The Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has unanimously backed the decision not to show a red card to Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.
Referee David Coote booked Martínez for his challenge on Daichi Kamada in the 63rd minute. The VAR, Chris Kavanagh, checked the tackle, which saw the Argentina international leave the ground and jump in with both feet, but opted not to send Coote to the pitchside monitor to review his decision.
Guidance issued by UEFA, and followed by PGMOL and the Premier League, states that if there is no contact with a challenge of this nature, only a yellow card should be shown. Even though Martínez left the ground and appeared to stamp down, he brought his feet down onto the ball rather than the opponent.
The KMI Panel’s findings, seen by ESPN, appear to contradictory in nature — though they follow the guidance issued. The KMI Panel stated that “the action viewed in isolation is a ridiculous challenge. Martinez is so fortunate that he doesn’t contact Kamada.” It went on to add that the decision was “supported as correct on the basis that the action by Martinez had been completed and no contact was made, however the panel felt very strongly that this type of challenge has no place on the pitch.”
Meanwhile, Michael Oliver’s decision to show a second yellow card to Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard for delaying the restart in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Manchester City was also supported, by a vote of 4-1. Erling Haaland throwing the ball onto the back of the head of Gabriel Magalhães was not considered to be a key match incident.
