Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michael Carrick (inset), next to Simon Jordan
Credit: Imago and talkSPORT
Richie Mills
Wed 15 April 2026 9:10, UK
Simon Jordan says Michael Carrick’s complaints about Lisandro Martinez’s red card deflect away from Manchester United’s shortcomings in their loss to Leeds United.
In the wake of Leeds’ 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Monday, Carrick was up in arms about referee Paul Tierney’s decision to send off Martinez after the defender pulled the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The home side were two down at that point after a first-half double from Noah Okafor, something former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan was quick to point out.
After the match, Carrick said: “That decision was one of the worst I’ve ever seen. He [Calvert-Lewin] can throw his arms in Licha’s [Martinez’s] face – and then he’s sent off. Shocking.”
Following Leeds’ crucial win over their rivals, many with an affinity to the Red Devils have criticised the decision to dismiss Martinez, but Jordan said the rules are simple and the right call was made.
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Michael Carrick should focus on why Leeds outplayed Man Utd
According to Jordan, Carrick’s fury was misdirected.
Instead, he should be focusing more on why Leeds dominated United in the first half, with Daniel Farke‘s side unlucky not to be several goals to the good at the break.
Indeed, according to Opta’s Jonny Cooper, Leeds became just the second visiting team since 2008-09 that had more than five shots on target, more than 10 shots, and more than 20 touches in the opposition box in the first half at Old Trafford.
Manchester United Leeds United
Possession: 52.7% 47.3%
Expected Goals: 1.31 2.37
Touches in opposition box: 36 32
Distance covered: 110.22km 117.2km
Instead, the former Middlesbrough manager criticised the refereeing, with the ex-United player also believing that Okafor’s opener should have been ruled out for a foul on Leny Yoro from Calvert-Lewin.
Casemiro pulled a goal back in the second half, but Leeds held on for a famous win that took them six points clear of the bottom three.
But after the match, Carrick mainly spoke about how the red card decision was wrong.
Incidentally, hair pulling is not specifically mentioned in IFAB Law 12; however, it does fall under the umbrella of violent conduct. This is because the hair is attached to the scalp, so if the head is pulled back, that is seen as evidence of force or brutality. And as Jordan pointed out, rules are rules.
He said on talkSPORT: “You’ve got to have something to deflect away from the shortcomings of your side. But don’t pull his hair, then.
✅ "The rules are clear!"
🤷♂️ "You don't pull someone's hair, it's really simple!"
Simon Jordan insists it was correct to send off #MUFC's Martinez for pulling the hair of #LUFC's Calvert-Lewin! 🟥 pic.twitter.com/bdC4L00KI1
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 14, 2026
View Tweet
“Don’t pull his hair, don’t pull his shirt, don’t pull his hair. So you got sent off, the rules are clear. Because the referee missed it at high speed, that VAR intervened because it saw something that the referee missed.
“And Michael Carrick might not like it, but your team were already getting their backside spanked at the time anyway.”
Leeds have huge Premier League survival opportunity
Not many Leeds fans would have predicted a win at Old Trafford on Monday. After all, their last win in the league at this ground came way back in 1981.
Now that they have vanquished their old foes, attention has to turn to beating basement side Wolves at Elland Road on Saturday.
Wolves will want a response after losing 4-0 to West Ham last Friday, but this is a game Leeds are favourites to win.
Predicted Leeds lineup vs Wolves.
Credit: Breaking Media
Farke is likely to name an unchanged side to the one that beat Man United, with Leeds fans hopeful they have enough time to recover from their Monday exploits and claim all three points.
Further games against lowly Burnley, Tottenham and West Ham lie ahead, too.
Victory over Wolves could take Leeds nine points clear of the relegation zone with five matches remaining ahead of their rivals playing.
But if they fail to win, that could take the shine off their United triumph.