The Leeds forward responded after revealing what he told the referee
James Smailes Head of All Out Rugby League and Yorkshire sport at Reach plc
07:00, 14 Apr 2026
Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United has a shot while under pressure from Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United has a shot while under pressure from Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
Leeds United forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin said "I don't make the rules" after revealing he had alerted the referee to his hair being pulled by Lisandro Martinez. The Manchester United man was shown a red card for the incident and now faces a three-match ban.
Martinez was sent off in the second half with Leeds two goals ahead at the time thanks to a Noah Okafor first-half double. The Man Utd defender tussled for the ball with Calvert-Lewin, grabbing hold of the England striker's hair during the clash.
VAR intervened and after referee Paul Tierney consulted the pitch-side monitor he showed a red card to Martinez.
Calvert-Lewin was asked by Sky Sports after the game whether he felt the red card was fair, responding: "I don't know, I don't make the rules. I felt my hair get pulled and obviously I told the ref, he's the one that makes the decisions, at the end of the day. Unfortunate for him [Martinez], whether he's meant it or not, I don't hold no grudges, but it is what it is."
Man United manager Michael Carrick called the decision to send Martinez off one of the worst he's seen, with the hosts not happy with the decision.
As often can be the case, the decision lifted the home team and Leeds found it tougher against 10-men as the hosts rallied. Casemiro pulled a goal back and he very nearly doubled his account to earn a point for United, only for Calvert-Lewin to head his effort off the line.
Speaking of his key goal-line clearance, Calvert-Lewin added; "I was just in the moment, just switched on and engaged, waiting for the ball to come in and doing my job.
"Thankfully I was there this time to clear the ball off the line and arguably make up for the ones I should have put away at the other end."
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