Manchester United's head coach, Michael Carrick, lambasted the 'shocking' decision to send off Lisandro Martinez, labeling it as 'one of the worst' refereeing calls he has ever seen. The incident occurred during the team's 2-1 defeat to Leeds, with Martinez receiving a red card for a fleeting hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Argentine defender was left perplexed as he exited the pitch, having been engaged in a physical struggle with Calvert-Lewin at the time of the incident. Carrick expressed his outrage, stating that the brief and unintentional contact did not warrant such a harsh punishment.
The decision has sparked controversy, with some pundits, including Jamie Carragher, sympathizing with Carrick's viewpoint. Martinez now faces a three-match ban, further exacerbating the situation for Manchester United. The team found themselves trailing 2-0 at halftime, courtesy of a Noah Okafor double, and Carrick's frustration was compounded by the decision to allow the opening goal to stand despite Calvert-Lewin's forearm smash to defender Leny Yoro's face in the build-up. The incident has reignited debates about the consistency of refereeing decisions, with Carragher arguing that the guidance in the Premier League handbook does not apply to situations like Martinez's.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, however, disagreed, believing that Martinez should have been aware of the heightened scrutiny surrounding hair pulls this season and that the decision to send him off was justified.