FIFA launches disciplinary proceedings against Argentina FA over Falklands banner with statement issued

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has officially opened proceedings against the Argentinian Football Association for various incidents including the Falklands banner shown at the World Cup.

In both the semi-final and the final of 2026 World Cup, Argentina made headlines, not for their performances during the matches, but their behaviour afterwards.

Immediately after losing to Spain in the final, Argentina players Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes and Argentinian official Roberto Ayala were involved in shocking acts of violence that quickly went viral online.

Just days prior, after their semi-final win over England the Argentina team were seen posing with a controversial banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas", which translates as "The Falklands are Argentine".

Both incidents led to calls for FIFA to step in and punish Argentina, and it has now been confirmed that Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Argentinian FA, players and an official.

In a statement given to SPORTbible, FIFA confirmed that the proceedings relate several breaches, the first of which directly relates to the Falklands banner seen after the win over England.

The investigation will determine if this banner was in breach of article 13 paragraph 2 c) (Using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature)

Other potential breaches include 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 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.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee have also opened proceedings regarding potential breaches of article 14 paragraph 1 i) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (assault) against Molina (who faces two counts, one completed and one attempted), Paredes (three counts) and Ayala (one count).

Part of the investigation into Molina relates to him striking Manchester City's Rodri at full-time, while Paredes grabbed and pushed several of Spain's players.

Molina and teammate Thiago Almada, as well as Spain's Gavi, are also facing disciplinary proceedings for potential breaches of article 14 paragraph 1 b) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (unsporting behaviour).

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What punishments could Argentina face?

As per FIFA'S Disciplinary Code, players sent off for violent conduct will be suspended for “at least three matches” and, although the violence took place after the final whistle, sanctions can be applied retrospectively.

Misconduct that can be punished relating to assault includes "elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting at or hitting an opponent" and would be punished with a suspension of “at least three matches or an appropriate period of time”.

As for the Argentina FA itself, it could face major fines both for the violence after the final and the Falklands banner following the semi-final.

Back in 2014, the Argentinian Football Association was fined £20,000 by FIFA in 2014 after players held up a banner with the same message as the one seen at the World Cup this summer.