Frank Christian
Emiliano Martinez, the Aston Villa goalkeeper, may face a suspension from representing Argentina following a troubling incident during their 2-1 defeat to Colombia.
Despite the loss in Barranquilla, Lionel Scaloni’s squad continues to lead the CONMEBOL standings for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
After the match, Martinez was involved in a noteworthy situation with a journalist, who alleges that the experienced goalkeeper slapped him.
Widespread social media footage appears to show Martinez knocking the camera of Jhonny Jackson to the ground, although Jackson claims he was also hit by the Villa player.
No jodan con el Dibu… pic.twitter.com/RcCB8Tbt9j
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) September 10, 2024
“Out of nowhere, he slapped me,” Jackson recounted to RCN Deportes, expressing his anger about the incident while emphasizing he was simply doing his job as a cameraman.
Despite feeling upset, Jackson expressed that he did not wish to escalate the situation, reaching out to Martinez in a conciliatory message: “Dibu, my brother, it’s all good. Everyone has faced defeat, and I understand this loss meant a lot to you. Let’s move forward.”
The incident has drawn the attention of Colombia’s sports journalists association (ACORD), which has appealed to FIFA and CONMEBOL for action.
ACORD’s president, Faiver Hoyos Hernandez, stated, “As the leading journalistic authority, we want FIFA and CONMEBOL to impose a significant penalty against Emiliano Martínez, who should set a better example for younger generations.”
A source from CONMEBOL confirmed that the situation will be reviewed, though no official statements have been made by them or Martinez at this time.
Meanwhile, Martinez has returned to the UK in preparation for Aston Villa’s Premier League match against Everton on September 14.
