Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has launched a scathing attack on the officials following his side’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, branding the decision to send off Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez “the worst” he has ever seen.
The pivotal moment arrived in the 39th minute at the Riverside Stadium. Villa’s Martinez rushed out of his area and collided with Middlesbrough’s forward, Emmanuel Latte Lath. After a lengthy consultation with his assistant, referee Tony Harrington showed the World Cup winner a straight red card.
Carrick did not hold back in his post-match assessment. “It’s an incredibly poor decision, one of the worst I’ve seen,” he stated. “I’m struggling to understand it. The goalkeeper comes out, he touches the ball, and there’s minimal contact. For me, it’s nowhere near a red card.”
The dismissal forced Villa into an early change, with substitute keeper Robin Olsen replacing Leon Bailey. Despite being a man down, the visitors broke the deadlock in the 87th minute. Morgan Rogers, a former Middlesbrough player, scored the only goal of the game to secure a late victory for Unai Emery’s side.
Carrick emphasized that the controversial decision fundamentally altered the contest. “It changed the game completely,” he said. “It’s a huge moment. We’re all for VAR and getting decisions right, but that was a really, really poor one today.”
The result leaves Middlesbrough 13th in the Championship table, while Aston Villa continue their push in the Premier League. The red card means Martinez will be suspended for Villa’s next domestic fixture.
