Emi Martinez reacts to penalty shoot-out chaos in Aston Villa win - 'I don't know what the ref wants from me'
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ByOli Gent
Published 18/04/2024 at 21:08 GMT
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez revealed his belief he has a "bad reputation" after the UEFA Europa Conference League penalty shoot-out win for his side against Lille, which saw them progress to the semi-finals. Martinez was at the centre of drama as he appeared to taunt the home fans and was shown a second yellow card during the shoot-out, but he stayed on the pitch to save two penalties.
Emiliano Martinez portier d'Aston Villa face au LOSC en Ligue Europa Conférence.
Image credit: Getty Images
Emi Martinez suggested his "bad reputation" contributed to him being shown an apparent second yellow card in Aston Villa's dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Lille.
The Argentina international keeper saved two penalties against the Ligue 1 side in a bubbling cauldron at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, where tempers flared and Martinez appeared to taunt the home supporters.
The Villa shot-stopper was booked during regulation time for alleged time-wasting, and saw another yellow card brandished in his face in the middle of a dramatic shoot-out, with referee Ivan Kruzliak running over to Martinez, believing that he was continuing to antagonise Lille fans.
Confusion ensued with many believing that Martinez had therefore been given his marching orders in the middle of the shoot-out, leaving Villa without a recognised goalkeeper.
But it was later clarified that International Football Association Board (IFAB) law 10 states that: "Warnings and cautions (YCs) issued during the match (including during extra time) are not carried forward into kicks from the penalty mark (KFPM).
"A player who receives a YC during both the match and the KFPM is not sent off."
Speaking to TNT Sports after his heroics, Martinez could not believe why the referee had decided to caution him again.
“I just have a bad reputation for time-wasting because the other goalie was doing exactly the same thing,” Martinez said.
He continued: “I get booked after 30 minutes, and we’re losing the game, so I don’t know what the ref wants from me. There was no ball on the penalty spot, and I’m asking for a ball from a ball boy and then I get booked. I don’t understand the rules.”
Villa had struggled for the most part in France, and went 2-0 down due to Yusuf Yazici and Benjamin Andre’s goals, but Matty Cash’s strike late on drew them level.
It was Martinez, like he did for his country in the 2022 World Cup final, who was the hero.
“I always say that all my career, I know my team needs me in those moments; they always do,” he said.
“Yesterday we watched Real Madrid v Man City and the manager said maybe we might go to penalties, so in my head, I own my box.
“This group of players and the manager is special. The owners are really involved as well. They are always behind us.
"It feels like we’re going to do something special. I don’t know if it's the Champions League, or the Conference League, but we will try to do everything we can for this football club.”
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