- Manuel Lanzini has been charged for ‘Successful Deception of a Match Official’
- Lanzini won a controversial penalty during West Ham’s win at Stoke on Saturday
- The midfielder is the second Premier League player to be hit with a diving charge
- If the panel all agree he was guilty of simulation he could face a two-match ban
- The Football Association have given Lanzini until 6pm on Tuesday to respond
West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini has been charged by the Football Association for ‘Successful Deception of a Match Official’ after he won a controversial penalty during the 3-0 victory over Stoke on Saturday.
Lanzini is the second Premier League player to be hit with a simulation charge after Everton’s Oumar Niasse became the first earlier on in the season for diving in their match against Crystal Palace.
A retrospective ban could follow Lanzini’s charge after the new law on diving was implemented at the start of this season.
West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini has been charged for ‘Successful Deception of a Match Official’
Niasse was the first player to be hit with retrospective punishment for simulation and received a two-match suspension for being found guilty of ‘exaggerating’ his fall.
Lanzini could face a similar penalty if the FA’s independent regulatory commission panel, which convenes to oversee his case, unanimously agree that he was guilty of the offence.
The 24-year-old won a dubious penalty for his side in the 18th minute of their game at the Bet365 Stadium on the weekend, which consequentially led to them taking the lead.
The midfielder went down under a challenge from Erik Pieters in the box to win a penalty
The referee awarded a penalty to West Ham despite it being a controversial decision
Lanzini has now been charged for simulation by the FA and has until Tuesday to respond
Lanzini dribbled into the box and went down under a challenge from Stoke defender Erik Pieters, the referee Graham Scott immediately pointed to the spot with Mark Noble dispatching the resulting spot kick to make it 1-0.
Pieters was visibly fuming with Scott’s decision while it left under fire manager Mark Hughes incensed at the final whistle with his side suffering yet another defeat.
Hammers boss David Moyes defended Lanzini at the end of the game and claimed the reason he fell the way he did was due to ‘fatigue’ at the end of a long dribble.
Lanzini has been given a deadline of 6pm on Tuesday to respond by the FA.