Old Trafford witnessed a classic Premier League rivalry reignite last night, but for Manchester United, it was a night of frustration. A 2-1 defeat to Leeds United was compounded by a controversial red card that has sparked major debate.

The flashpoint came in the second half when United defender Lisandro Martinez was dismissed after a VAR review. Replays showed Martinez briefly grabbing the ponytail of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. While the contact was minimal, referee Paul Tierney deemed it violent conduct, leaving United to play the final half-hour with ten men.

Manager Michael Carrick labeled it "one of the worst decisions he'd seen," a sentiment echoed by club legend Rio Ferdinand. The former defender took to social media to demand an explanation from the refereeing body, PGMOL, highlighting a perceived lack of consistency.

Ferdinand pointed to an earlier incident where Calvert-Lewin's elbow made contact with United's Leny Yoro in the build-up to Leeds's opening goal, which went unpunished. For United's camp, the two contrasting calls were a bitter pill to swallow on a night where their performance already fell short.

Despite a late rally with ten men, the damage was done. The result leaves United reflecting on a costly defeat, with the fallout from the officiating decisions adding significant fuel to the fire at Old Trafford.