Lisandro Martinez capitalises on let-off after resuming feud with Adama Traore in Man Utd win
Lisandro Martinez capitalises on let-off after resuming feud with Adama Traore in Man Utd win
Share:
Lisandro Martínez – discuss. He certainly left his stamp on this game as the Manchester United defender scored the only goal in a vital win over Fulham, showing his fierce competitive spirit. But was he fortunate to even be on the pitch?. Earlier the Argentine had jumped into a spiteful looking challenge on Adama Traoré – resuming a little feud between the pair – and reacted by claiming he was injured. Maybe there was no contact with the winger. But there looked to be intent.
Later there was pushing and shoving between Martínez and Traoré who had clashed during the fixture between the two clubs earlier this season, which United also won 1-0, with another late goal. “I sent him [Traoré] to the gym, no?” Martínez said after that game which provoked a reaction with Traoré jokingly tagging his opponent in an Instagram story saying “Don’t worry, we will meet again”.
They did here. And it was Martínez who came out on top, again, as he capitalised on his luck with his rash challenge going unpunished by referee Anthony Taylor and the VAR Jarred Gillett. In fairness to the officials the Uefa guidelines are that the action cannot be punished if the challenge stops before contact with an opponent. This was confirmed by the PGMOL who said it did not reach the threshold. Which, frankly, is a nonsense given the clear intent. So what do we have to do, wait for a serious injury? Wonder what Fifa president Gianni Infantino, in the crowd here at Craven Cottage, thinks of that?.
