Patrick Vieira has hit out at Emiliano Martinez over the Argentina goalkeeper's 'stupid' decision to mock France after their win in last weekend's World Cup final.
Argentina got the better of France in Qatar on Sunday night, with Martinez proving the hero in a dramatic penalty shootout following a pulsating 3-3 draw after normal and extra-time.
Over the past week, the Aston Villa No 1 has followed up his country's first World Cup triumph since 1986 by taking a series of digs at France, and in particular star player Kylian Mbappe.
He first mocked the PSG forward, who became the first player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final since England's Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966 on Sunday, by jokingly calling for a minute's silence for him while Argentina partied in the dressing room after the victory.
And during their victory parade back in Buenos Aires, Martinez was even seen waving a doll with Mbappe's face on it while on their open-top bus.
France 2018 World Cup winner Adil Rami has branded him the 'most hated man in football', while Les Bleus have also lodged an official complaint over his antics.
Now Vieira, who won the tournament with France in 1998, has condemned Martinez after watching the shot-stopper taunt his country this week.
'When you are talking about the abuse and the comments that he received after the World Cup, I think that is damaging the game and himself,' the Crystal Palace head coach said on Friday.
'Some of the pictures that I saw from the Argentina goalkeeper took away a little bit from what Argentina achieved at the World Cup. I don't think that they really needed that.
'You can't control sometimes people's emotions or decisions, but that was a stupid decision from Martinez to do that.'
Martinez is due to return to club duty with Villa next week after his World Cup-winning heroics for Argentina.
New boss Unai Emery has revealed he will hold talks with the goalkeeper about his controversial celebrations, in which they will discuss 'controlling emotions'.
‘I want to speak with him when he will come here next week but I am thinking more about his performance and his win, than his celebration,' Emery said.
‘The celebration is for the supporters, with really big emotions. It’s not really a good moment as a coach to identify why.
‘I prefer to be focused on how he performed and how he is going to win with us afterwards. I am going to speak with him because I want to control him about that as well - his emotions.
‘We have to have values, we have to focus on behaviour when we are together and with the opposition players.
‘We can speak in 90 per cent of the cases about very good things, and be very proud of him, for his performance, for his win. It is about more than small details like celebrations.’
Neriussii
316
Emi is the only brave guy to mock France after their WC triumph. Good job ma guy we the Messi fan like what you did. vamos Argentina.
Alifz2002
228
Football⚽/Fan
212
Emi Martinez :-:-:-
Mohkudan
206
When Mbappe was busy insulting the whole South American football nobody slammed him but now that Dibu trolled Mbappe every one is slamming him well in that case 😒👇
Davichi
172
Losing really hurts right? But let the winners celebrate.
eggosa91
144
forget about the hate let talk about the save from this guy 😳
D10S_LM10
142
Mangisha
114
Ask him, I will take you the goalie's behaviour wasn't good. But the funny thing for me is no one seem to talk abt the fact that Mbappe had "insulted" South America football b4 the WC began, insisting that only Brazil and Argentina exist there, and that they had it easy to qualify for the WC. Martinez was therefore just "responding" to what Mbappe said. But nobody seems to be talking abt that.
Hepadkmprs
104
European teams always like behaving as if they are bosses to others when Mpape insulted South American no one cared but now Martinez is doing vise versa all the useless pigs are on top blaming Martinez come on wake up people all humanity are equal in God's eyes and deserve respect all the times
malablata
69
This is the real hero of Argentina. Since he became first choice goalkeeper for Argentina, they had won all the trophies they compete for. Who's Messi? A cheat, a con artist, FIFA bag boy, corrupt goat, been flopping for the national team and now after kicking five penalties in just one tournament some corruption FIFA come talking about GOAT debate settle. Messi had been help throughout his career. Had he not been help by FIFA and the Media and scoring majority of his goals against the likes of Eibar, Valladolid and Simao and the rest, by now even Lukaku would had been better than him. No GOAT will wait for his kernel to be crack by a benevolent spirit.
Ibrahimshickturay
50
Continue crying WHILE we enjoy our TRIUMPH 😤
Mukeiktuyz
26
evera you dont choose how some one celibate his victory
Unitedbyblood♥️
10
Another sick hater. Don’t die with hate kid😂🤣🤣
from a beautifulboy? your name has no sensible meaning just like your existence 😂😂😂
Mohkudan
10
he didn't insult, moreover he didn't do that in every press conference, you are dumb like martinez.
Well the whole France team were slamming Messi before the Final, that overrated Tchouameni even said Mbappe is better than Messi, so it serves them right, and also if you're also angry at Martinez cry more 😝😝
Alifz2002
8
I don't remember Mbappe doing that before like Diego simeone
so you mean someone need to do it first then you can do that celebration as a revenge without any criticism... that's how it works right? keep crying cause Martinez clearly don't give a f 🤷😂😂