16 Jul 2026 06:31:18
This may be seen as controversial by some but I think it is important
Lisandro Martinez was seen holding a banner reading "The Falkland Islands are Argentinian".
Get him out of our club.
16 Jul 2026 07:51:00
I know it's controversial, but that's how Argentinians see it. It's not something that warrants a reaction like that.
16 Jul 2026 07:44:16
What are you on about ?
If an Irish man held a banner asking for the 6 counties back, would you want him out to?
{Ed001's Note - I don't think it is the same thing, Argentina has never held the Falklands has it? Argentina didn't exist until after Britain took hold of them and it had never colonised them either. They were empty space. They are not asking for them back, they are saying that as it is near to us it must be ours.}
16 Jul 2026 08:03:46
Well one things for sure ed001. It ain't England's ? but that's never stopped them before.
{Ed001's Note - not sure it really matters, it was an empty rock before so why is it sure it is not England's? Personally don't care, but the Argentinians only want it now to stop anyone else having it.}
16 Jul 2026 08:13:53
They want the oil rights as well.
I have Irish heritage, so Angel doesn't need to try to lecture me on that.
This is England, the country Martinez works in, and he is paid by a club in England from the money generated at an English club. He disrespects this country, that's simple for me.
No issues with Argentinians. I stood in OT after the Beckham 1998 abuse and chanted Argentina, but waving that sign last night was utterly wrong. As a Mancunian, whose family have served in the forces at varying stages, it's like having a malcontent in the ranks.
Sell him now.
16 Jul 2026 09:13:51
He's got Irish heritage, as does half the country lol. No one's trying to lecture you, Red Man. ? You're the one trying to lecture: "This is England, works and pays tax in this country, simple, get him out of my club, sell him now."
Footballers are vessels that will come and go, and he will play in a different country soon enough.
He has his beliefs just like you have yours.
16 Jul 2026 09:21:39
Sell him? Makes me laugh how many people suddenly care about the Falklands when we play Argentina. I would be very surprised if you have ever mentioned them previously in any post. They shouldn't have held the banner, I'm sure a fan just gave it to them, but what an overreaction to say, 'get him out of the club'.
{Ed001's Note - to be fair, this is not the first time they have held the banner, so I doubt it was just a fan giving it to them. They were fined recently for holding another banner with the same wording. They knew exactly what they were doing. I don't care about the Falklands or England, but to suggest the Argentines were innocent is nonsense, just like they aren't when they repeatedly sing racist songs.}
16 Jul 2026 09:33:16
Reminder: the Argentina players made it about the Falklands by carrying that banner. It is a political statement, banned by FIFA I believe. Let's see if FIFA have any guts about it.
Not lecturing anyone. My opinion is the club should sell this summer, don't want him near the club after that.
I would remove Martinez's work permit, frankly.
16 Jul 2026 09:38:15
It's a few players airing their opinions. I bet they couldn't even tell you why it's so important who controls the land. Most of us couldn't. They are proud of their country, and, like most footballers, not particularly well educated.
Forget about it, and certainly to ask for Martinez to be sold is a huge overreaction. He always seems to try hard for Utd. That's what he is paid to do. End of.
{Ed001's Note - that is untrue about footballers. It is mainly in the UK where they are not well educated. Most countries have standards that they have to maintain educationally to advance within the academy system. Particularly in Eastern Europe.}
16 Jul 2026 09:44:11
He's Argentinian expressing a political view held by many Argentinians. You can disagree with him, but wanting him gone for a lawful political opinion seems excessive. We employ players from all over the world with different views on history, politics and territorial disputes. What matters is how he performs for the club, not whether he shares our opinion on the Falklands.
16 Jul 2026 09:48:51
When both he and Romero were on yellows, I thought we were sorted! Alas, didn't pan out that way.
16 Jul 2026 09:56:40
Lolll and the irony of english people talking about false claimss lolllll. The english looted the whole world to be where they are lolllll. london was a s.ithole tooo before they went around takin people from around the world to fill it up! Lolll
16 Jul 2026 10:12:45
Singh, that is such a lazy, simplistic argument that's always wheeled out to score a few moral integrity points.
What you're referring to happened centuries ago. Not a single living English person was around to make those decisions.
Holding people today personally responsible for the actions of long-dead governments is hardly a serious argument.
If we're going to discuss modern issues, let's do it on their own merits instead of reaching for "England bad because empire" every time. It's a cliché, not an argument.
16 Jul 2026 10:53:30
Let's keep the talk on Martinez actions.
Yes, he can have an opinion, we all have one. But if you express certain ones you can even end up in jail.
It's not an illegal opinion. Doing it on a pitch breaks FIFA rules, so it's up to them. I suspect they will do little; a fine.
They won't want to upset the Messi and Argentina story.
My anger is about one of our players showing disrespect to the shirt, to the club and to our country. It embarrasses our great club.
Get Martinez out of United for what he did last night.
16 Jul 2026 11:05:14
Is this becoming a political site... It's the same as saying it's wrong for Argentina to make football political; it's plainly wrong. But, as I have said many times, get rid of Martinez because of his injuries and being a poor CB in the EPL before even worrying about political views.
16 Jul 2026 11:12:49
Give him a new 5 year contract. ??
16 Jul 2026 11:14:22
He can have the view, can hold his opinion, but do not disrespect our club and this country by doing that. Stepped over the line completely.
