Scott Dann is certain that Oumar Niasse dived to win a penalty against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
In the fifth minute, the Crystal Palace skipper was penalised for a challenge on Niasse as he went down just inside the box. Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot, giving Everton a equaliser through Leighton Baines’ spot-kick.
Palace fans were left furious with this decision as they felt that Niasse went down far too easily and dived.
Dann, as quoted by ESPN, said that he thought it was the wrong decision, adding that he was disappointed with Taylor’s call.
He has conned the referee. I don’t like to see people getting punished but also I don’t like people diving to win penalties.
[Niasse] probably knows he has conned them. If there was [contact] it was minimal. I haven’t tried to tackle him; he has gone past me and you can see on the replays he has dived.
At half-time, [Taylor] probably knew he made the wrong decision.
The FA are currently looking into Niasse’s ‘dive’ and retrospective action could be taken if he is found guilty of deceiving the referee and winning his side an advantage by cheating.
Crystal Palace will have to put this disappointment behind them and prepare for their next game at home against Stoke City on Saturday.
