Why Was the Aston Villa Goalkeeper Not Sent Off Despite Receiving Two Yellow Cards?
Emiliano Martinez received two yellow cards in the second leg of the Conference League quarterfinals, but was not sent off due to a rare rule in football.
In the 39th minute, the match between Lille and Aston Villa, Martinez received the first yellow card for wasting time, when the home team led 1-0, total score 2-2. The two teams then scored another goal, sending the match into a penalty shootout. There, the Aston Villa goalkeeper pushed away Lille’s first and last kick, helping the English club win 4-3 in the penalty shootout and enter the semi-finals against Olympiacos.
Martinez was given a second yellow card in the penalty shootout in the match between Aston Villa and Lille at Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Villeneuve-dAscq, France, second leg of the Conference League quarterfinals on the evening of April 18, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Martinez was given a second yellow card in the penalty shootout in the match between Aston Villa and Lille at Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France, second leg of the Conference League quarterfinals on the evening of April 18, 2024. Photo: Reuters
When striker Ollie Watkins was about to take the second penalty kick for Aston Villa, Martinez was reminded by Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak to talk to a ball boy. When the Argentina goalkeeper committed the offense again, Mr. Kruzliak gave him a second yellow card. The referee did not give Martinez a red card, making many people feel confused and think he forgot the first card.
According to football rules from the 2023-2024 season, article 10.3, a yellow card in a 120-minute match cannot be included in the penalty shootout, but a player who receives a red card during the match will not be able to take the penalty shootout. But if a player receives two yellow cards at the same time in the penalty shootout, they will receive a red card and be disqualified. This rule is rare, because players rarely receive yellow cards in penalty shootouts.
If Martinez is sent off, Aston Villa does not have the right to replace the goalkeeper on the field to take the penalty shootout. Because substitution rights can only be used before the referee blows the whistle to end the second half or extra time. At that time, the team will have to send a player on the field wearing a goalkeeper shirt to take penalties.
Martinez pushed the decisive penalty kick to help Aston Villa reach the Conference League semi-finals. Photo: AP
Martinez said that he did not understand why he had to receive two yellow cards in this match. “We were leading in the 39th minute, but somehow I was still given a yellow card for wasting time,” he said. “During the penalty shootout, I didn’t see the ball in the penalty area, so I asked the ball boy and got a yellow card. I didn’t understand what the referee wanted from me. I also didn’t understand the rules anymore.”
Martinez was the highlight of the match, not just because of his two yellow cards and two penalty shootout saves. Every time the 32-year-old goalkeeper had the ball, the Pierre Mauroy stadium audience whistled and booed him. Because Martinez shined in the 2022 World Cup final, helping Argentina win against France also on a penalty shootout. He was booed many times when he returned to France, but repeatedly said that it did not affect his playing mentality at all.
The Conference League is Europe’s third division, after the Champions League and Europa League, held for the first time in the 2021-2022 season, when coach Jose Mourinho won the championship with Roma. West Ham are the defending champions, and last season’s title helped them qualify for this season’s Europa League. Aston Villa is the only English club left in the European Cup, after Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham were eliminated this week.
