FIFA has imposed a $321,000 (£235,000) fine on the Argentine FA and ordered that its next two home matches be played at 50 per cent capacity after players celebrated their World Cup semi-final victory over England with a banner referencing the Falklands.
The sanction follows an investigation into the incident, in which several Argentina players, including former Tottenham captain Cristian Romero and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, were seen celebrating with a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, or “The Falklands are Argentinian”. The build-up to the match had been dominated by discussions of the Falklands War.
FIFA cites discrimination rules
FIFA’s release cites the section of its legal framework relating to “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature,” as well as discrimination and racist abuse. Of the total fine, $100,000 must be invested in “a plan to combat discrimination”.
Separately, various Argentina players and coaches have been sanctioned for their roles in the fracas which followed their World Cup final defeat by Spain. The match was followed by unsavoury scenes as a number of players came to blows on the pitch.
Bans for players after final violence
Nahuel Molina appeared to punch Spain’s Rodri as he raced onto the pitch to celebrate, while Leandro Paredes grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat before throwing Gavi to the ground. FIFA launched an investigation into the fracas shortly thereafter, and their findings have now been confirmed, with various fines and suspensions handed out.
Paredes has been fined $90,000 (£65,900) and suspended for ten matches. Molina has been fined $30,000 (£21,900) and suspended for seven matches. Thiago Almada receives a one-match suspension and a $30,000 fine. Gavi is the only Spaniard sanctioned, receiving a one-match ban and a $30,000 fine, ruling him out of September’s Nations League meeting with England at Wembley.
