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Top player first to be sent off pitch (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tar

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'pitch' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'top player' is the wordplay.
'top' means to remove the first letter.
'player' becomes 'star' (star is a kind of player).
'star' with its initial letter taken away is 'TAR'.

'first to be sent off' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tar that I've seen before include "one may need to pay on deck" , "Dark viscid substance" , "Pitch; sailor" , "Thick, black and sticky liquid" , "Black viscid substance" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times.
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