FIFA has imposed a two-match ban on Argentina’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for “offensive behaviour.”
According to the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Emiliano, 32, Aston Villa goalkeeper, was also found guilty of “violating principles of fair play” in two incidents.
The incidents in question include Martinez’s inappropriate gesture with a replica of the Copa America trophy after a World Cup qualifier victory over Chile on September 5. This behaviour was not an isolated event, as Martinez had made a similar gesture with the Golden Glove trophy after Argentina’s 2022 World Cup final win over France.
Additionally, Martinez faced repercussions for striking a TV cameraman’s camera with his gloves following a 2-1 loss to Colombia on September 10. The AFA has publicly expressed its dissatisfaction with FIFA’s disciplinary actions.
Due to this ruling, Martinez will be absent from Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela on October 10 and Bolivia on October 15. Currently, Argentina leads the South American qualifiers with 18 points after eight games, closely followed by Colombia with 16 points.
