BOGOTA-. A cameraman claimed that Emiliano Martinezgoalkeeper of the national team Argentinaattacked him after the defeat suffered the day before by his team, 2-1 away against Colombiain the World Cup qualifiers.
Cameraman Jhonny Jackson recounted what happened on Wednesday in a video broadcast by Colombian media. He said he had approached “Dibu” Martínez after the final whistle in Tuesday’s match, while the goalkeeper was greeting another player.
Images captured by Jackson show the world champion goalkeeper striking the camera, which jerks and falls to the ground upon impact.
“I approached him and out of nowhere the Cartoonist threw a…,” said Jackson, who then made a slap gesture. “I got angry, I got very angry because I was working, just like he was doing the save and I was operating my camera. I was working, I wasn’t even playing soccer with him, but I didn’t say anything to him.”
The cameraman also made an appeal to Martínez: “’Dibu’ bro, how are you? I’m Jhonny Jackson, the cameraman you attacked in the match against Colombia… I wanted to tell you to calm down, bro. In life, at some point, everyone has lost a match, and maybe that defeat meant a lot to you, but, go ahead, ‘Dibu’.”
Jackson works for a company that provides images for the channels Caracol Televisión and RCN Deportes.
There are previous cases of footballers who have been suspended for similar situations. And that is precisely what the Colombian Association of Sports Journalists (ACORD) has asked FIFA to do.
Faiver Hoyos Hernández, president of that organization, said in a statement that Martínez attacked freedom of expression.
“ACORD, as the country’s sports journalism authority, demands that FIFA impose an exemplary sanction against Mr. Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez, who is not an example for the new generations,” the statement said.
Neither Martinez nor CONMEBOL had issued any comments.
Argentina leads the South American World Cup qualifiers with 18 points from eight rounds. With its win, undefeated Colombia moved within two points of them in second place.
The 10 South American teams will play another double date of matches next month. The top six will automatically advance to the 2026 World Cup, while the seventh will play an intercontinental play-off.
