Lisandro Martinez sent off for hair pull during Man Utd defeat by Leeds
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was shown a straight red card for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair following a VAR review during a 2-0 home defeat against Leeds United.
The controversial incident occurred in the 56th minute of the fiercely contested clash with the hosts already trailing by two goals.
On-field officials initially missed the off-the-ball altercation between the two players as play continued.
However, the video assistant referee intervened to advise a pitchside monitor review, leaving the referee with no choice but to issue a dismissal.
Costly indiscipline compounds miserable afternoon
The Argentine international completely lost his composure during a deeply frustrating spell for the home side.
Television replays clearly showed the former Ajax centre-back aggressively grabbing the opposition striker by a handful of hair.
This unprecedented lack of discipline left the home side operating with a severe numerical disadvantage for over half an hour.
It also effectively extinguished any realistic hopes of mounting a dramatic second-half comeback.
Defensive crisis deepens for struggling squad
United’s fragile backline was already struggling to contain a vibrant visiting attack long before the early bath.
The World Cup-winning defender will now face an automatic three-match domestic suspension for violent conduct.
Such a lengthy ban adds significant pressure to a defensive unit already stretched perilously thin by ongoing injury concerns.
