The controversy surrounding Leeds United’s 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday night is refusing to die down.
It was Leeds’ first league win at the ground in more than 45 years, and it could end up being a huge moment in their battle to stay in the Premier League.
Noah Okafor was the standout, scoring twice in a dominant first half where Leeds created plenty of chances and probably should have added more.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick lost his head with the refereeing decisions during the game, and Rio Ferdinand has supported his former teammate.
Rio Ferdinand slams Paul Tierney for the Lisandro Martinez red card
Manchester United fans were left fuming after Martinez was sent off for pulling at Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair, which even the Leeds striker indicated might have been unintentional.
Rio Ferdinand conceded that the decision was an ‘absolute joke’ and in no way can be deemed as violent conduct on the pitch.
He doesn’t believe Calvert-Lewin should have been punished for his elbow on Leny Yoro in the build-up to the first goal. However, he stressed that it was the more ‘violent’ incident than Martinez’s tug on the striker’s hair.
Ferdinand put out a video on X and said, “The refereeing decisions in this game were an absolute joke.
“Yes, he does touch his hair, and it’s fine. It’s not violent conduct; how was it deemed violent conduct?
“I don’t understand it.
“The flailing arm was much harder, and if you are going to say anything violent out of the two scenarios, it was that.
“And I am saying Dominic Calvert-Lewin is well within his rights, and I think that should be fine.
“I have been elbowed lots; it’s normal, and that’s football.
“But taking out a hair band like the way he did?
“Plaiting my kid’s hair is more violent than doing what I saw on TV last night.”
Leeds finally had some refereeing luck
Leeds may have had a few calls go their way at Old Trafford, but that shouldn’t distract from the fact that they were the better team on the night.
Even Dominic Calvert-Lewin admitted he wasn’t sure Lisandro Martinez meant to pull his hair, despite it resulting in a red card.
There was also an elbow on Yoro that could have been given as a foul on another day, but by that point, Leeds were already in control.
After some tough decisions earlier in the season, Leeds fans will feel they finally got a bit of luck, but their performance fully deserved the win.
And as for Manchester United, they’re hardly the ones to be complaining about refereeing calls at Old Trafford.
