FIFA has filed disciplinary complaints against two Argentina players for attacking Spain players immediately after the World Cup final, while also charging the Argentine Football Association for allowing players to display a political banner about the Falkland Islands after the semi-final win over England.
FIFA's list of disciplinary cases opened against Argentina on Wednesday also includes “discriminatory chants and gestures” by fans, an alleged assault by an assistant coach after the final, and “throwing of objects from the audience associated with several matches” during the World Cup.
Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes faces three assault charges for post-match scuffles after Spain's 1-0 victory on July 19, defender Nahuel Molina faces two charges, and assistant coach Roberto Ayala one.
Molina and Thiago Almada were also charged with unsporting conduct, with the same accusation leveled at Spain player Gavi.
Argentina players carried a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “the Malvinas are Argentina’s” — after defeating England 2-1 in the semi-final.
Argentina calls the Falkland Islands the Islas Malvinas. They were invaded in 1982 under the orders of Argentina's then-military dictatorship, triggering a 10-week war that Britain won.
UK government officials called for a FIFA investigation, and the football governing body said on Wednesday the formal charge was “using a sporting event for a demonstration of a non-sporting nature”.
FIFA said all those charged “were given the opportunity to present their positions, after which a decision will be issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in due course”.
