Everton’s Alan Stubbs has attributed the culture of cheating in the Premiership on the influx of foreign players into English football.

The veterean defender has urged the Football Association to take action against players who encourage referees to book opponents.

Stubbs was angry after Luis Garcia attempted to persuade referee Phil Dowd to book David Weir in their 3-1 defeat at Liverpool.

He said: “It’s crept into our game lately but it’s a foreign thing.

“Garcia only did it once, but their foreign players speak good English. It’s not as if they don’t understand what they’re doing.”

Everton had seven players booked in a game which also contained two red cards for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Stubbs’ team-mate Andy van der Meyde.

He added: “The foreign players have brought a lot of good things to the Premiership but a lot of the other side as well.

“It’s up to the authorities to see it for what it is and do something about it.

“All we can do to stop it out on the pitch is say to them, ‘What are you doing, rolling around trying to get others booked?’

“Ask any British player, and it’s the last thing they want to see – players running up to the ref, shouting and waving for cards to be shown.

“There’s just no place for it. It’s hard enough staying on the pitch at times without people going round trying to get you sent off for trivial things. It’s not a ‘man’ thing.

“If Kevin Kilbane had rolled around on the floor after Gerrard fouled him, there would have been even more action taken. Kevin just got straight up. He’s an honest player.”

Subscribe to World Soccer – The essential football magazine.