FIFA investigates Argentina for player and staff attacks on Spanish team after World Cup final

Post-match chaos

Spain had just secured their second World Cup title with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, when celebrations turned violent. As Spanish substitutes ran onto the pitch, Argentina defender Nahuel Molina struck Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder and tournament MVP, with a punch. Rodri confronted Molina, and a melee erupted. Leandro Paredes grabbed Spain's Eric García by the throat, and later, together with Thiago Almada, threw Gavi to the ground. Assistant coach Roberto Ayala, a former Valencia defender, hit Dani Olmo during the scuffle. Nicolás Otamendi also exchanged heated words with Rodri, accusing him of pre-match comments. Argentina's players then turned their backs on the podium as Spain lifted the trophy, a gesture widely condemned as unsporting. The match itself had been physical, with Argentina's Tagliafico, Montiel, and Enzo Fernández committing hard fouls; Fernández was sent off in the 90+3 minute for a second yellow card after a tackle on Pau Cubarsí.

FIFA opens investigation

On Monday, 20 July, FIFA announced it had appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to investigate the incidents. In a statement, the governing body said:

After examining the relevant match reports of the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, and in accordance with Article 36 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has appointed a Disciplinary and Ethics prosecutor to investigate possible breaches of the FDC in relation to the incidents that occurred after the match.

The referee, Slavko Vincic, and match delegates have submitted their reports. A decision on sanctions could take 15 to 20 days, according to El País, though the 2014 Luis Suárez biting case was resolved within two days. Paredes was initially shown a red card after the final whistle, but FIFA later annulled it; any suspension would now come from the disciplinary investigation.

Reactions and criticism

BBC pundit Alan Shearer condemned Paredes' actions:

Paredes threw two or three punches to someone's face. He went for the aggression. There is no place for that. We know what this means to them and how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose. We have often seen this from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart called the behavior "disgusting". Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni downplayed the incidents, saying:

We are grateful in victory and we must be grateful in defeat. Today we showed that we know how to lose. We lost the match and we accept it, but that does not mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here.

Previous controversy

The final was not Argentina's first disciplinary issue of the tournament. After their 2-1 semifinal win over England, players displayed a banner asserting sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), which FIFA is also investigating under Article 34.3 of the tournament regulations. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was fined for a similar act in 2014. In the final, Enzo Fernández's early exit left Argentina a man down for extra time, where Ferran Torres scored the winner in the 106th minute.

What happens next

The FIFA disciplinary prosecutor will review video footage and reports before recommending sanctions. Possible penalties include suspensions for players and staff, as well as fines for the AFA. The investigation also covers the team's conduct during the trophy ceremony. FIFA's disciplinary code, particularly Article 13 on offensive behavior and fair play, could be applied. The outcome may set a precedent for post-match misconduct at future tournaments.