Martinez says Antonio Silva incident did not affect World Cup omission

Portuguese national team manager Roberto Martinez confirmed that the incident involving Benfica player Antonio Silva at Euro 2024 was serious but accidental. He also stated that the episode did not influence his decision to leave Silva out of the 2026 World Cup squad. Martinez described the episode as a "serious situation" while clarifying that it was an accident. The incident centred on Silva revealing the number eleven during the Euro 2024 tournament. The coach emphasized that the selection decision for the 2026 World Cup was made independently of the Euro 2024 incident. He indicated that sporting criteria, not the episode, guided the omission. Martinez’s statement reassures that the exclusion of the Benfica player is based on performance considerations rather than the disclosed incident. The clarification aims to separate the player's on‑field prospects from off‑field events. The clarification arrives as the Portuguese federation finalises its squad for the 2026 World Cup. Martinez’s remarks seek to prevent speculation linking the incident to the player's exclusion. By stating that the episode had no bearing on the selection, Martinez hopes to maintain focus on the team's preparation for the upcoming tournament.