Martinez sent off after 83 seconds of fouls as Man Utd lose 2-0 at Chelsea
Lisandro Martinez was sent off after two fouls inside 83 seconds as Manchester United lost 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 31 October 2026, leaving Michael Carrick's side to finish the match with 10 men.
Martinez walked slowly and silently to the tunnel amid whistles and jeers, after a brief word from Jonny Evans on the touchline. The 28-year-old, part of the Argentina squad that won the World Cup in 2022 and reached the final last summer, had criticised United's summer recruitment 18 days earlier; at Stamford Bridge his dismissal became the defining moment of the game.
United had produced an improved first-half performance and squandered several chances, with Bruno Fernandes and Amad among those off target and Chelsea keeper Mike Penders making two key saves. Even when Morgan Rogers gave Chelsea a second-half lead, visiting supporters still believed a comeback was possible until Martinez's rapid double offence.
In the space of one minute and 23 seconds Martinez, already on a booking, committed two fouls that left United 2-0 down and reduced to 10 men; he was sent off with 27 minutes of normal time remaining. The red card followed an incident as Estevao swung over a corner and Martinez, attempting to block off Wesley Fofana at the far post, raised his elbow and caught the defender in the face.
The contact was missed in real time, but video assistant referee James Bell advised referee Peter Bankes to go to the screen and the decision to dismiss Martinez was upheld. World Cup final official Darren Cann described the challenge: "He jumped into him, making no attempt to play the ball and not even looking at the ball as it came in from the corner," Cann told BBC Sport. "Martinez was rightly sent off for two bookable offences, as well as conceding a needless penalty for the reckless challenge on Fofana."
Carrick said afterwards: "I've not seen it back, so I don't know if it was or not" adding "it's a big moment in the game" and that "The second goal and losing a man at that stage had a big influence on it, for sure." He also acknowledged the need to move on, saying: "There's no words I'm going to explain to you now that makes any difference," and "It's not going to change it. We've got to move forward and win football matches, it's as simple as that. The way they went about it and played, the quality of football and the way we played in the first half definitely gives encouragement, and we've got to take that."
Pundits were critical: former England and Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport, "At 1-0 down United are still in a decent position. You're still in the game. At 2-0 and down to 10 men, effectively the game is over. [After a red card] you are out on the pitch thinking 'you've just made our life so much harder'. Sometimes you can go [back into the dressing room] raging. If the player sent off holds his hands up and says 'sorry, boys, I've let you down' it can diffuse the situation but the issue is that Martinez is making mistake after mistake at the moment." Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole said on TNT Sports: "In a Man Utd shirt, he's just at the scene of the crime too often," adding "Whatever the next Man Utd phase is, I think Martinez's time at the club has run its course."
United avoided the ignominy of a third successive three-goal defeat only because a VAR decision ruled out Estevao's effort for offside, but Martinez's red card means he will be suspended for next Sunday's Premier League match with Aston Villa at Old Trafford. The result extended United's winless run to nine games in all competitions, their worst sequence since 1988-89, and left them close to dropping into the relegation zone for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson's early days.
United will welcome Serie A outfit Roma to Old Trafford on Tuesday, knowing they need a win to keep their Champions League qualification hopes realistic.
