Former referee Mark Clattenburg has called for more players to be sent off for diving, telling the Mail’s Whistleblowers podcast that simulation remains a ‘huge problem in football’.

Speaking to Mail Sport Editor Ian Ladyman, Clattenburg – who officiated nearly 300 Premier League matches during his 13-year career – said a suspension system should be implemented to punish football’s worst offenders.

With the advent of VAR, the ex-elite referee argued, it should be easier to punish players who routinely ‘cheat’ to have decisions go in their favour.

‘VAR has certainly cleaned the game up – because players know they can be more easily caught.

‘Before, with the speed of the game, it was so difficult to know whether a player had dived or not.’

Mark Clattenburg has called for more players to be sent off for diving, telling the Mail’s Whistleblowers podcast that simulation remains a ‘huge problem in football’

Clattenburg – who officiated nearly 300 Premier League matches during his 13-year career – said a suspension system should be implemented to punish football’s worst offenders

Mark Clattenburg: ‘Players should be sent off. If they clearly cheat to win, they should be off.’ Listen here

‘But, for me, it’s still a huge problem in football.’

Clattenburg cited an incident involving former Ireland international James McClean during a Championship play-off semifinal as evidence that harsher penalties for diving are needed.

He remembered: ‘It was QPR against Wigan and McClean went clean through on goal. Wigan were winning 1-0, and it was the second leg.

‘He rounded the goalkeeper and went down. I ran to the situation and had a really good position, so decided to award McClean a yellow card.

‘He turned to me afterwards and said: “I don’t care if I get a yellow card, I’m not getting sent off. But if you had awarded a penalty, you’d have been destroyed”.

‘It made me think – players should be sent off. If they clearly cheat to win, they should be off.

‘For the worst cases, there should be a panel that can give retrospective punishments – of one, two, three game suspensions.’

The former official argued that the current system puts too much burden on individual referees to make split-second judgement calls.

‘Players used to laugh with each other when they dived’, Clattenburg said.

The former official argued that the current system puts too much burden on individual referees to make split-second judgement calls

Broadcaster Gordon Smart agreed with his co-host, describing himself as a football ‘traditionalist’ who despises the precedent set by diving

‘The person who always takes the worst consequences from it are the referees. You would be the one who would get the abuse – hated for the decision you made.

‘It’s not a laughing matter because players are only cheating themselves. I used to say that to them – but they didn’t care, they were only interested in winning football matches.’

Broadcaster Gordon Smart agreed with his co-host, describing himself as a football ‘traditionalist’ who despises the precedent set by diving.

‘I cannot stand diving’, Smart told Clattenburg. ‘I hate the example it sets for younger players. Also, it would make refereeing the game much easier, if everyone was honest.

‘If somebody went down and it’s authentic, the right decision would always be made. But if there’s a question mark, it puts all the pressure on the referee.’

To listen to more informed debate from inside the world of football, search for Whistleblowers now, wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released every Tuesday and Thursday.