FIFA Launches Disciplinary Case Against Argentina Over "Malvinas Are Argentine" Banner and Post-Final Brawl

FIFA has opened a disciplinary investigation into the Argentine national football team after several players displayed a banner reading "Las Malvinas son argentinas" ("The Falklands are Argentine") and became embroiled in a scuffle at the end of the World Cup final.

The banner incident occurred following Argentina's emotional semi-final victory over England, when a number of players posed with the piece of fabric referencing the 1982 war over the disputed islands. That conflict lasted roughly 70 days and, according to historical records, claimed the lives of 648 Argentines and 255 Britons defending their overseas territory.

This is not the first such incident: back in 2014, FIFA fined Argentina £20,000 for a banner bearing identical wording that players held up ahead of a friendly against Slovenia.

Beyond the banner controversy, football's governing body will also examine a range of other possible violations by the Argentine squad during the tournament, including discriminatory chants and gestures, delays in taking to the pitch, breaches of security protocol, inappropriate messages from players and fans, and instances of supporters throwing objects onto the field.

A separate inquiry concerns a brief altercation immediately after the final whistle of the match, in which Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time. The clash was sparked by Argentine midfielder Paredes, who knocked Spain's Gavi to the ground just as Spanish substitutes ran onto the pitch to celebrate the win.

Paredes has been charged on three counts related to the assault, while his teammate Nahuel Molina faces two charges. In addition, Molina, fellow Argentine Thiago Almada, assistant coach Roberto Ayala, and Gavi himself have all been charged with unsporting conduct.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz