Part of Michael Carrick’s appeal to Manchester United lay in his ability to be measured and mild-mannered. It was a trait he displayed in his playing days; he was the least likely member of the squad to say anything controversial. No wonder Carrick felt the ideal antidote to Ruben Amorim, who was just too quotable for his own good.
So Carrick has emerged as an unlikely outspoken critic of the officiating. Fresh from United’s complaint to PGMOL about the decisions in their 2-2 draw at Bournemouth came what he called “one of the worst decisions I have ever seen,” to dismiss Lisandro Martinez for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair in the 2-1 defeat to Leeds. Carrick also argued Noah Okafor’s opening goal should have been disallowed for a challenge by Calvert-Lewin on Leny Yoro; calling it a “forearm smash” which made it sound considerably more brutal than it was.
