Larne manager Gary Haveron feels a worrying trend is creeping into the Irish League around play-acting, saying some players are “watching too much Premier League football”.

Haveron’s comments came after his side’s 1-1 Premiership draw with Linfield where goalscorer Leroy Millar was shown a straight red card in the closing stages for a challenge on Ethan McGee.

Inver Reds chief Haveron has been involved in the Irish League as both a player and coach for over 20 years, but has noticed a sharp increase in “the number of soft free-kicks” being awarded in recent times.

Haveron was left disappointed with the decision to dismiss Millar and feels dramatics are being rewarded by officials.

placeholder image — Leroy Millar is sent off for a challenge on Linfield's Ethan McGee. (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press)

“The referee sprints over to send him (Millar) off, couldn’t wait to send him off,” Haveron told the club’s media channel. “I think it’s the player’s reaction.

"I see this more and more and more, diving, any slightest little contact...I think they’re watching too much Premier League football in England.

"As soon as you touch somebody they put their body across and hit the ground before there’s even contact in a lot of cases and I felt there was a lot of that tonight.

"It’s not Irish League. I know times have changed and football has moved on, but it’s not what I enjoy about Irish League football, people hitting the ground and rolling around, it’s not what the game is about.

"It’s about being fair and having a bit of integrity about you to play the game in the right way, but there seems to be this new trend of people taking the contact, hitting the ground and the referees are encouraging them to do it because of the number of soft free-kicks.

"That’s my opinion...it seemed to happen a lot there tonight.”

Larne remain three points clear at the Premiership summit and Haveron was happy to see his players respond positively to Friday’s 3-2 home defeat against Carrick Rangers.

“We needed a reaction from the last couple of games and I certainly feel I got that from the players,” he added. “We were a little bit more aggressive in our approach but not overly aggressive.

"I thought we were on the front foot, looked a threat with our running power of Tiarnan and Matty up front, and we scored a really good goal.

"We set the tone...it was really good to see Leroy getting in there with the confidence in front of goal to slot it home.

"They do a lot of long throws and you have to defend and see out moments. Ro has made a decent save from Kirk Millar’s effort...at half-time I was pleased with the effort.

"I thought we needed to come out fast in the second half and we concede after five minutes from a set-piece.

"The pushing and shoving that was going on all night, he gave free-kicks constantly...he talks to two players before the ball is put back in again, it’s just disappointing because we haven’t dealt with it.

"We have three players challenging for the ball, nobody wins it and that’s disappointing for me.

"Leroy’s sending off means we’re hanging on for the last 10 minutes of the game.”