Manchester United given 'perfect' Lisandro Martinez red card verdict as appeal proposed

The diminutive defender was sent off during Man Utd's 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday for two yellow card offences, the second awarded for an attempt at blocking off Wesley Fofana at a corner.

Martinez was deemed guilty of raising his elbow and catching Fofana in the face by VAR, after the incident was initially missed by referee Peter Bankes.

And former referee Dermot Gallagher says the incident was clearly correct and congratulated the VAR for making the right call.

"Perfect process," he told Sky Sports. "Referee didn't pick it up on the field. Definitely a reckless challenge. Look how far Martinez goes. Never once looks at the ball."

Tim Sherwood added: "The referee is looking straight at it. I don't know what he is looking at. When the corner comes in, you're looking for contact.

"He has a perfect view. It baffles me how he hasn't seen it. He's only five yards away."

He then joked: "Could Michael Carrick appeal that and say 'we want a straight red because it gives him a three-match ban rather than one. Get him out of our way!'"

Jay Bothroyd said: "I look at that and I'm saying 'that's violent conduct' because you can hurt someone putting your elbows to their face."