Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez could face a possible sanction after a controversial incident during the 2026 World Cup qualifying match between Colombia and Argentina in Barranquilla. After his team lost 2-1, Martínez hit and threw a broadcast camera to the ground, which has generated a wave of criticism and could lead to disciplinary consequences.
The incident occurred at the end of the match, when Jhonny Jackson, a cameraman for Noticias RCN, entered the field to capture the players’ reactions, as part of his professional work.
According to Jackson, while he was doing his job of recording images, he approached the goalkeeper, who unexpectedly slapped him, knocking down the camera. In a video posted by Jackson, he expressed his anger at what happened: “I see ‘Dibu’ shaking hands with two substitute goalkeepers and I approach him; and out of nowhere he slaps me. It made me angry, it made me very angry. I am working, just like he was doing, saving. I wasn’t even playing soccer with him, it made me very angry, but I didn’t say anything to him at the time. I wanted to tell you to calm down, bro. In life, everyone has lost a game, for you that defeat suddenly meant a lot, but… go ahead Dibu,” he said.
The goalkeeper’s behaviour did not go unnoticed on social media, where he was harshly criticised, calling him a “sore loser”. Following this altercation, the Colombian Association of Sports Journalists (ACORD) issued a statement condemning Martínez’s action, calling it an “attack on freedom of expression”. The organisation asked FIFA to impose an exemplary sanction on the Argentine goalkeeper, highlighting the importance of protecting the right to inform in a sporting environment.
Martínez’s situation could lead to a sanction from the sports authorities, which would affect his participation in the Argentine national team’s upcoming matches. Meanwhile, the goalkeeper has not made any public statements about the incident.