Ferdinand Calls for European-Wide Crackdown on Diving

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand strongly believes retrospective punishment must be brought in across Europe in attempts to rid diving from football.

The perennial debate surrounding simulation was thrown under the spot light once again on Saturday as Ashley Young received a yellow card for a blatant attempt to deceive referee Jon Moss, before winning a penalty for United in their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in a similarly dubious fashion.

United manager David Moyes commented that he would talk to the England winger about the incidents while also giving his backing to the idea of retrospective punishment. Such sentiments have been echoed by Ferdinand, but the centre half believes such action must also be implemented in the Champions League in order for it to be truly successful.

"It's got to happen across Europe and the world, not just in our league," Ferdinand said ahead of United's Champions League opener against Bayer Leverkusen.

"You go into the Champions League and you have been told in the Premier League you are not meant to dive, then you get players from other countries who simulate.

"As a defender, you don't want people trying to con the referee, but if there is contact, the player has the right to go down.

"It has become a part of our game that, as defenders, we are used to. You have got to defend with your head and think how you are going to combat the forwards.

"They are cute and know how to deal with this type of stuff. It is such a difficult thing for referees to sat someone fived or there was contact.

"Retrospective viewing and punishments may be the way to go."

Comments made by both Moyes and Ferdinand follow calls from Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish to send off players caught diving after he saw Kagisho Dikgacoi shown a straight red card after penalised for a foul on Young that led to a penalty.

Former Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia brings Leverkusen to Old Trafford where United are likely to be without Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones. The England forward missed Saturday's win over Palace with a knee injury while Jones is still recovering from an ankle injury.

Both missed training on Monday but Shinji Kagawa returned and could feature after recovering from the flu.