Featured Image Credit: Getty / Sky Sports
Topics: Manchester United, Lisandro Martinez, Football, Crystal Palace, Premier League
Ryan Smart
Topics: Manchester United, Lisandro Martinez, Football, Crystal Palace, Premier League
A Premier League panel has reached a unanimous verdict over whether to punish Lisandro Martinez for an incident during Manchester United's 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace.
The Argentinian was booked for a rash two-footed challenge on Daichi Kamada.
What counted in his favour, however, was that Martinez made no contact with the Japanese international.
A yellow card, rather than a red, was therefore given by the referee David Coote.
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And while yellow cards are not investigated by the Premier League itself, an independent panel decided to look back on the incident and decide whether to punish Martinez with retrospective action.
Now, as per ESPN, the Premier League's Independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel has unanimously sided with Coote's decision in only giving Martinez a yellow card.
As a result, Martinez will not be handed a suspension for any United games, although his original yellow card will still stand.
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The panel explained that the main reason why Martinez avoided stronger punishment was due to no contact being made, though they add that 'this type of challenge has no place on the pitch'.
They stated: "The action viewed in isolation is a ridiculous challenge. Martinez is so fortunate that he doesn't contact Kamada.
"The decision is supported as correct on the basis that the action by Martinez had been completed and no contact was made."
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After the original tackle on Saturday, the Premier League Match Centre Twitter account - which posts live updates from the VAR Hub at Stockley Park for each game - also explained why the Argentinian hadn't been sent off: "The referee issued a yellow card for Martinez for a challenge on Kamada.
"VAR checked for a potential red card and confirmed the referee's call of no red card, deeming this was a reckless challenge and made no contact with Kamada."