Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister
Premier League referees are having their lives made harder by players attempting to get each other sent off.
That is according to experienced former Tottenham, Everton and Aston Villa scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Although not a new theme, there has been a closer eye on players feigning injury since Alexis Mac Allister attempted to get Noni Madueke sent off.
The Liverpool midfielder felt the slightest touch of heads and threw himself to the ground, ultimately only succeeding in wasting time as Arsenal saw out a 1-0 win at Anfield.
The Argentine was involved in a similar incident against Crystal Palace on Sunday but stayed on his feet as he confronted Jefferson Lerma.
Elsewhere, Igor Thiago was sent off when his arm struck Chema Andres in the face during a scuffle on Sunday, in a moment that saw the debate re-emerge.
"That is calamitous for Brentford"
Igor Thiago has been SENT OFF following a VAR review 🟥 pic.twitter.com/NNcOqZjJdX
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 8, 2026
'He made it look ridiculous'
The moment that saw Mac Allister and Lerma face off on Sunday came when Victor Munoz attempted to con the referee.
The Spaniard dove over the foot of the Palace midfielder outside of the box and was subsequently booked.
Lerma looked to exchange some words with the young winger, with Mac Allister then taking exception and squaring up to him.
"Look what happened on Sunday. Again, Mac Allister involved. Lerma made a tackle outside the box, and Munoz dived," King told Football Insider.
"He made it look ridiculous, the challenge. And then from that, you've got 15 people involved in an argument."
He added: "This has got to stop. This feigning injury or trying to get players sent off has got to stop, because it's not making the referee's job any easier. It's hard enough as it is with VAR."
Should diving carry a harsher punishment?
Though referees would certainly like to stamp out diving, it is easier said than done.
Over the years, the line between a dive and simply going down easily to prompt the referee to award a free-kick have been blurred.
And when incidents still happen in which a player is punished for staying on their feet, the lines are blurred further.
For the most obvious dives, a harsher punishment could well clear up some of the problem.