- Manchester United centre-back was shown marching orders
- Rio Ferdinand in disbelief
- What does this mean for the Champions League races?
Former Manchester United and Leeds United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has hit out at the officials from last night’s fixture, branding their performance a “joke.”
The former defender made 528 appearances across the two clubs—455 of them for United—and built a reputation as one of the game’s most composed centre-backs.
Last night, however, he watched on in disbelief as Lisandro Martinez received his marching orders for a minimal tug on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair.
Calvert-Lewin went to the ground moments later, prompting Paul Tierney to consult the monitor before swiftly producing the red card. The controversy did not end there.
Many pointed to the earlier incident, where Calvert-Lewin appeared to catch Leny Yoro with an elbow to the head—just seconds before Noah Okafor opened the scoring.
Ferdinand Bemused by Martinez Red Card
Ferdinand posted a one-minute video on his X account around 10 hours after the final whistle. He made his feelings clear over the decisions that didn’t go the Reds’ way on the night:
“The refereeing decisions in this game were an absolute joke. And then even worse is that, yes, he does touch his hair—it’s fine, it’s not violent conduct. How is that deemed as violent conduct? I don’t understand it—it’s not!”
He added: “The flailing arm [referring to Calvert-Lewin’s elbow on Yoro] is far worse. If you are going to say anything is violent out of the two scenarios, it’s that. I think Dominic Calvert-Lewin is well within his right [referring to his elbow]. If that’s in the rules, I think it should be fine.”
Ferdinand then joked: When you are fighting, jostling to get on the ball—that’s normal, that’s football. Plaiting my kids’ hair is more violent than what I saw on TV last night. It’s a joke.”
He concluded: “I just can’t get my head around what is going on. I am not sitting here trying to defend Manchester United—we lost the game fair and square to Leeds United. Well done to Leeds United for winning the game at Old Trafford, a massive, massive win for them, especially in their fight to stay up—but those decisions in the game were terrible.”
United are thought to be considering an appeal against Martinez’s sending off. Carrick called it “one of the worst decisions” he’s ever seen.
What awaits United
Whilst Manchester United may yet appeal the decision, Martinez will serve a three-match suspension as things stand. That absence arrives at the worst possible moment.
United now enter one of their most demanding stretches of the season, travelling to the capital to face Chelsea before hosting Brentford and Liverpool—three sides all pushing for European qualification.
Lose all three, and the table could shift dramatically. United could slide as low as eighth. The response, then, must be immediate.
This is where Carrick faces his clearest test yet. If he steadies the side, restores structure, and extracts points from this run, he strengthens his case for the role in the long term.
But if the slide continues—if performances dip and results follow—then the conversation around his future will shift just as quickly.
