Manchester United caretaker manager Michael Carrick railed against referee Paul Tierney’s decision to send off Lisandro “Licha” Martinez in the team’s 2-1 loss to Leeds on Monday.
The Argentina centre-back was shown a straight red after a VAR check showed him pulling the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin while jockeying for position awaiting a ball. The red for violent conduct means the already thin United backline will be short another player ahead of a crucial Saturday match with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
“We had some moments, but it wasn’t quite there for the first half,” Carrick said. “The second half the way boys fought after another shocking, shocking decision to send Licha off. It’s two games in a row we’ve had decision like that go against us but that one I have to say is one of the worst I’ve seen.”
Carrick, a former United great himself, questioned the standard of fouls in the match, citing a lack of discipline for what he believed were clear infractions by Calvert-Lewin.
“You can elbow Leny Yoro for the first goal in the side of the head,” Carrick said. “You can throw your arm in Licha’s face and as he’s off-balance because of that he’s half-grappling and came and touches the back of his hair and pulls the bauble 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 worse he was also sent to overturn it. It’s not a clear and obvious error. Shocking.”
United captain Bruno Fernandes, who recorded a league-leading 17th assist on Casemiro’s second-half marker, refused to address the refereeing out of worry of fine or suspension.
“I’m not talking about the referee,” the Portugal midfielder said. “If I talk about the ref, I’m going to get in very big trouble because the rules are different and applied different for everyone. The difference in yellow cards, you can also see it. It’s better that I don’t say anything.”
With the loss, United failed to take advantage of Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City and make up more ground between them and sixth place. United remains third in the table on 55 points, level on points with fourth-place Aston Villa, three clear of Liverpool in fifth and seven up on the Blues in sixth. The top five teams in the Premier League will play in the Champions League next season.