The Football Association’s disciplinary panel has ruled that hair pulling “ought not to be tolerated” in football, while upholding the three-match suspension handed to Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez.
An independent regulatory commission rejected Manchester United’s appeal against both the red card and the subsequent punishment following Martínez’s dismissal for violent conduct during a Premier League match against Leeds at Old Trafford.
The 28-year-old was sent off after pulling the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 2-1 defeat. Referee Paul Tierney issued a straight red card after being advised by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
According to BBC Sport on Friday, the panel noted in its written reasons that while different forms of violent conduct may carry varying levels of risk, hair pulling must still be treated seriously under the laws of the game.
The ruling means Martínez will serve his three-match suspension as originally imposed.
