Steve
McClaren has urged the Football Association to clamp down on diving ahead of
Derby's meeting with Chelsea.
The Rams head coach has told his side to stay on their feet against the
Blues as they eye a Capital One Cup semi-final slot on Tuesday.
McClaren wants the authorities to take retrospective action on divers and
believes it warrants the same punishment as a red card.
Chelsea's Gary Cahill came in for criticism for his theatrical fall in the
2-0 win over Hull on Saturday - Tigers boss Steve Bruce labelled it "like
something out of Swan Lake" - while Diego Costa was booked for simulation.
McClaren accepts diving is rife within the game, but wants the FA to take
retrospective action on players.
"Absolutely," said the former England manager ahead of the quarter-final
clash with Chelsea at the iPro Stadium.
"If people cheat and do wrong they have to suffer the consequences, we've
all had to do that. They do it in other things, so why not for diving or
simulation?
"The key thing is, we don't like it, it's in our game and it's very
difficult for the ref to deal with. You have to leave him to deal with it.
"Really then it's up to the authorities to do something about it and deal
with it. It's in our game and it needs to be stamped out."
And McClaren believes anyone found guilty of diving should face the same
punishment as if they had been sent off.
"Absolutely, it can cost you a game," he said. "All we can do is beat the
drum. It obviously is (a problem), because it keeps getting mentioned for
years now and still nothing's been done."
McClaren, who won the League Cup with Middlesbrough in 2004, wants his men
to be smart in the area and not dive in.
"You have to teach them and guide them, playing the right way," added
McClaren.
"But you also have to be smart and it's a duel in the penalty area. I've
seen it with players, the movement and speed they go at in the modern game.
"Just even a little clip can look like a dive. We have to coach our
defenders better. Tell them, 'stay on your feet and don't dive in'.
"Once a player's in that penalty area - it's what we call the red zone. It's
danger.
"Don't give the opponent the opportunity to fall over or catch your foot, to
put yourself in that situation where it's a desperate challenge."
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