Players who dive in English football could face bans from next season. The Football Association will vote on retrospective action at its annual general meeting on Thursday and is expected to approve the proposal. The governing body would need the backing of the Premier League, the English Football League and the Professional Footballers' Association to introduce the rule change.

But it is understood they are broadly supportive and already in agreement. Under the proposed new rules, a panel would review footage from the weekend each Monday looking for cases of simulation. Any player unanimously found guilty of diving would be given a suspension.The FA defines the new offence as "successful deception of a match official".