The Premier League issues statement as Lisandro Martinez narrowly avoids red card in Manchester United’s match against Chelsea
The Premier League has supported referee Robert Jones’ decision not to send off Lisandro Martinez following his controversial tackle on Cole Palmer in Manchester United’s match against Chelsea.
In Sunday’s game, Martinez played alongside Matthijs de Ligt at center-back. Bruno Fernandes put United ahead in the 70th minute with a penalty, but Moises Caicedo equalized for Chelsea just four minutes later, securing a draw.
The incident occurred in injury time when Martinez made a reckless challenge on Palmer, raising his boot to studs-height and hitting Palmer’s knee after the ball had already been played. Referee Jones judged it as a yellow-card offense, which was upheld after VAR operator Michael Salisbury reviewed it and didn’t recommend a red card. According to the Mirror, the Premier League has now backed Jones’ decision.
In a statement, the Premier League said: “The referee issued a yellow card to Martinez for a challenge on Palmer. VAR checked for a potential red card and confirmed the referee’s call of no red card, deeming it a reckless challenge.”
On BBC Radio 5 Live, former Manchester United player Dion Dublin felt Martinez was fortunate to avoid harsher punishment, saying, “Martinez seems to show his studs. Palmer puts the ball over his head. Martinez lifts his foot and brings him down. He’s very lucky.”
Similarly, Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, said he thought Martinez was fortunate not to be sent off. “Lisandro Martinez is lucky. I think it’s a red,” he commented. Fellow pundits Roy Keane and Jamie Redknapp agreed, with Keane calling Martinez a “lucky boy” and Redknapp labeling the challenge “nasty” and “reckless.”
