15/04/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 15, 2026

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Referee call sparks United anger

MANCHESTER UNITED interim boss Michael Carrick blasted referee Paul Tierney for sending off Lisandro Martinez in yesterday’s 2-1 defeat against Leeds. Martinez was dismissed in the sec ond half at Old Trafford after the United defender pulled the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Tierney showed the Argentine a red card after VAR officials told him to consult the pitch-side monitor. “I thought the boys, the way they went about it, they stayed positive

Sinday for a crucial clash in the battle for Champions League places. “This is one game. We’ll certainly look at it and look to improve. We’ve got another big game, an important game next week and a big end to the season,” Carrick said. “We’re in a really good position. Tonight’s disappointing, we didn’t want to lose and we didn’t want the referee’s decisions to be so bad against us but we move on. We’ve got a big end to the season and there’s a lot to be positive about.” – AFP

Carrick was also frustrated that Calvert-Lewin got away with a strong challenge on United defender Leny Yoro in the build-up to Okafor’s opener. “We obviously conceded when Leny Yoro gets a forearm smash in the back of the head and they score the first goal,” he said. “They didn’t decide to overturn that decision. That was a big moment in the game.” With one win in their last four games, United travel to Chelsea on

his hair which pulls the bobble to come out. “I don’t even know what it looks like. It’s not a pull, it’s not a tug, it’s not aggressive. He touches it and he gets sent off. “Worst of all, he gets sent to over turn it, a clear and obvious error. Shocking.” Martinez could face a three-match ban and, asked if United would appeal, Carrick said: “I am going to have to discuss it but I think it is a bad decision.”

and fought to get something out of it after another shocking decision to send off Lisandro,” Carrick said. “Two games in a row we’ve had decisions like that go against us but this one was one of the worst I’ve seen.” Claiming Calvert-Lewin’s initial contact with Martinez had played a role in the centreback’s reaction, Carrick said: “You can throw your arm in Martinez’s face and then as he’s off balance because of that, he’s half grappling, he half touches the back of

No room for excuses M IKEL ARTETA has warned Arsenal that fatigue is no excuse for their damaging stumble Arteta challenges Arsenal to overcome fatigue and deliver result

Pundits slam controversial Martinez red card

Ű BY WILL CASTLE

PUNDITS have questioned the controversial decision to send Lisandro Martinez off for pulling Dominic Calvert Lewin’s hair during Manchester United’s dismal Premier League defeat to rivals Leeds. Martinez jumped for a header with the Leeds striker and grabbed onto Calvert-Lewin’s ponytail on the way down, something that was missed by referee Paul Tierney but picked up on by VAR. Tierney was promptly advised to go to the monitor for an on-field review and sent off the Argentinian for violent conduct. “Martinez is looking perplexed and confused. But a hair-pull results in a red card these days. He knew what he was doing,” said Gary Neville on Sky Sports commentary. However, Michael Carrick slammed the decision after the final whistle as “shocking” and “one of the worst” he had ever seen.

ARSENAL and Chelsea are leading the chase to sign Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, 21, but the Magpies will not let the leftback leave easily after an impressive season. LIVERPOOL and Manchester United are keen on RB Leipzig captain David Raum having been impressed with the 27-year-old Germany leftback during as he urged his side to hit back by finishing off Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarterfinal sec ond leg. Chasing a second successive appearance in the semifinals of Europe’s elite club competition, Arsenal host Sporting tomorrow with a 1-0 lead from last week’s first leg win in Lisbon. But the Gunners go into the sec ond leg in the midst of a bout of soul searching after losing three of their last four games in all competitions. Arsenal’s untimely dip cost them two chances for silverware as Manchester City won 2-0 in the League Cup final and second tier Southampton knocked them out of the FA Cup quarterfinals. As if that wasn’t frustrating enough for Arteta, Saturday’s shock 2-1 home defeat against Bournemouth has endangered Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years. Arsenal are just six points ahead of second-placed City, who have a game in hand and host Arteta’s team in a seismic showdown on April 19. The importance of this week end’s clash at the Etihad Stadium leaves Arteta with a selection dilemma for the Sporting game. Does the Arsenal manager field his strongest line-up to ensure they get back on track by dispatching the Portuguese champions. Or will he rest key players to keep them fresh for the trip to City in the hope Arsenal’s strength in depth is enough to cope with Sporting. The fixture will be the north London club’s 54th so far this sea son, a gruelling schedule that could be taking its toll. Arsenal have battled injuries all TOUCHLINES

