Carrick Condemns 'Shocking' Red Card for Martinez: 'One of the Worst Decisions I've Ever Seen'

Manchester United's head coach, Michael Carrick, has strongly criticized the decision to send off Lisandro Martinez in the team's 2-1 defeat to Leeds, describing it as 'one of the worst' refereeing decisions he has ever witnessed. Martinez was given a red card after a brief and seemingly unintentional hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, which was spotted by VAR. The incident has sparked a heated debate, with Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher expressing sympathy with Carrick's viewpoint. Martinez's dismissal has resulted in a three-match ban, and Carrick is frustrated that the decision was made despite the referee initially not noticing the incident. He argued that the contact was minimal and not aggressive, stating, 'It's not a pull, it's not a tug, it's not aggressive, he touches it and gets sent off.' Carrick also pointed out that this is the second consecutive game where his team has been affected by a controversial decision. The match saw Manchester United struggle to find their rhythm, conceding two goals in the first half, including a Noah Okafor double. Carrick was further irritated by the decision to allow the opening goal to stand, despite Calvert-Lewin catching defender Leny Yoro in the face with his arm in the build-up. The incident has raised questions about the consistency of refereeing decisions, particularly with regards to hair pulling. According to the 2025-26 Premier League handbook, players can be sent off for 'clearly pulling the hair of an opponent with force.' However, Carragher believes that the decisions to send off Martinez and Everton's Michael Keane earlier in the season were too harsh. He argued that the incidents did not warrant red cards, stating, 'I think he's got it for about half a second. We've looked at the rule, and we all agree with that. But sometimes it's not just about the rule book, it's about what the game wants.' Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville disagreed, feeling that Martinez should have been aware of the potential consequences of hair pulling given the heightened scrutiny this season. The debate highlights the complexities and challenges of making consistent and fair refereeing decisions in high-pressure situations.