Unacceptable! Man Utd set to launch Lisandro Martinez red card appeal

Manchester United will appeal the red card given to Lisandro Martinez during their shocking defeat to Leeds United at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Martinez was dismissed in the second half of the game for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair. The Argentina defender now faces a three-match ban and could potentially miss upcoming games against Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool.

Speaking after the game, United interim manager Michael Carrick was not pleased with the decision, demanding for consistency from the VAR officials.

Referee Paul Tierney sends off Lisandro Martinez for hair pulling. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Carrick said: “It’s not a pull, it’s not a tug, it’s not aggressive, he touches it and gets sent off. Worst of all is he was sent to overturn it as a clear and obvious error. It’s shocking.

“He’s off-balance because of that, he half touches the back of his hair which pulls the bobble out and leads it to look like – I don’t even know what it looks like. That’s two games in a row we’ve had those decisions go against us, but that one was one of the worst I’ve seen.”

United are now eager to back their managers’ claim by lodging an appeal in the hope that the red card gets overturned.

Lisandro Martinez after being show a red card for pulling the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

According to The Telegraph, United believe they have a case and hope to have Martinez available for the run-in as they aim to secure a spot in the Champions League.

Martinez, 28, has played 15 Premier League games for United this season, having been blighted by both knee and calf injuries throughout the campaign.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher gave his thoughts on the decision and claimed that Martinez should not have been dismissed.

He said: “He’s going for the ball and he’s almost grappling. He’s trying to grab onto something and he’s caught the back of his hair – it could’ve been his hair or anything,” said the ex-Liverpool star.

“He’s got him for about half a second. We hear from Howard Webb and he says ‘what does the game want?’

“I don’t think any football fan, manager or player is thinking ‘that’s a red card’. Everybody is looking at that and thinking ‘oh come on, that is not a red card, behave yourself’.”