Emiliano Martinez insists that it'll be "no problem" if FIFA change the rules for goalkeepers during penalty shootouts after his much-maligned antics at the World Cup were labelled "despicable."
The Argentine shot-stopper, 30, saved a total of four penalties as his nation triumphed in Qatar but was criticised for attempting to put off his opponents with a series of unsportsmanlike tactics. FIFA are now reportedly set to change the laws for spot-kicks which would prevent goalkeepers from emulating Martinez, who was yellow carded for his behaviour during a tense penalty shootout as Argentina beat reigning champions France in December's final.
With a World Cup winner's medal in the bag, however, the Aston Villa star won't have an issue if FIFA take a stand, despite using a similar approach to help Argentina win the Copa America in July 2021. During an interview with ESPN, Martinez admitted: "I always said that after the Copa America, I don't know if I would do it again. I already saved the penalties that I had to save.
"And now the same thing happened to me, I don't know if I'm going to save a penalty in 20 years, maybe not, but I had to tackle them in the Copa America and in the World Cup. I was able to stop them and help the team win, that's enough for me. We will always have to adapt to modern rules and what FIFA wants, so there will be no problem. We will adapt."
A host of pundits and rivals fans criticised the 30-year-old's actions after the World Cup final, particularly when he launched the ball away before French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni took his spot-kick and subsequently dragged it wide. In a column for the Daily Mail, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton declared: "I wasn't overly enamoured with Martinez’s antics in the shootout.
"I thought it was a pretty despicable thing to do [throwing the ball away]. I can understand the mind games and heat of the moment you do whatever it takes. But I thought that was totally unnecessary. If you're Tchouameni walking past Martinez [in the guard of honour] you probably feel like biffing him one.
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"I didn't like that at all but I can understand Martinez in that moment trying to win a World Cup. But he didn't just chuck it a couple of yards away, he launched it 15, 20 yards away. I really felt for Tchouameni in that moment. That wasn't on."
Revelling in his status as a world champion, having also been named goalkeeper of the tournament, Martinez doesn't care about the criticism. "I'm happy because we were able to help [Lionel] Messi win the World Cup," the ex- Arsenal goalkeeper added. "I hope he continues to play and that it was not his last World Cup."
