Joe Hart questions Dan Ballard red card for hair pull in Sunderland draw with Wolves | OneFootball

Joe Hart questioned Dan Ballard’s red card in Sunderland’s 1-1 draw at Wolves, calling it harsh and raising consistency concerns.

Ballard was sent off in the 24th minute after referee Paul Tierney checked the monitor and ruled he pulled Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare’s hair. Sunderland played with 10 men and conceded an equaliser in the second half. Speaking on BBC Match of the Day, Hart questioned the call’s consistency.

He said it was a physical duel and doubted Ballard aimed for the hair. Hart also questioned whether it met the violent conduct threshold, noting harsher incidents went unpunished this weekend.

Head coach Régis Le Bris said the law is clear but its application here was hard to accept. He argued there was no intent or violence and that marking a tall, long-haired striker can cause unavoidable contact.

Ballard is likely to miss the final three matches, with the offence expected to be classed as violent conduct and bring an automatic three-match ban. Earlier this season Everton’s Michael Keane was sent off for pulling Arokodare’s hair against Wolves, and his appeal was rejected. Sunderland therefore face finishing the campaign without him.

Source: Sunderland Echo