Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was sent off after just 83 seconds in the second half of a 2‑0 loss at Chelsea, a red card that left the visitors 10 men down and doomed their chances. The dismissal, which followed two fouls and a penalty‑causing challenge on Wesley Fofana, was judged 'inexplicable' by former World Cup final referee Darren Cann. United’s interim boss Michael Carrick, already under pressure after Martinez criticized the club’s recruitment, had to regroup without his senior defender, and the team eventually survived a third straight heavy defeat thanks to a tight VAR offside call that wiped out Estevao’s goal.
After the match Carrick said he hadn’t reviewed the incident, while pundits Stephen Warnock and Joe Cole highlighted Martinez’s recurring errors and lack of accountability. The defender will miss the next Premier League fixture against Aston Villa at Old Trafford. The incident has already become a focal point for United’s struggles, with the 28‑year‑old’s recklessness likely to linger in fans’ minds 27 minutes remaining.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing