Everton's Niasse faces two-match ban for diving in a Premier League first

Dom Farrell

Everton's Niasse faces two-match ban for diving in a Premier League first image

Everton forward Oumar Niasse is the first Premier League player to face retrospective punishment for simulation under new Football Association rules.

Niasse won a sixth-minute penalty, converted by Leighton Baines, after Scott Dann was adjudged to have fouled him by referee Anthony Taylor during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park.

Everton 10/3 to beat Southampton

Replays suggested contact was minimal and Dann hit out at his opponent after the game, saying: “It definitely wasn’t a penalty. I have seen it again and he dived. He has conned the referee. I didn’t think there was contact but if there was it was minimal."

The FA has agreed with the Palace defender and charged Niasse – who scored his sixth goal of the season later in the match - for "successful deception of a match official".

Niasse must respond by 18:00 GMT on Tuesday to the charge, which will land him with a two-match ban if upheld.

Niasse, 27, would not be the first player in English football to be punished under the regulations introduced for the 2017-18 season.

Scott Dann, Oumar Niasse - Crystal Palace vs. Everton

Shaun Miller of League Two side Carlisle United was suspended after he won a penalty during September's 3-3 draw against Wycombe Wanderers.

Bristol City defender Bailey Wright also spent two matches on the sidelines due to his part in a clash with Fulham's Aboubakar Kamara, who was sent off in an October Championship match at Craven Cottage. 

Everton are still playing under caretaker manager David Unsworth and lie 16th in the Premier League, with games against Southampton and West Ham coming on the back of Thursday's Europa League match with Atalanta.

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.