Argentina hope Lionel Messi case can help overturn FIFA bans after nine years

Argentina are preparing an appeal against FIFA sanctions imposed after a Falkland Islands flag was displayed following their 2-1 victory over England and after incidents at the stadium following the 2026 World Cup final, which Spain won 1-0.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has been fined a total of $321,000, while midfielder Leandro Paredes has received a 10-match suspension and team-mate Nahuel Molina has been banned for seven games.

Thiago Almada has been suspended for one match, while Roberto Ayala, an assistant to Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, has been given a three-match ban. Spain midfielder Gavi has also been suspended for one match. All those sanctioned have received separate fines of varying amounts.

Andres Paton Urich, the AFA’s director of legal affairs, told Ole that the governing body had already begun preparing its defence and appeal. The association’s main focus will be attempts to reduce the suspensions imposed on Paredes and Molina.

Argentina intend to rely partly on the precedent set by Lionel Messi’s disciplinary case in 2017. Messi was initially banned for four matches, but the suspension was later cancelled because FIFA concluded there was not conclusive evidence to support it. The forward had served only one game of the ban before it was overturned.

Once the defence file is complete, the AFA will submit its appeal to FIFA’s Appeal Committee. That will be the first formal stage in challenging the decisions made by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee.

If the outcome is not favourable, Argentina can take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the highest independent international sports arbitration body for disputes connected with sport.

Falklands flag fine

Urich said the specific fine relating to the display of the Falkland Islands flag was $10,000. That figure is part of the total $321,000 imposed on the AFA, after earlier estimates had suggested the punishment could be considerably more severe.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has also ordered Argentina to play their next two home matches with stadiums operating at no more than 50% capacity. The restriction applies only to qualifying matches and does not cover friendlies.

Around $100,000 of the overall fines will be allocated to an anti-discrimination programme, according to the disciplinary ruling.

The committee has also suspended part of the punishment. That suspended portion covers one match and $100,000 of the financial penalty, with both elements placed under a probationary period.

Argentina reached the 2026 World Cup final and finished as runners-up after Spain’s 1-0 victory. As a result of their performance in the global tournament, the Argentina national team received a total of $33m.

The AFA now faces the task of completing its case before beginning the FIFA appeal process, with the Messi ruling from nine years ago offering the association grounds for optimism as it seeks to reduce the latest sanctions.