Next season, Premier League referees will modify their approach to hair pulling after three players received red cards for the offense in the 2025-26 season. This decision comes after feedback from the game improvement advisory board during the recent Premier League AGM.

Key changes include:

• Greater emphasis on grappling and holding during corners and set-pieces.
• Introduction of measures to combat the goalkeeper's "tactical timeout" strategy, which has drawn criticism for disrupting gameplay.

The three red cards issued for hair pulling—Everton's Michael Keane, Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez, and Sunderland's Dan Ballard—were all a result of VAR reviews, leading to significant backlash from their respective managers. United's manager, Michael Carrick, labeled the decision as one of the worst he had witnessed, though an appeal to overturn the three-match ban was unsuccessful.

Under the new rules, not every instance of hair pulling will result in a red card. Referees will now assess the level of force and intent behind the action. For instance:

• Keane's actions may still warrant a red card for violent conduct.
• Ballard and Dacres-Cogley's incidents could now be seen as yellow-card offenses.

The adjustments also aim to provide players more leniency in accidental situations while maintaining a strict view on excessive force. The changes stem from the results of an annual survey involving players, coaches, and stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of adapting officiating standards.

Additional concerns, such as goalkeeper time-wasting, will also be addressed with new regulations allowing referees to implement a five-second countdown for goal-kick restarts.

Overall, the Premier League is striving to enhance the game while balancing fair play and officiating consistency.