The International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) has announced the appointment of a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to investigate the events following the 2026 World Cup final, which brought together the Spanish and Argentine teams.
The decision came after a careful review of reports from referees, observers and official videos documenting moments of unprecedented chaos on the pitch, and direct physical assaults involving Argentina players and officials.
The match witnessed a charged atmosphere in its final minutes, after Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off in stoppage time of the second half, after receiving the second warning.
Post-final clashes
After the final whistle, a scuffle broke out between Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes and a number of Spanish national team players, including defender Eric Garcia and midfielder Gavi, before the clash expanded to include a number of players amid a stampede.
FIFA based its investigation on footage described by the international press as a "street battle", with cameras showing Nahuel Molina rushing towards Rodri and punching him directly as the Spaniards celebrated the victory, while Leandro Paredes and Thiago Almada were involved in a violent scuffle on the touchline that included Grabbing Eric Garcia by the neck and throwing Gavi to the ground and pushing his face hard amid a state of uncontrollability.
Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala was caught in the middle of the storm after footage was documented hitting Dani Olmo during the stampede, in behaviour that FIFA considered a flagrant violation of sportsmanship.
Members of the technical and administrative staff of the two teams intervened to contain the situation and prevent it from escalating, while the coach of the Argentine national team, Lionel Scaloni, appeared to try to calm his players down and end the state of tension that hung over the end of the match.
The investigation opened by the FIA is expected to determine the circumstances of the incident, in preparation for taking appropriate measures and discipline against any parties found to be involved in the events.
Sources close to FIFA said that the investigation is not limited to physical assaults, but extends to an assessment of the collective behavior of the Argentina team during the coronation ceremony, after the players provoked international anger by turning their entire backs to the trophy lifting platform and refusing to follow the moment of Spain's coronation, in a clear violation of the official protocol of the World Cup and the rules of mutual respect between the teams.
Merge investigations with Falkland file
In a remarkable development, the disciplinary prosecutor decided to merge this file with a previously opened political investigation related to Argentina's players holding a banner bearing the words "The Falkland Islands is Argentine territory" after beating England in the semi-finals, a move that FIFA categorically prohibits in its regulations that prohibit the introduction of political slogans in international tournaments.
Observers said the merger reflects FIFA's desire to deal with the Argentine team's repetitive behaviour as a pattern that goes beyond the boundaries of sporting competition.
FIFA explained that it will not issue immediate sanctions, and the plaintiff was given a few weeks to prepare his integrated report before submitting it to the disciplinary committee, but initial indications according to sources close to FIFA, indicate that the sanctions will be heavy and may include long international suspensions affecting Molina, Paredes and Almada for several official matches, and depriving Ayala of accompanying the national team for an extended period, in addition to huge financial fines expected against the Argentine Football Federation, in a move aimed at reinstating Establishing the prestige of regulations and discipline within the world's biggest football event.