Manchester United's head coach, Michael Carrick, lambasted the referee's decision to send off Lisandro Martinez, labeling it as 'one of the most appalling' refereeing calls he has ever seen. The incident occurred during United's 2-1 defeat to Leeds, with Martinez receiving a red card for a brief, seemingly unintentional hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Argentine defender was left bewildered as he departed the pitch, and Carrick was incensed by the harsh punishment. 'It's not a pull, it's not aggressive, he merely touches it, and yet he's sent off.
The most egregious aspect is that the referee was instructed to overturn it as a clear and obvious error. It's shocking,' Carrick stated in a post-match interview. He further expressed frustration with the decision, emphasizing that it was not a deliberate or forceful act.
The sending-off has resulted in a three-match ban for Martinez. The incident has sparked debate, with some pundits, including Jamie Carragher, sympathizing with Carrick's perspective, while others, such as Gary Neville, believe the decision was justified given the current scrutiny surrounding hair-pulling incidents in the Premier League.