Lisandro Martinez was sent off for Manchester United during their defeat to Leeds after a VAR intervention for grabbing Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair in the second half
Dominic Calvert-Lewin disclosed he had to inform the referee about the hair-pulling incident that resulted in Lisandro Martinez being dismissed during Manchester United’s loss to Leeds.
United were behind their opponents 2-0 at the interval and their attempt to mount a fightback became even more challenging when Martinez received his marching orders in the second period.
The United centre-back battled for possession with Calvert-Lewin and footage revealed he yanked his rival’s hair during the tussle. VAR stepped in and following referee Paul Tierney’s review of the pitchside monitor, he brandished a red card to Martinez.
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When Sky Sports questioned Calvert-Lewin post-match about whether the dismissal was justified, he replied: “I don’t know, I don’t make the rules. I felt my hair get pulled and obviously I told the ref, he’s the one that makes the decisions, at the end of the day.
“Unfortunate for him [Martinez], whether he’s meant it or not, I don’t hold no grudges, but it is what it is,” reports the Manchester Evening News.
United responded after Martinez’s sending-off and surprisingly appeared a stronger side while down to 10 players. Casemiro netted to reduce the deficit and came close to levelling the scores for United, only for Calvert-Lewin to clear his strike off the goal line.
“I was just in the moment, just switched on and engaged, waiting for the ball to come in and doing my job,” Calvert-Lewin said of his goal line clearance.
“Thankfully I was there this time to clear the ball off the line and arguably makeup for the ones I should have put away at the other end!”
The loss leaves United on par with Aston Villa in the table, though they remain seven points clear of Chelsea in the battle for a top five position. Carrick’s team next face a journey to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.