30/07/2026 10:45 - Deportes
On July 19, 2026, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. After the final whistle, a physical altercation broke out between players from both sides. Separately, during the semi-final against England on July 14, 2026 in Atlanta, Argentine players displayed a banner reading 'Las Malvinas son argentinas' (The Falklands are Argentine) after their 2-1 victory.
On July 29, 2026, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee formally charged the following individuals and the AFA:
The AFA itself is charged under Articles 13 (using a sports event for non-sporting demonstrations), 14 (improper conduct), 15 (discrimination), and 17 (order and security) for the Falklands banner, discriminatory chants, and objects thrown by fans during multiple matches.
The Falkland Islands (known as Islas Malvinas in Spanish) have been a point of contention between Argentina and the United Kingdom since the 1982 war. The banner displayed by Argentine players is a common political statement in Argentina, but FIFA rules prohibit political messages at its events. The UK government urged FIFA to investigate.
FIFA’s disciplinary code allows fines ranging from USD 5,000 to over USD 20,000 for individual misconduct. For the AFA, penalties could include larger fines, matches behind closed doors, or even point deductions. Suspensions for players would be served during upcoming FIFA international windows with the national team.
All charged parties have already submitted their defenses. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will announce its final decision in the coming months.
Sources: DW, Infobae, ESPN, TN (as reported in original Spanish article).
Alfredo S. Quiroga
