bad acting — we don’t go to the theatre expecting sportspeople to perform shams disguised as athletic competition. Fans want skill, passion and fair outcomes.
Keeping diving in the game rewards deception. Removing it rewards skill and honest competition. The only way football can shift that reward structure is by punishing simulation severely and visibly.
Practical Steps to Implement
- Introduce automatic removal for confirmed dives that materially affect play.
- Create a clear retrospective panel to review incidents missed or misjudged live.
- Enforce consistent suspensions and fines for repeat offenders.
- Educate players, coaches and youth academies about the consequences — change culture from the grassroots up.
Conclusion — Is It Too Far?
We’re at a crossroads: accept diving as a strategic nuisance, or act decisively to stamp it out. Yes, sending players off and banning them for matches is controversial. Yes, we must be fair in application. But if we want a sport judged by skill rather than deception, adopting uncompromising measures may be the only way football truly cleans up its act.
Make the example clear, make the punishment count, and let the game return to what it should be — honest, entertaining and real.
What do you think? Is banning the extreme step you support, or do you prefer alternative penalties? Join the conversation and push for the kind of football you want to see.