The incident occurred at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, 17 October, when the 34-year-old Argentine goalkeeper sustained a head injury while attempting to deal with an Everton free-kick. Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso later said Martínez was conscious when he left the pitch and had been taken to hospital for precautionary examinations.
The collision happened in the 67th minute. Martínez moved away from his goal line to intercept the free-kick and attempted to punch the ball clear. During the challenge, he collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, leaving both players on the ground and in need of medical attention.
Branthwaite recovered relatively quickly, but Martínez required a longer period of treatment. Chelsea’s medical staff and paramedics attended to the goalkeeper on the pitch as the medical team assessed his condition.
Martínez was eventually carried off on a stretcher while receiving oxygen. Given the nature of the injury and the need for further assessment, he was taken to hospital for checks. No definitive diagnosis or further details about the severity of the injury were available immediately after the match.
Chelsea replaced him in the 75th minute with 21-year-old goalkeeper Mike Penders. The lengthy interruption for medical treatment meant the referee added 11 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the match.
Head injuries are treated with particular caution in professional football, as the initial appearance of a player does not always reveal the full extent of an injury. Hospital examinations can help medical professionals assess whether further treatment or monitoring is required. In Martínez’s case, Alonso’s confirmation that the goalkeeper remained conscious offered some reassurance, although it did not establish the seriousness of the injury.
Despite the concern over their goalkeeper, Chelsea completed the match with all three points. Pedro Neto scored both goals to give the London club a 2-0 win away from home. The result strengthened Chelsea’s position in the league table, although attention after the final whistle was firmly focused on Martínez’s condition.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Neto expressed satisfaction with the victory but acknowledged the concern surrounding his team-mate.
“We are very happy. I feel sorry for Emi. We wish him a speedy recovery. This win is for him,” Neto said.
Chelsea had collected 13 points from seven league matches and were sitting fourth in the Premier League table at the time of the report. The victory represented a positive outcome on the pitch, but the possible absence of Martínez could become a concern for the club depending on the results of his medical assessment.
For now, the extent of the goalkeeper’s injury and how long he might be unavailable remain unclear. Further information is expected once the medical examinations have been completed and the club is able to provide an update on his condition.
