Does Keane deserve a three-match ban after hair pull red card?

Everton's Michael Keane will be banned for three games after being sent off for pulling the hair of Wolves' Tolu Arokodare in Wednesday's 1-1 draw.

It is not a flying, studs-up challenge yet Keane faces the same suspension. Does the punishment fit the crime?

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The central defender will miss the FA Cup tie with Sunderland, plus Premier League games against Aston Villa and Leeds.

While hair pulling is not specifically mentioned in the Laws of the Game it is categorised as violent conduct. That is because it cannot be considered something you would do when challenging for the ball.

Think of it this way: the hair is attached to the scalp so if the head is pulled back it is seen as evidence of force or brutality.

Manager David Moyes excused it by saying: "If you have longer hair, then there's a fair chance you'll get it pulled." But if you don't pull the hair, there is no chance you will get sent off.

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It has become far more prevalent with the advent of the video assistant referee (VAR) because it usually happens off the ball.

At the start of 2023-24, Tottenham's Cristian Romero wrongly escaped a VAR red card after pulling the hair of Chelsea's Marc Cucurella. That was a reference point for the future.

Southampton's Jack Stephens was dismissed for doing it to Cucurella as was Paris St-Germain's Joao Neves at the Club World Cup.

At the women's Euros, Germany's Kathrin Hendrich looked shocked after she was sent off for pulling the hair of France's Griedge Mbock.

But interpretations can change. David Beckham saw red at the 1998 World Cup after a little kick at Diego Simeone. Today, the England midfielder would not be dismissed as it is now considered petulant.

Perhaps Keane's offence falls into the same kind of bracket, as it does not seem as bad as Stephens, Neves or Hendrich.

Three games seems excessive.