Premier League Explains Why Lisandro Martinez Escaped Red Card After Tackle on Cole Palmer

• Manchester United vs Chelsea witnessed a controversial ending to an enthralling encounter at Old Trafford
• While Sunday's game ended in a 1-1 draw, United's Lisandro Martinez narrowly escaped a red card
• But the Premier League has justified why referee Robert Jones opted against giving Martinez his marching orders

Do not miss an opportunity to join FREE webinar by Legit.ng. AI in Action: Practical Skills for Creative Professionals. Register here!

Lisandro Martinez narrowly escaped a red card after his aggressive tackle on Chelsea's Cole Palmer in Sunday’s clash, sparking debate around the officiating decision.

The Premier League has since released a statement, defending referee Robert Jones’ judgment not to send off the Manchester United defender, a decision that ignited a flurry of reactions among fans and analysts.

Man United, Chelsea split points

Martinez partnered with Matthijs de Ligt in United’s central defence as the Red Devils sought to secure crucial points under interim manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

According to the Mirror, Bruno Fernandes had opened the scoring through a penalty in the 70th minute, giving United a slim advantage.

Yet, just moments later, Chelsea's Moises Caicedo struck back with a quick equaliser, restoring balance to the fiercely contested game, per The Independent.

Lisandro Martinez's reckless tackle

The game's most contentious moment, however, came in the third minute of injury time.

Martinez, in a bid to challenge for possession, raised his foot and caught Palmer studs-up on the knee—a challenge that saw the ball go flying, with no contact made by Martinez.

Despite the force of the tackle, Jones opted for a yellow card, judging it reckless but not worthy of a sending-off.

Why Martinez escaped a red card, Premier League explains

VAR official Michael Salisbury reviewed the incident and upheld the referee’s original decision, declining to escalate it to a red card.

Addressing the controversy, the Premier League explained in a statement:

“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.”

Couple wed at Old Trafford

Ahead of the highly anticipated Premier League showdown, Legit.ng reported on a viral video capturing a young couple exchanging vows at Manchester United's iconic Old Trafford stadium.

The picturesque moment, which took place on Friday, November 1, saw the couple embrace a unique football-themed twist for their special day, sparking admiration among fans online.

Van Nistelrooy shares Erik ten Hag insights

Legit.ng further reported that Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy shared insights into Erik ten Hag’s response to his recent exit from the club.

After United's match against Leicester, van Nistelrooy confirmed that he spoke with ten Hag, who expressed deep disappointment over his departure.

Reflecting on their initial conversations when Ten Hag rejoined Manchester, the 48-year-old highlighted Ten Hag's strong dedication to the club.