FIFA's heavy penalties on Argentina force AFA to mount defence
La FIFA unveiled on Friday a slate of harsh sanctions against the Argentina national team and the AFA after the display of the Malvinas flag following the win over Inglaterra and the on‑field brawl that ended the final against España, totalling $321,000 in fines and multiple player bans.
AFA president Luis López de Córdoba Tapia, Ángel De Paul, Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes were seen watching the Sub 20 match, highlighting the close link between the senior Selección and its under‑20 side.
Fine breakdown and anti‑discrimination fund
The disciplinary commission imposed total fines of $321,000, of which $10,000 was specifically for the Malvinas flag display. Around $100,000 of the amount will be earmarked for a programme fighting discrimination, while the remaining balance covers breaches of articles 13, 14, 15 and 17 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Player suspensions were severe: Leandro Paredes received a ten‑match ban, Nahuel Molina seven matches, Thiago Almada one match and Roberto Ayala, assistant to Lionel Scaloni, three matches. Spain’s midfielder Gavi was also handed a single‑match suspension for his involvement in the final clash.
In addition, FIFA ordered the AFA to limit spectators to 50 % capacity for the next two home World Cup qualifying matches, a restriction that does not apply to friendly fixtures. The measure targets crowd control after the incidents in the Inglaterra and España games.
AFA's appeal pathway
The AFA announced it will first address the Appeals Committee of FIFA, seeking a reduction in the number of matches handed to Paredes and Molina. Should the committee’s decision be unsatisfactory, the federation may take the case to the Tribunal Arbitral del Deporte (TAS) as a final resort.
“La Gerencia de Legales de AFA, en tiempo y forma, solicitará a FIFA los fundamentos de los fallos que son revisables a fin de interponer los recursos ante el Comité de Apelación de la entidad rectora del futbol mundial, quedando en el futuro la posibilidad de recurrir al TAS como última instancia,” the AFA’s legal department said in a statement. The statement emphasized the federation’s intent to challenge the disciplinary decisions promptly.
The sanctions arrive as the Selección Argentina, runner‑up of the World Cup, earned $33 million from the tournament, a sum now shadowed by the financial and sporting penalties. The fallout highlights the broader impact of political gestures on football governance.