Pundits slam controversial Lisandro Martinez red card after hair pull in Man Utd loss

Pundits have questioned the controversial decision to send Lisandro Martinez off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin ’s hair during Manchester United’s dismal Premier League defeat to rivals Leeds . Martinez jumped for a header with the Leeds striker and grabbed onto Calvert-Lewin’s ponytail on the way down, something that was missed by referee Paul Tierney but picked up on by VAR. Tierney was promptly advised to go to the monitor for an on-field review and sent off the Argentinian for violent conduct.

"Martinez is looking perplexed and confused. But a hair-pull results in a red card these days. He knew what he was doing,” said Gary Neville on Sky Sports commentary.

However, Michael Carrick slammed the decision after the final whistle as “shocking” and “one of the worst” he had ever seen. Lisandro Martinez heads down the tunnel after being sent off against Leeds (AP) While Calvert-Lewin, who complained to the referee that his hair had been tugged, tried getting out of the firing line by saying “I don't make the rules”, Carrick’s outrage has been backed as warranted by the likes of Jamie Carragher on Roy Keane. "I can see it from both sides and when you class it as violent conduct, it feels really harsh,” Keane said on Sky Sports.

"But we've seen other players getting sent off. It is harsh but if that's the laws of the game, then you have to accept it. " Carragher then debated whether any fan at home would have watched the incident in real time and thought it was a sending off.