Argentina Faces FIFA Probe Over Final Melee
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- Argentina face likely FIFA disciplinary action after Leandro Paredes jabbed Spain's Eric Garcia in the throat, Paredes pushed Gavi to the floor, assistant coach Roberto Ayala appeared to hold Garcia by the throat and strike Dani Olmo, and Nahuel Molina appeared to punch Rodri
- FIFA had already opened a separate disciplinary process against Argentina after Tottenham's Cristian Romero, ex-Spurs man Giovani Lo Celso and Manchester United's Lisandro Martínez held a "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (Falklands) banner following their 2-1 semi-final win over England
- A reported red card for Paredes from referee Slavko Vincic for pushing Garcia by the throat was removed from the record shortly afterwards, with no evidence of any in-match disciplinary action
- Enzo Fernandez was the only Argentina player dismissed during the match, receiving a second yellow card in second-half stoppage time
- Lionel Scaloni tried to calm players and told media "We lost the match, and we accept it, but that doesn't mean we stop living," though BBC pundits Alan Shearer and Joe Hart branded the conduct "disgusting" on live coverage
- FIFA's disciplinary committee could invoke Article 13 on offensive behaviour and disrepute — the same clause used to ban then-Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales for three years in 2023 and to suspend Luis Suarez for four months after the 2014 World Cup bite
- The AFA was fined £18,300 after the 2022 World Cup final over Emiliano Martínez's lewd trophy gesture and mocking of Kylian Mbappé, and Martínez was later banned two games in 2024 for repeating the celebration against Chile and hitting a camera after the Colombia defeat
Why it matters: Paredes, Molina and Ayala could receive globally enforced bans from FIFA's disciplinary committee — with Article 13 charges carrying far heavier sanctions than standard three-match violent-conduct bans, as Rubiales and Suarez demonstrate. Argentina's parallel Falklands banner case adds a second front, and the AFA's repeated indiscipline (2022 fine, 2024 Martínez ban, now banner and melee) means FIFA has a growing file on the federation heading into 2026 World Cup qualifying.
