Niasse Could Miss Saints Game After Diving Charge

Everton's Oumar Niasse could miss his side's visit to St Mary's on Saturday after being charged with diving at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Niasse went down under a challenge from Scott Dann in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park, the resulting penalty drew the Toffee's level and Niasse himself compounded the Eagles woes when he equalised on the stroke of half time.

No having watched footage the Football Association have found that there is a charge to answer under the new rules brought in at the start of the season.

Amazingly Niasse is the first player in the Premier League to be charged with "Successful Deception of a Match Official" and if found guilty could be banned for two games starting with Saturday's trip to St Mary's.

But it will need a unanimous vote from the panel that he deliberately dived for them to impose the two game ban.

The FA Statement said.

"Everton's Oumar Niasse has been charged for 'Successful Deception of a Match Official' following the game against Crystal Palace on 18 November 2017.

"It is alleged he committed an act of simulation which led to a penalty being awarded in the fifth minute of the game.

"Incidents which suggest a match official has been deceived by an act of simulation are referred to a panel consisting of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex-player."

Niasse has become vital to Everton in recent weeks and has scored 5 Premier League goals in only 3 starts plus another 2 as sub, goals which have earned his side vital points and he has scored 5 of his teams 12 goals so far this season, if he were to be banned then it would be a big setback to them.

The player has till 6pm this evening to respond and either admit the charge or be subject to the verdict of the panel, given that after an initial review the FA have found a case to answer as did both Phil Neville and Alan Shearer after viewing it on replays, his hopes of getting off may not he high.

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