FIFA has charged several Argentina players for their conduct in the aftermath of their World Cup final defeat to Spain and opened proceedings against the country’s Football Association for the display of a banner relating to the Falkland Islands after the semi-final win over England.
Spain lifted the trophy for the second time in their history after an uninspiring final was settled by Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike.
Ugly scenes followed at the end, with several Spain players accosted by Argentina counterparts. Leandro Paredes was at the centre of the controversy, as he grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat before pushing Gavi to the turf.
FIFA confirmed on Wednesday it had levelled three charges for assault against Paredes, while also charging Nahuel Molina (two counts, one completed and one attempted) and assistant coach Roberto Ayala (one count). Ayala was involved in confrontation with Spain’s Dani Olmo and promised to apologise in person to the Barcelona star.
Nahuel Molina (one count) and Thiago Almada (one count) have also been charged for unsporting behaviour, as has Spain midfielder Gavi (one count).
FIFA added that those accused would have the opportunity to present their position before a decision by the disciplinary committee.
In addition, the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) looks set to face action for the team’s actions after La Albiceleste came from behind to beat England 2-1 in the semi-final.
Amid the celebrations, several Argentina players posed with a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas (The Falklands are Argentine).”
Britain and Argentina went to war over the Falklands in 1982, with the 74-day conflict resulting in the deaths of 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British combatants and three civilians. The Falklands remain a British controlled territory, though Argentina insists the archipelago in the South Atlantic is its possession.
A formal investigation was demanded by the British government, and a case has been opened against the AFA for the team “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature”.
The proceedings against the AFA also relate to “team misconduct” “discrimination and racist abuse” and “order and security at matches”.
The FIFA statement read: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Argentinian Football Association for potential breaches of article 13 paragraph 2 c) (Using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature), article 14 paragraph 5 (Team misconduct), article 15 (Discrimination and racist abuse) and article 17 (Order and security at matches) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code in light of discriminatory chants and gestures, late kick-offs, failure to comply with match and security protocols, the display of inappropriate messages by the team and spectators and the throwing of objects by spectators in relation to several matches of the representative team of Argentina at the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
You Should Also Read
