Vieira slams Martinez’s ‘stupid’ World Cup celebrations

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira believes Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s “stupid” celebrations have tarnished Argentina’s World Cup final win.

Martinez was a key figure in Argentina’s victory over France.

He made a fine save to deny Randal Kolo Muani in extra-time and then denied Kingsley Coman in the shoot-out in Qatar as Argentina won a thrilling final.

But the keeper was then seen making a crude gesture after winning the golden glove trophy for the best goalkeeper at the tournament.

Then, during Argentina’s victory parade in Buenos Aires, he was seen holding a baby doll with its face covered by a photograph of France star striker Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the final but still finished on the losing side.

Vieira, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, was unimpressed by Martinez’s antics.

“Some of the pictures I saw from the Argentinian goalkeeper, I think, take away a little bit what Argentina achieved at the World Cup,” said Vieira a pre-match press conference ahead of Palace’s Premier League match against London rivals Fulham.

“I don’t think they really needed that.

“You can’t control sometimes people’s emotional decisions. But that was a stupid decision, I think, from Martinez to do that,” he added.

Martinez will return to Birmingham next week, with Villa manager Unai Emery intending to talk to the 30-year-old about his controversial behaviour.

“When you have big emotion, sometimes it is difficult to control it,” Emery said.