Argentinian football star Emiliano Martinez has been handed a two-match suspension by FIFA for unsportsmanlike behavior. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed that the 32-year-old Aston Villa goalkeeper faced disciplinary action for violating fair play rules in two separate incidents.
Martinez first came under scrutiny after displaying a replica of the Copa America trophy in an inappropriate manner following Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Chile in a World Cup qualifier on September 5. This is not the first time Martinez has exhibited such behavior—he had similarly drawn criticism for his actions after winning the Golden Glove at the 2022 World Cup.
FIFA also sanctioned Martinez for an altercation after Argentina’s 2-1 loss to Colombia on September 10, where he allegedly hit a TV cameraman with his gloves.
In response, the AFA expressed its dissatisfaction with FIFA’s ruling, releasing a statement: “The Argentine Football Association expresses its absolute disagreement with the decision taken by the FIFA disciplinary committee.”
Martinez’s suspension means he will miss two crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela on October 10 and Bolivia on October 15. Argentina currently leads the South American qualifiers with 18 points after eight games, just ahead of Colombia by two points.
