Football
ESPN staff 6y

Richarlison did not dive to win penalty vs. Arsenal, FA simulation panel rules

A Football Association panel has ruled that Watford forward Richarlison will face no action for simulation after winning a penalty in the 2-1 home victory over Arsenal at the weekend.

Richarlison went down when challenged by Hector Bellerin to earn the second-half spot-kick from which Troy Deeney equalised.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said the decision to give the penalty was "scandalous," but the FA simulation panel ruled that the Watford player did not have a case to answer.

It was the first time the panel has been used to review an incident in the Premier League under new rules designed to punish players for "successful deception of a match official."

Writing in The Times, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg had argued that Richarlison should not be punished.

He said: "Richarlison did not dive to win Watford a penalty against Arsenal.

"It was the correct decision to award the penalty as there was contact between him and Hector Bellerin that wasn't initiated by the forward."

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