Jose Mourinho Must Not Let Chelsea's Premier League Hopes Slip in Diving Debacle

The biggest talking point from Chelsea's draw with Southampton on Sunday should have been the two points Jose Mourinho's team dropped.

Where does it leave the title race? Can Eden Hazard's excellent form continue?

Instead, in the Sky Sports studio, there was only one thing being discussed: diving.

In fact, across the media, it's been the same.

Jose Mourinho made his thoughts clear in his post-match interview, calling the decision to book Cesc Fabregas for simulation a "scandal."

The Chelsea boss went so far as to claim there was "a campaign" against his club.

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"People, pundits, commentators, coaches from other teams—they react with Chelsea in a way they don't react to other teams," he told the Sky cameras.

"They put lots of pressure on the referee and the referee makes a mistake like this. We lose two points, Fabregas earns a yellow card."

Right now, it's the biggest threat to Chelsea's title hopes.

Forget Manchester City and Chelsea's other rivals, the growing reputation of Mourinho's players as divers—right or wrong—is beginning to work against them.

It has played a part in Chelsea dropping points against Southampton and, in the past, has also seen players pick up unnecessary suspensions.

Mourinho needs to ensure it stops. Now.

"He has planted a seed for the rest of the season. He'll probably take a fine for that," said Gary Neville afterwards, discussing Mourinho's comments.

"What Mourinho has done today has said he's drawing a line in the sand and said, 'I'm not accepting this anymore,' letting the referees know this is unacceptable for the rest of the season."

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That's half the problem addressed. Now Mourinho needs to do the same with his players.

It wasn't a dive by Fabregas against Southampton. Nor was it a foul by Matt Targett. Contact doesn't always suggest an infringement, and the correct decision would have been to allow play to continue.

Referee Anthony Taylor proved too trigger happy in brandishing a yellow card for simulation, though, and here we are, dealing with the fall out.

TV presenter Richard Keys has since claimed that assistant referee Darren Cann told the referee it was not simulation from Fabregas but was overruled.

Only the referee can explain why, yet you can't help but perceive Chelsea's reputation has gone before them, which is why they need to take action themselves.

We have seen half-a-dozen incidents of simulation involving Chelsea players already this season. On the Premier League's opening weekend, it was Diego Costa being wrongly booked against Burnley. More recently, Costa was cautioned again for the same offence, this time against Hull City.

In the same game, Willian was booked for simulation and Gary Cahill could count himself lucky to not receive a second yellow card when he took a tumble in the Hull box.

Against West Ham United on Boxing Day, Branislav Ivanovic was involved in a brief scuffle with Andy Carroll, accused of going down too easily in the penalty area.

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It's not just this season, either. Last year, West Bromwich Albion were left to feel hard done by when Ramires was fouled in the 94th minute at Stamford Bridge, allowing Eden Hazard to step up and score a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw.

The argument that day was that the Brazilian had fooled referee Andre Marriner with some amateur dramatics.

And before that, Fernando Torres was sent off by Mark Clattenburg against Manchester United, receiving a second yellow card after being judged to have dived in October 2012.

The rap sheet is growing ever longer. If Chelsea are to buck the trend, it needs to come from within.

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Mourinho's right to sound out match officials and make his point through the media, yet behind closed doors, Chelsea must get a grip.

The players are equally at fault—for every decision against them, there's an example of when referees got it right—and they must make a stand to change things.

They can start by staying on their feet more often. They can ride every nudge in the back or clip of the heel.

It's not Chelsea but a plague that is spreading across the Premier League. Simulation, diving—call it what you will—is becoming more and more common.

Referees need to be more consistent in dealing with it, yet players need to help them out simply by stopping it.

A better reputation and Chelsea may well be celebrating a five-point gap at the top on New Year's Day. Instead, the thunder clouds of controversy continue to rage and wail.

How many more points can they drop before they damage their title aspirations?

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes