Manchester United’s Herrera went down clutching his face when he appeared to be shoved in the chest by Firmino, the Liverpool forward

The Football Association is taking active steps towards bringing in retrospective bans for players who dive, it can be revealed.

The governing body is to send officials on a fact-finding mission to Scotland to study the rule there, which stipulates a two-match ban for any player who wins a significant advantage for their team by tricking the referee by diving or simulation, and will explore introducing a similar rule to the English game.

Senior FA figures including the chairman Greg Clarke are understood to be keen on the principle of creating a deterrent for players who effectively get away with cheating if the referee does not spot the dive or simulation.

In Scotland, players who dive and escape punishment are identified via video replays and