West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini faces FA action and a possible three game ban over an alleged dive during the the Hammers win at Stoke on Saturday.
The controversy ensued after Lanzini, who was bursting into the Stoke box, appeared to dive over defender Eric Pieters in order to earn his side a penalty – from which Noble promptly opened the scoring.
David Moyes’ side came out 3-0 winners at the bet365, with goals from former Potter Marko Arnautovic and Diafra Sakho adding to Noble’s spot-kick and sealing the impressive victory.
The win means David Moyes’ side have now picked up seven of their possible last nine points, after a victory over Chelsea and a draw with fellow Londoners Arsenal only days later.
Should Lanzini be punished for his role in the goal, he would become only the second player in Premier League history to be so for ‘simulation’.
Everton’s Oumar Niasse was found guilty by the FA following a similar incident last month.
The striker won his side a penalty during a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace after going down without contact, however was given a two-game ban by the FA for his efforts.
The West Ham fans – and the rest of the Premier League by the looks of it – don’t seem to be able to argue …
Have to say that’s a dive from Lanzini. Poor from him and he’ll get a ban for that.
— West Ham News (@WHUFC_News) December 16, 2017
Looking forward to Lanzini getting charged for ‘deceiving a match official’ on Monday morning. Definitely worse than Niasse.
— Ben Grounds (@Ben_Islington) December 16, 2017
Clumsy from Pieters but shameful dive from Lanzini who'll surely find himself banned
— northstokie (@northstokie) December 16, 2017
Hello @FA, two game ban for Manuel Lanzini please. pic.twitter.com/QnwlUaif8W
— Royal Blue Mersey (@RBMersey) December 16, 2017
Doesn't matter got his team 3 points…. Taking one for the team @manulanzini
— BaStarr (@the_raumdeuter) December 18, 2017
Looking forward to Lanzini being retrospectively banned for diving
— Chris Waters (@Clapham_Grand) December 16, 2017
David Wagner on GOS has just made himself look like a full on hypocrite. DCL’s wasn’t a pen but the Lanzini one was. Didn’t want to fall out with your best mate Jurgen by the sound of it. Hope Huddersfield go down just because of him!
— Keith Adamson (@KeithAdo) December 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/_CarltonCole9/status/942067890999775233
The official West Ham twitter account may beg to differ however …
Absolutely brilliant from Lanzini.
He runs the length of the pitch and into the box, Peters slides in to bring him down.
Nobes converts the pen. #STKWHU 0-1 (19)
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 16, 2017
