Dominic Calvert-Lewin escapes punishment for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair as fans make same complaint

Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin avoided punishment after a potential hair pull on Chelsea's Marc Cucurella, just weeks after Lisandro Martinez was sent off for a similar incident.

Earlier this month, Martinez was given his marching orders after it was deemed that he pulled Calvert Lewin's hair during the second-half of Leeds' 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Paul Tierney, who was officiating that day, sent Martinez off for an act of violent conduct, a decision Michael Carrick later described as "one of the worst I've ever seen".

Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, Calvert-Lewin was asked whether he felt the red card was fair.

"I don't know, I don't make the rules," he said. "I felt my hair get pulled and obviously I told the ref, he's the one that makes the decisions, at the end of the day. Unfortunate for him [Martinez], whether he's meant it or not, I don't hold no grudges, but it is what it is."

Almost two weeks later and Calvert-Lewin was the subject of a VAR check for potentially tugging Marc Cucurella's hair during the FA Cup semi-final between Leeds and Chelsea.

VAR checks a potential pull on Marc Cucurella’s hair, but play continues 👀

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 26, 2026

As you can see from the footage above, Calvert-Lewin escaped a red card following the review, but many felt the incident was similar to the one when Martinez was sent off on April 13.

One fan wrote: "The irony of Calvert Lewin not being sent off for a hair pull," and a second commented: "Calvert Lewin should’ve been sent off for a hair pull. When his hair was pulled recently the opposition player was dismissed."

A third said: Reminder that Lisandro Martinez was sent off for “violent conduct” just 13 days ago for touching Calvert-Lewin’s hair bobble… yes that is Calvert-Lewin pulling Cucurella’s hair UNPUNISHED @FA_PGMOL."

A fourth wrote: "Hahahahaha CALVERT-LEWIN of all players has a little tug of hair and he’s not sent off. Correct, it’s not a sending off. And it wasn’t when Martinez saw red! You couldn’t write it."

A fifth added: "Don't want it to be a red and ruin the game but how ironic that it wasn't given as a red but the very similar one on Calvert-Lewin by Martinez was one."

Thoughts on the incident? Let us know in the comments.