Michael Carrick criticises decision to send off Lisandro Martinez: ‘One of the worst I’ve seen’

AFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsPremier Martinez received a red card for pulling the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Monday. Michael Regan/Getty Images Share full article2Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick described the red card shown to Lisandro Martinez against Leeds United on Monday as a “shocking decision”. The defender was sent off in the second half of the 2-1 home defeat after appearing to pull the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. With United 2-0 down in the 55th minute, both players challenged for the ball in the air, with Martinez reaching for Calvert-Lewin’s hair as play progressed into United’s half. Referee Paul Tierney initially allowed play to continue but an on-field review was recommended by video assistant referee (VAR) John Brooks. Tierney stopped the game to view the incident and eventually announced to Old Trafford that Martinez would be shown a red card for violent conduct. Manchester United are down to 10 men. Lisandro Martinez is sent off for violent conduct after being adjudged to have pulled the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin when challenging for a header. The Argentina international looked bemused as he was shown his marching orders. pic.twitter.com/KJFLphBmlO — The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) April 13, 2026 The 28-year-old is now set to serve a three-match suspension. Casemiro scored in the 69th minute to put United back in the game but they were unable to find an equaliser as Leeds moved six points clear of the relegation zone. After the match, Carrick criticised the decision and pointed towards Leeds’ opener, where Calvert-Lewin was not penalised in the build-up despite appearing to leap with his elbow towards United’s Leny Yoro. “We fought for everything and tried to get something out of the game after another shocking, shocking decision to send Licha (Martinez) off,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s two games in a row we’ve had decisions like that go against us, but that one I have to say was one of the worst I’ve seen. “So you can elbow Leny Yoro for the first goal on the side of the head. And then you can throw your arm in Licha’s face, and then as he’s off balance because of that, he’s half-grappling and he kind of touches the back of his hair, which then pulls the bobble out, which then leads to look like… I don’t even know what it looks like. It’s not a pull, it’s not a tug, it’s not aggressive. “He touches it and he gets sent off and worst of all, he (Tierney) was actually sent to overturn it (his decision), clear and obvious errors. Shocking.” In his post-match press conference, Carrick did not confirm whether United would appeal against the decision but described it as “really concerning” and said “we have got to be careful where the game is going”. United captain Bruno Fernandes did not address the incident directly after the game, telling Sky Sports: “If I talk about the referee, I’m going to get in very big trouble because the rules are different for everyone and apply differently for everyone.” United remain third in the Premier League following the loss. It was only their second defeat in 11 games under Carrick, who was appointed in January on a deal until the end of the season following the sacking of Ruben Amorim. Analysis by former Premier League referee Graham Scott There hadn’t really been a high-profile hair-pulling incident in the men’s game until the one involving Marc Cucurella and Cristian Romero in December 2022. Anthony Taylor was the referee that day and Mike Dean the VAR. It was an obvious one and everyone could see it, but Mike chose not to intervene and everyone felt he should have done so. That put the offence on people’s radars and afterwards there was a very clear message given to referees that all hair pulls must be sanctioned with a red card. There was evidence that was the case in January this year when Everton’s Michael Keane was sent off for a hair pull on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Tolu Arokodare. Keane was sent off following a VAR review and Everton were very unhappy about it, but the decision was supported by the Key Match Incidents panel, which reviews major decisions. John Brooks was the VAR at Old Trafford on Monday and he had made 98 VAR calls this season — and every one of them had been reviewed as being correct. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms