PL referees to issue yellow cards for hair pulling after rule change

Referees will now issue yellow cards for hair pulling in the 2026/27 season after a new set of football principles and refereeing points of emphasis were unveiled by the Premier League.

Three players were sent off for pulling hair in the top flight last season, with the act previously viewed as violent conduct after Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) outlined it would be punished as a red card at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.