Premier League referees will change how they judge hair-pulling next season, after three players were sent off for the offence in 2025-26.
While each of those reds followed a VAR review, from next season a hair pull will not automatically result in a dismissal.
Instead, officials will place greater weight on the level of force and the player’s intent.
Referees will be instructed to punish only when there is a clear, intentional act involving excessive force or brutality.
The adjustment is meant to allow more leeway when a player inadvertently grabs an opponent’s hair.
Officials will also be asked to crack down on grappling and holding in the box, which has become common at corners and set pieces.
They will focus on holding that clearly affects play in a material way.
This includes incidents where a player is plainly focused on the opponent and engages in a holding action.
A fix to curb goalkeepers’ “tactical timeouts” is also set to be introduced.
Managers use this ploy to pass on new instructions or to disrupt the opponent’s momentum.
Typically, the goalkeeper sits down to summon the physio while teammates head to the technical area for a team talk.
The Premier League is working on a solution ahead of the new season, alongside a new law targeting general goalkeeper time-wasting.
If a keeper delays a goal-kick, the referee can start a five-second countdown; if it expires, the opposition will be awarded a corner.
The measures were agreed at the Premier League AGM earlier this month.