Former Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez has been suspended for two matches with Argentina for “offensive behaviour” over the September international break.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa reacts during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on August 24, 2024 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
The BBC report that Aston Villa goalkeeper and former Arsenal player Emi Martinez will miss Argentina’s next two matches after receiving a ban from FIFA for offensive behaviour.
Martinez was involved in a couple of incidents over the September international break.
First he held a replica Copa America trophy against his crotch following a win over Chile, repeating a similar pose of his at the 2022 World Cup, then he hit a camera as a cameraman approached him after Argentina’s 2-1 defeat to Colombia.
TOPSHOT – Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez poses with the FIFA Golden Glove award during the trophy ceremony at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup final football match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 18, 2022. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
FIFA deemed the two incidents to be offensive, and have banned Martinez for Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia in October.
The Argentine Football Association have come out against the suspension, writing: “It should be noted that the Argentine Football Association expresses its absolute disagreement with the decision taken by the FIFA disciplinary committee.”
The AFA add that Martinez has only been “declared” responsible “despite the defence made by the player and the Argentine Football Association” themselves.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: Emiliano Martinez and John McGinn of Aston Villa react after the draw in the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on December 22, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Martinez will remain available for club football, and he’ll be relieved at least about that.
After Villa take on Ipswich Town on Sunday, they play Bayern Munich on Wednesday and then Manchester United next weekend. This wasn’t a week of football to miss.
