Manchester United have found themselves at the centre of a storm this week after Ashley Young was booked for initiating contact with Crystal Palace midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi at Old Trafford on Saturday, before going to ground looking for a spot-kick.
The incident, followed by Reading striker Pavel Pogrebnyak's dismissal against Brighton on Sunday have sparked yet another debate over the issue of diving.
And Ferdinand accepts there is no easy solution.
"It's weird," he said. "It's got to happen across Europe and the world, not just in our league.
"You go into the Champions League and you have been told in the Premier League you are not meant to dive, then you get players from other countries who simulate.
"As a defender, you don't want people trying to con the referee, but if there is contact, the player has the right to go down.
"It has become a part of our game that, as defenders, we are used to.
"You have got to defend with your head and think how you are going to combat the forwards.
"They are cute and know how to deal with this type of stuff.
Source: PA
Source: PA