Michael Carrick Calls Lisandro Martinez Red Card Decision One of the Worst He Has Ever Seen

He described the sending off of defender Lisandro Martinez, often called Licha, as shocking and unfair. The incident happened during the match at Old Trafford, leaving United to play with ten men for a large part of the game. Carrick believed the decision changed the flow of the match and affected the result.

Carrick explained that Martinez was off balance after an opponent’s arm came into his face. In trying to regain his position, the defender lightly touched the back of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair, which caused a hair tie to come out. He insisted it was not a deliberate pull or aggressive action. According to Carrick, the referee was even asked to review the moment as a clear error, yet the red card stood. He said the call left him stunned because it seemed far too harsh for what actually happened on the field.

Speaking after the game, Carrick did not hold back his feelings. “It’s shocking to send off Licha. Shocking,” he stated. He went on to call it “one of the worst decisions I have ever seen.” The manager pointed out that earlier in the match, another incident involving an elbow to one of his players went unpunished. He warned that football must be careful about where such strict rulings are leading the sport, especially when minor contacts result in serious punishments.

The defeat came as a setback for Manchester United, who had shown fight even with fewer players. Carrick praised his team for staying positive and pushing forward despite the disadvantage. Many fans and observers have since discussed the referee’s choice, with some agreeing it appeared overly strict. The club may consider an appeal against the red card, as Martinez now faces a possible ban for the coming games. The result has added to talks about consistency in refereeing decisions across the league.