Former Premier League referee Peter Walton has warned Manchester United that appealing Lisandro Martinez's red card against Leeds United would be a waste of time. Martinez was sent off in the second half of the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford after pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair, an offence deemed violent conduct by referee Paul Tierney following a VAR review.
Michael Carrick, the United head coach, called the decision 'shocking' and 'bad' in his post-match interview, hinting at an appeal. Reports suggest United have appealed to the FA and PGMOL, hoping to have Martinez available for Saturday's trip to Chelsea, though the club has not confirmed this.
However, Walton believes the appeal has no chance. 'I can tell Michael Carrick now he is wasting his time appealing against Martinez's red card,' he told The Times. 'The United head coach has no chance of success.' Walton added that if hair pulling occurs at the World Cup, referees will also show red.
To overturn the red card, United must argue Tierney made an error. But the FA regards a hair pull as violent conduct, which typically carries a three-match ban. That would rule Martinez out of matches against Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool.
Carrick was visibly frustrated after the defeat. 'That decision was one of the worst I've ever seen,' he said. 'He [Calvert-Lewin] can throw his arms in Licha's face - and then he's sent off. It's not a pull, it's not a tug, it's not aggressive. It is a shocking decision, absolutely shocking.'
