Stoke boss Tony Pulis has made another plea to the FA to come down hard on any player guilty of “simulation”.
Pulis was incensed by Branislav Ivanovic’s attempts to win a penalty during Stoke’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Blues midfielder Oscar was booked for diving for a similar incident in the same match but Ivanovic escaped censure and Pulis believes the latter should be punished retrospectively.
“I have spoken about simulation before,” said Pulis, who has Andy Wilkinson serving a three-match ban for a violent conduct charge brought against him by the FA following an incident in a game against Manchester City on 15 September.
“They are really quick to pull people up on incidents that they think are bookable or sending-off incidents and I think they should pull people up for diving and give them a three-game ban straight away.
“Ivanovic would be looking at three games, Chelsea wouldn’t be too happy with him and I don’t think he would be diving around anymore.
“We just don’t think it’s right and we encourage the players to be as honest as they can. We think it is the way to do it – whatever other clubs do, they do.”
Meanwhile, Pulis also insisted that Michael Owen has a big role to play for the Potters this season, despite making only two brief substitute appearances since arriving at the start of September.
Pulis does not want to risk the former England striker, 32, sustaining any injuries by rushing him into action before he is fully match-fit.
“The players that we’ve brought in have mixed in really well,” he said. “The thing with Michael is, because of his experience and because of what he has done in the game, he will be more the centre of attention.
“We’re hoping that we get him fit, that we get him in the team and he will score us goals. That’s what we’re hoping for and I’m sure Michael’s the same.
“But we’ll take out time with him. We don’t want to overburden him at the beginning and that he picks up injuries.
“It’s a long season and we’ll go careful with him.”
Sky Sports
