Manchester United were ‘lucky’ to finish Sunday’s match against Chelsea with 11 players, according to Gary Neville.
United centre-back Lisandro Martinez was shown a yellow card by referee Robert Jones in the third minute of extra time of the second half after a foul on Cole Palmer.
But former United captain Neville was surprised Jones was not advised by VAR to reconsider Martinez’s penalty.
Martinez, who was nicknamed ‘the Butcher’ at previous club Ajax, launched a challenge on Palmer and the studs of his right boot made contact with the Chelsea star’s left knee.
Neville responded to the incident during his live commentary for Sky Sports: ‘If you go that high I think you’re asking for a red card. I think he’s lucky. If you go knee high and the ball is gone, I think it’s red.’
Man United defender Lisandro Martinez (No. 6) fouled Cole Palmer late in Sunday’s match
Palmer was on the ground after the foul, which took place in the 93rd minute at Old Trafford
Referee Robert Jones showed Martinez a yellow card, but many viewers thought it should have been red
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean was less sure. He noted, “There’s not much power in it. It’s not as bad as I thought when I first saw it.’
But legendary former United midfielder Roy Keane agreed with Neville.
After the match, Keane described Martinez as ‘a happy boy’ and suggested his ‘nasty challenge’ against Palmer was probably provoked by the Chelsea star expertly tapping the ball over his head.
“He won’t be happy if Palmer makes fun of him,” Keane said. ‘It’s an unpleasant challenge. But he doesn’t catch it well. It’s down the side of his leg.’
Keane added: ‘If he had been sent off there would have been no complaints.’
Meanwhile, Chelsea legend Frank Lampard and former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp agreed Martinez should have been sent off.
Lampard said: ‘I think it’s a red card for the intention.’
Former Man United captain Gary Neville said Martinez was ‘lucky’ not to be sent off
Fellow Sky Sports pundits Roy Keane, Frank Lampard and Jamie Redknapp (left to right) also felt a red card should have been shown
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard said: ‘I think it’s a red card in front of the goal’
Redknapp concluded: ‘It’s reckless, it’s dirty, he knows exactly what he’s doing. He has a nasty streak in him. Look how high he gets his leg, that’s not necessary.’
Sunday’s match ended in a 1-1 draw and United were thirteenth in the Premier League with just twelve points from their first ten games. Meanwhile, Chelsea finished the weekend in fourth place with 18 points.
United took the lead in the 70th minute when Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty. But Chelsea hit back less than five minutes later when Moises Caicedo scored his first goal of the season.