Everton's Oumar Niasse Faces 2-Game Ban After Retrospective Charge for Diving

Everton forward Oumar Niasse has become the first Premier League player charged with successfully deceiving a match official and faces a potential two-match ban following an alleged dive that resulted in a penalty being awarded during Saturday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

Niasse went down in the penalty area five minutes into the game after attention from Palace defender Scott Dann, with Leighton Baines subsequently converting from the spot to cancel out an earlier goal from Eagles midfielder James McArthur.

An FA statement read, "Everton's Oumar Niasse has been charged for 'Successful Deception of a Match Official' following the game against Crystal Palace on 18 November 2017. It is alleged he committed an act of simulation which led to a penalty being awarded in the fifth minute of the game.

"Incidents which suggest a match official has been deceived by an act of simulation are referred to a panel consisting of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex-player."

Everton are appealing the charge. 

Under new rules introduced ahead of the 2017/18 campaign, the FA now has the power to take retrospective action against players seen to have successfully conned match officials into awarding penalties through simulation or diving.

Carlisle United forward Shaun Miller was previously the first player to be banned after it was deemed that he used a 'clear act of simulation' to win a penalty for his side in a League Two fixture against Wycombe Wanderers in October.

"People were saying that I fell down easily. To get into the box, I tried to dribble the guy (Dann); he was coming into contact," Niasse said after the game to defend his actions.

"The contact was on my upper body but when I felt the contact I was in the box so that is it: that is all I have to do, go on the floor. It was because I was running so quick."