Argentina goalkeeper Martinez handed two-game ban

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been given a two-game international ban for breaching FIFA's disciplinary code, the South American country's football association said on Friday, reported Xinhua.

The 32-year-old was punished for shoving a cameraman to the ground after Argentina's 2-1 FIFA World Cup qualifying loss to Colombia in Barranquilla on September 10 and for holding a replica Copa America trophy near his groin after a 3-0 win over Chile five days earlier.

The Argentina Football Association (AFA) criticized the ruling but did not say if it would lodge an appeal.

"It should be noted that the AFA expresses its absolute disagreement with the decision taken by the FIFA disciplinary committee," it said.

Martinez will be unavailable for Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela on October 10 and Bolivia five days later.

The Aston Villa player also stirred controversy in 2022 when he held the World Cup trophy near his crotch after the Albiceleste secured world football's most important trophy in Qatar.