By Sergio Silva
Sep 27, 2024, 9:10 PM EDT
The Argentine Football Association confirmed the two-match ban it received Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez by FIFA as a result of its behavior in the last double date of the South American qualifiers towards the 2026 World Cup.
The sanction, which was announced this Friday, leaves the Albiceleste out of the matches that the Albiceleste will hold against Venezuela in Maturín on October 10 and five days later against Bolivia in Buenos Aires corresponding to the double date of matches that will take place next month. .
“The footballer, Damián Emiliano Martínez, is declared responsible for his offensive behavior and his violation of the principles of fair play”commented the AFA in a statement referring to the punishment received by the world champion goalkeeper in Qatar 2022.
Why are “Dibu” Martínez sanctioned?
The FIFA Disciplinary Commission punished Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez for the gestures he had during the last double matchday of the South American qualifiers in which Argentina beat Chile in Buenos Aires (3-0) and lost against Colombia in Barranquilla (2-1) this September.
After the duel against the Chileans, which took place at the Monumental stadium in the Argentine capital on September 5, the goalkeeper took the 2024 Copa América trophy won this year to his private parts, repeating a gesture he made after winning the World Cup in Qatar 2022.
Several days later, in Barranquilla, the player ended up attacking a cameraman after the defeat against the Colombians. After the game, the English Aston Villa goalkeeper hit the cameraman while he was recording him on the field while the players were leaving.
The loss of Emiliano Martínez is a hard blow for the Argentina National Team, which has the goalkeeper as one of its pillars amid the streak of good results that has allowed it to win titles since its coronation in the 2021 Copa América in Brazil.
The Aston Villa player, who was surely going to be included in Lionel Scaloni’s call for the double date next month, will not have to make the trip and will be able to stay in England resting in order to comply with the sanction imposed by FIFA .
The Albiceleste is the current leader of the classification in the South American qualifiers after having played the first eight dates in which they have a record of six wins and a couple of losses, the most recent against Colombia, which with 16 points is two points away. from the top.
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