Roberto Martinez Addresses Euro 2024 Fallout

Roberto Martinez has drawn a firm line under the fallout from Euro 2024, rejecting any suggestion that lingering disciplinary issues are shaping his decisions now.

The Portugal head coach, reflecting on the turbulence that followed the tournament in Germany, made it clear he will not allow old rumours to frame the present. Speaking to Portuguese newspaper Record, the Spanish coach stressed that the much-discussed incident involving Antonio was thoroughly examined at the time.

"When there's a tournament and information leaks out, it's a very serious situation. At that time, we investigated and it was an accident. It wasn't a lack of discipline," Martinez said, cutting through the speculation that has refused to die down.

The episode, which occurred during Euro 2024, sparked questions over dressing-room harmony and player behaviour. Martinez’s stance is unequivocal: it was dealt with, understood, and then filed away.

"It happened at Euro 2024 and that's not part of the decision now. Two years have passed," he insisted. For him, this is the natural life cycle of a squad issue: it arises, it is addressed inside the camp, and the team moves on.

"It happens in group dynamics and it's important to remember the most important thing: it was an accident and not an act of indiscipline. Antonio learned from it, but that's not part of the decision now."

The message is blunt. The coach wants the conversation to shift from whispers about the past to the hard choices of the present.