Lisandro Martinez was shown a controversial red card against Leeds with Manchester United handed a new referee verdict on the decision
Lisandro Martinez during a Manchester United game
Lisandro Martinez was sent off for Man United during the defeat to Leeds(Image: Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Former Premier League Dermot Gallagher has explained why Manchester United star Lisandro Martinez was right to be sent off against Leeds United. The Argentine was given his marching orders for pulling the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and he is now expected to miss United's next three games.
The law clearly states that any such offence is considered violent conduct and thus results in a three-match ban. Based on that and Martinez's specific actions in the incident, Gallagher has explained why he and United can have no complaints over the decision.
Speaking to talkSPORT on Monday night, he said: "I think the one with tonight, you may argue that you don't like the law, you don't like the rule, but the referee is hamstrung isn't he?
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"Once you see what he's done...we have seen it this season already with Michael Keane, we saw it last season with Jack Stephens on (Marc) Cucurella. Once somebody grabs a hair, they are just going to get sent off after it is picked up.
"The one thing I would say, you can't blame the referee for this can you? He is hamstrung with what is put in front of him.
"It was interesting when you look at it again because Martinez seems to grab, misses it and then grabs again and I don't think that helps his cause because once you start grabbing twice, it sows that seed of doubt...'hang on, he really means to do this'.
"You don't (want to be put in that position to give a straight red) but once you see it you cannot unsee it. That is what I would say, he doesn't grab once, he grabs twice and I think that is the key issue."
United were two goals down at the time of the sending off and though Casemiro pulled one back with 20 minutes to go, they could not find an equaliser.
Much of the post-match discussion centred around the controversial decision to send Martinez off with many asking for the rules to be changed. Carrick was unsurprisingly furious when asked about the incident after the game.
He said: "A shocking decision to send Licha off. That's two games in a row we've had those decisions go against us, but that one was one of the worst I've seen.
Michael Carrick claps the Manchester United fans
Michael Carrick blasted the Lisandro Martinez red card decision vs Leeds(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
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"That one was one of the worst I've seen. It's not a pull, it's not aggressive, he touches it and gets sent off. Worst of all is he was sent to overturn it as a clear and obvious error. It's shocking.
"Leny Yoro forearm smash in back of his head (for first goal). Don't know how that doesn’t get overturned. Shouldn’t stand."
On the latter incident, he added to Sky Sports "You can elbow Leny Yoro in the side of the head, a leading arm, obviously.
"Then you can throw your arm in Licha's face and as he's off-balance because of that, he half touches the back of his hair which pulls the bobble out and leads it to look like - I don't even know what it looks like."