Lisandro Martinez’s red card for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s ponytail proved costly on Monday night as Manchester United fell to a 2-1 defeat against bitter rivals Leeds at Old Trafford.
Although hair pulling is not explicitly mentioned in the laws of the game, it is deemed ‘violent conduct’ regardless of intent or severity, which often leads to huge backlash among fans, players and managers over ‘soft’ dismissals.
The controversial red card at Old Trafford followed intervention from VAR official John Brooks, who advised referee Paul Tierney to review the incident after spotting the hair pull on Calvert-Lewin.
With Martinez now facing a three-match ban, Red Devils interim boss Michael Carrick reacted in a fury, labelling the decision ‘absolutely shocking’ and ‘one of the worst’ he has seen on a football pitch.
Since the introduction of VAR, red cards for such offences have become far more common and, earlier this year, Everton’s Michael Keane was also sent off for pulling the tresses of Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare, earning himself a three-match suspension to the frustration of Toffees manager David Moyes.
Although players are being punished more frequently nowadays, incidents of hair pulling existed in the game long before 2026. Daily Mail Sport has chalked up some notable examples that have sparked debate over the years.
Lisandro Martinez was sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair on Monday night
The incident was checked by VAR as Manchester United lost 2-1 to rivals Leeds at Old Trafford
Everton’s Michael Keane was sent off earlier this year for a hair pull on Wolves’ Tolu Arokodare
Cristian Romero on Marc Cucurella
Chelsea star Marc Cucurella hit out at refereeing chiefs PGMOL in a fury after Tottenham’s Cristian Romero escaped punishment following a hair pull incident back in August 2022.
Tottenham’s clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge descended into chaos after Cucurella was dragged to the floor by his hair, with Romero eager to attack a corner.
Referee Anthony Taylor and VAR official Mike Dean chose not to punish the defender after a review and Spurs went on to draw the match 2-2 thanks to a late equaliser from Harry Kane, sparking a furious handshake bust-up between managers Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel at full-time.
Romero not only escaped punishment during the game but also did not receive retrospective action from PGMOL, despite Cucurella furiously insisting that a mistake had been made and Dean later admitting he had made a mistake.
‘For me it is too clear in the game, on the pitch,’ Cucurella said during his post-match press conference. ‘I didn’t see it on the TV, the video. I think it’s very clear, but this is one error of the referee or VAR.’
Cristian Romero (left) escaped punishment in 2022 despite yanking Marc Cucurella’s hair
Marouane Fellaini on Matteo Guendouzi
Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini sparked controversy after yanking the locks of Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi during the Gunners’ 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in 2018.
The Belgian, who had recently trimmed down his own afro, jerked Guendouzi’s head back by grasping his long hair, throwing the midfielder to the turf to prevent a dangerous Arsenal move.
To Guendouzi’s shock, Fellaini escaped without a booking despite referee Andre Marriner blowing for a foul and brandishing a total of six yellow cards during the fiercely-fought contest.
The Red Devils star, who only entered the game in the 72nd minute after coming on for Marco Rojo, later evaded retrospective action too.
Marouane Fellaini pulled Matteo Guendouzi’s long locks during a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in 2018
Peter Crouch on Brent Sancho
Former England striker Peter Crouch became public enemy No 1 in Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 World Cup after using Brent Sancho’s hair to help head the Three Lions into the lead.
Breaking the dreadlock and deadlock in one fell swoop, Crouch yanked on Sancho’s long hair to climb above the defender and give England a crucial late advantage before Steven Gerrard wrapped up the 2-0 win in the 90th minute.
Sancho later opened up on the hair pulling incident during an interview with the Guardian, saying: ‘It was bodily assault. Becks (David Beckham) hanged up the cross and I saw him (Crouch) so I tried to back into him so he couldn’t jump.
‘But he used my hair, my shoulder and every other part of my body to get over me. I was laid on the ground, looking at the referee amazed he did not give a foul and he gave me that look as if to say: “Listen, buddy. There’s no chance I’m going to give that call here. You’re tiny Trinidad against mighty England.”‘
England went on to reach the quarter-finals at the 2006 World Cup before losing on penalties to Portugal, with Wayne Rooney sent off in the 60th minute for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho and later pushing Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Former Premier League striker Peter Crouch famously used Brent Sancho’s hair to help head England ahead in the 83rd minute against Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 World Cup
Jack Stephens on Marc Cucurella
Another hair-pulling incident involving Marc Cucurella occurred in December 2024, and this time the culprit was punished.
Southampton defender Jack Stephens was given his marching orders for sending the Spaniard to the floor by his hair in the penalty area, with the bottom-of-the-league club already 3-1 down in the first half.
Referee Tony Harrington was advised by VAR to check the pitch-side monitor and opted to show Stephens a straight red card for violent conduct.
Chelsea went on to win the match 5-1, with Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho finding the net after Saints were reduced to 10 men.
Jack Stephens was given his marching orders for pulling Cucurella’s hair in December 2024
Robert Huth on Marouane Fellaini
In May 2016, Marouane Fellaini was on the receiving end of a hair pull from Leicester defender Robert Huth in an incident that saw both players retrospectively banned for three games.
As the stars scuffled for the ball, Huth pulled Fellaini’s hair before the Belgian reacted with an elbow to the defender’s face, leaving the Foxes star in a heap on the floor.
The altercation was not seen by match officials during the game, but a panel of former referees later reviewed the incident and decided the actions of both Fellaini and Huth warranted three match bans.
Defending his player Fellaini after the match, then United boss Louis van Gaal said: ‘It’s not in the books that someone has to grab by the hair and then pull it behind – only in sex masochism.’
