Stop The Cheats Calls Tony

Last updated : 15 February 2012 By Wes Handerley

And the Stoke boss is calling upon the FA to get tough on the players who try to con the officials into making a wrong decision. Diving and pretending to be injured are two of the biggest menaces in the game.

Now up and down the country from the non-league to the Premiership, players are copying this European trait, it is commonplace in most games.

The Potters are in Europa League action against Spanish giants Valencia on Thursday and Pulis said: "I cannot stand the sight of players rolling around. It really goes against the grain of British football.

"But from what I've seen abroad and, in a few cases here, it's a growing disease. Players aren't even touched and they're falling over. It puts enormous pressure on referees.

"I watch Spanish football and they're regularly doing it over there and everyone just takes it as the norm. But I don't think it is clever. I think it's cheating."

He added: "I've seen instances where players are looking to get the other player sent off.

"It's wrong, completely wrong. They're all in the same profession."