By WILL PICKWORTH
Published: 16:08 EST, 4 December 2024 | Updated: 16:23 EST, 4 December 2024
Jack Stephens was bizarrely sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair in Southampton's game against Chelsea on Wednesday.
The defender, 30, is Saints' club captain, but endured a disastrous night before he was dismissed after 39 minutes.
Southampton, who were already 3-1 down at the time after two mistakes from their goalkeeper Joe Lumley, were in a dangerous position having won a corner.
However, when referee Tony Harrington wasn't looking, Stephens decided to pull Cucurella's hair.
The Spaniard subsequently fell to the ground, with VAR advising Harrington to go to the screen.
After taking a quick look at a replay of the incident, Harrington had no hesitation in giving Stephens his marching orders in another major blow to Russell Martin's struggling side.
Southampton defender Jack Stephens was bizarrely sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella 's hair
Harrington was sent to the screen and decided to hand Stephens his second red of the season
The Premier League's match centre added further clarity to the decision as they posted on X: '38’ VAR OVERTURN.
'The VAR recommended an on-field review for possible violent conduct for Jack Stephens. The referee then issued a red card.'
The red card was Stephens' second dismissal of the season, with the defender having also been sent off against Manchester United in September.
On that day, he was handed a three-game ban for a high challenge on Alejandro Garnacho.
However, Stephens was later given an additional two-match suspension and a £50,000 fine for using abusive and insulting language towards referee Stuart Attwell and fourth official Gavin Ward.
Discipline continues to be a major problem for the Saints, with Martin's side having received 45 yellow cards and three red cards already this season.
Southampton were trailing at 3-1 at half-time, with Martin's side seven points adrift of safety at the start of the evening.