World Cup: What has FIFA charged Argentina with, what could punishment be?
What do the charges brought against Argentina’s FA, their players and their fans mean, and what action could FIFA take? Argentina’s appearance in the 2026
What do the charges brought against Argentina’s FA, their players and their fans mean, and what action could FIFA take? Argentina’s appearance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final left much to be desired. Spain’s 1-0 victory, after extra time, did not tell the story of what was a dominant display that barely gave the Argentinians a sight of goal – let alone a shot. What followed the final whistle, however, turned a poor performance into a pitiful and pathetic showing from one of the world’s greatest football nations. The tussle, led by Argentinian players, was the latest in a series of dubious decisions and actions that left the defending champions facing questions about their conduct throughout the tournament. Now FIFA, football’s global governing body, has issued charges against the South Americans and their fans. Al Jazeera Sport explores what those charges are and what they could mean for the team who celebrated victory at Qatar 2022. What has FIFA charged Argentina with following the World Cup? There are numerous charges against Argentina and its football association, the AFA, that relate to the final, the semifinal and the conduct of the players and fans across the tournament. Two Argentina players face disciplinary charges, while the AFA has been charged for a political banner displayed by the players. Also included on the list of disciplinary cases opened by FIFA against Argentina on Wednesday are “discriminatory chants and gestures” by fans, alleged assault by an assistant coach and “throwing of objects by spectators in relation to several matches” at the World Cup.
What FIFA charges against Argentina relate to the final? The image that will be associated with Argentinian football at World Cup 2026 is the brawl that followed the final against Spain. As the Spanish squad and coaches rushed onto the pitch at the full-time whistle to celebrate with the on-field players, Argentina’s Leandro Paredes was seen lashing out at Spain’s Gavi. The midfielder now faces three charges of assault, while his teammate Nahuel Molina faces two charges and assistant coach Roberto Ayala one, all under the charge of the same offence as Paredes. Gavi was thrown to the ground in the incident, while other Spanish players rushed to defend him. The midfielder has been charged with unsporting behaviour for his part in the melee that followed, as have Molina and Thiago Almada. What was the banner that FIFA has charged Argentina for? Following Argentina’s semifinal win against England, several players were seen with a banner that read: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Malvinas are Argentine”. The slogan relates to the Falkland Islands, which Argentina refers to as Islas Malvinas. The South American nation, under orders from Argentina’s then-military dictatorship, invaded the Falklands in 1982, triggering a 10-week war won by Britain. The formal charge handed to the AFA on Wednesday was “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature”. The action violated FIFA rules that ban political protests and displays, and British government officials urged FIFA to investigate. What are the charges against Argentina relating to their fans?
The BriefWire