Barcelona legend Carles Puyol was ‘banned’ as pundit thanks to iconic long locks

A row regarding the iconic hairstyle of Barcelona and Spain icon Carles Puyol broke out during the 2018 World Cup after he was 'denied entry' to an Iranian TV studio where he had been booked as a pundit.

However, the broadcaster then hit out at BBC News for spreading the "rumour" despite Puyol being told that he could not appear on the show because of his looks.

The 43-year-old, who has considered one of the best defenders in Europe during his Barcelona heyday, called time on his career back in 2014 before taking up roles in the media around the world.

However, Puyol's 2018 stumbling block made worldwide news, with his scheduled appearance on the coverage of Iran vs Spain on Channel 3 scrapped.

Puyol was said to be 'denied entry' to the IRTV 3 Tehran studio after travelling to the country because his hair was 'too wild'.

Host Adel Ferdosipour then said: "You must be aware that Carles Puyol was scheduled to be with us tonight. However, he is in his hotel right now.

"I did everything I could but it didn't happen. I apologise."

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News outlet Entekhad reported that Puyol said he was told by the state broadcaster IRIB that he couldn't appear on their feed because of his looks, in relation to his long hair.

The Iranian Football Federation's code of conduct, the Charter of Ethics and Behaviour, said at the time that players must not have hairstyles that "spread foreign culture".

However, the deputy chief of IRIB, Morteza Mirbaqeri, hit out by saying that Puyol not being able to appear on the basis of his looks was a "rumour" spread by BBC News.

Before that interview, Puyol hinted that he will end up cutting his hair should his involvement with football come to an end as he gets older.

Puyol said of his hair back in 2014 in a chat with Sport in Spain: "I've had it long since childhood.

"I said that when I leave football cut it, but as I'm still linked in some way, at the moment it's going to stay that way."

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