Sunderland’s Dan Ballard set to miss rest of season after VAR red as Premier League explains call | OneFootball

Dan Ballard has been ruled out of Sunderland’s run-in after a first-half red card against Wolves.

The Premier League match centre said the referee issued a red card for violent conduct following a VAR review. Paul Tierney consulted the monitor and decided the defender had clearly pulled the hair of Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare. The officials did not initially spot the flashpoint, with VAR intervening once the ball had gone out for a throw-in.

Violent conduct carries an automatic three-match suspension, so Ballard will sit out the rest of the Premier League season unless Sunderland lodge a successful appeal.

Régis Le Bris will be without the centre-back for three demanding fixtures against Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea.

He could move Nordi Mukiele into the middle and play Trai Hume or Lutsharel Geertruida at right-back, or recall Luke O’Nien in central defence.

Source: Sunderland Echo