Adrián Martínez has been handed a three-match suspension by the Tribunal de Disciplina de la AFA after his direct red card against Argentinos in the fourth round of the Torneo Clausura. The Racing forward was sent off for striking Kevin Gutiérrez with an elbow, and the ruling means he will miss three matches while the disciplinary process moves forward.
The sanction is part of a broader disciplinary pattern in 2025, when some initially imposed suspensions have later been reduced by the Tribunal. In this case, though, the punishment announced for Martínez is three matches, which is enough to remove him from Racing’s lineup for two home games and one away match.
What led to the ban
The incident came in Racing’s match against Argentinos, when Martínez was shown a direct red card after the elbow to Kevin Gutiérrez. That type of action falls under the AFA’s disciplinary framework, which calls for at least three matches of suspension, or an appropriate time-based ban, for aggression against an opponent or another non-official.
The Tribunal also announced a provisional suspension for Orlando Gill as part of the same disciplinary wave tied to expulsions in the Torneo Clausura. Martínez’s case had already drawn attention because he had previously received two matches of suspension after being expelled against Rosario Central, making this a second significant disciplinary issue in a short span.
What it means for Racing
For Racing, the immediate impact is simple: one of its attacking options is unavailable for three matches. That matters not only because of Martínez’s role, but also because the club now has to manage its forward group while the suspension runs its course.
The next step is the usual one in AFA disciplinary cases. The Boletín notes that Martínez is authorized to present his defense in writing, which means the process is not necessarily over even after the initial ruling. Still, for now, the official punishment is clear: three matches out after a direct red card against Argentinos.
