Racing to be without Adrián Martínez for three matches after elbow on Kevin Gutiérrez

An elbow thrown in the middle of a match is going to cost Racing dearly. The AFA's Disciplinary Tribunal confirmed the sanction for Adrián "Maravilla" Martínez following the red card he picked up against Argentinos Juniors: three matches on the sideline. The forward was sent off directly after striking Kevin Gutiérrez with his elbow, leaving his opponent with a cut that bled from the impact.

The ruling was recorded in Bulletin 6934 from the disciplinary body, tied to case file 99595 over the incident from August 9, 2026. The official wording leaves no room for doubt: "Player Adrián Emmanuel Martínez, of Racing Club, is suspended for three matches. Article 13.1.e of the Disciplinary Code."

Why the punishment was so harsh

Why three games instead of the usual single-match ban for a red card? The answer lies in Article 13 of the Disciplinary Code, which stiffens the penalty when there's aggression toward an opponent. That covers elbows, punches, kicks, bites and even spitting. It's not just another red card, it's a blow, and the rulebook treats it differently. That's why Maravilla isn't missing one match, but three full games.

For Juan Pablo Vojvoda, the timing couldn't be worse. The forward will miss three important Torneo Clausura fixtures: first against Banfield at El Cilindro, then hosting Boca again at home, and finally on the road against Independiente Rivadavia. Three matches, two of them at home, that Racing will have to face without their attacker, unless the Tribunal alters the sanction along the way.

It's happened before

What stands out is that this isn't the first time Maravilla has run into disciplinary trouble this season. Back in the Apertura he was already sent off against Rosario Central, drawing a two-match ban that he ended up serving only at the start of the Clausura. In other words, just four rounds into this tournament, he's already picked up his second suspension.

It remains to be seen whether Racing will push to get the penalty reduced. Throughout 2025 there were several cases of suspensions that ended up shortened after a club's request, though the AFA has never publicly explained what criteria were used for those changes. So until there's news on that front, Vojvoda will have to plan without his forward.