Bad ref decisions - for and against - season 2025/26

[pfim]

But everywhere pulling someone's hair is deemed a violent act.

In football, raise your hands above the neck of another opponent is gonna lead to trouble

Not according to the direction given by the PL.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

Do you? Why does clenching your fists give you maximum lift off? Why does he only clench his fist in mid air? Why does he only clench the fist that happens to be wrapped around the oppo's hair?

Momentum Dave. You can't jump without natural clenching your hands and using your arms especially if you're jumping above an object or person. I played Sunday League and Keanes jump was what I've seen many times in games and no way would he whilst jumping have in his thoughts to pull the opponents hair during that process. And let's face it Keane is hardly renowned for the 'dark arts' of the game so even if I'm wrong about the momentum thing it's totally out of character for Keane to be doing that (Tarkowski on the other hand!) The reality is its a joke of a sending off especially considering how the Wolves players tackle on Armstrong was allowed to go unpunished which was far far worse regarding 'violent' conduct (not that I think that was a red card either as I prefer matches to be played 11 vs 11)

 

[allen]

Referee is to be suspended apparently. And yet he gets the blame for not challenging the idiots on VAR.

Is there a non-Facebook source for this?

 

[HKContractDave]

Referee is to be suspended apparently. And yet he gets the blame for not challenging the idiots on VAR.

Where is this from please? Can't find it yet

 

[Lanolin]

How do you "accidentally" tighten your fist tight enough to pull someones hair, while in mid air fighting for a ball?

I think there's an issue with semantics here. Perhaps 'accidentally' isn't the right word, maybe 'absent mindedly' or 'without malice' would be a better fit, but the same principle applies. The core point is that I don't believe Keane made a conscious decision to grab the hair specifically, I think he just went to grab what was in front of him as players invariably do in these situations, and in this case it was Tolu's hair. As i've said a few times, I obviously can't know that, it's just what it looks like to me. Even if he did mean to do it though, I still just don't think that should be a red card. There doesn't appear to be excessive force used, I struggle to see how that little tug on the hair is inherently more dangerous or violent than pulling the shirt so that it tightens at the neck, or clattering an arm into someone's face, or pinching the skin, or putting your entire weight on a players shoulders to lever yourself over them, or any number of other things which happen in every game at every level. I think the guidance was introduced to prevent situations like the Cucurella one where pulling the hair is a standalone act of off the ball aggression, not so that you got sent off and banned for 3 games for a minor infraction while playing the ball. Is it a foul? Yes. A red card though? Not for me, not at all.

That usually result in red cards

No I assume they mean like if you just slide tackle someone you don't know in a supermarket it would be deemed violent, but on a football field it's something you're actively encouraged to do. It's not a hugely complex thing to understand, for anyone who actually wants to.

 

[Bwana]

Referee is to be suspended apparently. And yet he gets the blame for not challenging the idiots on VAR.

This. He did fairly ok until VAR intervened (there was that booking for Wolves keeper which was a bit iffy). Those clowns in Stockley Park will just smirk and carry on.

 

[RD2910]

Not according to the direction given by the PL.

Have you got the current direction out of interest? I've only seen the PL's 2024/25 handbook.

 

[Telford-Feb-85]

Its hard not to think there is a conspiracy when you look at last night, the hand ball penalties, the KDH quick free kick booking and all the rest.

 

[kenada_blue]

I think there's an issue with semantics here. Perhaps 'accidentally' isn't the right word, maybe 'absent mindedly' or 'without malice' would be a better fit, but the same principle applies. The core point is that I don't believe Keane made a conscious decision to grab the hair specifically, I think he just went to grab what was in front of him as players invariably do in these situations, and in this case it was Tolu's hair. As i've said a few times, I obviously can't know that, it's just what it looks like to me. Even if he did mean to do it though, I still just don't think that should be a red card. There doesn't appear to be excessive force used, I struggle to see how that little tug on the hair is inherently more dangerous or violent than pulling the shirt so that it tightens at the neck, or clattering an arm into someone's face, or pinching the skin, or putting your entire weight on a players shoulders to lever yourself over them, or any number of other things which happen in every game at every level. I think the guidance was introduced to prevent situations like the Cucurella one where pulling the hair is a standalone act of off the ball aggression, not so that you got sent off and banned for 3 games for a minor infraction while playing the ball. Is it a foul? Yes. A red card though? Not for me, not at all.

No I assume they mean like if you just slide tackle someone you don't know in a supermarket it would be deemed violent, but on a football field it's something you're actively encouraged to do. It's not a hugely complex thing to understand, for anyone who actually wants to.

No ones expected to get their hair pulled on a football field

 

[kenada_blue]

Not according to the direction given by the PL.

So you're defending hair pulling of any kind due to the context of which it happens?

Doesn't work like that. If it did, we'd be appealing the decision. Are we?

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

No ones expected to get their hair pulled on a football field

Yeah, but accidents happen. It's a contact sport. There's a difference if there is malicious intent, but this is clearly accidental.

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

So you're defending hair pulling of any kind due to the context of which it happens?

Of course not - that's why we need the referee to, you know, use common sense.

 

[MACCA75]

No ones expected to get their hair pulled on a football field

Blimey he pulled his hair, he didn’t burn his house down. It’s a very soft red. They need to put it specifically in the rules to clear it up.

 

[IrishBlue2022]

I have seen more violent hair pulls on the old channel 5 late night soft core erotica films.

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

We should not need to appeal this decision. Given this was given for violent conduct, and seems to actually have been given in spite of the actual rules, it should be expunged by the officials.