Carlisle wants diving clampdown

Carlisle accepts that taking a hard line could spark a flurry of red cards and suspensions but he is convinced the sport would soon see the benefits and improve as a spectacle.

Last weekend saw two high-profile Premier League players accused of diving in the penalty area while there were also three instances of top-flight players arguing with team-mates.

Confrontations between rival players and the haranguing of referees are also not uncommon and Carlisle feels action should be taken.

Carlisle said: "I genuinely believe if the FA, the Premier League and referees just took a zero tolerance line to diving and confrontation, either player to player or surrounding referees, you would see a month of madness.

"You would see red cards flying around left, right and centre but it would stop it because players would be missing two games, three games - then five, six, seven through suspension.

"They would miss key games and clubs would then take a stance on it. I believe you would then see it wiped out.

"If you just took the hard line, said we're not taking it any more, you might have a month of seven-a-side games but after that, because of the financial and professional ramifications, you would see a dramatic difference in players' behaviours."

As a current player himself, Carlisle accepts his views may not be welcomed by all his fellow professionals, but he feels he has a duty in his role with the union to help project the game positively.

The 32-year-old, currently on loan with League Two Northampton Town, said: "I have to be mindful of my position as chairman of the PFA.

"I want our players to represent the game in the best possible way.

"I want them to be leading lights for future generations and want the game in England to be of the highest integrity in the world.

"To that end, we want it to be the cleanest game we have, the most genuine in the world, and that is the way forward."

Carlisle is helping promote the PFA's endorsement of the 'Know the Score' campaign to raise awareness of bowel cancer.

Players, managers and match officials are being encouraged to wear a silver 'Star of Hope' badge this weekend to highlight the case.

Carlisle said: "It is probably one of those campaigns that people don't pay any attention to until they are affected themselves.

"But with 'Know the Score' you can prompt families to take a more proactive assessment of their health.

"The earlier you catch any cancer signs, the greater your chances of survival."

England and Manchester City midfielder James Milner is also backing the campaign and Carlisle is pleased to see players getting involved with such worthwhile causes.

He said: "Because these guys play a sport they have a platform to convey a message to hundreds of millions of people on a weekly basis, not just at one-off events where they might be able to access that wider audience.

"We don't want members to feel they are taken advantage of, or there is anything expected, but we do want the boys to do more.

"There were 35,000 social inclusion visits last year, from a member base of 3,000.

"That is phenomenal and the players do fantastic work year on year, yet there is so much more we can do.

"The more work lads do like this, the better their image will be in society."