JUST IN: Argentine goalkeeper Martinez banned for ‘offensive behaviour’

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on Saturday that Emiliano Martinez, the goalkeeper for Argentina during the World Cup, has been suspended by FIFA for two games due to “offensive behavior.”

In two different occasions, the 32-year-old Aston Villa player was also found guilty of “violating principles of fairplay.”

After the World Cup qualification victory over Chile on September 5, Martinez was deemed to have broken FIFA’s code of conduct by holding a facsimile of the Copa America trophy to his groin.

Martinez had already done this with the Golden Glove trophy for best goalkeeper during Argentina’s penalty-filled victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final.

FIFA also sanctioned him for hitting a TV cameraman’s camera with his gloves after their 2-1 defeat by Colombia on September 10.

The AFA expressed their dissatisfaction with the FIFA ruling.

“It should be noted that the Argentine Football Association expresses its absolute disagreement with the decision taken by the FIFA disciplinary committee,” they said in a statement.

As a result of the decision Martinez — also a key member of the Argentina side that won the Copa America in July, as well as the 2021 edition — will miss the World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela on October 10 and Bolivia on October 15.

Argentina are top of the South American qualifying table with 18 points after eight matches. Colombia are just two points behind.