Lisandro Martinez suspended: The controversy over the hair pull.

The controversy continues: the Football Association (FA) stands firm on the three-match suspension imposed on Lisandro Martinez, defender of Manchester United, for an act that is igniting social media and stadiums alike — pulling an opponent’s hair. This behavior, which many might consider minor, has been classified as violent conduct and, according to the FA’s disciplinary panel, “should not be tolerated.”

The incident occurred during the clash between Manchester United and Leeds United at the iconic Old Trafford. At 28 years old, Argentine international Lisandro Martinez received a straight red card after an intervention by referee Paul Tierney, who, alerted by VAR, reviewed the incident on the monitor at the side of the pitch. The reason? The defender grabbed the hair of Leeds forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin in a play off the ball, in a desperate attempt to stop the opponent when United was already trailing 2-0.

The FA’s disciplinary committee rejected the club’s appeal, stating in its report that, although other forms of violent conduct present greater injury risks, “in the broader interest of football, the act of pulling hair must be consistently punished and discouraged.” This firm stance comes despite arguments from United’s manager, Michael Carrick, who described the decision as “one of the worst” he has ever seen, claiming that Martinez was “off-balance and trying to grab, but not pulling aggressively.”

However, the committee was not swayed by the club’s excuses. After reviewing the footage, it concluded that Calvert-Lewin’s reaction left no doubt: the forward clearly felt the force applied to his hair, confirming the validity of the incident. “The referee’s decision was not a clear error,” the panel members asserted. Furthermore, the report emphasizes that only “truly exceptional” cases can lead to a reduction in penalty, which was not the case in this situation.

This case reinforces a recent trend by the FA to remain steadfast against infractions of this nature. It is worth noting that in January, Everton’s appeal against the red card given to Michael Keane, also for pulling an opponent’s hair, Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare, was rejected. At the time, the Toffees’ manager, David Moyes, expressed his “frustration” with the decision and even criticized the video assistant referee Chris Kavanagh.

Lisandro Martinez has already missed the away victory against Chelsea and will continue to be absent in the upcoming home matches for United against Brentford on April 27 and Liverpool on May 3. The absence of the Argentine defender is felt in a team that is struggling to secure a spot in European competitions, and this suspension could have a direct impact on the team’s performance.

The episode raises important questions about what should or should not be tolerated on the field. On one hand, football is a physical sport; on the other, acts such as pulling hair are seen as a clear violation of fair play, deserving strict penalties to safeguard the integrity of the players. The FA sends a clear warning: these situations will not be ignored, and discipline will be enforced rigorously to protect the game and the athletes.

With this scenario, the controversy is far from extinguished. The discussion about the limits of aggression in football and the role of VAR in protecting players promises to continue dominating conversations in the coming days. For now, Lisandro Martinez pays the price, and Manchester United feels the impact of a decision that divides opinions, but which the FA defends tooth and nail.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.