Lisandro Martinez could get UK visa revoked

Lisandro Martinez has been an influential defender for Manchester United throughout his four years at the club so far.

The central defender, who joined United from Ajax, has made 110 appearances across four seasons with the club, scoring three goals.

More recently, he also played a crucial role in Michael Carrick’s interim managerial spell at the club, featuring in crucial games as the team secured Champions League qualification ahead of next season.

Events in the World Cup have dominated Argentina, however, with Martinez at the centre of this after he was called up to the squad before the tournament started.

Some have called FIFA out for corruption and favouritism in Argentina’s advantage whilst the holding up of a banner relating to the Falkland Islands has enraged large sections of the football world.

FIFA are continuing to investigate the latter incident, stating that “Fifa’s independent disciplinary committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps”.

A potential new punishment has now emerged as a result of the incident with Lisandro Martinez’s UK visa, which allows him to play in England, at risk.

Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Margaret Thatcher, who deployed British forces to take part the Falkland Islands in 1982, spoke to the Express about the situation.

“Every Argentine player in the English Premier League who took part in this ugly anti-British display should be stripped of their UK work visa. There should be zero tolerance for this,” he said.

Asma Bashir, immigration expert and co-founder of Centuro Global, stated that the Home Office does have the powers to cancel a person’s immigration if their presence is “not conducive to the public good,” and this is not limited to criminals.

She also said that “it is highly unlikely that displaying the ‘Falkland Islands are Argentine’ banner would, by itself, justify cancelling a Premier League player’s visa.”

“The statement is plainly provocative and politically sensitive, but it reflects Argentina’s established territorial position and does not, on its face, advocate violence, criminality or hatred”, she continued.

“The law does not normally permit immigration powers to be used simply to punish a foreign national for expressing an unpopular or offensive political opinion.

“Cancellation on that basis alone would be vulnerable to challenge on proportionality and freedom-of-expression grounds.”

Whilst it is extremely unlikely, Lisandro Martinez and other Argentine Premier League players spotted with the banners could face their visas being cancelled as a result of the incident.

If this was to occur, it may provide a major hole in Manchester United’s defense whilst subsequently forcing the club to act in the transfer market.