FIFA Imposes Ban on Argentina Goalkeeper Martinez for "Offensive Behavior"

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has announced that Emiliano "Dibu" Martinez, the 32-year-old goalkeeper for Aston Villa and the Argentina national team, has been banned for two matches by FIFA. This suspension comes as a result of what FIFA described as "offensive behaviour" and "violating principles of fair play."

The incidents leading to this disciplinary action occurred during and after Argentina's World Cup qualifier matches. On September 5th, following a 3-0 victory over Chile, Martinez was found to have violated FIFA's code of conduct by holding a replica of the Copa America trophy to his groin.

This act mirrored a similar celebration he performed with the Golden Glove trophy after Argentina's penalty shootout win against France in the 2022 World Cup final.

Further compounding his troubles, Martinez was also sanctioned for hitting a TV cameraman's camera with his gloves after Argentina's 2-1 defeat by Colombia on September 10th. The cameraman, Jhonny Jackson, reported feeling "assaulted" and expressed massive anger over the incident.

As a result of these actions, Martinez will miss Argentina's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela on October 10th and Bolivia on October 15th. Despite the ban, Argentina remains at the top of the South American qualifying table with 18 points from eight matches, holding a narrow lead over second-place Colombia, who trail by just two points.

The AFA has publicly expressed its dissatisfaction with FIFA's ruling, stating, "It should be noted that the Argentine Football Association expresses its absolute disagreement with the decision taken by the FIFA disciplinary committee." This sentiment underscores the tension between the national association and FIFA regarding the severity of the punishment.

Martinez, often referred to by his nickname "Dibu," which he earned due to his resemblance to a cartoon character from a 90s Argentine TV show, is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Known for his penalty-saving prowess, his absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Argentine squad in their crucial upcoming fixtures.