Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has stated he does not make the rules after his hair was pulled by Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, leading to a red card. The incident occurred during the second half of the match at Old Trafford, with Leeds leading 2-0 thanks to a double from Noah Okafor.
Martinez grabbed Calvert-Lewin's hair during a tussle for the ball, prompting the Leeds forward to alert referee Paul Tierney. After consulting the pitch-side monitor, Tierney showed Martinez a red card, which will result in a three-match ban for the Manchester United player.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Calvert-Lewin said: 'I don't know, I don't make the rules. I felt my hair get pulled and obviously I told the ref, he's the one that makes the decisions, at the end of the day. Unfortunate for him [Martinez], whether he's meant it or not, I don't hold no grudges, but it is what it is.'
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick criticised the decision, calling it one of the worst he has seen. Despite being reduced to ten men, United rallied and Casemiro pulled a goal back. He nearly equalised, but Calvert-Lewin headed his effort off the line.
Reflecting on his goal-line clearance, Calvert-Lewin added: 'I was just in the moment, just switched on and engaged, waiting for the ball to come in and doing my job. Thankfully I was there this time to clear the ball off the line and arguably make up for the ones I should have put away at the other end.'
