Hair pulling ought not to be tolerated - FA panel

Hair pulling ought not to be tolerated - FA panelImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, After serving his three match ban, Lisandro Martinez (right) could return for Manchester United on 9 May against Sunderland ByLorraine McKennaBBC Sport journalistPublished3 minutes agoA Football Association disciplinary panel has said hair pulling "ought not to be tolerated" in its reasons for upholding a three-game ban for Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.The independent regulatory commission rejected the club's appeal against the punishment and sending off, for pulling the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin during a game.Martinez, 28, was given a straight red card for violent conduct during the 2-1 defeat by Leeds at Old Trafford, after referee Paul Tierney was instructed to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR). In a written report, the panel said it accepted other forms of violent conduct "carry a much higher risk of harm to an opponent".But it stressed: "In the wider interests of football 'hair pulling' ought not to be tolerated and should be discouraged through consistent punishment." United manager Michael Carrick called the decision earlier this month "one of the worst" he has seen. Man Utd's Martinez missing again Published6 days agoCarrick says Martinez hair-pull red card 'one of worst decisions I've seen'Published13 AprilShould hair pulling be violent conduct?Published14 AprilArgentina international Martinez missed the away win against Chelsea last weekend and will also sit out of the home games with Brentford on 27 April and Liverpool on 3 May. While hair pulling is not specifically mentioned in the Laws of the Game, it is categorised as 'violent conduct' because it cannot be considered as something you would legitimately do when challenging for the ball.United were trailing 2-0 in the second half when Martinez tried t...