Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is finding himself in the firing line this week as he starts a ban handed to him by FIFA.
And the latest to join in on that is former colleague Óscar Córdoba, via Infobae, who has criticised the Argentina goalkeeper today for his behaviour on the pitch.
The Aston Villa star has been banned for two games by FIFA for ‘offensive behaviour’ after incidents against Chile and Colombia in September.
Martínez repeated his infamous celebrations from the 2022 World Cup by holding a replica of the Copa America trophy against his crotch in the 3-0 win over Chile on 6 September.
He followed that up by hitting a cameraman with his gloves as the cameraman approached him on the pitch after the 2-1 defeat by Colombia on 10 September.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has already called out the Aston Villa star for his actions, publically admitting that they can’t afford to be losing such a key player to suspensions such as this and urging him to change.
Now Córdoba has added his voice to the chorus, admitting he can’t understand how his former colleague behaves.
“I understand that he is a great goalkeeper. Nobody takes away his characteristics and the great level that he shows with the National Team and in England,” Infobae report him saying to DSports.
“I don’t share some thoughts because it is a form of social, cultural and family structure. I was taught how an athlete should behave. More so if he is from the National Team and that is externalised for the boys and girls.
“I am giving the example to these kids who want to be the Dibu Martínez or Óscar Córdoba of the past. If his behaviour is not in accordance with the true behaviour that an athlete should have, it is his problem. Mine is another.
“I just don’t share his way of celebrating. That is what it means to the Argentine people to recognise him as an idol. I don’t share what he does on the field and in his celebrations.”
