Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca believes Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez should have been sent off for his challenge on Cole Palmer during Sunday’s 1-1 draw between the two sides.
Martinez was instead shown a yellow card by referee Rob Jones for his foul in second-half added time. The Argentine appeared to catch Palmer on the knee with his studs and the foul sparked a coming together of multiple players, eventually leading to Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and United’s Amad also cautioned.
Palmer continued for the remaining few minutes of the game but had looked to be in discomfort following the challenge.
“He was there in the changing room with ice,” Maresca said on the midfielder. “We are waiting now.
“Hopefully, it is nothing important and then I know you are going to ask me about the referee’s decision. They showed me before the press conference, I think it is quite clear almost for all of us but the referees there did not take the decision and they made a different decision.”
Asked if Martinez’s challenge was what he was talking to the officials at the full-time whistle, Maresca replied: “Yes. I just said, for me, when there is no intention to go for the ball and he goes for the player. It’s a red.”
The Premier League clarified the decision-making process following the game, saying: “The referee issued a yellow card to Martinez for a challenge on Palmer. VAR checked for a potential red card and confirmed the referee’s call of no red card, deeming that it was a reckless challenge and not serious foul play.”
Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy was also asked about the incident and said: “I haven’t seen it to be fair. I saw it on the touchline. At that moment, I didn’t see it as a red.”
United opened the scoring in the 70th minute after Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty following Robert Sanchez’s foul on Rasmus Hojlund. Moises Caicedo equalised for Chelsea with a well-struck volley four minutes later.
Both sides are back in action at home on Thursday, with United playing PAOK in the Europa League and Chelsea facing Noah in the Conference League.
(Carl Recine/Getty Images)
