FINALLY: VAR explain reason why Lisandro Martinez wasn’t sent off for Manchester United against Chelsea

In Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first Premier League match as manager, Manchester United and Chelsea drew 1-1 at Old Trafford.

Chelsea’s Sunday night visit to Old Trafford marked the end of Manchester United’s fairly hectic week.

Less than twenty-four hours after United’s 2-1 loss to West Ham United, Erik ten Hag was fired by the team on Monday.

Before United officially announced Ruben Amorim as their new head coach, interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy defeated Leicester City in the EFL Cup.

Van Nistelrooy will have to oversee his first Premier League match against Chelsea since Amorim doesn’t arrive at United until later in November.

Prior to Moises Caicedo smashing home a goal to tie the score for the Blues, Bruno Fernandes put United ahead from the penalty spot.

VAR explains the decision made by Lisandro Martinez.
Van Nistelrooy and company almost had a late sting, but United will take a point after a rather gritty match.

Cole Palmer was challenged by Lisandro Martinez, who seemed to catch the Chelsea forward on his knee.

It was reminiscent of the Bruno Fernandes incident against Tottenham Hotspur, and Martinez’s studs were up.

Despite the United captain’s apparent stumble in the challenge, VAR declared the Fernandes incident to be “serious foul play.”

Martinez only received a yellow card, and the Premier League Match Centre has now released VAR’s reasons.

They support the decision to give Martinez a yellow card rather than a red card by implying that he committed “reckless” but not serious foul play.

It’s important to note that Martinez did seem to trip at the conclusion of the tackle as well, and VAR might have recognised their mistake in the Fernandes sending off.

https://twitter.com/PLMatchCentre/status/1853143065747411024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1853143065747411024%7Ctwgr%5E22fbb6b8ce3156472608851dbdc1b73d8a1ecbb3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.unitedinfocus.com%2Fmatch-coverage%2Fvar-explain-reason-why-lisandro-martinez-wasnt-sent-off-for-manchester-united-against-chelsea%2F

Regarding Lisandro Martinez, Roy Keane
Martinez may have been a bit lucky for United to avoid a terrible red card; if a red card had been given on the pitch, it seems unlikely that it would have been reversed.

When the former United captain gives his opinion on Sky Sports (03/11, 18:50), Roy Keane undoubtedly feels that way.

Keane thought Palmer made Martinez appear foolish, thus he implied that Martinez was a “lucky boy” for avoiding a red card.

Keane went on to say that Martinez’s tackle was “nasty,” and even though he had a history of serious fouls while playing, he doesn’t believe Martinez would have objected if he had been sent off.

Keane remarked, “The boy is a lucky boy.”

Since he’s clearly gone in there and it’s a really good move, he won’t be pleased with Palmer making fun of him here. This tackle is terrible.

Since I’ve done some stupid things, I’m obviously usually hesitant to criticise tackles, but perhaps I’ll pass this along.

He’s a lucky boy; in my opinion, he didn’t catch him correctly; it’s nearly down the side of his leg. However, he said, “I’d say there wouldn’t be any complaints if he was sent off.”

Van Nistelrooy will undoubtedly exhale in relief this evening because Martinez avoided a red card, which is a plus; a Martinez suspension is the last thing United needs right now.