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maltatoday WEDNESDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2017 Sport 20 SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Everton's Niasse charged with 'deception', facing two-game ban EVERTON striker Oumar Ni- asse became the first Premier League player to be charged with "successful deception of a match official" on Tuesday after diving to win a penalty in a match against Crystal Pal- ace on Saturday, and could be banned for two games. The Senegal international threw himself to the ground after minimal contact from Palace defender Scott Dann, allowing Leighton Baines to equalise from the spot. To rub salt into bottom club Palace's wounds Niasse later scored Everton's second equal- iser as the game ended 2-2. Players 'conning' match of- ficials into awarding decisions in their favour has long blight- ed world football. Blatant simulation is often punished immediately with yellow cards — notably when Chelsea's Victor Moses was sent off in last year's FA Cup final after a dive earned him a second booking and therefore a red card from referee Antho- ny Taylor. However, Niasse's potential retrospective punishment, the result of a new law introduced in May, opens up a new front in the battle to stop cheating. "Incidents which suggest a match official has been de- ceived by an act of simulation are referred to a panel consist- ing of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex- player," the Football Associa- tion said in a statement. "Each panel member will be asked to review all available video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it was an offence of 'Successful De- ception of a Match Official'. "Only in circumstances where the panel are unani- mous would the FA issue a charge." While Niasse is the first Premier League player to be charged under the new law, Bristol City defender Bailey Wright was banned for two games this month after being found guilty of simulation in an off-the-ball clash with Ful- ham's Aboubakar Kamara dur- ing a Championship (second- tier) fixture. Aboubakar was initially shown a red card after Wright fell theatrically to the ground but it was later rescinded. Niasse, who also faces a two- match ban, has until 1800 GMT on Tuesday, to respond. Do not write off a Simeone team, says Roma chief Monchi NO-ONE should write off Atletico Madrid under their charismatic coach Diego Sime- one, AS Roma sporting director Ramon Rod- riguez 'Monchi' said yesterday. The Italians could eliminate Atletico from the Champions League tonight with a vic- tory at the Wanda Metropolitano, while Simeone's men are struggling in La Liga too, fourth and 10 points behind leaders Barce- lona. However Monchi, who was previously at Sevilla, is convinced Atletico are undergoing only a temporary blip. "Whoever thinks a Cholo (Simeone) team is dead, does not know him or Atletico," Mon- chi told Spanish newspaper AS. "They have suffered a dip, but I am con- vinced they will be born again. The demand is huge at this level, the margin for error small and any moment of doubt seems bigger than it is." Atletico, who have only three points from four Champions League games, must beat Roma at home and Chelsea away while hop- ing one of the two slip up against Qarabag, if they are to progress from Group C. Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone Everton's Oumar Niasse

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