- VAR sends Ballard off for hair pull at Molineux
- Le Bris: ‘Hard to digest’ as manager calls for rule clarity
- Sunderland say ban is harsh and season could be over for defender
Wolves held Sunderland to a 1-1 draw at Molineux on Saturday and an incident involving Dan Ballard and Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare overshadowed the result.
The situation reduced the visitors to 10 men, but Sunderland managed to retain their lead until half-time.
However, they could not stop Wolves from equalizing early in the second half. The goal was a near-carbon copy of Sunderland’s opener.
The draw has left the Black Cats 12th in the Premier League table, with their Conference League ambition fading in a matter of weeks.
VAR sends Ballard off for hair pull at Molineux
According to Sunderland Echo, the club have submitted an appeal. which concerns Dan Ballard’s red card and the resulting match ban.
The Black Cats led 1-0 when referee Paul Tierney was advised by VAR officials to check the pitchside monitor in the 24th minute.
Tierney ruled that Ballard had clearly pulled the hair of Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare, resulting in the sending off of the Sunderland defender.
The incident happened during an aerial duel, where Arokodare, at 1.9m and one of the league’s most physical forwards, challenged 1.88m-tall Ballard.
Sunderland argue the hair contact was accidental. They say it happened during a normal physical battle.
Many Premier League fans believe Tierney should have been lenient and shown a yellow card instead. For now, the 26-year-old must serve the suspension as the club works to overturn the decision.
Le Bris: ‘Hard to digest’ as manager calls for rule clarity
For Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris, it was a difficult moment. He said the club would consider an appeal, calling the three-game ban harsh.
“We don’t want to be controversial,” Le Bris said. “We are here to help the game.
“Football is football. The rules must keep it clean for the players.
“When it’s not intentional, it’s an accident. It’s hard to enforce the rules as if it were intentional.
“Paul Tierney is a great referee. But the execution of the rule is hard.
“It’s really hard to digest. I don’t think it was intentional violent conduct. It was a duel in the air.”
He added: “Players duel twenty times in a game. Many things can happen.
“If that’s the rule, you can’t defend against a striker with long hair.”
Sunderland say ban is harsh and season could be over for defender
Ballard now faces a three-game suspension for violent conduct. Since there are only three Premier League fixtures remain this season, the ban would likely end his campaign.
Meanwhile, Sunderland insist the act was unintentional. They also claim Ballard is not guilty of violent conduct.
The club have now formally lodged an appeal with the FA. This came after they considered their legal options on Monday.
An independent FA panel will review the case. The panel can overturn the red card entirely. It can also uphold the decision but reduce the ban if it’s deemed excessive. Or it can extend the ban if it rules the appeal is frivolous
What’s next for Sunderland and Dan Ballard?
Sunderland will now focus on the appeal and they want the independent FA panel to rescind Dan’s red card.
At minimum, a reduction of his three-match ban has been demanded. This would allow the centre-back to finish the 2025/26 season.
Ballard has been one of Sunderland’s standout performers this season, clocking 2,148 minutes.
He has won 168 duels, made 33 tackles, 20 interceptions and 24 blocks.
Ballard’s absence would be a major loss for Sunderland as the North East club now face a tough run-in.
They travel to Everton, before hosting Manchester United and Chelsea to close out the season.
