Emiliano Martinez hit with UEFA ban for Aston Villa's Europa Conference League semi-final despite dodging red card

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been handed a UEFA ban after his penalty shootout antics despite not being given a red card.

The Midlands outfit revealed that the keeper is out of their Europa Conference League semi-final's first leg due to a one-match suspension. The Argentine shot-stopper once again attracted attention as the Premier League side progressed to the semi-finals in a highly dramatic clash against Lille. Unai Emery's squad held a 2-1 advantage heading into France, but they needed a late goal from Matty Cash to drag the match into extra-time after conceding twin strikes.

It was Martinez, who has often been public enemy number one, who got the final word during the subsequent penalties. His actions in the 2022 World Cup final shoot-out victory of Argentina over France made him a target for considerable jeering throughout the game. Yet these distractions didn't phase him, as he stirred up the environment, much to the displeasure of a furious home crowd. Despite receiving a yellow card due to time-wasting previously in the match, Martinez successfully goaded the spectators post saving Nabil Bentaleb's spot-kick.

Though he was then issued another yellow card, confusion ensued as he stayed in place for the remaining spot kicks. The clarification came later - yellow cards are wiped clean before a penalty shoot-out, thus he did not face a red card, reports the Mirror.

As per the rules set by IFAB law 10 (determining the outcome of a match), it reaffirms: "Warnings and cautions (YCs) issued during the match (including during extra time) are not carried forward into kicks from the penalty mark (KFPM). A player who receives a YC during both the match and the KFPM is not sent off."

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