FIFA Opens Disciplinary Proceedings Against Argentina Over Alleged World Cup Misconduct
FIFA Opens Disciplinary Proceedings Against Argentina Over Alleged World Cup Misconduct
The move comes after FIFA’s disciplinary committee received a report from its discipline and ethics prosecutor detailing a series of incidents across multiple matches involving the Argentine national team.
FIFA has widened its scrutiny of Argentina’s conduct at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, opening disciplinary proceedings against the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) and launching separate investigations into several players and a team official over alleged misconduct during the tournament.
The move comes after FIFA’s disciplinary committee received a report from its discipline and ethics prosecutor detailing a series of incidents across multiple matches involving the Argentine national team.
According to SkyNews, in addition to the proceedings against the AFA, FIFA is investigating Argentinian players Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada, Spain player Pablo Martín Paez Gavira, as well as allegations involving Argentina defender Leandro Paredes and Argentinian official Roberto Ayala following the World Cup final against Spain.
The governing body said the disciplinary proceedings against the Argentinian Football Association concern potential breaches of article 13 paragraph 2 c) relating to the “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature”, article 14 paragraph 5 on team misconduct, article 15 covering discrimination and racist abuse, and article 17 on order and security at matches under the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Among the incidents under review is the unveiling of a Falklands banner by Argentina after its World Cup semi-final victory over England, an act that has attracted significant attention because of the long-running sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands.
However, FIFA indicated that the investigation extends well beyond that episode.
The disciplinary committee said the proceedings were opened “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”.
The statement suggests that FIFA is examining a pattern of alleged misconduct throughout Argentina’s World Cup campaign rather than isolated incidents.
The investigation into the World Cup final against Spain also focuses on the conduct of Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes and Argentinian official Roberto Ayala, while separate proceedings involving Molina, Thiago Almada and Spain midfielder Pablo Martín Paez Gavira remain ongoing.
FIFA has not disclosed when the disciplinary cases will be concluded or the sanctions that could be imposed if the Argentinian Football Association, its players or officials are found to have breached the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
The outcome of the proceedings could result in disciplinary measures against the federation, individual players or team officials, depending on the committee’s findings.
