Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is accused of slapping a cameraman after Argentina's 1-2 loss to Colombia in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday. Jhonny Jackson, a cameraman for Caracol Televisión and RCN Deportes, claimed the incident happened in Barranquilla as he was filming Martínez after the match ended.
Jackson said he approached Martínez while the goalkeeper was greeting another player. Footage taken by Jackson shows Martínez hitting the camera, causing it to shake and fall.
Jackson told RCN Deportes, "Out of the blue, he slapped me. I felt angry, very angry. I was working, just like he was."
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Despite the incident, Jackson sent a reconciliatory message to Martínez: "Dibu, my brother, how are you? I am Jhonny Jackson, the cameraman you assaulted... I wanted to tell you it is all good. Everyone has lost a match in their life. This defeat clearly meant a lot to you."
Colombia's association of sports journalists (ACORD) responded by calling for FIFA to take action against Martínez. ACORD’s president, Faiver Hoyos Hernández, condemned the goalkeeper’s actions and urged FIFA to impose an "exemplary sanction."
There has been no comment from Martínez or South American football governing body CONMEBOL regarding the allegations.
