I think it's disgusting the way players will go down if they're even touched in the penalty box.
Watching MOTD over the weekend there were some shocking dives and even the commentators try to justify it sometimes by saying things like 'He was entitled to go down there' It should be a sending off offence IMO because after all it's cheating!! A few red cards to the likes of Rooney or Gerrard might encourage them all to stay on their feet!!
If a player is;
Fouled and plays on regardless with the ball, he may get a free kick when he doesn't want it.
Fouled and stays on his feet, he might very well not be awarded a free kick or penalty.
If a player is fouled, and wants a free kick for it, he therefor has to go down.
It makes the intention clear to the ref. if the player goes down he wants the free kick or penalty awarded. Assuming the ref agrees there is a foul in the first place of course.
Players will take advantage of that though, especially in the penalty box. Diving should be a red card IMO. But...
That's the game.