Lisandro Martinez was sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair during Manchester United’s dismal Premier League defeat to rivals Leeds.
Martinez jumped for a header with the Leeds striker and grabbed onto Calvert-Lewin’s ponytail on the way down, something that was missed by referee Paul Tierney but picked up on by VAR.
Tierney was promptly advised to go to the monitor for an on-field review and sent off the Argentinian for violent conduct.
"Martinez is looking perplexed and confused. But a hair-pull results in a red card these days. He knew what he was doing,” said Gary Neville on Sky Sports commentary.
Earlier in the season, Everton’s Michael Keane was red-carded for tugging Tolu Arokodare’s hair, with a sending-off for such an offence now being enforced by officials.
Martinez was making his return from injury having been sidelined since February, but his first match back lasted just 55 minutes.
He will now be banned for three games, missing United’s matches against Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool. Defensive teammate Harry Maguire may also be suspended for the Chelsea game if his ban gets extended, with the Englishman charged with “improper conduct” after being sent off at Bournemouth on 20 March.
Martinez’s dismissal came as United trailed 2-0 to Leeds thanks to a first-half Noah Okafor brace. The hosts had the Argentinian to thank that their deficit wasn’t larger, however, who produced a stunning last-ditch tackle on the line to deny Ao Tanaka after he had rounded Senne Lammens.
Casemiro got one back for United 13 minutes after the hosts went down to 10 men, giving Michael Carrick’s side of a comeback.
But United were unable to salvage a result as Leeds earned their first league win at Old Trafford since 1981 and leapt six points clear of the drop zone.
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