BREAKING NEWS: English FA announce 5 match ban for Key Man United player ahead of Chelsea match this week – Official statement released just now
Lisandro Martinez faces a three-match ban after receiving a red card for violent conduct during Manchester United’s clash against Leeds United. The Argentine centre-back was found guilty of pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair following an aerial challenge.
Responding to the incident at the time, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said: “You are not getting away with a hair‐pull. Martinez is looking perplexed and confused, but a hair‐pull results in a red card these days. He knew what he was doing.”
After Martinez’s hair pull went unpunished on the pitch, referee Paul Tierney was directed to consult the pitch-side VAR monitor for a closer look. The Premier League Match Centre subsequently confirmed on X: “After VAR review, the referee issued a red card to Martinez for violent conduct.”
Making his announcement to the crowd, referee Tierney declared: “After review, Manchester United 6 is guilty of pulling his hair – violent conduct. Final decision is red card.”
With the incident classified as violent conduct, Martinez will be sidelined for United’s next three matches. The Red Devils have upcoming fixtures against Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool in the Premier League.
Former Liverpool and England full-back Stephen Warnock took a similar view to Neville. He said: “[Martinez] knows what he has done. He has let his team down and let himself down. It is such a difficult time in the game as well.”
Lisandro Martinez and Calvert-Lewin
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Lisandro Martinez was guilty of hair-pulling vs Leeds
This was not the first occasion a Premier League player has been dismissed for hair-pulling this season. Everton defender Michael Keane received his marching orders during a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers back in January.
Those three fixtures are pivotal in the United’s fight to clinch Champions League qualification, with a number of rivals snapping at their heels. The defeat has left Michael Carrick’s side level on 55 points with fourth-placed Aston Villa, while fifth-placed Liverpool sit on 52 following their victory over Fulham.
Once that run of matches is complete, Martinez will be back in contention for the clashes against Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, ahead of the final-day showdown at Brighton.
