Graeme Souness had a simple message for Ben Brereton-Diaz: “You're cheating!”
The Southampton striker was at the centre of drama on the opening weekend of the Premier League after his clash with Fabian Schar at St James' Park.
He Newcastle United The defender was sent off during the first half of the 1-0 win for what was deemed to be a headbutt on the Chilean international.
The encounter came after the two players clashed in a challenge, before Brereton-Diaz and Schar faced off.
With their heads together, the Southampton star fell to the ground, Much to the fury of Schar, Dan Burn and several other Newcastle players. stars.
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As a result, Schar was shown a red card while Brereton-Diaz only received a yellow for his role in the confrontation, a decision that left former Newcastle manager Souness furious.
Souness said White and Jordan“If you were to walk down the street now and take a survey of 10 football fans and ask them what annoys them, they would say cheating.
“Diaz cheated. Schar made a mistake, but I personally think the referee should have gone to the screen and sent off Diaz and booked Schar.
“You’re cheating. Schar put his head towards him and there’s no headbutt action. There’s no ‘I’m going to hurt you’ action.
“Diaz threw himself to the ground and that is a red card. He tried to deceive me, he tried to deceive the people in the stadium and the general public watching at home.
“Here’s your red card. See you soon, son. You have to stop that because that’s what frustrates the fans the most.”
Asked whether Southampton manager Russell Martin should speak to Brereton-Diaz, he added: “100 per cent. It's disgraceful.
“You could say it was too good an invitation to turn down, but that's not how we are.
“If we allow this to continue in the game, as the referees are doing, then our league is doomed.
“We are the number one league in the world, the most watched, we are where the money is and we have to retain it in the future because simulation can harm us.”
Simon Jordan He added: “The rules are very specific and if you put your head in someone's face, you get kicked out. So it all comes down to subjectivity.
“Schar lost his head because in the previous challenge Brereton-Diaz pushed him and grabbed him by the neck.
“So Schar isn't thinking 'I know what's going to happen next', he just lost his temper.
“Do I think Brereton-Diaz made a pathetic gesture? Yes, I think it was pathetic, but he is not the only player who does it. Everyone does it.”