Antigua and Barbuda finish with nine men after two red cards for pulling Aedan Scipio's dreadlocks

Antigua and Barbuda finished their Concacaf Nations League match against Anguilla with nine players after two of their team were sent off for pulling the dreadlocks of Anguilla substitute Aedan Scipio at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Scipio, whose hair reaches his ankles and is tied around his waist, came on in the 69th minute with Anguilla already 5-0 down. Within three minutes, Keon Greene was shown a straight red card for tugging the forward's hair. The punishment continued in added time when Shalon Knight pulled Scipio's dreadlocks from behind, taking him off his feet and reducing Antigua and Barbuda to nine men.

The unusual dismissals were the defining moments of a game already decided by Antigua and Barbuda's five-goal lead. Anguilla are 210th in Fifa's international rankings, with only San Marino below them, so the scoreline reflected the gap between the sides.

Supporters reacted with a mixture of amusement and disbelief at the sight of two red cards for hair-pulling in the same match. Some questioned how opponents could resort to such tactics against a player whose most distinctive feature is also an easy target. Others pointed out that Scipio's introduction changed the game's discipline even though the result was no longer in doubt. The incidents also revived discussion about whether pulling an opponent's hair should always be treated as violent conduct, a view supported by the straight red cards.

The result leaves Anguilla still searching for a first competitive point, while Antigua and Barbuda will be without two players for their next outing. Scipio, who wears a band to keep his dreadlocks close to his body, has become an unexpected focal point of the group after a brief substitute appearance. The match will be remembered less for the score and more for the bizarre manner in which it ended.

Source: BBC Sport

Image: Concacaf / BBC Sport