Carrick says Martinez hair-pull red card 'one of worst decisions I've seen'

"I would have preferred to play 11 v 11 but it is how it is. But in the end we won the game and I don't complain."

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."

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: "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."

Martinez was making his first Premier League start for United since a 1-1 draw against West Ham on 10 February, after recovering from a calf injury.

It is the second consecutive league game in which United have had a defender sent off, after Harry Maguire saw red in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth before the international break.

"The after-effects could be serious," said BBC Sport's Manchester United reporter Simon Stone.

"Martinez will be banned for Saturday's trip to Chelsea. Maguire is expecting to find out whether he is going to get an extra game suspension for his red card.

"If he does, 19-year-old Ayden Heaven and 20-year-old Leny Yoro will be Michael Carrick's only fit central defenders at Stamford Bridge."

What does the law say?

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.

Then at the Women's Euros, Germany's Kathrin Hendrich looked shocked after she was sent off for pulling the hair of France's Griedge Mbock.

And earlier this month, Arsenal's Katie McCabe avoided a red card for pulling Chelsea's Alyssa Thompson's hair during their Women's Champions League quarter-final exit.

Media caption,

Okafor fires Leeds to victory against Man Utd

'Utterly ludicrous' - what the fans said

Callum, London: You don't accidentally pull hair. Can see why people would say 'soft' but it's the rules and it's clear as day. Red.

Bill, Manchester: I am a staunch Man Utd fan. You know we're without Maguire and wasn't someone sent off recently for pulling hair? If you're close enough to pull hair, pull his shirt. Stupidity and deserves red all day long, especially when you're 2-0 down.

Will, Rugby: Since when was it an automatic red for hair pulling? A foul OK, but a straight red? No!! You can tug a player's shirt but no red! I mean, what's next? Harsh language? This is a competitive sport.

Paul, Newmarket: Absolute joke of a red card. Seen harder ones not given in the women's game. (McCabe comes to mind here.) Barely took his bobble out. DCL incidentally should have been booked for diving in the box. Tierney is having an awful game. No consistency!

Chris, Preston: There should also be zero tolerance for pulling someone back by the shirt or the arm but there isn't and they are far more likely to cause injury.

Chris, Nottingham: I genuinely don't think I have seen a red card as daft as that. Utterly ludicrous!