‘A shocking decision’: Carrick fumes over Martínez’s red card for hair pulling

Michael Carrick branded Lisandro Martínez’s red card for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair as “shocking” and said Manchester United may appeal as the defender faces a three-match ban.

If the sending off in United’s 2-1 defeat by Leeds at Old Trafford on Monday night stands, Carrick could be without his two first-choice centre-backs for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea as Harry Maguire may be suspended for a second match. Martínez was sent off after 56 minutes when Paul Tierney, after reviewing the incident on the monitor, ruled it a red-card offence, with Leeds 2-0 ahead.

Carrick said: “The arm [is] in the face of Lisandro and he is off balance and grappling. He goes to touch his shirt and gets a red card for it.

“It is not aggressive, there is no jolt, no tug. We have got to be careful where the game is going. It is a shocking decision, absolutely shocking. The red card, that is really concerning. I know he touched his hair. There is a difference to really aggressively touching it.”

The defeat was Michael Carrick’s first at Old Trafford since taking over from Ruben Amorim in January. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Asked if he will appeal, Carrick said: “I am going to have to discuss it but I think it is a bad decision.”

The interim manager pointed to Noah Okafor’s fifth-minute opener, claiming that Calvert-Lewin had impeded Leny Yoro in the buildup. “The goal, Leny Yoro gets a forearm smash in the back of the head. I don’t know how that doesn’t get overturned. That first goal shouldn’t stand. The first one, he has led with his arm, I don’t know how you don’t look at it,” he said.

Maguire missed the defeat owing to a straight red card received during the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on 20 March for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. He was subsequently charged by the Football Association with “improper conduct” for allegedly directing abusive or insulting language towards the fourth official after the dismissal.

United will find out before the Chelsea trip if Maguire is found guilty. Martínez is also set to miss United’s matches against Brentford and Liverpool.

Of a first Leeds victory at Old Trafford in 45 years, Daniel Farke said: “I feel tired, relieved, proud of the boys. The first league win here in over 40 years is amazing.”