Video: United fan-favourite slammed by ex-LFC man for ‘cowardly’ behaviour

Lisandro Martinez has come under fire following Manchester United’s stalemate with Crystal Palace for a reckless challenge on Daichi Kamada. 

The centre-half bizarrely leapt in to tackle Kamada with two feet, only narrowly missing his opponent’s leg and therefore, being brandished a yellow card rather than a red – much to Palace’s dismay.

Manager Oliver Glasner fumed post-match at the referee’s decision, insisting that had contact been made, his player would’ve undoubtedly left the pitch with a broken leg.

It was certainly a careless and ludicrous decision from Martinez, not least because there was no need to even dive in so forcefully during the passage of play. 

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Reacting to the incident on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch segment, former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher weighed in: “I think that’s what saved him from getting a red card – that he didn’t make contact with the player. He’s given the referee a big decision to make. The fact he has caught the ball rather than the player has saved him.

“I sent a player off once for a dangerous tackle, who didn’t touch him. I said he doesn’t have to break his leg for it to be a red card.”

Stephen Warnock added: “It’s a coward’s tackle, that’s all it is. It’s a cowardly tackle. To go in and try and protect yourself, and I just don’t like it. The intent is there, and I don’t understand why you’d make that challenge.”

"It's a COWARDLY tackle!" 😬

Was Lisandro Martinez lucky not to see red at Selhurst Park? 💬 pic.twitter.com/dW0cegfG2Y

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 23, 2024

Footage courtesy of Sky Sports.