Córdoba’s Diego Percan has expressed his frustration after being sent off for a hair pull on Granada’s Izan González, taking to Instagram to justify his actions and criticize the current rulebook.
The incident occurred during Córdoba’s 1-0 victory over Granada in the Andalusian derby, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about moments of the match. Percan was shown a red card for grabbing González’s hair, a decision that left the Córdoba player visibly upset.
After the game, Percan shared a story on Instagram defending his actions. “Regarding what happened in today’s match, at no point did I intend to grab the Granada player by the hair, especially knowing what was at stake. What we could do is change the rule and require players to tie their hair back, because now an attempted grab is considered an assault,” the white-and-green player wrote.
Similar incidents have occurred in recent football history. In the Women’s Champions League semifinal between Bayern Munich and Barcelona, Bayern’s Kett was sent off in the 80th minute for pulling Salma Paralluelo’s hair. The action required a VAR review before the referee showed the red card.
Another notable case was Calvert-Lewin’s hair pull on Marc Cucurella, though that action did not receive the same punishment as the two previous incidents.
Percan’s dismissal has sparked debate about how such actions are penalized, especially when intent is unclear. The player’s social media post highlights the growing controversy around physical contact in football and the need for clearer regulations.