"One of the worst I've seen" - Carrick slams referees for Martinez red in Man Utd loss

"One of the worst I've seen" - Carrick slams referees for Martinez red in Man Utd loss

Man United manager Michael Carrick slammed the referee's decision to show Lisandro Martinez a red card in their 2-1 loss to Leeds on Monday (April 13).

Carrick’s side remain in third despite the 2-1 loss to rivals Leeds, with qualification for next season’s Champions League in their hands.

Two goals from Noah Okafor earned the West Yorkshire club their first league win at Old Trafford since 1981, but it could have been different.

Martinez was shown a straight red card for pulling the hair of Leeds forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, a decision Carrick strongly disagreed with.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carrick said: "We didn't start the game particularly well. We obviously conceded when Leny Yoro gets a forearm smash in the back of the head and they score the first goal.

"They didn't decide to overturn that decision. That was a big moment in the game. We didn't quite have the rhythm, we didn't click, we had some moments but it wasn't quite there for large parts of the first half.

"But second half, I thought the boys the way they went about it, stayed positive and fought to get something out of it after another shocking, shocking decision to send (Martinez) off.

“Two games in a row we've had decisions like that go against us but that one was one of the worst I've seen."

He then elaborated, adding: "You can elbow Leny Yoro for the first goal, leaning arm obviously, 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 send off.

"Worse of all, he gets send to overturn it, a clear and obvious error. Shocking."