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  1. Carrick needs a Man Utd response at Chelseapublished at 08:40 BST 14 April

    Man Utd 1-2 Leeds

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter

    Michael CarrickImage source, Getty Images

    Michael Carrick seemed to be taking a chapter out of Sir Alex Ferguson's play book with his ferocious attack on the decisions that went against Manchester United last night.

    Ferguson frequently targeted officials and their decisions after disappointing results.

    The tactic has two purposes.

    Firstly, it serves notice the officials are not going to get an easy time of it and perceived injustices will get called out.

    I am sure Carrick genuinely thought Leny Yoro was impeded for the first Leeds goal and Lisandro Martinez was unjustly sent off in the second half.

    But, almost of more importance, it deflects attention away from an overall performance, which last night, until Martinez's dismissal bizarrely, was poor from Manchester United.

    Leeds were on the front foot from the first whistle, had two glorious chances to score in the first half beyond the two goals they did get, and fully deserved their success.

    Carrick played down the impact of the 24-day gap between fixtures, although it would explain why his side were so sluggish.

    The big question is how will they respond? They go to Chelsea on Saturday. A rare victory at Stamford Bridge, or even a draw, will keep them on track to claim a Champions League spot. Defeat – with home matches against Brentford and Liverpool to come – will leave Carrick's side in a precarious position.

  2. get involved

    Get Involved - Martinez hair-pullpublished at 08:35 BST 14 April

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    The zero-tolerance approach to hair-pulling is meant to act as a deterrent. You absolutely have to give the red card yesterday, or accept that it's no longer zero tolerance - and expect players to try it on each week.

    George

    What is Carrick on about? The referee doesn't get sent to the screen to overturn a clear and obvious error, as he didn't initially give a foul or a card. Martinez has two grabs at the hair - it's a clear red card every day of the week.

    Darryl

  3. 'Martinez knows what he's doing'published at 08:30 BST 14 April

    Man Utd 1-2 Leeds

    Gary Neville
    Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports

    Lisandro Martinez looks perplexed and confused: 'What have I done?'

    He's pulled his hair and that results in a red card, nowadays. He knows what he's doing there.

  4. get involved

    Get Involved - Martinez hair-pullpublished at 08:25 BST 14 April

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    The correct decision. Martinez is exactly why we need VAR. This was actually a consistent decision from VAR, in line with the Keane one, which saw the appeal declined. I'm not a VAR fan, especially when it comes to fingernail offside decisions!

    Alan

  5. What did the pundits say?published at 08:20 BST 14 April

    Man Utd 1-2 Leeds

    Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane and ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher sympathised with Carrick's side.

    Keane told Sky Sports: "I can see both sides. When you class this as violent conduct this seems really harsh. It is harsh but when looking at the laws you have to accept it."

    While Carragher added: "I think that is soft. He is going for the ball, trying to grab hold of something and he has got it for half a second... I don't think any football fan, any player is thinking that is a red card."

    Paul Tierney speaks with Lisandro MartinezImage source, Getty Images
  6. get involved

    Get Involved - Martinez hair-pullpublished at 08:15 BST 14 April

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    The red card was the right call according to the letter of the law, but did it have an impact on the result? Possibly. Leeds should have been out of sight by half-time. As a Man United fan, I have to give Leeds the credit they deserve - they were the better team last night.

    Mark

    United played better with 10 men anyway. So, in my opinion, it changed the game from potentially being 4-0 to ending 2-1. Carrick should be glad - the red card spared his blushes.

    Yusaf

  7. Postpublished at 08:10 BST 14 April

    Man Utd 1-2 Leeds

    In relation to William's message, the situation in the game has no relevance on a sanction for a hair-pull.

    Any hair pulling is categorised as 'violent conduct'.

  8. What does the law say?published at 08:05 BST 14 April

    Man Utd 1-2 Leeds

    While hair pulling is not specifically mentioned in the Laws of the Game, it is categorised as 'violent conduct' as it cannot be considered as something you would legitimately do when challenging for the ball.

    Everton's Michael Keane received a three-match suspension for pulling the hair of Wolves' Tolu Arokodare in a 1-1 draw in January.

    "If you have longer hair, then there's a fair chance you'll get it pulled," Everton manager David Moyes said at the time.

    At the start of 2023-24, Tottenham's Cristian Romero wrongly escaped a VAR red card after pulling the hair of Chelsea's Marc Cucurella - that proved to be a reference point for the future.

    Southampton's Jack Stephens was dismissed for doing it to Cucurella, as was Paris St-Germain's Joao Neves at last summer's Club World Cup.

    Michael Keane's hair-pull on Tolu ArokodareImage source, Getty Images
  9. get involved

    Get Involved - Martinez hair-pullpublished at 08:00 BST 14 April

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    Having another look at it, there is clearly contact from DCL as well. It is not a clear goalscoring opportunity, so that is barely a yellow in my eyes. Another reason to get rid of VAR.

    William

  10. 'One of worst decisions ever' - Martinez sent off for hair-pullpublished at 07:55 BST 14 April

    Man Utd 1-2 Leeds

    Man United manager Michael Carrick said Lisandro Martinez's red card was "one of the worst" decisions he has seen.

    Martinez, 28, was shown a straight red by referee Paul Tierney for pulling the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and will now face a three-match suspension, although Carrick suggested afterwards the club could appeal against the decision.

    Carrick was left fuming at the dismissal, saying: "That decision was one of the worst I've ever seen. He [Calvert-Lewin] can throw his arms in Licha's [Martinez's] face - and then he's sent off. Shocking.

    "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 sent off.

    "Worse of all, he gets sent to overturn it, a clear and obvious error. Shocking. He is off balance and grappling.

    "We have got to be careful where the game is going. It is a shocking decision, absolutely shocking."

    Media caption,

    Manchester United 1-2 Leeds United: Martinez red is 'shocking decision' - Michael Carrick

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:50 BST 14 April

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    Do we feel Lisandro Martinez's red card for pulling the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin was fair?

    It had a huge factor on the result.

  12. 'Violent conduct'published at 07:45 BST 14 April

    Man Utd 1-2 Leeds

    Man United were trailing 2-0 to Noah Okafor's first-half double when Lisandro Martinez tried to stop Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin by holding his hair in an off-the-ball incident, after being caught in the face himself.

    Referee Paul Tierney was instructed to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR) before sending off Martinez.

    "After review, Manchester United 6 is guilty of pulling his hair - violent conduct. Final decision is red card," Tierney announced to the stadium.

    The Premier League Match Centre posted on X: "After VAR review, the referee issued a red card to Martinez for violent conduct."

    Referee Paul Tierney performs a VAR checkImage source, Getty Images
  13. Watch highlightspublished at 07:40 BST 14 April

    Man Utd 1-2 Leeds

    This one was full of drama.

    Leeds’ Noah Okafor bagged two goals before Lisandro Martinez was sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair.

    Casemiro did manage to pull one back for Man United, but Leeds held on to record a famous win.

  14. Leeds deliver at Old Traffordpublished at 07:35 BST 14 April

    Man Utd 1-2 Leeds

    Leeds turned up at Old Trafford to produce a huge result in their fight to stay up, with the 2-1 win also stunting Man United's bid to finish in the top five.

    All the reaction is coming your way.

    Who saw that one coming?

    Noah OkaforImage source, Getty Images
    Noah OkaforImage source, Getty Images
    Michael CarrickImage source, Getty Images