World Cup 2022: is Argentinian Emiliano Martinez going too far in his provocations?
The obscene gesture of Argentinian Emiliano Martinez, when receiving his title of Best Goalkeeper of the 2022 Football World Cup. AP - Martin Meissner
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
4 mins
Crowned world champion with Argentina against France, Emiliano Martinez has since multiplied provocations by celebrating this title.
Author of an obscene gesture by receiving his trophy for best goalkeeper in the World Cup, he then mocked Kylian Mbappé several times as well as Aurélien Tchouaméni.
In France and elsewhere, his attitude offends.
Even within his own club, in England, we do not approve.
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After 36 years of scarcity, Argentina finally got
their hands on the World Cup in Qatar
.
A triumph symbolized by Lionel Messi, the captain finally crowned, but also by Emiliano Martinez.
If he is not the most media of Argentines, he nevertheless had a major role in the world conquest.
Already brilliant in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands (two shots on goal repelled), the goalkeeper did it again in the final against France.
Admittedly, he conceded
three goals from Kylian Mbappé
.
But he saved Argentina against Randal Kolo Muani at the end of extra time, before shining in the penalty shootout: a master in the art of the psychological duel, he distracted the French shooters (to the point to receive a warning), repelled Kingsley Coman's attempt and perhaps led Aurélien Tchouaméni to send his shot off target.
Even if the Tunisian Yassine Bounou had support, it was Emiliano Martinez who received the title of best goalkeeper of the 2022 World Cup. carried the trophy that had just been given to him to his crotch.
Questionable jokes, bird names
His obscene "celebration" was only the first act in a series of other polemics.
In the locker room, Emiliano Martinez launched a minute of silence and a mocking dance "
for Mbappé who is dead
".
Perhaps revenge for the striker's past words on the level of South American football, unless it's a snub against a player who made him tremble as well than the Albiceleste, signing a hat-trick and converting his shot on goal.
Back in Argentina to celebrate the coronation
with a jubilant people
, "Dibu" Martinez did it again: he was seen parading with a baby doll that had a photo of Kylian Mbappé's face taped to its head.
All while, in the crowd, we burned a coffin bearing the name of the top scorer of this World Cup.
And back in his hometown of Mar del Plata, Emiliano Martinez spoke of Aurélien Tchouaméni in crude terms: “
He got over it.
»
He is not the only one to have distinguished himself by his coarse language.
Just after Argentina's victory, former player Sergio Agüero, retired for a year, insulted Frenchman Eduardo Camavinga during a live-video on Instagram, calling him a "
head of a b...
".
Later, he justified himself by evoking "
a joke
".
► To read also: Alejandro Valente: "This World Cup victory is a relief for Argentina"
"
Vulgar
", "
pitiful
", "
pathetic
"...
Argentinian provocations, mockery and insults are not to everyone's taste.
Noël Le Graët, the president of the French Football Federation, sent a letter to his Argentine counterpart.
“
I find these excesses abnormal, in the context of a sports competition, and I find it difficult to understand.
This is going too far
, ”he said Thursday, December 22.
Friday, December 23, it is the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, who stepped up to the plate.
Asked at the microphone of RTL, she castigated the “
pitiful
” and “
inelegant
” behavior of the Argentine team.
"
As much as our French team knew how to lose with panache, the way this team acted after this victory was not worthy of the match we saw
," she said.
"
It's just vulgar, inappropriate
", "
this Emiliano Martinez is not distinguishing himself in this affair, it's rather pathetic
", added the minister.
Even in England, Martinez's behavior was noticed.
Unai Emery, his coach at Aston Villa, spoke in turn on Friday.
The Spanish technician, who officiated in France at PSG between 2016 and 2018, intends to speak to his goalkeeper.
“
When you experience great emotions, it is sometimes difficult to control them.
I will talk to him next week about some celebrations
,” Emery assured.
Once the euphoria has subsided, the provocations will doubtless subside.
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