Man Utd’s Martinez Dismissed for Hair-Pulling Incident

During the Premier League clash at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez received a straight red card in the 56th minute for tugging the hair of Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Argentine defender’s action was deemed violent conduct by referee Paul Tierney, who confirmed the decision following a VAR review. Martinez, 28, will now miss the next three matches as a result of the sanction.

United were 2-0 behind after Noah Okafor’s first-half goals, prompting Martinez to intervene. His attempt to stop Calvert-Lewin ended with a controversial dismissal. The incident was flagged for review by the video assistant referee, and Tierney’s final call was made via the pitchside monitor.

“After VAR review, the referee issued a red card to Martinez for violent conduct,” stated the Premier League Match Centre on X.

Martinez, who had returned to the starting XI for the first time since a 1-1 draw against West Ham on 10 February, was sidelined due to a calf injury prior to that match. His absence had been a concern for the team, but the red card in this game adds to his recent challenges on the pitch.

Follow your club with BBC Sport | Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast | Get football news sent straight to your phone