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Analysis: Ballard red inevitable after previous incidents
TL;DR
Dan Ballard received a red card after a VAR check confirmed he pulled an opponent's hair during the match. This decision aligns with the season's guidance that hair pulling warrants dismissal.
Key points
- Dan Ballard received a red card during a match
- The red card was due to a hair pull confirmed by VAR
- Season guidance states hair pulling results in dismissal
Dan Ballard
[Getty Images]
It was not immediately clear what the first-half video assistant referee (VAR) check for violent conduct was for.
Once it was established the officials were looking at a hair pull by Dan Ballard then a red card was the only outcome if he was guilty.
The guidance to clubs at the start of the season was very clear, pulling an opponents' hair would be considered a dismissal.
Whether Ballard's actions could be called violent conduct may still be up for debate, but referee Paul Tierney followed the letter of the law.
Previous incidents in the Premier League this season have included Michael Keane - also sent off for tugging Tolu Arokodare's hair - and Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez for a hair pull on Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Everton and Manchester United both failed in their appeals to get the red cards overturned so it would be expected Ballard and Sunderland will also be unsuccessful.
A three-game ban would end the defender's season and leave Sunderland further frustrated as they missed the chance to jump into the middle of the fight for Europe.
As it is they remain on the fringes.
Q&A
Why was Dan Ballard shown a red card?
Dan Ballard was shown a red card for pulling an opponent's hair, which was confirmed by a VAR check.
What does the season's guidance say about hair pulling in soccer?
The season's guidance clearly states that pulling an opponent's hair is grounds for a red card dismissal.
What incident led to the VAR check for Ballard's red card?
The VAR check was initiated to review a potential violent conduct incident involving Dan Ballard's hair pull.