UEFA president Michel Platini has raised concerns over retrospective punishment ahead of the first European Championships where cheats can be identified after the final whistle.
Regulations from Europe's governing body were passed two years ago, with Lithuania's Saulius Mikoliunas the first to be banned for a dive missed by the referee, who awarded a penalty against Scotland.
Players in Austria and Switzerland this month face action if they have been found to cheat during Euro 2008, which Platini feels is a dangerous path for UEFA to tread.
‘We have wide-ranging debates internally on the regulations that have been enforced that simulation can be reviewed after the match and the player can be punished after the event,’ Platini said.
‘That is what the regulations state. I am not an advocate of this measure, I am against it.
‘I'm not saying that simulation should be allowed but you get involved in a very difficult mechanism. I don't think one should overturn actions taken by the referee.
‘If the referee does not see the simulation and makes a wrong or poor decision, after the match you can see who pushed who and what do you do then? The player would have scored, are you going to punish the player? Go back to a penalty?’
FIFA, the world governing body, refuse to 're-referee' games and only take action if an incident has been missed by an official, whereas UEFA regulations allow them to overturn decisions.
Platini is against the regulation imposed by his own organisation and would prefer more officials on the field instead.
At the heart of Platini's argument is ensuring the referee does not get undermined, and every decision has a chain of events that could be debated.
‘It is a dangerous regulation,’ he added. ‘It is dangerous to always question or try to overturn decisions after the event. The referee has to see things and punish what has to be punished severely.
‘The referee cannot see everything on the pitch and that is why I have said we need to increase the number of referees on the pitch to help the head referee.
‘I do not think it is logical for the referees, but it is helping very mush punishing those who try to cheat. We have to review the whole refereeing system.’
On Platini's agenda is also respect towards referees from players and coaches, and he has vowed to uphold a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy during the tournament.
He added: ‘The referees committee of UEFA sent representatives to all the teams to tell them the methods of refereeing during the tournament - no simulation or tearing off of jerseys etc.
‘Recommendations have been given so there is this respect. Referees have everything in the regulations to receive this respect.’
