Furious French officials have made complaints after Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez trolled Kylian Mbappe after the World Cup final.
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Argentina hoisted the World Cup trophy at France’s expense. And despite Mbappe getting the better of Martinez three times in the game, the Argentina star went to extreme lengths to make fun of the French striker.
Martinez held a mock one minute silence for Mbappe after his nation’s win on penalties, and brandished a baby doll with the face of the PSG star on it during Argentina’s victory celebrations.
And the keeper’s actions haven’t gone down well with members of France’s hierarchy, who called for Argentina and FIFA to explain Martinez’s behaviour.
The president of the French FA, Noel Le Graet, reached out to his Argentinian equal Claudio Tapia and said to Quest-France, through the Daily Mail: “I wrote to my counterpart from the Argentine Federation, I find these excesses abnormal, in the context of a sports competition, and I find it difficult to understand.
“This is going too far. Mbappe’s behaviour has been exemplary.”
Le Great’s words was echoed by his compatriot Bruno Le Maire, the French Minister of the Economy who demanded to know what FIFA were doing about Martinez’s actions. he said on Sud Radio: “What is FIFA doing? Sport is about fair play. It’s showing respect for others. It’s showing respect for those who lost.”
Argentina talisman Lionel Messi also came under fire from the French media who questioned why he allowed Martinez to mock his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate.
But, Golden Boot winner Mbappe appeared to be less concerned by the drama and looked resilient as he returned to training with PSG just three days after France’s World Cup final defeat.
Messi was swarmed by supporters who blocked his driveway when he returned to his home in Buenos Aires after his heroics in the final. And there’s been reports that Argentina are considering putting his face on the country’s banknotes to honour their icon.
