WE asked the Legends:

Following recent incidents involving Darren Bent, David Ngog and Herita Ilunga has diving become a problem that is out of control in the modern game?

MALCOLM

I DESPISE diving because it is cheating – pure and simple. It is one of the worst possible things to see on a football pitch. I can’t understand the mentality of a player who would do such a thing.

That, and this trend of players waving their hands asking for a player to be booked or sent off are the worst things in the game at present.

I always feel that players should have respect for their fellow professionals.

And this current trend is the absolute opposite of that. It gets their opponents into trouble and it stinks.

If it gets any worse then the football authorities may well have to start taking television evidence rather than putting the onus on the referee. I would hate that to happen.

What I am going to say may be somewhat contentious but it is true.

Footballers are professionals at the very front line and they need very clear instructions about where the line is drawn regarding yellow cards etc. The football authorities, the people overseeing the Premier League and the Championship, change that line all the time and don’t communicate it properly to the players.

That leads to confusion and players bending the rules. The authorities have to come down hard with a very clear directive against diving before it spoils the game we all love.

What I can say is that I didn’t dive in my time because no-one could catch me, I was too fast for them!

Will Ireland beat France to qualify for the World Cup?

France have had an absolute nightmare in the qualifiers but if they don’t go through over the two legs then they want shooting or sending to the Foreign Legion!

MICKY

THERE is nothing worse than seeing fit and healthy lads diving all over the pitch. It looks pathetic and I’m embarrassed when I see it.

Referees have to become more involved in the weekly training sessions at clubs.

I know they go along in pre-season but what I would like to see is referees getting to know players away from the matchday, when everything is 100 miles per hour and they are under tremendous pressure to make snap decisions.

Each referee should attend a club at least once a week to get involved in a training match.

They would get to understand the little tricks that players get up to and then watch for it on the pitch on a Saturday. It is easily remedied in that way.

As an ex-pro I know straightaway when someone has dived.

You can see it in the way they fall, it’s obvious from a mile off. Being a referee is a hard job but they need to look at the game as if they were a professional footballer, they would soon be able to tell between a genuine foul and playacting.

In my day Stan Bowles and Rodney Marsh were among the main culprits.

They would show you the ball and were so quickwitted they’d ghost past you and give you a little kick on the shin and go over as if you’d clobbered him.

There was a real knack to it and nine times out of ten it would fool the referee.

Will Ireland beat France to qualify for the World Cup?

I think France will have too much quality for Ireland. The Republic may get a draw at home but over the two legs I’d tip France.

BERNIE

ANY forward going into the box has half an eye on challenges from defenders that could lead to a penalty.

Don’t get me wrong, your instinct must always be to go for goal but you will also punish a clumsy defender by going to ground.

There are plenty of occasions when the decision doesn’t go your way and the referee waves play on, but that’s the gamble you take.

It is in a strikers’ nature to gain whatever advantage he can and we’ve all done it, I don’t care who you are. It has always been part of the game and being realistic, it always will be.

One of the easiest ways to get goals for your team is through penalty kicks so strikers are encouraged to make runs into the box and force defenders to make a challenge.

Will Ireland beat France to qualify for the World Cup?

I think we will win the first leg in Croke Park and that should give us a great chance of making the trip to South Africa.

■ The Three Legends were talking to Andy Richardson

Listen to The Legends weekdays 6-8pm and Saturdays from 1pm on 100-102FM Real Radio

Read their views every Saturday in Northern Echo Sport