Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has picked holes in the hair-pulling rules since Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was sent off.
During Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds United, Lisandro Martinez was sent off for pulling the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Calvert-Lewin admitted Martinez was “unlucky” to see a red card as the contact was minimal, yet United’s appeal was rejected by the FA.
Initially, Mark Clattenburg defended the Martinez red card decision, but he is now calling for a rule change after spotting some concerning inconsistencies.
Lisandro Martinez has been SENT OFF for a hair pull – Let us know your thoughts…
It was described as ‘violent conduct’
Mark Clattenburg reacts to Dominic Calvert-Lewin avoiding hair-pull punishment
Just days after Martinez’s red card, Clattenburg said United can feel ‘aggrieved’ at the decision after seeing that Fulham’s Calvin Bassey had his hair pulled without any consequences.
Again, there was no action taken by VAR when Calvert-Lewin pulled the hair of Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella in their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking exclusively to United in Focus, Mark Clattenburg said: “Dominic Calvert-Lewin is very fortunate not to receive a red card for pulling the hair of Marc Cucurella if the guidelines were applied consistently.
“Especially when Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez was punished for a similar incident, ironically against Calvert-Lewin.
“I think that PGMOL at the start of next season should give clearer guidelines on hair-pulling as I don’t believe this type of offence is a violent act and should only result in a yellow card.
“This outcome from next season would create more consistency.”
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Man Utd incident could force rule change
It has been widely accepted that Martinez should not have been sent off against Leeds for what was a minimal hair pull.
Yet, Martinez’s three-match suspension was upheld which complicates United’s final few games of the season at a time where Michael Carrick is chasing Champions League qualification.
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In the following weeks, it has become clear that there has been little to no consistency with the hair-pulling rules, and United remain the only team to have suffered from the laws.
Clattenburg is right – change is needed. Martinez could end up forcing a rule change in the Premier League as a result of his very harsh red card.
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