Former England defender Rio Ferdinand has publicly questioned refereeing decisions after Lisandro Martínez was sent off in Manchester United’s clash against Leeds United.
The incident took place during the second half when Martínez was shown a red card following a challenge involving Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Argentine defender was penalised for pulling the striker’s hair during an aerial duel, a decision that shifted momentum in the match.
Ferdinand reacted strongly after the game. He called on PGMOL to provide clarity over the decision. The former defender compared Martínez’s dismissal with another earlier incident in the same match that went unpunished.
He pointed to a moment before Leeds’ opening goal, where Calvert-Lewin appeared to challenge another player with a raised elbow. Ferdinand suggested both situations deserved equal scrutiny and questioned the consistency in officiating.
Posting on social media, Ferdinand directly asked the refereeing body for an explanation. His reaction has added to the growing debate around the decision.