Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has lashed out at Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for his controversial antics during the penalty shootout against France in the final of the World Cup at the Lusail Stadium. Martinez played a key role in the team’s success as he made a crucial save to deny Kolo Muani at the fag end of the extra time to force the game into penalties.
However, Martinez, who is known to get into the head of the opposition’s players, was able to achieve his goal but received flak from Simon Jordan. The Argentine custodian saved Kingsley Coman’s penalty to put his team in front in the shootout.
Subsequently, he threw the ball away before Aurelien Tchouameni’s spot-kick. Martinez’s tactics worked wonders as Aurelien’s shot was not even on target.
Simon Jordan said while talking to talkSport, “Martinez’s actions, I think it’s cheating, the holding of the ball and throwing it the other way. The goalkeeper’s actions, I don’t think it was gamesmanship, I don’t think it’s part of the game.”
“For a referee to allow the goalkeeper to manipulate the circumstances, to heighten the pressure, to increase it, I think was one of the shortcomings in that moment in time.”
On the other hand, France’s former striker Louis Saha slammed Martinez for his controversial groin celebration after he was awarded the Golden Glove award in the tournament’s final presentation.
Saha said, “His antics are going to be remembered for a long time and that’s sad. He had a great tournament, and he didn’t need to do it. It was more about his adrenaline and some people do things without thinking and just instinctively do something they’ll regret.”
Sharing his thoughts on Martinez’s celebration, Saha continued: “I haven’t seen or heard any apology from him for his actions, but it’s sad because the conversation takes away from the great World Cup he had. It doesn’t help anything, and I don’t know what he was trying to say by doing it – it was really quite awkward.”
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