FIFA hands historic sanctions to Argentina after 2026 World Cup incidents

Udated at 2.30 p.m. to include the response from AFA World football’s governing body FIFA announced on Friday historic sanctions against the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and several Argentine players following incidents during the 2026 World Cup final and semifinal. Several members of the Albiceleste squad were under investigation by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee after displaying a Malvinas Islands banner following their semi-final victory over England, as well as for the incidents that took place after losing the final to Spain. On Friday, FIFA announced a US$321,000 fine for the AFA, finding it in violation of four articles of the organization’s Disciplinary Code that relate to political manifestations, improper behavior by the team, racial discrimination and matchday security. FIFA also ordered Argentina to play its next two home matches under a 50% capacity restriction, although the second one is on suspension and bound to a probationary period. Footballers involved Sanctions also reached individual players, in this case relating to brawls that broke out after Spain’s win in the World Cup final. Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada and coaching staff member Roberto Ayala, as well as Spain’s Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, better known as Gavi, had all been placed under investigation by FIFA. The harshest sanction fell to Paredes, who will have to serve a 10-game suspension and pay a US$90,000 fine. Molina will pay the same amount in fines, albeit facing only a seven-game suspension. Ayala and Almada will pay US$30,000, with the coach facing a three-game suspension and the player only one game. Spain’s Páez Gavira will also pay a US$30,000 fine and a single-match suspension. The sanctions come after FIFA analyzed the footage from the brawl that broke out after the final in New Jersey. In it, Paredes can be seen grabbing Spain’s Eric García by the neck while also scuffling with Gavi amid La Roja’s celebrations, with Almada near the action. Molina brawled with Spain’s Rodri following the final whistle, while Ayala went after Dani Olmo during the celebrations. It’s worth noting that the suspension games only apply to official national team games played under FIFA’s regulations, and not to club games for each player’s individual team. AFA to appeal sanctions The AFA released a statement on Friday, announcing it will appeal the fines and sanctions. In its statement, the AFA goes into detail on FIFA’s sanctions, adding that it will “duly request FIFA to provide the grounds for the decisions” in order to “lodge the appropriate appeals before the governing body’s Appeal Committee.”  The AFA added that it will also be “reserving the right to appeal to the [Court of Arbitration for Sport] as a final resort.” What happened with the Malvinas flag at the 2026 World Cup? After coming back from 1-0 down to win the semifinal matchup against England, Argentina players celebrated with a “The Malvinas are Argentine” banner. Almada later revealed that it was made and thrown onto the pitch by his neighborhood friends, who had to toss it from the stands to prevent stadium security from confiscating it. The flag caused a big stir in the United Kingdom and worldwide, with the UK’s Business Secretary Peter Kyle calling the display “an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football” in an interview with the BBC. He was backed by the UK’s outgoing Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who told The Guardian that “the World Cup might not be [England’s], but the Falkland Islands definitely are.” Editorial disclaimer: Although the UK refers to the territory as the “Falkland Islands,” Argentina strongly contests this name. The Buenos Aires Herald uses “Malvinas” to refer to the islands.