Argentina players face FIFA disciplinary action over World Cup final clash and Falklands banner

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against several Argentina players and staff over clashes with Spain’s team after the World Cup final and the display of a politically charged Falklands banner during the tournament.

The world governing body confirmed on Wednesday that action has been launched in relation to incidents that occurred both after Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the final in New York and following Argentina’s 2-1 semi-final win against England.

A group of Argentina players and staff confronted Spanish opponents on the pitch at full-time in the final, with tensions spilling over immediately after the decisive match at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada and Leandro Paredes, along with Argentinian official Roberto Ayala, have been named by FIFA among those under investigation for their role in the post-match confrontation. Spain midfielder Pablo Martin Paez Gavira is also subject to proceedings.

FIFA said the quintet face a range of potential disciplinary charges, including assault and unsporting behaviour, arising from their involvement in the heated scenes at the end of the match.

Falklands banner examined

Separately, FIFA will examine an incident that followed Argentina’s semi-final victory over England, when Argentina players displayed a banner reading: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”).

The message refers to Argentina’s long-standing sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory, and raises questions over the use of a major football tournament as a platform for political statements.

FIFA stated that the investigations relate to possible violations of its disciplinary code concerning the use of a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature, team misconduct, discrimination and racist abuse, and order and security at matches.

Wider probe into Argentina matches

In a broader move, FIFA indicated that its scrutiny extends beyond the specific flashpoints in the semi-final and final to conduct across several Argentina fixtures at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

It said the security and order element of the case had been 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 at the FIFA World Cup 2026”.

No details were given on the timing of any hearings or possible sanctions. FIFA has not yet announced when decisions will be made or what punishments could follow if the charges are upheld.

The Argentine Football Association and the Spanish Football Federation had not publicly commented on the proceedings at the time of the announcement.