Stuart Pearce believes Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori should have been sent off for his 'pathetic' dive in the Community Shield.
The Gunners defender tried to fool the referee as he tumbled over the box in an attempt to win a penalty for his team at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday afternoon.
Riccardo Calafiori dives during Community Shield3
Calafiori dived in an attempt to win a penalty for Arsenal in the Community Shield
Calafiori was involved in almost everything for Mikel Arteta's side in the first half of the season curtain-raiser against Manchester City.
He scored the opening goal of the game inside 30 seconds, which was the fastest ever seen in the Community Shield.
His neat finish inside the box following a great pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly gave Arsenal the lead against their rivals.
Kai Havertz then added a second for the Gunners just before the half-hour mark, as the Premier League champions dominated FA Cup winners.
It was ten minutes after Havertz's goal though, that Calafiori then found himself being slammed by Pearce on talkSPORT.
He knocked the ball past Abdukodir Khusanov in the box and fell to the floor, without the Man City defender touching him.
The former England captain was furious to see the dive, which led to the Italian left-back being booked by the referee - but Pearce called for him to receive a red card instead for the obvious act.
What did Pearce say on Calafiori's dive?
Speaking on talkSPORT commentary as the incident happened, Sam Matterface said: "Khusanov tries to win the ball, didn't do so.
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"The dive from Calafiori was a little bit dramatic and Sam Barrott is not going to tolerate that. Yellow card Calafiori for simulation."
Then, giving his immediate reaction, a disgusted Pearce remarked: "Well, Khusanov went down very early, kept his feet away from it.
Riccardo Calafiori dives during Community Shield3
Calafiori was booked for the dive but Pearce thinks he should have seen red
"And it was nothing more than a pathetic dive, it really was.
"Listen, if I was Calafiori and you look at the referee and you claim it's a penalty, I'd give him a double yellow for that and get him off.
"If you're going to outlaw diving in the game… that was pathetic."
Matterface then added: "The VAR have checked it and confirmed with the referee that he was absolutely spot on to deliver a verdict of simulation.
"Good refereeing from Sam Barrott....one of those I think we'll see a lot more of this year."
What happened in the Community Shield?
Calafiori's dive came as Arsenal were showing exactly why they ended their long wait for a Premier League title last season.
Martin Odegaard celebrates goal for Arsenal3
Odegaard brilliantly scored Arsenal's third as they dismantled Man City on Sunday
He netted after 23 seconds, becoming the first player to score in the opening minute of the Community Shield since 1968.
Havertz then made it two before half time and things got even better for the Gunners straight after the break.
Just three minutes into the second half, Martin Odegaard tapped home after a superb dummy to make it 3-0.
New Man City boss Enzo Maresca was left gobsmacked on the touchline as Arsenal dismantled his side.