Cucurella warns referees after Vinícius red card for hair-pulling incident
Marc Cucurella urged officials to maintain consistency after Vinícius Júnior was sent off for pulling William Saliba's hair.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
Defender Marc Cucurella took the opportunity to send a clear message to the fourth official following the dismissal of Vinícius Júnior. The Real Madrid forward was shown a red card for grabbing William Saliba by the hair, an incident that sparked significant debate regarding officiating standards.
I hope that if they pull my hair, you show them a red card. You go to the VAR. Marc Cucurella
Cucurella, known for his distinctive hairstyle, insisted on consistency from the officiating team. He emphasized that the VAR should intervene in such incidents, which he believes warrant a direct red card.
The issue is particularly personal for the Spanish defender due to his history in the Premier League. Previously, during a match against Southampton, opponent Jack Stephens received a four-match suspension for pulling Cucurella's hair. This precedent has made the defender especially attentive to how referees handle such provocations on the pitch.