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FIFA imposes heavy fine and sporting penalty on Argentina after Falklands banner controversy
Rohan Mehta | August 22, 2026 5:27 PM CST

Several players were also fined after ugly scenes following the final.

The Argentine Football Association has received a major punishment after Argentina players were seen celebrating their World Cup win over England with a banner linked to the Falklands, while a number of players and staff have also been given significant fines for their part in the unsavoury incidents that followed the World Cup final.

Argentina had knocked England out in the semi-finals of the tournament, and the build-up to that match had been dominated by discussion surrounding the Falklands War.

At the final whistle, a number of Argentina players, including former Tottenham captain Cristian Romero, were seen celebrating with a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, or “The Falklands are Argentinian”.

Following an investigation into the matter, FIFA has handed the Argentine Football Association severe sanctions, including a fine of $321,000 (£235,000), with $100,000 of that amount required to be invested in “a plan to combat discrimination”.

The FIFA statement refers to the section of its legal framework concerning “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature,” as well as discrimination and racist abuse.

In addition, FIFA said Argentina’s next two home matches must be played with the stadium at 50 per cent capacity.

Several Argentina players and coaches have also been punished for their roles in the clash that followed their World Cup final defeat to Spain.

The match was followed by deeply unpleasant scenes, with a number of players involved in physical confrontations on the pitch.

Nahuel Molina appeared to punch Spain’s Rodri as he ran onto the pitch to celebrate, while Leandro Paredes grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat before throwing Gavi to the ground.

FIFA opened an investigation into the incident soon afterwards, and its conclusions have now been confirmed, with multiple fines and suspensions issued.

Paredes has been fined $90,000 (£65,900) and suspended for ten matches. Molina, meanwhile, has been fined $30,000 (£21,900) and banned for seven matches.

Thiago Almada received the lightest punishment, with a one-match suspension and a $30,000 fine.

Gavi is the only Spain player to be sanctioned, receiving a one-match ban and a $30,000 fine, which means he will miss September’s Nations League meeting with England at Wembley.


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