Why HAS football gone soft on diving? It appears that ‘simulation’ is a plague we have chosen to live with

The Daily Mail argues that football culture and officiating have grown far too tolerant of diving and simulation. Following a contentious penalty awarded to Partick Thistle against Ayr United after Seb Drozd tumbled under challenge from Liam Dick, the writer contends that modern football treats simulation as an acceptable norm rather than penalizing it as deliberate cheating.

Even Partick Thistle head coach Mark Wilson and Ayr United manager Gary Naysmith criticized referee Matthew MacDermid's penalty decision. The writer argues that referees frequently fail to issue yellow cards for simulation, urging football authorities to strictly enforce the existing rules against players who deceive officials.