Diving footballers in hot water

Top football clubs are being lectured by the Government on the importance of fair play.

Every professional football club in the country is being asked to end the culture of diving, shirtpulling and play-acting.

Sports Minister Richard Caborn wrote to the clubs after complaints from teachers that pupils were copying their sporting heroes' unsportsmanlike behaviour.

A spokesman for Mr Caborn said today: "Richard did this not just to remind players of their responsibility on the field to show fair play and adhere to the rules, but off the pitch as well."

Alan Keen MP, chairman of the all-party football group, said appeals for throw-ins and corners were ruining school games. He told Mr Caborn diving in football had become a skill worthy of an Olympic discipline. Mr Caborn told MPs: "A lot of teachers say that what happens on the football field on a Saturday afternoon is replicated in the playground on Monday morning.

"I wrote to the chairmen of all the professional football teams asking them to at least raise the issue with the managers and players, because I do think they are role models."

The FA said it could not be sure how effective Mr Caborn's pleas had been.