Wayne Rooney has urged Premier League chiefs to change the laws regarding hair-pulling. Red cards for the offence have been commonplace in recent weeks and months, with Sunderland centre-back Dan Ballard the latest culprit.
Referee Paul Tierney brandished a red card for the defender after he was seen to pull the braids of Wolves’ Tolu Arokodare during Saturday’s meeting. It’s the second time Arokodare has been involved in an incident like this, with Everton’s Michael Keane having seen red for the same offence back in January.
But Rooney is having none of it, with the former Manchester United ace lamenting the rule during Saturday’s Match of the Day. He remarked: “I just can’t believe that I am sat on Match of the Day talking about players being sent off for pulling hair.
“I think that if that’s the rule then that rule needs to change. It’s getting absolutely ridiculous. When you are playing, it is a physical game and you do grab on to the shirt, you are trying to get an upper hand on your opponent. And sometimes if there’s a big flock of hair, then you’re going to grab it at some point.”
Rooney did joke it was the reason he opted to stay with short hair during his time as a player, to which the presenter Gabby Logan and fellow pundit Joe Hart let out a big laugh. Hart agreed with his former England captain, saying: “I’ve seen a lot more violent things happen this weekend and none of them punished for it.”
Meanwhile, Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris said he struggled to understand why his centre-back had been sent off. What’s more, the Frenchman has also called upon the decision makers to alter the rule.
He said post-match: “It wasn’t violent conduct. I understand the rule, and the referee has to execute the rule, but it’s hard to understand in that condition.
“I think it’s important for the referees and the Premier League to be clear with this rule because in that case, you can’t play a duel. You will grab something at times, even if it’s not intentional and that wasn’t the case, but it is what it is. I hope I will have a conversation with the referees to adjust this rule and make it better.”