Sean Dyche unimpressed by Premier League’s diving culture

Sean Dyche is back in the big time with Burnley, but he admits he may be stopping his nearest and dearest from watching his side’s Premier League action.

The 45-year-old’s team lost their opening game of the season 1-0 to Swansea on Saturday, as Leroy Fer netted a late winner.

But Dyche has hit out at the gamesmanship that was on display from the Swans, and warned Premier League chiefs the league is in danger of being ruined by diving.

“We try and do things properly but it’s harsh when you don’t get those decisions,” he said. “You’re damned if you do, dammed if you don’t. We try and play fair, you don’t get anything.

“We don’t want to be falling on the floor and then you don’t get anything. I’m not enjoying that side of it.

“I’ve spoken to the powers-that-be and said, ‘Are you going to bring in retrospective banning for cheating’? I don’t think that will change it but I would like to see it change.

“I don’t want to see that and I don’t want my kid growing up seeing that. It’s only because it’s a fantastic league and a fantastic product. I’ve been it before and I want it to be that.

“I’ve got a lad, he’s 13, I go and watch his games and there’s kids diving all over the place and I don’t like it, I really don’t like it.

“I was a defender, I’m willing to play hard, to play fair. Gamesmanship we all know is different, I must make that 100 per cent clear, if you get touched in the box, you go down, fine, it’s a penalty.

“When people are going down with no contact then I don’t know how you accept that.”