By Martin Graham
Another time this season, a Premier League manager reacted angrily to a dismissal for pulling an opponent’s hair. This time it was Manchester United boss Michael Carrick, who tagged along That of Lisandro Martínez red card against Leeds United as a “shocking decision”. At the beginning of the campaign, everton Manager David Moyes had described a similar sending off for Michael Keane against Wolves as “ridiculous”.
Despite the controversy, the decisions in these situations have been consistent. Whenever there is clear evidence of hair-pulling, video assistant referees have stepped in and classed it as violent conduct, resulting in a three-match ban. This strict interpretation has effectively created a uniform approach, regardless of context.
The turning point came in August 2022 when Tottenham’s Cristian Romero pulled the hair of Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella without penalty after VAR chose not to act. That moment brought a clear change: from then on, any confirmed hair-pulling would result in a red card. Head referee Howard Webb later reinforced this position, stating that if the same incident happened again, the result would not change.
Since then, similar incidents have followed the same pattern, including dismissals involving Southampton’s Jack Stephens and retrospective action in non-VAR competitions. While the evidence is sometimes inconclusive, such as a possible incident involving Fulham’s Kenny Tete, when the evidence is sufficient, the decision has been unwavering.
Punishment versus offense
One of the main sources of frustration for managers is not just the red card itself, but the automatic three-match suspension that follows. In English football, violent conduct and serious foul play carry identical bans, regardless of the nature of the offence.
This creates situations where very different actions receive the same punishment. A headbutt, a dangerous tackle and a relatively minor hair-pull are all treated equally under the current rules. Moyes challenged Keane’s suspension as excessive, but an FA panel upheld the decision, strengthening the existing framework.
Carrick may consider a similar appeal for Martinez, although given the consistency of the sentences, success looks unlikely. Meanwhile, contrasting decisions elsewhere, such as a case involving Arsenal’s Katie McCabe, who avoided the dismissal for a comparable incident, have only added to the confusion among supporters and managers.
Other leagues often apply shorter bans initially, with flexibility to extend them based on severity. Instead, the Premier League’s fixed approach leaves little room for nuance, intensifying debates about whether the punishment really matches the offense.
Why pulling hair is considered violent behavior
Many fans struggle to accept that hair pulling is placed in the same category as punches or elbows. However, the reasoning behind the classification is rooted in the potential for pain and the element of force involved. Removing hair from the scalp is considered capable of causing discomfort and shock, which aligns with definitions of violent conduct.
The guidelines specify that an infringement occurs when a player clearly pulls an opponent’s hair with force. Everton argued on appeal that this force was absent in Keane’s case, but that claim was dismissed. In Martínez’s situation, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s reaction — dropping and holding his head — can further complicate any defense.
Another key factor is that these actions fall outside legitimate attempts to play the ball. Even when players are engaged in an aerial duel, pulling hair is not considered part of a legal challenge. As stated in Keane’s appeal, it is beyond the normal elements of football contact and therefore can be judged as violent conduct.
Still, there is a growing sense that the current framework may be too rigid. Some incidents seem much less serious than others, but they are all treated the same. This has led to calls for reconsideration, including the idea of creating a separate category for hair-pulling, allowing punishments to vary based on severity, which can range from one to three matches.
