'Extreme' – Howard Webb told to change rule after controversial Dan Ballard red card during Wolves vs Sunderland

Former refereeing chief Keith Hackett has urged PGMOL to clarify its approach to hair-pulling offences after Dan Ballard was sent off during Sunderland’s 1-1 draw with Wolves.

Ballard was dismissed in the first half at Molineux after VAR advised referee Paul Tierney to review an incident involving Tolu Arokodare. The Sunderland defender was judged to have pulled the Wolves striker’s hair, leaving the Black Cats to play the majority of the game with 10 men following the sending off.

The incident has prompted further debate around the interpretation of violent conduct, with Lisandro Martinez and Michael Keane both sent off for similar offences in the Premier League this season. Keane’s appeal was rejected after an incident involving the same Wolves forward, Tolu Arokodare. However, questions over consistency remain after officials missed a clear hair-pull by Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Marc Cucurella during the FA Cup semi-final.

Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett argued that PGMOL should revisit the issue in the summer and provide clearer guidance. “I think, in football, we should use the word violent sparingly,” Hackett said. “This is not violent. Violence is where, if there’s a ponytail on the player and there’s a real yank back, the neck goes, and the body falls over.

“I think that they’re at the opening end of an extreme in terms of seeing this as a red card. Like any law, if the PGMOL are going to interpret this as a red card and an act of violent conduct, then they have to deliver consistency with it. I think this is one that needs to be discussed in the summer. We’ve almost seen where the hand is just brushing the player, and that’s been interpreted as a sending-off offence.

“Once we had the first incident where a referee dismissed a player for a hair pull, that’s the point at which the coaching management within each club should have stood up in front of the players and said: ‘Guys, do not get anywhere near the hair of an opponent because it can be interpreted by the referee as a dismissal.’

“So at the moment, PGMOL have declared that this act of holding hair is a violent act. I think it’s in the extreme at the moment. It’s in the extreme, and it’s inconsistent. If they come out again and reinforce that any contact with the hair, with the hand, is a red card offence, clarify that to the fans, clarify that to every member of the staff in clubs, and then the clubs to tell the players.”

The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.

Ballard is now expected to miss Sunderland’s final three games of the season against Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea through suspension. The Black Cats could appeal, but a successful challenge appears unlikely given similar cases have already failed this campaign. Règis Le Bris’ side sit 12th in the Premier League table on 47 points from 35 games after the 1-1 draw at Wolves. The Wearsiders side are mathematically safe and four points adrift of the European places with three matches left to play.

Your next Sunderland read: James Copley: Sunderland favourite nearing exit after Wolves – and it feels like a real shame