Argentina's World Cup-winning goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, has been handed a two-match ban by FIFA due to 'offensive behaviour' in two separate incidents. The 32-year-old Aston Villa star, known for his controversial celebrations, has been found guilty of violating FIFA's code of conduct and principles of fair play.
The first incident occurred during Argentina's World Cup qualifier win over Chile on September 5, where Martinez celebrated by holding a replica of the Copa America trophy to his groin. This gesture was reminiscent of his celebration with the Golden Glove trophy after Argentina's victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final, which also drew criticism.
The second incident took place on September 10, during Argentina's 2-1 loss to Colombia in a friendly match. Martinez was involved in an altercation where he hit a TV cameraman's camera with his gloves and was accused of slapping the cameraman. This behavior was met with boos from the Colombian crowd and further escalated the controversy surrounding Martinez.
FIFA's Disciplinary Action
FIFA's disciplinary committee reviewed both incidents and concluded that Martinez's actions were in violation of the principles of fair play. As a result, he will miss Argentina's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela on October 10 and Bolivia on October 15.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has expressed strong disagreement with FIFA's decision. In a statement, the AFA said, 'It should be noted that the Argentine Football Association expresses its absolute disagreement with the decision taken by the FIFA disciplinary committee.'
Impact on Argentina's World Cup Qualifiers
Martinez's suspension is a significant blow to Argentina, who are currently top of the South American qualifying table with 18 points after eight matches. Despite his controversial nature, Martinez has been a crucial figure for Argentina, contributing to their World Cup win in 2022 and consecutive Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.
The suspension, however, will not affect his club career with Aston Villa, as he is set to continue playing for the team in their upcoming matches, including a Premier League game against Ipswich Town and a Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
