Joe Hart questions Dan Ballard red card for hair pull against Wolves | OneFootball

Joe Hart has questioned the red card shown to Dan Ballard in Sunderland’s 1-1 draw at Wolves, describing it as harsh and raising consistency concerns. Speaking on BBC Match of the Day, the former Manchester City and England goalkeeper sided with Régis Le Bris over the call.

Ballard was dismissed in the first half after referee Paul Tierney consulted the pitchside monitor and ruled the defender had pulled the hair of Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare. Sunderland played on with 10 men and later conceded a second-half equaliser.

Hart argued Ballard was seeking a grip on his opponent rather than his hair and questioned whether that should constitute violent conduct and a 24th-minute dismissal. He also pointed to more violent incidents he had seen over the weekend that went unpunished.

Le Bris said he understood the law but felt its application was hard to digest, stressing he did not believe Ballard acted intentionally or violently in an aerial duel with a tall striker. He added that defenders can be disadvantaged when facing opponents with long hair.

Ballard is likely to miss Sunderland’s final three games, with the offence expected to be deemed violent conduct, carrying an automatic three-match ban. A similar sending off for Everton’s Michael Keane for pulling Arokodare’s hair saw an appeal rejected earlier this season, underlining the strict interpretation.

Source: Sunderland Echo