Arsenal players during training in preparation for their Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon tomorrow. – REUTERSPIC

REAL MADRID will listen to offers for Spanish forward Gonzalo Garcia, 22, this summer but spurn any interest in 19-year-old Brazil striker Endrick, who is currently on loan at Lyon. JUVENTUS will seek to immediately sell the 26-year-old forward Lois Openda after being obliged to sign the Belgian this summer at the end of his loan from RB Leipzig. Earlier in the season, Everton’s Michael Keane was red-carded for tugging Tolu Arokodare’s hair, with a sending-off for such an offence now being enforced by officials. The decision was unsuccessfully appealed by the club, a verdict which they pronounced themselves “surprised” and “disappointed” at. – The Independent While Calvert-Lewin, who complained to the referee that his hair had been tugged, tried getting out of the firing line by say ing “I don’t make the rules”, Carrick’s out rage has been backed as warranted by the likes of Jamie Carragher on Roy Keane. “I can see it from both sides and when you class it as violent conduct, it feels really harsh,” Keane said on Sky Sports . “But we’ve seen other players getting sent off. It is harsh but if that’s the laws of the game, then you have to accept it.” Carragher then debated whether any fan at home would have watched the inci dent in real time and thought it was a send ing off. “He’s going for the ball and he’s almost grappling. He’s trying to grab onto some thing and he’s caught the back of his hair – it could’ve been his hair or anything,”Carragher said. “He’s got him for about half a second. “We hear from Howard Webb and he says ‘what does the game want?’ “I don’t think any football fan, manager or player is think ing ‘that’s a red card’. “Everybody is looking at that and think ing ‘oh come on, that is not a red card, behave yourself’.”

half penalty to take his goal tally for the season to 18 as he shows signs of a life after a slow start to his first cam paign with the Gunners. H o w e v e r , Gyokeres was largely subdued on his return to his for mer club Sporting in the first leg. Arteta must find a way to ensure his

scouting missions this season. BRIGHTON’S Bart Verbruggen might leave the Seagulls this summer with the Netherlands goalkeeper, 23, considering various options over his future. CHELSEA would also like to add Porto’s Brazilian winger William Gomes, 20, to their attacking options for next season. season and many of Arteta’s players looked exhausted against Bournemouth with Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber all sidelined. But asked if tiredness was a factor in their recent defeats, Arteta said: “I don’t want to pull on those excuses because we’ve been playing so many games, every three days, and we’re going to have to continue to do that. “That’s the context and that’s the scenario, and we have to embrace it and especially enjoy the opportu nity. “That’s one of the things that I didn’t see from the team, that level of enjoyment in certain moments and the fight that we have to have to really change the course of the game when it gets difficult. “We’re going to have different contexts from here to June, and we need to be able to adapt and resolve all of them, if we want to achieve what we want to achieve.” Viktor Gyokeres was one of the few Arsenal stars to finish the Bournemouth defeat with any credit. The Sweden striker scored a first

physical presence and preda tory finishing are influential ingredients in Arsenal’s bid to win the Champions League for the first time. “We have a lot of impor tant games ahead, and we need to embrace it and to enjoy playing those games,” Gyokeres said. “It’s a great game to have in a few days, so we just need to recover now, leave this behind and make a very good performance on Wednesday.” – AFP

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. – REUTERSPIC

LIVERPOOL are set to evaluate handing a new contract to 33-year old Brazil goalkeeper Alisson next season. FORMER Liverpool and Paris St Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is keen to make a return to the Premier League next season, with the 35-year-old Dutchman’s contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq expiring this summer.

SWANSEA have placed a £15m (RM80m) price tag on Slovenia striker Zan Vipotnik, 24, who leads the Championship goalscoring charts and has attracted interest from Brighton. NEWCASTLE’S hierarchy are continuing to include boss Eddie Howe in discus sions on transfer plans for the summer despite uncertainty over his future at St James’ Park for the first time.