The Premier League adopted a tougher rule this season: any intentional hair pulling, even if brief, is considered ‘violent conduct’ and results in a straight red card
In recent days, two completely “off-the-ball” moves led to direct expulsions in high-level games, one in England and the other in Brazil. The cases have reignited the debate about how rigid refereeing should go in modern football.
In England, during the match between Manchester United e LeedsArgentine defender Lisandro Martínez He was sent off after VAR intervention. The reason? A hair pull Dominic Calvert-Lewin during an aerial dispute. The Premier League adopted a tougher rule this season: any intentional hair pulling, even if brief, is considered “violent conduct” and results in a straight red card.
Here in Brazil, the Corinthians experienced a similar situation in less than two weeks. First was the steering wheel Allansent off against Fluminense on April 1st. After, André got a straight red against Palmeiras, on April 12th. In both cases, VAR took action and the referees punished the players with a red card for obscene gesture (hand on genitalia) and serious unsportsmanlike conduct.
The CBF has demonstrated that it is applying greater rigor against any type of provocation of a sexual or vulgar nature. The message seems clear: what used to be treated with tolerance or only resulted in a yellow card can now result in immediate expulsion.
Both in England and Brazil, entities are tightening the game. Actions that until recently went unnoticed or were punished mildly now receive maximum severity treatment.
On one sidepart of the fans and the football community supports the measure, arguing that it is necessary to “clean up” football, reduce provocations and protect the integrity of the sport.
On the other sidemany consider it exaggerated. For them, football is losing its soul by punishing impulsive gestures that are part of the heat of the dispute.
In the end, both Lisandro Martínez’s hair pulling and the obscene gestures at the Brasileirão became symbols of a new reality: football in 2026 is more supervised, more regulated and less tolerant of any type of unsportsmanlike conduct.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
