UEFA confirm Emiliano Martinez suspension stance after initial Aston Villa confusion

Emiliano Martinez will indeed be suspended for Aston Villa’s Europa Conference semi-final first leg against Olympiacos after initial confusion, Birmingham World has been informed.

The World Cup winner avoided a red card despite receiving two yellows against LOSC Lille on Thursday night - saved by an obscure footballing law - but the double booking still results in a one-game ban.

Martinez was the hero in the penalty shoot-out for Villa but his winding up of the Lille supporters earned him a second caution – and crucially a third in the quarter-final stage.

“Emiliano Martinez will be suspended for the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final first-leg against Olympiacos FC scheduled on 2 May 2024,” a UEFA spokesperson has said.

“From the first match in the group stage, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, which did not result in a red card, as well as following any subsequent odd-numbered caution.

 “For the sake of clarity, the cautions of 18 April 2024 did not result in a red card because the second caution occurred during the penalty shout-out,” the UEFA spokesperson continued.

There was originally confusion as Article 52 of the UEFA regulations indicated “all yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals”, but Martinez’s bizarre circumstances have trumped that. Confusing, yes, but Unai Emery is set to have to make do without his first-choice shot-stopper.