Nemanja Vidic has said ‘football has gone so soft’ after Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez’s controversial red card against Leeds United.
Martinez was sent off during Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds at Old Trafford on Monday night for violent conduct.
VAR deemed Martinez should be dismissed after briefly holding Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair during an aerial contest.
Referee Paul Tierney was advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by VAR before sending off the Argentine defender.
Announcing the decision to the stadium, Tierney said: “After review, Manchester United 6 is guilty of pulling his hair – violent conduct. Final decision is red card.”
Former Manchester United captain Vidic, who was in attendance, has blasted the decision. He called the Premier League ‘soft’ and questioned the fairness of the officiating at Old Trafford.
“During my time, we called it duelling. Today’s football calls it violent conduct. Football has gone so soft, especially in the Premier League,” Vidic said.
“I wonder why Calvert-Lewin wasn’t booked for holding the player’s face as well. I was very disappointed with that referee’s decision.”
Read – Carrick confident of Champions League despite Leeds setback
See more – Premier League Awards: Cherries stun Gunners, De Zerbi’s painful debut