Daniel Ballard became the second defender to be sent off for pulling the hair of Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Tolu Arokodare in the Premier League this season, as Sunderland squandered a lead in a 1-1 draw on May 2, Reuters reported.
Everton's Michael Keane received a straight red for the same offence in January, and was a given three-match suspension for violent conduct.
Ballard was holding and pulling a handful of Arokodare's hair as they moved backwards to receive a high ball, until the Nigerian went down, grabbing his head. Referee Paul Tierney sent off Ballard after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.