FA make decision on Lisandro Martinez appeal as Man Utd learn ban outcome

Manchester United's appeal against Lisandro Martinez's three-match ban was thrown out by the FA after it was ruled there was no obvious error. The Argentine received a straight red card for pulling the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewis during the defeat to Leeds United earlier this month.

It was further noted that the argument of disproportionate punishment for the offence was dismissed, as hair pulling is "not to be tolerated and should be discouraged". Everton received a similar outcome when they appealed against Michael Keane's dismissal for a similar incident.

Despite the regulations on the matter being unambiguous, interim United head coach Michael Carrick was incensed by the decision to send Martinez off.

He told Sky Sports: "It's not a pull, it's not a tug, it's not aggressive, he touches it and gets sent off. Worst of all is he was sent to overturn it as a clear and obvious error. It's shocking.

"He's off-balance because of that, he half touches the back of his hair which pulls the bobble out and leads it to look like - I don't even know what it looks like."

"That's two games in a row we've had those decisions go against us, but that one was one of the worst I've seen."

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Referee Paul Tierney speaks with Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United after showing him a red

Lisandro Martinez after being sent off. (Image: Getty Images)

Martinez was joined by Harry Maguire in sitting out the victory over Chelsea last weekend through suspension, with the latter charged by the FA for remarks made following his dismissal against Bournemouth.

United's third most expensive signing will return for the visit of Brentford next Monday, but Martinez will remain sidelined and will also miss the highly anticipated clash against Liverpool that weekend.

Fury from Old Trafford over the Martinez ruling intensified last Saturday as contradictions on the matter emerged, with Dango Outtara's minor hair pull on Fulham's Calvin Bassey going unpunished, minus the Brentford player conceding a foul.