Manchester United vs Leeds — Michael Carrick labels Martinez red card as ‘worst decision’ ever Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick blasted referee Paul Tierney for sending off Lisandro Martinez in Monday’s 1-2 defeat against Leeds.
Martinez was dismissed in the second-half at Old Trafford after the United defender pulled the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Tierney showed the Argentine a red card after VAR officials told him to consult the pitch-side monitor.
United was trailing to Noah Okafor’s first-half double when Martinez was dismissed.
And although Casemiro got one back for Carrick’s side, it was unable to avoid the second defeat of his 11-match reign.
“I thought the boys, the way they went about it, they stayed positive and fought to get something out of it after another shocking decision to send off Lisandro,” Carrick said.
“Two games in a row, we’ve had decisions like that go against us but this one was one of the worst I’ve seen.”
Claiming Calvert-Lewin’s initial contact with Martinez had played a role in the centre-back’s reaction, Carrick said: “You can throw your arm in Martinez’s face and then as he’s off balance because of that, he’s half grappling, he half touches the back of his hair which pulls the bobble to come out.
“I don’t even know what it looks like. It’s not a pull, it’s not a tug, it’s not aggressive. He touches it and he gets sent off.
“Worst of all, he gets sent to overturn it, a clear and obvious error. Shocking.”
Martinez could face a three-match ban and, asked if United would appeal, Carrick said, “I am going to have to discuss it but I think it is a bad decision.”
Carrick was also frustrated that Calvert-Lewin got away with a strong challenge on United defender Leny Yoro in the build-up to Okafor’s opener.
“We obviously conceded when Leny Yoro gets a forearm smash in the back of the head and they score the first goal,” he said. “They didn’t decide to overturn that decision. That was a big moment in the game.”
United remains third in the Premier League, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top-five finish.
With one win in its last four games, United travels to Chelsea on Saturday for a crucial clash in a battle for Champions League places.
“This is one game. We’ll certainly look at it and look to improve. We’ve got another big game, an important game next week and a big end to the season,” Carrick said.
“We’re in a really good position. Tonight’s disappointing, we didn’t want to lose and we didn’t want the referee’s decisions to be so bad against us but we move on.
“We’ve got a big end to the season and there’s a lot to be positive about.”
Published on Apr 14, 2026
#Manchester #United #Leeds #Michael #Carrick #labels #Martinez #red #card #worst #decision
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick blasted referee Paul Tierney for sending off Lisandro Martinez in Monday’s 1-2 defeat against Leeds.
Martinez was dismissed in the second-half at Old Trafford after the United defender pulled the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Tierney showed the Argentine a red card after VAR officials told him to consult the pitch-side monitor.
United was trailing to Noah Okafor’s first-half double when Martinez was dismissed.
And although Casemiro got one back for Carrick’s side, it was unable to avoid the second defeat of his 11-match reign.
“I thought the boys, the way they went about it, they stayed positive and fought to get something out of it after another shocking decision to send off Lisandro,” Carrick said.
“Two games in a row, we’ve had decisions like that go against us but this one was one of the worst I’ve seen.”
Claiming Calvert-Lewin’s initial contact with Martinez had played a role in the centre-back’s reaction, Carrick said: “You can throw your arm in Martinez’s face and then as he’s off balance because of that, he’s half grappling, he half touches the back of his hair which pulls the bobble to come out.
“I don’t even know what it looks like. It’s not a pull, it’s not a tug, it’s not aggressive. He touches it and he gets sent off.
“Worst of all, he gets sent to overturn it, a clear and obvious error. Shocking.”
Martinez could face a three-match ban and, asked if United would appeal, Carrick said, “I am going to have to discuss it but I think it is a bad decision.”
Carrick was also frustrated that Calvert-Lewin got away with a strong challenge on United defender Leny Yoro in the build-up to Okafor’s opener.
“We obviously conceded when Leny Yoro gets a forearm smash in the back of the head and they score the first goal,” he said. “They didn’t decide to overturn that decision. That was a big moment in the game.”
United remains third in the Premier League, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top-five finish.
With one win in its last four games, United travels to Chelsea on Saturday for a crucial clash in a battle for Champions League places.
“This is one game. We’ll certainly look at it and look to improve. We’ve got another big game, an important game next week and a big end to the season,” Carrick said.
“We’re in a really good position. Tonight’s disappointing, we didn’t want to lose and we didn’t want the referee’s decisions to be so bad against us but we move on.
“We’ve got a big end to the season and there’s a lot to be positive about.”
Published on Apr 14, 2026

![Deadspin | Dick Vitale, battling melanoma, plans to ‘win another battle’ Legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale greets the rest of the broadcasting table during the first half of an NCAA Mens basketball game at Steven C. O’Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, February 1, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Dick Vitale will soon begin immunotherapy to treat melanoma in his lung and liver cavity, the legendary ESPN college basketball analyst announced on Monday. It’s the latest in a series of health challenges for Vitale, 86. “I’ve beaten melanoma. I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal cord cancer. I’ve beaten lymph node cancer,” he said in a statement Monday. “I’m four-for-four and I’m fully confident I’m going to make it five-for-five.” Vitale, a former college basketball coach, has called games on ESPN since the 1979-80 season. He was sidelined for almost two seasons because of health problems before returning to work in February, at which point he stated he was cancer-free. Vitale said Monday, “I am truly overwhelmed by the love, support, prayers and messages I’ve received from so many people. I’m incredibly blessed to have my family beside me, and my ESPN family — led by Chairman Jimmy Pitaro — has been absolutely terrific. Their support has inspired me to keep fighting and I will do everything in my power to win another battle. “The best news I can share today is this: I feel fantastic.” Vitale was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame in 2024. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Dick #Vitale #battling #melanoma #plans #win #battle Deadspin | Dick Vitale, battling melanoma, plans to ‘win another battle’ Legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale greets the rest of the broadcasting table during the first half of an NCAA Mens basketball game at Steven C. O’Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, February 1, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Dick Vitale will soon begin immunotherapy to treat melanoma in his lung and liver cavity, the legendary ESPN college basketball analyst announced on Monday. It’s the latest in a series of health challenges for Vitale, 86. “I’ve beaten melanoma. I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal cord cancer. I’ve beaten lymph node cancer,” he said in a statement Monday. “I’m four-for-four and I’m fully confident I’m going to make it five-for-five.” Vitale, a former college basketball coach, has called games on ESPN since the 1979-80 season. He was sidelined for almost two seasons because of health problems before returning to work in February, at which point he stated he was cancer-free. Vitale said Monday, “I am truly overwhelmed by the love, support, prayers and messages I’ve received from so many people. I’m incredibly blessed to have my family beside me, and my ESPN family — led by Chairman Jimmy Pitaro — has been absolutely terrific. Their support has inspired me to keep fighting and I will do everything in my power to win another battle. “The best news I can share today is this: I feel fantastic.” Vitale was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame in 2024. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Dick #Vitale #battling #melanoma #plans #win #battle](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28135435.jpg)
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