Edwin van der Sar has pushed back on the decision that Lisandro Martinez deserved to be sent off in Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds United on Monday evening.
Lisandro Martinez had missed the Red Devils’ last five Premier League matches due to a calf injury before the defender finally made his return for Manchester United.
Michael Carrick immediately turned to Martinez for a starting role against Leeds United at Old Trafford amid HarryMaguire‘s suspension for the match.
However, Martinez would be sent off in the second half of Man Utd’s encounter with Leeds after a controversial incident involving England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
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Lisandro Martinez looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport via Getty Images
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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Edwin van der Sar hits out at the red card that Man Utd star Lisandro Martinez received during the Premier League match
Michael Carrick will now be without Lisandro Martinez for three Premier League matches after the controversial Manchester United vs Leeds United incident.
VAR intervened during the contentious moment between Martinez and Dominic Calvert-Lewin and referee Paul Tierney was summoned to review the footage.
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Following his review at the pitchside monitor at Old Trafford, Paul Tierney agreed with VAR and brandished a red card for United and Argentina defender Martinez.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Red Devils legend Edwin van der Sar felt that the sending off of the 28-year-old United centre-back was a “harsh” call.
“Yeah, of course it’s not nice,” he said.
“He can’t do it. He’s really grabbing for it. But I find a red card harsh for it.”
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Edwin van der Sar thinks a yellow card would have been sufficient for Lisandro Martinez in Man Utd’s defeat to Leeds United
United did scare Leeds after being reduced to 10 men at Old Trafford, with Casemiro netting for the Red Devils from a Bruno Fernandes cross in the second half.
However, Noah Okafor’s first-half brace was the difference-maker on Monday evening and sealed all three Premier League points for Leeds against Man Utd.
Van der Sar insisted that Paul Tierney’s decision after the VAR review could have led to a booking, but it should have been a yellow card instead of a red in the match.
“Yeah, for that, like it’s, for me, would be a yellow; it’s probably in the book and everything, the rules, it’s violet conduct, it’s a red card,” he added.
“It’s not nice, but a yellow card is fine.”
Man Utd will now visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening for their Premier League clash against Chelsea after their setback against Leeds at Old Trafford.
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