FIFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against several Argentine players, coaching staff and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) following incidents that occurred during and after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The charges stem from the aftermath of Argentina’s acrimonious 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the World Cup final, as well as the events surrounding the team’s semi-final victory over England and the behavior of fans throughout the tournament.
Paredes, Molina face assault charges
Argentinian midfielder Leandro Paredes and defender Nahuel Molina are among the players facing the most serious charges. Paredes was charged with three counts of assault under Article 14 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code for allegedly grabbing and shoving Spanish players including Eric Garcia and Garvey during a post-match altercation.Molina has been charged with two counts of assault, one completed and one attempted, after allegedly attacking Spain captain Rodri. He faces an additional charge of unethical conduct. Assistant coach Roberto Ayala was also charged with assault for his role in the confrontation, while winger Thiago Almada was charged with unsporting conduct.Spanish midfielder Garvey is also under investigation and has been charged with one count of unethical conduct over the same incident.
AFA charged over Falklands flag
In addition to the on-field clashes, FIFA also laid charges against the Argentine Football Association (AFA) after Argentinian players displayed a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Malvinas are Argentina”) after their 2-1 semi-final victory over England. The slogan refers to the Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina. The islands remain the subject of a long-running sovereignty dispute between Argentina and Britain, making the banner a politically sensitive statement.FIFA said such demonstrations amounted to using sports events for non-sporting political demonstrations, which is prohibited by its disciplinary rules.Additional charges against Argentina Disciplinary proceedings against the AFA are not limited to the banner incident, but include several alleged violations recorded during the competition. The governing body is investigating:
- Argentine supporters allegedly made discriminatory chants and gestures.
- Objects were thrown by spectators at several games.
- The alleged glitches were related to race organization and safety protocols.
- The team’s misconduct has been linked to massive clashes following the World Cup final.
These matters will be reviewed separately by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee.
What happens next?
British government officials have urged FIFA to investigate, with the football body saying on Wednesday that the formal charge was “the use of a sporting event to conduct a demonstration of a non-sporting nature”.FIFA said all those accused “will now have an opportunity to present their side, following which a decision will be taken by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in due course.”If found guilty, players could face suspension and financial penalties. According to FIFA’s disciplinary rules, offensive behavior may result in a ban of at least three matches, while unethical behavior may result in a suspension of at least one match.
