Argentina could face additional disciplinary proceedings following the brawl that marred the end of their World Cup final defeat to Spain on Monday (as per BST), according to British online newspaper The Independent.
Leandro Paredes was sent off after the final whistle after clashing with Spain's Eric Garcia and Gavi while Nahuel Molina appeared to take a swing at Spain captain Rodri.
FIFA will investigate the post-match scenes before deciding whether to take additional disciplinary action, while sanctions could also follow Argentina's semi-final win over England.
After beating England, several Argentina players wave a banner that read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas", which translates to "The Falkland Islands are Argentinian".
A FIFA spokesperson said after the semi-final, "As is standard procedure, FIFA's independent Disciplinary Committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the FIFA Disciplinary Code."
The same process will apply to the final. Argentina's Paredes and Enzo Fernandez, who was sent off in normal time for two bookable offences, will each receive a one-match ban following their red cards, to be applied in Argentina's next competitive match.
But FIFA's Disciplinary Code states players sent off for violent conduct will be suspended for "at least three matches". Misconduct relating to assault, including "elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting at or hitting an opponent" will result in a suspension of "at least three matches or an appropriate period of time". Sanctions can also be applied retrospectively.
Luis Suarez is perhaps the most infamous example of a retrospective punishment at the World Cup, with the Uruguay striker handed a nine-match international ban and four-month ban from all football-related activity after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during the group stages of the 2014 tournament.
France legend Zinedine Zidane was handed a three-match ban following his headbutt on Italy's Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final, while Materazzi received a two-match suspension for provoking the Frenchman. Zidane's ban was never enforced, though, because he retired after the World Cup. On the scale of violent conduct, Paredes and Molina's actions at the end of the 2026 final were perhaps not as severe as those two infamous cases of bad behavior, but there is scope for FIFA to increase the punishment beyond the nominal three-match ban.
