Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was accused of “slapping” a TV cameraman following the defeat
Following Argentina’s 2-1 World Cup qualifier defeat by Colombia, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has been accused of slapping a cameraman.
Following the game at the Estadio Metropolitano in Barranquilla, footage appeared to show the 32-year-old hitting a camera and knocking it to the floor.
The man holding the camera, Jhonny Jackson, accused Martínez of slapping him out of frustration over the defeat, with the goalkeeper clearly annoyed by the cameraman’s close proximity.
“Out of the blue he slapped me,” Jackson told RCN Deportes, referring to Martinez by his Argentine nickname Dibú.
Saya berasa marah, sangat marah. I did my work exactly as he did. He was acting.
He also wrote to Martínez, who won the World Cup, saying: “Dibú, my brother, how are you?” I am Jhonny Jackson, the cameraman you assaulted during the game against Colombia. I wanted to inform you, my brother, that everything is well. In their lives, everyone has lost a match. Anda jelas merasakan kesan yang besar daripada kekalahan ini. Namun, lihat ke depan, Dibú.
Acord, kumpulan jurugambar sukan Colombia, meminta Fifa memberikan hukuman kepada Martínez atas tindakannya. In the past, footballers have been suspended for similar incidents, and the Villa goalkeeper could face an international ban.
Martínez had assaulted freedom of expression, said Faiver Hoyos Hernández, president of Acord, in a statement.
“Acord wants Fifa to produce an exemplary sanction against Mr Emiliano Dibú Martínez, who is no role model for new generations,” said the statement.
Martínez dan organisasi bola sepak South American Conmebol tidak membuat sebarang kenyataan.
Argentina mendahului South American World Cup qualifying dengan 18 points selepas 8 permainan, dua points lebih tinggi daripada Colombia. Semua pasukan mempunyai dua perlawanan tambahan dalam peringkat kebangsaan pada bulan berikutnya.
