Everton manager David Moyes criticized VAR official Chris Kavanagh for suggesting a red card review after Michael Keane pulled the hair of Wolves' Tolu Arokodare, stating Kavanagh should have been "embarrassed".
This is not the first time this season that a Premier League manager has expressed anger over a red card issued for hair pulling.
Most recently, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick described Lisandro Martinez's dismissal against Leeds United on Monday as a "shocking decision".
Earlier in January, Everton boss David Moyes called it "ridiculous" that Michael Keane was sent off against Wolves.
This disciplinary approach has been consistent in the Premier League.
When there is clear evidence of hair pulling, it has resulted in video assistant referee (VAR) intervention for violent conduct and a three-match ban.
However, this uniform approach has sparked controversy.
Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer reflected the general opinion of former players on BBC Breakfast.
"Never a red card, not in the Premier League," former England striker Shearer said regarding Martinez's dismissal.
"We need to be careful about where the game is heading if that is being deemed violent conduct and a red card. It's not what we want to see."
This raises questions: why is hair pulling always treated as violent conduct? What qualifies it as such? And is a three-match suspension justified?
'If we see it again next week, it will be the same outcome'
Recall August 2022, when Tottenham defender Cristian Romero tugged Chelsea's Marc Cucurella by his hair.
VAR official Mike Dean chose not to intervene for a red card, establishing a precedent.
From that moment, a zero-tolerance policy was adopted.
If hair pulling occurs, it results in a red card for violent conduct.
This strict enforcement means accepting that in some cases, like those involving Keane and Martinez, the punishment may seem excessive.
This is comparable to handball rulings in the Champions League: some penalties are unpopular, but consistency is maintained.
Consistency often comes at the expense of common sense.
Following Keane's red card, referees' chief Howard Webb stated hair pulling was "quite an offensive thing."
"It was the appropriate outcome," Webb said. "It was unusual but if we see it again next week it will be the same outcome."
When a similar incident occurred with Martinez months later, Webb's prediction proved accurate.
Besides these, only one other VAR red card for hair pulling has occurred in the Premier League: Southampton's Jack Stephens on Marc Cucurella.
Similar cases have appeared in the Club World Cup, Women's Super League, and Women's Euros.
Hair pulling is often a subtle foul, typically detected only through video review.
It usually occurs off the ball but is more noticeable than subtle elbows or stomach nips.
Even in the EFL, which lacks VAR, Ipswich's Leif Davis was recently banned after video evidence showed him pulling the hair of Leicester's Caleb Okoli.
However, evidence is not always definitive.
For example, Fulham's Kenny Tete could have been sent off for pulling Manchester City's Antoine Semenyo's hair in February, but VAR did not find conclusive evidence to review the incident.
Is a three-game ban justified?
One of the main frustrations for managers is the mandatory three-match ban.
Does the punishment fit the offense?
Carrick's defensive options have been limited by injuries, and with Harry Maguire potentially suspended for the upcoming match against Chelsea, this likely contributed to his frustration.
England's disciplinary system applies a blanket approach.
Other leagues typically impose a one-match ban for such offenses, extendable on a case-by-case basis.
In contrast, the Premier League enforces automatic three-game suspensions for both violent conduct and serious foul play.
This means a potentially dangerous tackle and a minor hair pull both carry the same suspension length.
Moyes was incredulous about Keane's lengthy suspension and appealed both the red card and the "excessive punishment."
A three-person Football Association panel, composed of former players, rejected the appeal by a two-to-one vote.
Carrick may also seek to overturn Martinez's ban, though the similarity between the incidents makes success unlikely.
In the Women's Champions League, Katie McCabe escaped a red card despite pulling Chelsea's Alyssa Thompson by the hair.
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor expressed anger and questioned refereeing standards in the women's game.
Fans find it illogical that McCabe was not penalized while Keane and Martinez were sent off.
Why is hair pulling always violent conduct?
Supporters struggle to accept hair pulling as violent conduct, equating it with punches, elbows to the head, or kicks.
Many prefer to categorize it as a distinct offense.
However, hair pulling causes pain and shock as the hair is pulled away from the scalp, similar to the effect of an elbow or punch.
Violent conduct involves "brutality."
Premier League guidelines specify that a player must "clearly pull the hair of an opponent with force."
Everton argued in their appeal that Keane did not apply force, but this was rejected.
Manchester United may argue similarly for Martinez, although Dominic Calvert-Lewin went to ground holding the back of his head, weakening their case.
Another complexity is the definition of violent conduct when a player "is not challenging for the ball."
How then could Keane and Martinez be sent off when contesting headers?
The appeal hearing for Keane noted that pulling hair is not a legitimate challenge for the ball.
It stated hair pulling "falls outside the normal constituent elements of a challenge in football and can therefore fall into the category of violent conduct."
Managers have valid points.
Anthony Gordon received a three-match ban for a lunging challenge on Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk that could have caused serious injury.
Meanwhile, Martinez faces the same suspension for holding Calvert-Lewin's hair.
This discrepancy feels disproportionate.
This debate will likely resurface with future VAR red cards.
The Premier League considers stakeholder views each summer and adjusts interpretations accordingly.
Perhaps captains and clubs will express that referees are too strict regarding hair pulling.
'Time to reconsider where hair pulling should sit' - analysis
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann commented:
"Before the start of each season all 20 Premier League clubs have a visit from a referee.
They advise the coaching staff and, importantly, all the first-team squad of any impending law changes. They also provide other information on, for example, what constitutes serious foul play and violent conduct."
He added that some fans question whether hair pulling truly qualifies as violent conduct.
"Understandably, some may feel that Martinez's actions were not particularly violent, but this is merely the red-card category into which all hair pulls are assigned, irrespective of the level of force."
Cann suggested reconsidering the classification of hair pulling.
"One solution worthy of consideration would be to make 'pulling an opponent's hair' a separate category.
'Biting or spitting at someone' is an act of violent conduct but, as far as a ban goes, it is treated separately.
Those offences carry a minimum six-game ban, hence the need for a different category."
He explained that hair pulls vary in severity.
"It is clear that some hair pulls are extremely violent and others are not.
Removing it from the violent conduct category would allow a sliding scale of, say, a one-, two- or three-game ban - depending on the severity of the hair pull."
Will Man Utd appeal against Martinez's red card?
