عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

FIFA Suspends Argentina Goalkeeper for 2 Matches in World Cup Qualifying

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds a ball while warming up prior to a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds a ball while warming up prior to a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
TT
TT

FIFA Suspends Argentina Goalkeeper for 2 Matches in World Cup Qualifying

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds a ball while warming up prior to a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds a ball while warming up prior to a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Argentina's soccer association (AFA) said on Friday that FIFA suspended goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez for two matches of South American World Cup qualifying in October.
The decision rules out the 32-year-old from official games in the round-robin competition against Venezuela and Bolivia on Oct. 10 and 15.
AFA said in a statement that FIFA's disciplinary commission sanctioned Martínez due to incidents in two World Cup qualifying matches against Chile and Colombia earlier this month. The soccer body did not describe which incidents led to the punishment, The Associated Press reported.
Martínez made an obscene gesture after his team's 3-0 win against Chile by holding the Copa America trophy close to his genitals, as he did after the South American team lifted the World Cup title in Qatar in the end of 2022.
Later, he slapped a local cameraman after Argentina's 2-1 defeat against Colombia in Barranquilla.
Argentina's soccer body said it “absolutely disagrees” with FIFA's decision.
Argentina leads South American World Cup qualifying with 18 points after eight games, followed by Colombia (16) and Uruguay (15).

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Álvarez Scores Late to Give Atletico Madrid 1-0 Win over Celta Vigo

Atletico's Julian Alvarez celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid, in Vigo, Spain, 26 September 2024. EPA/SALVADOR SAS
Atletico's Julian Alvarez celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid, in Vigo, Spain, 26 September 2024. EPA/SALVADOR SAS
TT
TT

Álvarez Scores Late to Give Atletico Madrid 1-0 Win over Celta Vigo

Atletico's Julian Alvarez celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid, in Vigo, Spain, 26 September 2024. EPA/SALVADOR SAS
Atletico's Julian Alvarez celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid, in Vigo, Spain, 26 September 2024. EPA/SALVADOR SAS

Atletico Madrid picked up momentum ahead of the derby against Real Madrid with a 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo thanks to Julián Álvarez's 90th-minute winner Thursday in the Spanish league.
Álvarez poked home a cross by Antoine Griezmann to give Diego Simeone’s team the win in Vigo.
“What matters are the three points,” said Álvarez, Atletico's big-money offseason signing. “If it’s 1-0 or 5-0, what is important is to get the three points. We knew it was going to be a difficult match against Celta here.”
Atletico remains two points behind second-place Madrid going into Sunday’s match at Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium. Both are chasing Barcelona, which has won its first seven league games this season.
Atletico struggled to create scoring opportunities until Griezmann curled a left-footed cross into the area. Álvarez ran between a couple of defenders to poke the ball into the net with his right foot, The Associated Press reported.
It was the 24-year-old Argentina forward's second goal since joining Atletico from Manchester City.
Celta, which has lost four of its last five matches, had come close to scoring several times, being stopped by yet another solid performance by goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Atletico was coming off a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano but had won its previous three games in all competitions.
After the derby at the Metropolitano, Simeone's team will visit Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Villarreal near the top Ayoze Pérez scored twice as Villarreal came from behind to win 2-1 at promoted Espanyol and stay near the top.
Pérez has scored six goals in seven matches, one fewer than the league's leading scorer, Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski.
It was the fourth win for Villarreal, whose only loss was a 5-1 rout at home against Barcelona in the previous round.
Spanish media said the referee of the match was hit by an object thrown from the stands while he left the field after the final whistle.
Las Palmas remains winless Last-place Las Palmas drew 1-1 with Real Betis to remain winless after seven rounds. It hasn't won in 21 straight league matches going back to last season, when it barely avoided relegation.
The hosts scored first with Alberto Moleiro in the ninth minute and 11th-place Betis — coming off two consecutive victories — equalized with Giovani Lo Celso in first-half stoppage time.
Getafe is the only other team without a league win this season.