09 February 2023 , 10:47
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Rival supporters have been left fuming after Manchester United star Lisandro Martinez escaped punishment despite appearing to strike Patrick Bamford in the face.
Martinez and Bamford both started as Leeds travelled to Old Trafford to take on the Red Devils on Wednesday. The visitors had gone ahead just one minute in, a lead they were holding as the game moved towards half-time.
As the game entered the second of eight added minutes at the end of the first-half, a loose ball was bouncing in midfield from Bruno Fernandes ' flick-on. Both Martinez and Bamford attempted to win it, with the United star just poking the ball away before the Leeds striker collided with him.
The two players ended up in a heap on the ground, tangled together. As he fell, Martinez's studs struck Bamford full in the face, with the Leeds striker shouting out in pain and clutching his face.
Martinez then hit Bamford on the back of the head as he got up, though this second incident appeared innocuous. The Video Assistant Referee, John Brooks, reviewed the incident, but recommended that Simon Hooper take no action.
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Fans were left furious that neither Brooks nor Hooper had seen anything wrong, though, with many questioning why Martinez had not been penalised. As the VAR had checked the incident, no further action can be taken retrospectively.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Lisandro Martinez have been sent off for striking Patrick Bamford in the face? Comment below.
Martinez caught Bamford full in the face with his studsOne supporter said: "That may be the least natural move of a leg I’ve ever seen in a match, unbelievable he got away with it." Another added: "We should introduce a video assistant like rugby do, oh wait a minute..."
A third fumed: "What's his foot even doing up there?" With another adding: "Martinez the ‘Butcher of Amsterdam’ getting away with running his foot across and down Bamford’s face there."
A fifth said: "Lisandro Martinez should have been sent off for this silly challenge on Bamford." A final fan concluded: "How is this not a red card??? Martinez’s studs in Bamford’s chin, then back over Bamford’s head as he got up… he knew exactly what he was doing there. Disgusting."
Leeds doubled their lead three minutes into the second-half through Raphael Varane's own-goal. But United were able to rescue a draw thanks to strikes from Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, though boss Erik ten Hag demanded better from his team.
"Very poor. It's unacceptable. You start any game, but especially a derby, the way we did. We were down and had to fight back. We made big mistakes. That's to do with attitude. We were not ready to go into the duels," he said.
"We knew before how we were going to play, in a matter of attitude, a matter of style. But you have to be ready. You have to read that game, anticipate it right, you have to win the battles.
"And that is for everyone to take the responsibility and win the individual battles, then you win this game. We are not playing against the fans [at Elland Road]. You are playing the XI on the pitch. We have to be ready - not like today. We have to learn the lesson."