The Argentine FA has been handed a hefty sanction after its players were seen celebrating World Cup victory over England with a banner relating to the Falklands, while various players and staff have been hit with hefty fines for their involvement in the unsavoury scenes which followed the World Cup final.
Argentina knocked England out in the tournament semi-finals, and the build-up to the match was dominated by discussions of the Falklands War.
Come the full-time whistle, various Argentina players, including former Tottenham captain Cristian Romero, were seen celebrating with a banner which read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, or “The Falklands are Argentinian”.
After investigating the incident, FIFA has imposed heavy sanctions on the Argentine FA, imposing a fine of $321,000 (£235,000), $100,000 of which must be invested in “a plan to combat discrimination”.
The FIFA release cites the section of its legal framework which relates to “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature,” and discrimination and racist abuse.
Furthermore, FIFA state Argentina’s next two home matches must be played at 50 per cent capacity.
Various Argentina players and coaches have also been sanctioned for their roles in the fracas which followed their World Cup final defeat by Spain.
The match was followed by deeply unsavoury scenes as a number of players came to blows on the pitch.
Nahuel Molina appeared to punch Spain’s Rodri as he raced onto the pitch to celebrate, while Leandro Paredes grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat before throwing Gavi to the ground.
FIFA launched an investigation into the fracas shortly thereafter, and their findings have now been confirmed, with various fines and suspensions handed out.
Paredes has been hit with a fine of $90,000 (£65,900) and a ten-match suspension. Molina, meanwhile, has been fined $30,000 (£21,900) and suspended for seven matches.
Thiago Almada takes the lightest sanction, with a one-match suspension and $30,000 fine imposed.
Gavi is the only Spaniard sanctioned as he receives a one-match ban and a $30,000 fine, which will see him ruled out of September’s Nations League meeting with England at Wembley.