FIFA opens disciplinary case against Argentina FA over Falklands banner and other incidents

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina's football association and its players for several alleged breaches at the World Cup, including the unveiling of a Falklands banner.

Some Argentina stars brandished a sheet declaring "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" ("The Falklands ​are Argentine") following the team's 2-1 semi-final win against England.

The large handwritten banner proclaiming Argentinian ownership of the British overseas territory came after two late goals had seen the team secure victory in Atlanta.

World football's governing body said that using a sports event ‌for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature was a potential breach of the ​FIFA disciplinary code.

Other alleged Argentina breaches at ⁠the tournament include discriminatory ⁠chants and gestures, late kick-offs, security protocol failures, inappropriate team and spectator messages, and ‌objects thrown by fans across several matches during the tournament.

Meanwhile, disciplinary proceedings were also opened by FIFA against several players following ‌the final, in which Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time.

There was a brief brawl at the final whistle in New Jersey when Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes shoved Spain's Gavi to the ⁠ground as Spain's substitutes rushed on to ​the pitch to celebrate.

Paredes faces three assault ​counts while team-mate Nahuel Molina faces two counts.

Molina, fellow ​Argentina player Thiago Almada and Argentine official Roberto Ayala, as ⁠well as Spain's Gavi, face one count each for unsporting behaviour.

Argentina were widely condemned for their conduct after the match as Spain's celebrations of a second World Cup victory were marred by violence.

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FIFA's disciplinary committee has opened proceedings against the Argentinian FA for potential breaches of article 13 paragraph 2 c) (using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature), article 14 paragraph 5 (team misconduct), article 15 (discrimination and racist abuse) and article 17 (order and security at matches) of the FIFA disciplinary code.

FIFA said it was "in light of discriminatory chants and gestures, late kick-offs, failure to comply with match and security protocols, the display of inappropriate messages by the team and spectators and the throwing of objects by spectators in relation to several matches of the representative team of Argentina".

(c) Sky News 2026: FIFA opens disciplinary case against Argentina FA over Falklands banner and other incidents