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Ballard

I'd suggest an addition to the rules of the game. Long hair should be secured so that it doesn't cover any part of the players kit during play. Failure to do so will result in a yellow card.

A very very harsh red for DB today, ultimately cost us the game, and in turn could cost us places galore in light of that and the impending ban.
 

So accidentally grabbing a dreadlock is violent conduct, a red card and a 3 match ban, yet if Ballard smashed him straight in the face with an accidental elbow he would get nothing. Impressive how they have managed to make a complete mess of this law.
 
So accidentally grabbing a dreadlock is violent conduct, a red card and a 3 match ban, yet if Ballard smashed him straight in the face with an accidental elbow he would get nothing. Impressive how they have managed to make a complete mess of this law.
That's not correct. Smashing someone in the face with an accidental elbow comes under the definition of serious foul play as it is reckless and endangers the safety of an opponent. Intent is not a necessary condition to be considered serious foul play. The penalty for serious foul play is a red card.
 
I know this is radical as a solution but don’t try to pull the shirt in the first place. I’m a defender and hate it when my shirt is pulled and I can honestly say I have never pulled a shirt. Everyone is saying he just went for his shirt when that is an offence anyway. I know they all do it but it’s like saying he didn’t mean to kick him in the knee he just wanted to kick his leg. Tin hat at the ready
 
I know this is radical as a solution but don’t try to pull the shirt in the first place. I’m a defender and hate it when my shirt is pulled and I can honestly say I have never pulled a shirt. Everyone is saying he just went for his shirt when that is an offence anyway. I know they all do it but it’s like saying he didn’t mean to kick him in the knee he just wanted to kick his leg. Tin hat at the ready

Not as easy as that at this level when you have strikers who are units backing into you. You have to get physical back with them.

Look at Haaland and Gabriel last week. He ripped Haaland's shirt off his back. It's all well and good saying not to pull and tug...but by not doing so, you will be coming off second best and losing a load of duels.
 
I know this is radical as a solution but don’t try to pull the shirt in the first place. I’m a defender and hate it when my shirt is pulled and I can honestly say I have never pulled a shirt. Everyone is saying he just went for his shirt when that is an offence anyway. I know they all do it but it’s like saying he didn’t mean to kick him in the knee he just wanted to kick his leg. Tin hat at the ready
Shirt pulling is party of the game now, it’s a fine line of whether you get away with it.
 
It’s so disappointing to see so many Sunderland fans laying into Ballard. Firstly, this man has enough money in the bank to make 1000 mistakes, but secondly any Sunderland fan worth their salt knows Ballard’s character and atty so there should be no debate that he would never purposefully pull the hair of an opponent. It’s so clear and obvious he was just grappling with his opponent which we love to see week in week out.
 
If these players are so bothered about getting their hair pulled then tie it up. It’s time defenders started complaining about its lashing them in the face and eyes like a cat of nine tails
 
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