Brajan Gruda, Brighton
(Credit: Sky Sports)
Keith Hackett
Mon 19 May 2025 21:55, UK
Keith Hackett has put forth a bold solution to solve the Premier League’s diving problem after Brajan Gruda attempted to deceive the referee in Brighton’s clash with Liverpool.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the contact on the German from Ryan Gravenberch does not negate the fact he dived.
Brighton went into the match knowing that a win would move them up to eighth, giving them a chance to qualify for European football next season.
Liverpool won the Premier League at a canter and had little to play for, as shown by their decision to rest several key players, including Virgil van Dijk, who committed his future to the club in April.
However, the Reds started well, taking the lead through Harvey Elliott, before Yasin Ayari equalised for the Seagulls.
Dominik Szoboszlai gave Liverpool the lead once again, but it was an incident that happened in the first half that led to Hackett making a bold claim and calling for a potential rule change.
Brajan Gruda, Brighton
Brajan Gruda threw himself to ground easily in the first half. (Credit: Sky Sports)
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Brajan Gruda throws himself to ground after Ryan Gravenberch contact
With just eight minutes gone, Gruda made a darting run into the Liverpool penalty area.
The German midfielder picked up a pass, before turning inside and bearing down on Alisson in the Reds’ net.
That was until Ryan Gravenberch stuck out a leg, making minimal contact with the Brighton man.
Having run himself into a position where there was little opportunity to create or score from, Gruda then went to ground in a theatrical manner.
Referee Andy Madley had no interest in giving a penalty, likely in part due to the way that the Brighton midfielder dramatically went down, with his intent to try and win a penalty clear to all who saw it.
Brajan Gruda, Brighton
Brajan Gruda theatrically went to ground trying to win a penalty. (Credit: Sky Sports)
Keith Hackett wants to see red cards given for dives
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, ex-PGMOL chief Hackett revealed that whilst the simulation was deserving of a yellow card, he would not be opposed to seeing a stricter punishment to stop players from diving.
He said: “His exaggerated fall is a clear act of simulation to deceive the referee. Football is a contact sport and the minimal contact in this situation does not negate his ‘dive’ so no penalty kick and he should have received a card.
“The maximum for a dive, an act of simulation, is a yellow, not a straight red.
“I do think if it was a red card, we would have less diving.”
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