Argentina goalkeeper Martínez under fire for hitting TV cameraman after loss to Colombia
A TV cameraman said Ar‐ gentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez "slapped me" after Colombia's 2‐1 win in a World Cup qualifying match.
Jhonny Jackson told Colombian media he approached Martínez after the final whistle in Barran‐ quilla on Tuesday as the goal‐ keeper greeted another player. Footage he captured shows the World Cup winner who Argen‐ tines know as Dibu hitting the camera, which quickly shakes to the ground after the impact.
"Out of the blue he slapped me," Jackson told RCN Deportes on Wednesday. "I felt angry, very angry. I was working, just like he was. He was playing and I was shooting with my camera."
He also sent a message to Martínez: "Dibu, my brother, how are you? I am Jhonny Jack‐ son, the cameraman you as‐ saulted in the match against Colombia. I wanted to tell you it is all good, my brother. Everyone has lost a match in their life. This defeat clearly meant a lot to you. But look ahead, Dibu."
Jackson works for a company that delivers footage to channels Caracol Televisión and RCN De‐ portes.
Footballers have been sus‐ pended from games in similar situations, and that is what Colombia's association of sports journalists — known as ACORD — wants FIFA to do. Its presi‐ dent Faiver Hoyos Hernández said in a statement that Martínez attacked freedom of expression.
"As the journalistic authority in this country, ACORD wants FIFA to produce an exemplary sanc‐ tion against Mr. Emiliano Dibú Martínez, who is no role model for new generations," the state‐ ment said.
Martínez and South American soccer body CONMEBOL did not make comments.
Argentina leads the South American World Cup qualifying with 18 points after eight matches, two points ahead of Colombia. All teams have two more qualifying matches next month. The top six teams will get automatic spots at the 2026 World Cup.