Why Emiliano Martinez is banned but Andre Onana isn't despite carbon copy situation

Emiliano Martinez will serve a ban but the same cannot be said for Andre Onana despite the pair of goalkeepers being involved in carbon copy situations.

On Thursday night, there was mass confusion when Martinez was not sent off despite being shown two yellow cards in Aston Villa's Europa Conference League win over Lille.

Martinez was booked for timewasting in the first half of the second leg and then shown a second yellow in the penalty shoot-out for gesturing to the home fans.

However, he avoided a red card because of a little-known rule and made a crucial save from Benjamin Andre to send Villa into the semi-finals.

The Argentine will serve a ban for the first leg against Olympiacos yet Onana will not even though he replicated Martinez's actions in the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City.

The former Inter Milan man was cautioned for delaying taking a goal-kick in the 85th minute with United leading 3-2, before he was booked again for breaking an IFAB rule.

He was penalised after attempting to put off a player in the shoot-out where he helped United emerge victorious.

Again the yellow from the first half did not carry over, meaning there was no dismissal.

And Onana will also not serve a ban for the final against Manchester City. Dale Johnson of ESPN explained that "bans for accumulated yellow cards end at the quarter-final stage, so Andre Onana can play in the final".

Had it been earlier in the competition then it would have been a different story.

Martinez, meanwhile, will serve a one-game suspension as he accumulated three yellow cards in the Conference League.

The ex Arsenal shotstopper believes that his reputation is the reason he was punished.

He said: "It's all about reputation because the other goalie was doing exactly the same thing [time wasting in normal play].

"I got a yellow after 30 minutes and we were losing the game so I don't know what the ref wants from me.

"Then there was no ball on the penalty spot during the shoot out. I was asking for a ball from the ball boy and I get booked. I just don't understand the rules."

Featured Image Credit: ITV & Getty

Topics: Andre Onana, Manchester United, Emiliano Martinez, Aston Villa

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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