Lisandro Martinez was given his marching orders during the second-half of Manchester United’s Premier League clash against Leeds United
21:20, 13 Apr 2026Updated 21:41, 13 Apr 2026
Paul Tierney showed Lisandro Martinez a red card for a hair pull following a short VAR check(Image: (Michael Regan/Getty Images))
Gary Neville believes Lisandro Martinez knew what he was doing after he was sent off during Manchester United’s Premier League clash against Leeds United. The centre-back was given his marching orders for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair.
The incident happened in the second-half, with Daniel Farke’s side already leading 2-0 thanks to two goals from Noah Okafor in the opening 45 minutes. The pull was not picked up in real time, but it soon emerged that a VAR check was taking place.
And after the game was halted, referee Paul Tierney was sent to the pitchside monitor to review the incident, which then led to him showing Martinez a straight red card. The Argentine will now serve a three-match ban.
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Speaking on commentary at the time, Neville said: “You are not getting away with a hair-pull…” Before he continued: “Martinez is looking perplexed and confused. But a hair-pull results in a red card these days. He knew what he was doing.”
While the Premier League Match Centre confirmed: “After VAR review, the referee issued a red card to Martínez for violent conduct.” And in his announcement to the crowd, referee Tierney said: “After review, Manchester United 6 is guilty of pulling his hair – violent conduct. Final decision is red card.”
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Lisandro Martinez was sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair
It’s the second Premier League game in a row that United have had a player sent off, while Martinez follows in Michael Keane’s by being dismissed for a hair pull. The Everton centre-back was given his marching orders during the second-half of his side’s 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers back in January.
An appeal lodged with the FA challenged both the decision to dismiss Keane and the severity of the punishment for what was deemed to be violent conduct. However, that appeal was dismissed by a three-person panel, which included former players.
“I’m hugely disappointed, hugely surprised — probably more angry with the panel who thought that was the case,” David Moyes, the Everton manager, said after the appeal was rejected. “I have to question the three of them. I know who the three of them are and I’m absolutely amazed they didn’t in some way overturn it.
Everton defender Michael Keane was similarly punished earlier in the season
“To say it’s violent conduct . . . We saw last night a game [Arsenal v Liverpool] where it’s OK to throw a ball at somebody and pick them up with a bad injury, yet to have a little pull of someone’s hair accidentally and for that to mean a three-game ban is quite extraordinary for me.
“Three games? It shouldn’t even have been any games. But I’m more embarrassed for whoever was on VAR. This was a young referee doing only his third or fourth game and VAR gave him a terrible decision. VAR didn’t need to get involved in that at all, looking for the smallest things and probably things I don’t think anyone would have paid any interest in otherwise.”
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