Fifa has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Argentina following incidents that occurred during and after the World Cup final loss to Spain, as well as throughout the tournament. The world governing body appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to assess the events that unfolded after the final whistle at the New York New Jersey Stadium, where Argentina suffered a 1-0 defeat in July.
The investigation extends to multiple Argentina players and backroom staff who were involved in altercations with Spain players. Additionally, the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) faces charges related to a banner displayed after their semi-final victory and other alleged breaches of conduct during the competition.
Player and Staff Charges
Based on the prosecutor’s recommendation, Fifa will investigate several individuals. Argentina players Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes, along with assistant coach Roberto Ayala, are facing allegations of assault under Article 14 of Fifa‘s disciplinary code. Molina is accused of two counts of assault, one completed and one attempted, after allegedly striking Spain captain Rodri. Paredes faces three counts of assault for allegedly grabbing and pushing Spain players, including Eric García and Gavi, during the post-match confrontation.
In addition to the assault charges, Molina may also face disciplinary action for one count of alleged unsporting behaviour under Article 14. Teammate Thiago Almada, an unused substitute in the final, has been cited for unsporting conduct. Spain midfielder Gavi is also under investigation and has been charged with one count of unsporting behaviour arising from the same incident. Under Fifa‘s disciplinary code, players and officials found guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct face at least a one-match suspension, while assault can result in a minimum three-match ban.
Charges Against the Argentinian Football Association
The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) is facing disciplinary proceedings for potential breaches across multiple matches. One significant charge relates to the use of a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature, as outlined in Article 13 of the disciplinary code. This stems from a banner displayed by Argentina players after their 2-1 semi-final win over England in Atlanta.
The banner, which read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Malvinas are Argentine”), expressed support for Argentina‘s claim to the Falkland Islands. This politically sensitive statement refers to the British overseas territory in the south Atlantic, which has been ruled by Britain since 1833. The dispute over the islands led to a 74-day conflict in 1982, resulting in the loss of over 900 lives. Fifa‘s disciplinary code explicitly prohibits using a sports event for non-sporting demonstrations.
This is not the first instance of an Argentina team expressing such sentiments. In 2014, Fifa fined Argentina £20,000 for a larger banner displayed by players before a friendly match with Slovenia. The current incident prompted political debate, with a spokesperson for the then UK prime minister stating, “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.” Conversely, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Fifa taskforce, defended Argentina‘s players, citing the US belief in free speech.
Additional Allegations and Next Steps
The comprehensive charge sheet against the AFA also includes allegations of team misconduct (Article 14), discrimination and racist abuse (Article 15), and breaching order and security at matches (Article 17). These charges encompass discriminatory chants and gestures by Argentina supporters, late kick-offs, the display of inappropriate messages by both the team and spectators, and the throwing of objects by spectators during several matches. The team misconduct charge is linked to the mass confrontation that occurred after the World Cup final.
Fifa has stated that all individuals and the AFA have been given the opportunity to present their position. Following this, the Fifa disciplinary committee will issue a decision in due course. If found guilty, players could face match suspensions and financial penalties, while the AFA could face various sanctions for the alleged breaches of conduct.
Source: bbc.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
