AN FA disciplinary panel has said hair pulling “ought not to be tolerated” after upholding a three-match ban for Manchester United F.C. defender Lisandro Martínez.
The club’s appeal was rejected following Martinez’s red card for pulling the hair of Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin during a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford. Referee Paul Tierney issued the card after being advised to review the incident by VAR.
In its written reasons, the panel acknowledged that other forms of violent conduct “carry a much higher risk of harm to an opponent”, but added: “In the wider interests of football ‘hair pulling’ ought not to be tolerated and should be discouraged through consistent punishment.”
Man United boss Michael Carrick had earlier described the decision as “one of the worst” he has seen, arguing the incident was “not a pull, not a tug, not aggressive” and that Martinez was “off balance and grappling”.
However, the panel disagreed, stating they could not be sure the contact was minimal, noting Calvert-Lewin “had reacted in a manner that suggested that he had felt a certain amount of force exerted upon his hair/scalp”.
It concluded: “The commission members were unanimous that the referee could not be said to have made an ‘obvious error’ in dismissing Lisandro Martinez.”
Martinez has already missed one game and will also sit out upcoming fixtures against Brentford and Liverpool.
