FIFA suspends Argentine goalkeeper ‘Dibu’ Martínez for two games

Buenos Aires, FIFA suspended Argentina national soccer team goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez for two games for “offensive behavior” during the last window of matches for the South American qualifiers, the South American country’s federation said in a statement on Friday.

In this way, one of the stars of the current world champion and of America will not be able to be in Argentina’s matches against Venezuela and Bolivia in the search for qualification for the 2026 World Cup, in October.

“The footballer, Mr. Damián Emiliano Martínez, is declared responsible for his offensive behavior and his violation of the principles of fair play,” reported the Argentine Football Association (AFA) on its website.

The federation also indicated that the events for which the England Aston Villa goalkeeper was suspended occurred in the matches against Chile and Colombia, played weeks ago.

In the match against Chile, the first after winning the Copa América in the United States, Martínez celebrated the title by putting the trophy in his genital area, just as he had done after winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

While after the defeat against Colombia as a visitor, the 32-year-old goalkeeper hit a local television camera.

“It should be noted that the Argentine Football Association expresses its absolute disagreement with the decision made by the FIFA disciplinary commission,” the statement concluded.