Burnley boss Sean Dyche brands FA's tackling of diving 'weak' after no action is taken against Bernardo Silva

  • Sean Dyche has hit out at the FA following their review of Bernardo Silva  
  • Dyche believed the midfielder dived to win a penalty against his side recently 
  • A three-man panel failed to reach a unanimous decision on the incident 

Sean Dyche branded the Football Association’s tackling of diving ‘weak’ after Bernardo Silva’s theatrics went unpunished.

Burnley were left incensed by Silva making the most of contact by goalkeeper Nick Pope to win a penalty for Manchester City last weekend.

A three-man panel of experts — including a former player, manager and referee — reviewed the incident on Monday. They failed to reach a unanimous decision on whether to impose a retrospective two-match ban on the Portuguese.

Sean Dyche has branded the Football Association’s tackling of diving ‘weak’

Sean Dyche has branded the Football Association’s tackling of diving ‘weak’

‘I can’t find anyone who’s that bothered about it, managers, the FA have a very weak rule that covers it but doesn’t cover it,’ Dyche said.


‘Nobody cares. The powers that be don’t seem to be bothered and it goes out to billions of people around the world.’

The FA’s new review system came into force at the beginning of the season. They can look at controversial incidents which gave the attacking team an advantage and Carlisle United’s Shaun Miller became the first player to be punished last week.

‘Without being too pure, if our lads did that, they’d get a little reminder,’ Dyche added.

Bernardo Silva was judged to have been fouled by Nick Pope and a penalty was given

Bernardo Silva was judged to have been fouled by Nick Pope and a penalty was given

The Manchester City midfielder said after the match that he felt contact on his leg

The Manchester City midfielder said after the match that he felt contact on his leg

‘Fans used to care. Remember when Didier Drogba first came over and there was uproar? Fans, pundits, managers were all questioning whether they need to have a word.

‘He became the fantastic player he was but in the initial stage there was uproar, and now you never hear it. Bizarre.‘It has to be looked at for the moral good of the game, 13 stone, athletic, six-foot international footballers get the tiniest touch on their leg and go down? Do me a favour.’