Mohamed Salah's 'diving trait' explained by Mark Clattenburg


Despite bagging a brace against Crystal Palace, Mohamed Salah caused an uproar during Liverpool's 4-3 win at the weekend.

The Egyptian went down rather theatrically in the first half when being pressured by Mamadou Sakho in the penalty area.

No foul was given by Jonathan Moss and Salah also escaped a yellow. The Liverpool forward could now face retrospective action.

Salah's actions not only caused Luka Milivojevic to react furiously but also several pundits and those watching at home.

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has seen the incident and believes he's identified what the 26-year-old does every time he simulates.

"One thing I have noticed is that when Salah goes down to try to win penalties, his hands go above his head," he wrote for The Daily Mail.

"This is what officials look for when trying to see if a player has simulated. Usually, if you are knocked over, you put your hands straight out to break your fall.

"Until the introduction of VAR, if a player simulates, a suspension should follow - irrespective of the referee's decision."

Fellow former Premier League ref Mark Halsey believes Salah could risk getting a reputation as a diver if he were to continue.

"My worry for Salah moving forward is that his actions are starting to place doubt into match officials’ minds and he may not get a decision he deserves when it really matters," Halsey wrote in his column in The Sun.

"Referees don’t want to be fooled and this disease needs to be eradicated from the game.

"It doesn’t matter whether it’s Salah, Harry Kane or Jamie Vardy, who have all been guilty of this offence recently. We need to cut simulation out."

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