Emi Martinez suspended for two matches during Argentina duty

Emiliano Martinez, the Aston Villa goalkeeper, has received a two-match suspension from FIFA due to incidents that occurred during his international duty with Argentina. The suspension will prevent him from participating in Argentina's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia next month. This decision comes after Martinez was found guilty of offensive behavior during matches against Chile and Colombia. Following Argentina's victory over Chile, he made a lewd gesture with a replica trophy, which drew criticism. Additionally, after Argentina's loss to Colombia, he struck a local television camera, leading to a complaint from the camera operator, Jhonny Jackson. The Argentine Football Association has expressed its disagreement with FIFA's ruling, defending Martinez's actions. Despite the suspension, Martinez remains eligible to play for Aston Villa in domestic competitions, where he is expected to start in their upcoming match against Ipswich Town. This situation highlights the ongoing scrutiny athletes face regarding their conduct on and off the field, especially in high-stakes international competitions.