Several Argentine football stars face potential bans after chaotic physical altercations broke out on the pitch following Spain's World Cup final victory on Sunday.
The violent scenes began immediately after the final whistle. Argentina's Nahuel Molina appeared to strike Spanish captain Rodri in the stomach while running onto the field. At the same time, a major brawl erupted near the halfway line, where Leandro Paredes grabbed Spain's Eric García by the throat and threw Gavi to the ground. Referee Slavko Vincic issued a red card to Paredes for his actions, following an earlier red card given to Enzo Fernández near the end of normal time. Three other Argentine players and head coach Lionel Scaloni were also booked during the match.
In response to the altercations, football's governing body, FIFA, announced that its Disciplinary Committee has appointed a Disciplinary and Ethics Prosecutor to investigate potential violations of its disciplinary code.
Furthermore, FIFA is examining Argentina's conduct following their semi-final win over England. After that match, players celebrated with a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," which fans had smuggled into the Atlanta Stadium. Because FIFA rules strictly prohibit players and teams from making political statements, those involved could face additional bans.