Carrick Fumes as Martinez Sees Red for Hair-Pull Incident in United Defeat

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick called the decision to send off Lisandro Martinez for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin 'one of the worst decisions I've ever seen' as United fell to a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford.

The Argentine defender was shown a straight red card by referee Paul Tierney in the 56th minute after an off-the-ball incident in which he grabbed the Leeds striker's hair. The dismissal came after VAR instructed Tierney to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, leading to an upgrade from a potential yellow to a sending-off.

United were already down 2-0 courtesy of Noah Okafor's first-half double when the incident occurred. Martinez had been caught in the face by Calvert-Lewin and appeared to respond by gripping the striker's hair as play developed around the penalty area.

Carrick was incandescent after the match. 'That decision was one of the worst I've ever seen,\ he said. 'He can throw his arms in Licha's face — and then he's sent off. Shocking. I don't even know what it looks like. It's not a pull, it's not a tug, it's not aggressive. He touches it and he gets sent off. Worse of all, VAR tells him to overturn it — a clear and obvious error. Shocking.'

The red card means Martinez will serve a three-match suspension, with United expected to explore an appeal. The club's defensive situation is already precarious after Harry Maguire saw red in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth before the international break.

Calvert-Lewin maintained the contact was genuine. 'I felt my hair get pulled, told the ref, he makes the decisions,\ the striker said. 'Unfortunate for him whether he's meant it or not. I hold no grudges.'

Roy Keane offered sympathy for both sides. 'I can see both sides. When you class this as violent conduct, this seems really harsh,\ the former United midfielder told Sky Sports. Jamie Carragher was more decisive: 'I don't think any football fan, any player is thinking that is a red card.'

Gary Neville took a different line, arguing Martinez knew what he was doing. 'He's pulled his hair and that results in a red card nowadays. He knows what he's doing there.'

Leeds manager Daniel Farke declined to celebrate the officiating drama. 'I would have preferred to play 11 v 11 but it is how it is. In the end we won the game and I don't complain.'

The result leaves United facing a defensive crisis ahead of Saturday's trip to Chelsea, with Martinez and Maguire both suspended and academy products Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro likely to feature at Stamford Bridge.