Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez handed two-match ban for 'offensive behaviour'
Emiliano Martinez has been hit with a two-match suspension by FIFA after two separate incidents which occurred while he was away on international duty with Argentina earlier this month
by Matthew Cooper · The MirrorAston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been suspended for two games by FIFA and will miss Argentina's upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Martinez will be absent when Argentina face Venezuala and Bolivia next month as they aim to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Argentina currently sit top of the standings and are on track to defend the trophy they won in Qatar in 2022.
However, FIFA have sanctioned Martinez for "offensive behaviour" over incidents in games against Chile and Colombia earlier this month. Following Argentina's 3-0 win over Chile, their first match since winning the Copa America, Martinez celebrated by making a lewd gesture with a replica trophy.
After Argentina were beaten 2-1 by Colombia four days later, Martinez was seen striking a local television camera and causing it to fall to the floor. The camera operator, Jhonny Jackson, later told Colombian media: "Out of the blue he slapped me.
"I felt angry, very angry. I was working, just like he was. He was playing and I was shooting with my camera." Jackson also sent a message to the goalkeeper, stating: "Dibu, my brother, how are you?
"I am Jhonny Jackson, the cameraman you assaulted in the match against Colombia. I wanted to tell you it is all good, my brother. Everyone has lost a match in their life. This defeat clearly meant a lot to you. But look ahead, Dibu."
And Martinez has now been sanctioned, with a statement from the Argentine Football Association reading: "Despite the defense made by the player and the Argentine Football Association, the Disciplinary Commission of the governing body of World Football made the following decision:
"Martinez is declared responsible for his offensive behaviour and his violation of the principles of fair play (art. 13 CDF). It should be noted that the Argentine Football Association expresses its absolute disagreement with the decision taken by the FIFA disciplinary committee."
The suspension has no effect on Martinez's availability for Aston Villa and he is set to start in goal for Unai Emery's side when they face newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday.
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