Frank Christian
Emiliano Martinez, the goalkeeper for Aston Villa, is set to miss Argentina’s important 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this October due to a two-game suspension handed down by FIFA.
This disciplinary action stems from two incidents involving Martinez’s behavior after matches with the Argentine national team.
The veteran goalie will stay in the UK while his teammates begin training camp in preparation for the qualifiers.
Reasons Behind Emiliano Martinez’s Suspension
Martinez’s suspension arises from an unusual episode following Argentina’s 2-1 defeat to Colombia in September, where he allegedly swatted away a TV camera.
According to journalist Jhonny Jackson, the incident was clarified to have involved the camera, not a physical confrontation with him.
This issue was escalated to CONMEBOL and FIFA by the Colombian Association of Sports Journalists (ACORD).
His suspension consists of one match for the incident involving Jackson and another for making an inappropriate gesture during Argentina’s home win against Chile on September 5.
The celebration followed Argentina’s presentation of their Copa America trophy in front of their fans and is what led to the sanction.
Which Matches Will Emiliano Martinez Miss?
Martinez’s two-match suspension will affect Argentina’s qualifying matches against Venezuela on October 10 and Bolivia on October 15.
It is important to note that this suspension applies only to international matches, meaning he will still be available for club duties with Aston Villa.
Emiliano Martinez’s Response to the Suspension
Martinez spoke about his suspension ahead of the upcoming UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich on October 2.
He acknowledged the FIFA ruling and expressed regret if his actions were hurtful, emphasizing that his celebration was meant to delight children and not to cause offense.
Acepto la sanción de la @FIFAcom y pido disculpas si ofendí a alguien, el momento de celebración es para hacer sonreír a muchos chicos y no faltar el respeto a nadie.
Apoyaré a mis amigos en esta fecha FIFA con el dolor de no poder estar pic.twitter.com/X4geHUDnUj— Emi Martínez (@emimartinezz1) September 30, 2024
He stated, “I will be cheering on my teammates during this FIFA window, despite the disappointment of not being present.”
Martinez further clarified that it was never his intention to offend anyone, and he acknowledged that a gesture that was meant to be celebratory might have been misinterpreted. He is committed to focusing on winning championships with both Argentina and Aston Villa moving forward.
