‘EAGLE IS HUNTING’: EPL make verdict after fuming fans call Lisandro Martinez a ‘CRIMINAL’ for Man Utd star avoids red card as two-footed lunge over Crystal Palace player

FANS are convinced Lisandro Martinez deserved an early bath following an X-rated tackle against Crystal Palace.

The Man Utd defender enraged Palace supporters and players with a two-footed lunge on Daichi Kamada.

Lisandro Martinez escaped red after a lunge on Daichi Kamada

Lisandro Martinez escaped red after a lunge on Daichi Kamada

Both of Martinez's feet left the floor in the wild challenge

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Both of Martinez’s feet left the floor in the wild challenge

But the Man Utd star was only given a yellow card by David Coote

But the Man Utd star was only given a yellow card by David Coote

Martinez leapt into the wild challenge just after the hour mark of the 0-0 stalemate.

The Argentinian centre-back was looking to win the ball back on the edge of the Palace box as United pushed for the opener.

As Kamada attempted to clear, Martinez raced in, leaving the floor and jumping with both feet into the tackle.

Premier League releases statement as Man Utd star escapes punishment for shocking tackle - The Mirror US

Does Lisandro Martinez get lucky? Yellow for Manchester United defender

The 26-year-old landed on the ball, only for referee David Coote to immediately blow for a foul.

As slow-motion replays showed Martinez leave the ground, Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith gasped live on air: “I just don’t know why you would do that.”

Martinez did his best to look innocent as Coote brandished the yellow card.

But plenty of viewers at home felt the Utd star should have seen red.

One fan raged on X: “Lisandro Martinez is a criminal.”

Another said: “Lisandro Martinez should absolutely be given a red card for that tackle. Whether there was contact or not that’s endangering an opponent.”

While a third commented: “Lisandro Martinez should not be getting away with this type of tackle, the intention alone worth a red card.”

And a fourth added: “Wild, dangerous, completely out of control. The intent was there to seriously hurt Kamada.”

Martinez's tackle was described as "reckless" by the Premier League

Martinez’s tackle was described as “reckless” by the Premier League

The Premier League confirmed VAR officials had reviewed the tackle.

But they deemed there was “no contact” with Kamada, upholding the decision of a yellow card.

The Premier League Match Centre X clarified the decision on social media: “The referee issued a yellow card to 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.”

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp didn’t hold back after the game, describing the tackle as “ridiculous.”

Redknapp said: “I’d love to tell you [what he’s doing].

“It was a tackle we saw many years ago. I don’t know what you think you’ll gain by jumping in with two feet.

“If he lands on his foot, it’s a straight red. The only reason he doesn’t is because he misses the foot.

“He’s lucky. I don’t understand what the benefit is. It’s a ridiculous challenge.”

Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner said: “He touched the ball and not the shin of our player because I think then he’d break his leg.”

Days after scoring seven goals past Barnsley in the League Cup, Erik Ten Hag’s team was left unhappy in South East London when they drew blank.

Though they had the majority of the possession, United was unable to convert any of it into goals.

With seven points from five games, the draw drops them to eleventh place in the Premier League standings.

In the meantime, Palace is still in the hunt for their season’s first league victory.