Why Jack Stephens Was Sent Off for Pulling Marc Cucurella’s Hair — 2 Years After the Romero Incident

Southampton faced a major setback as the first half of their Premier League clash with Chelsea ended with a player sent off.

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Stephens Sees Red for Hair-Pulling

Jack Stephens received his marching orders after a VAR review revealed him tugging on Marc Cucurella’s hair during a corner attempt. This decision left Southampton a man down as they faced Chelsea’s relentless attack.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Cucurella’s iconic curly locks have caused a stir on the pitch. However, it is the first instance during his Chelsea tenure where such an act resulted in a red card.

A Flashback to Cristian Romero’s Escape

Back in August 2022, a similar incident saw Tottenham’s Cristian Romero pulling Cucurella’s hair, but he escaped punishment. What made it even more controversial was the fact that referee Anthony Taylor, who was perfectly positioned to spot the foul, chose not to act.

Adding to Chelsea’s misery, Tottenham capitalized on the moment, scoring a dramatic 96th-minute equalizer. For Blues fans, it felt like rubbing salt in an already gaping wound.

Mike Dean’s Admission a Year Later

A year after the Romero incident, Mike Dean, the VAR official during that match, confessed to not sending Taylor to the monitor. His reasoning? He didn’t want to embarrass his “mate.” Ironically, both Taylor and Dean faced heavy criticism, leaving them equally red-faced in the aftermath.