Lisandro Martinez’s sending off has been the biggest topic of conversation around Manchester United after the loss to Leeds United on Monday.
It was a disappointing night for Manchester United, made worse by Lisandro Martinez’s red card for slightly grabbing Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair.
The performance of the referee in United’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds was a big talking point, with Martinez’s red card sparking outrage among the fanbase.
Michael Carrick was furious with the referee, slamming the red card decision and questioning a decision at the other end.
Now, United fans on TalkingPoints have been sharing their thoughts, and they are divided.
Lisandro Martinez has been SENT OFF for a hair pull – Let us know your thoughts…
It was described as 'violent conduct'
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Manchester United fans split over Lisandro Martinez’s red
The decision to send Martinez off was so quick that you would have assumed he had pulled Calvert-Lewin to the ground by his hair, but on replay, it was clear that it was less of a pull and more of an accidental touch.
Rio Ferdinand has demanded that the PGMOL explain the decision, adding to the outcry about the decision.
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United fans were also up in arms.
“Ridiculous decision. Football without common sense from officials can be really hard to watch”, one supporter wrote.
While a second added, “‘Violent conduct’ your joking, I walked into the room while var were checking & thought they were viewing the hand on the neck of martinez! Pushing players off the pitch, hands in the face, and elbows are violent conduct…”
A third said, “The Leeds player had both hands on Martinez neck at the time of the girly hair pull.”
While a fourth had a solution, “Anyone with long hair should wear a hairnet, to stop anyone grabbing their hair.”
Another claimed it was a soft decision, while one fan compared it to other hair-pulling events to prove it wasn’t a pull.
But not all the United supporters agreed, with some admitting it was a red, but questioning the implementation of the rules.
One fan argued it was a frustrating red card, “That is the rule. But should it include things like that, where he may not even actually touch his hair? No.”
A second said, “Look, I get it. It is a red card, no doubt, really. But it just seems so excessively harsh.”
“End of the day? Pulling hair isn’t playing the ball, and it’s inherently an aggressive/violent act. Red, all day”, a third added.
With six games remaining, where do you now think Man Utd will finish?
Michael Carrick watching his Man Utd side play Leeds
Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
Marouane Fellaini set the standard for what should constitute a hair pull
While United are likely to try to appeal Martinez’s sending off, the precedent for a hair pull should be so much higher.
Such was the case when Marouane Fellaini pulled Matteo Guendouzi’s hair in 2018, a clear yank to the Arsenal midfielder, which was absent in Martinez’s sending off.
Calvert-Lewin’s hair went through Martinez’s fingers, which means there couldn’t have been a pull or even a grab.
It was incredibly harsh, and United should be demanding better officiating from the league as this is unacceptable.
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