Sell him for football reasons, fine, Atletico Madrid was mentioned. Just get him out.
16 Jul 2026 11:23:10
Lol a massive overreaction here.
16 Jul 2026 11:36:34
Agreed, spenno. It is a massive overreaction.
Martinez wasn't acting as a representative of Manchester United when he did it. He was representing Argentina at an Argentina match, expressing a view connected to an issue that is deeply political and emotional in his own country. Whether people agree with that view or not is a separate discussion.
Saying he has disrespected Manchester United or the shirt feels like a stretch. He didn't make the statement while playing for United, wearing a United kit, at a United event, or speaking on behalf of the club. The only connection to United is that he happens to be one of our players.
If every player had to be judged by every political or national view they hold away from their club duties, we'd be opening a can of worms that football clubs simply can't manage.
Players represent their countries, cultures, and personal beliefs outside of club football all the time.
You can disagree with the message, find it provocative, or think it was the wrong place to make that point. That's fair enough. But calling for United to sell him because of something he did while representing Argentina, rather than Manchester United, seems disproportionate.
For me, the question isn't whether people agree with his view. It's whether he brought Manchester United into it. I don't think he did. He acted as an Argentine international expressing an Argentine political position, not as a Manchester United representative.
16 Jul 2026 12:02:25
Remove his work permit? I don't think they can do that.
16 Jul 2026 12:22:57
Agree, Kurtis.
This is nothing to do with Utd.
16 Jul 2026 10:56:32
As the great Eddie Izzard said.
"We need it for strategic sheep purposes"
Incidentally for the anglers amongst you great fishing in the Falklands!
16 Jul 2026 14:26:53
Redman your talking nonsense.
I what world do you think they can revoke his work permit. He broke a work rule policy not a law.
He was not representing united last night.
Silly thing for him to do but its England not north Korea.
He was silly as it brings heat on the squad but I think they like it like that. You often tell people you understand business. Obvious not so well up on employment law.
We can't sell him for what he did or we will end up in court and lose our case and the club will lose face you can't bully employees nor can you terminate their employment for the reasons your stating.
Did your relations serve in Blair illegal invasions. Perhaps they are the ones who should be in court for war crimes. Whet they pay of the many British soldiers charged with those types of offences?
16 Jul 2026 17:22:34
TW
Bit naive there. We are not sacking him, that would end up in court. We can sell him by accepting an offer, there were already rumours we were thinking of selling. We don't have to make our reasons public.
The UK PM has, I believe, issued a statement on this, so it isn't something to be dismissed lightly.
He broke FIFA rules, but it is a slap in the face for this country, the country he plays in and who pays him. He has a responsibility to his employers and that's United.
Sorry, don't understand the last paragraph.
16 Jul 2026 18:04:48
Redman, Trump, you said you would remove his work permit.
Who is being naive?
You said the club should sell him after his actions last night.
You've made ridiculous comments.
For what reason would you remove his work permit, Redman, Trump?
You made emotional statements without engaging your brain, but you're not likely to admit that, and you're quick to call out a DOF for emotional decisions.
You can't, nor can anybody, revoke his work permit for his actions last night; that's totally ridiculous.
What sort of way is that to treat law-abiding people when they do something you don't agree with? That's just a disgusting outlook on any humanitarian front.
Did your relatives that served in the forces fight for democracy and freedom of speech; are they pro or anti dictatorships?
I'm very surprised at your stance and recommendations. It's exactly that type of thought process that people fought a 2nd WW to get rid of.
I agree with you on a lot of United related topics, but one thing for sure is you've said he has gone a step too far last night, and you've suggested actions that are a whole marathon of footsteps too far.
In his statement, did your outgoing PM say any of the ridiculous things you've suggested? I very much doubt it, because I'm sure he understands people's rights when they live in a democracy.
16 Jul 2026 17:40:55
Iraq. One million dead.
And Red Man, what's with the "our club" nonsense? Jewish American owners plus a guy who lives in the tax haven of Monaco!
Martinez is a great player indulging in a bit of over exuberance.
Get over the sour grapes! You lost to the better team.
Anyway, I thought the Malvinas first belonged to France? Could be wrong but who gives a toss?
16 Jul 2026 20:08:48
Start with Patrick.
No sour grapes. They won, our manager was very poor and has to shoulder a lot of blame. My point was about what one of our players did after. That is unacceptable.
Learn some history: first recorded landing by an Englishman in the 1690s, and never been part of Argentina.
16 Jul 2026 20:23:59
TW,
I am neither orange, nor do I like Trump.
In terms of work permit, no idea what terms are in it, politicians are involved, so who knows? Personally, I would rather we sell and get good money.
Last night was a game of football. Politics are banned by FIFA; some have been instantly banned.
My point is last night breached rules, and puts those Argentinian players who play in the UK in a very difficult place. It puts our club in a very difficult place, potentially putting other players at higher risk. It should never have happened. He should have thought about the consequences.
16 Jul 2026 21:44:49
You've done more than that, Red Man. You indulged in nationalistic rhetoric against him. You cannot get angry at one guy making a political statement and then, on the other hand, suggest what would be a complete fascist act to punish him for it.
If democracy is to stand for anything, it is freedom of opinion. You generally come across like a good sort, so I'm saying this more to recapitulate why you're getting such blowback.
16 Jul 2026 22:46:15
Funniest thing of all in the above comments is someone saying he is a great footballer!