Graeme Souness hammers 'cheating' Ben Brereton Diaz after 'embarrassing' Newcastle reaction

Graeme Souness has slammed Ben Brereton Diaz for 'cheating' after the Southampton forward's 'embarrassing' theatrics against Newcastle United.

Fabian Schar was sent off in the 28th minute for a clash that left Brereton Diaz holding his face on the turf. Schar had taken issue with a shoulder barge from Brereton Diaz after the whistle had gone a few seconds earlier and shoved the Southampton forward before the pair squared up.

Schar lightly pushed his forehead into Brereton Diaz's and that was all the Chile international needed to dramatically fall to the ground. Russell Martin, defending his player, called it a 'moment of madness' from Schar and the Southampton boss said those in black-and-white would have 'done the same' in Brereton Diaz's shoes.

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However, Ally McCoist labelled Brereton Diaz's reaction 'absolutely shocking' while former Liverpool and Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock said it was 'pathetic' that the 25-year-old would 'do that to a fellow pro'. Souness went one step further.

"Diaz cheated," the former Newcastle boss told talkSPORT. "Schar is wrong. I personally think the ref should go to the screen, look at it, send Diaz off and book Schar.

"You're cheating. Schar put his head towards him - he did - but there's no action or headbutting. He's gone there and gone, 'Come on then!' There's no action of, 'I'm going to try and hurt you.' Diaz threw himself to the ground. That's a red card.

"He's trying to deceive me and trying to cheat the people that are in the stadium and the wider audience that are watching on the television. Here's your red card. See you son.

"You've got to stamp that out because that is the worst thing. It frustrates supporters more than anything else. Embarrassing. You can say it was an invitation that was too good to refuse, but that's not us. If we allow that to continue in the game, which the referees are allowing, our league is doomed."