Argentina charged by FIFA over Falklands sign as players and coach face possible ban for ‘assault’
Argentina have been charged by FIFA over the Falklands signs displayed after the World Cup semi-final against England.
The South American nation have been found to have breached four different FIFA conduct codes.
They are also being investigated for racism and discrimination.
And after the scenes at the World Cup final, Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and coach Roberto Ayala are facing ‘assault’ charges and a potential ban.
Last week, FIFA hired a special disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to asses the scenes at the final whistle.
Paredes and Molina started launching themselves at Spain’s players, who were attempting to celebrate the victory.
And on recommendations by the prosecutor, Molina, Paredes and Ayala are all set to be investigated for their conduct.
All are for alleged assault, and Molina has an extra for unsporting behaviour.
Thiago Almada and Gavi are under investigation for unsporting behaviour as well.
Under FIFA’s disciplinary rules, if found guilty, it is at least a one match for unsporting behaviour and three for assault.
The national team itself has been charged with a few breaches as well.
The first is for using a sporting event to demonstrate a non-sporting political cause.
This relates to the Falklands banner that the Argentinian players claimed from their fans and danced around with after beating England in the semi-final in Atlanta.
The banner read: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as ‘The Falklands are Argentine’.
They have also been charged with team misconduct, racist and discriminatory abuse and breaching order of security.
That last charge is related to late kick-offs, while the other charges are in relation to the fans.
American streamer IShowSpeed was the subject of alleged racial abuse during one Argentina game.
Action
At the time of the Falklands banner and the World Cup final, FIFA said they wouldn’t be looking into it. They now have, and there are some very serious charges.
Regarding the post-match brawl, Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente called for action once he saw what actually happened.
Speaking after the World Cup final, he said: “At the time, I didn’t realise it. I was celebrating, hugging teammates.
“But in any case, it is intolerable, unacceptable, it cannot be allowed.
“Players of that stature, whom I praised in the days leading up to the match and continue to praise, who are great players with a tremendous coach, surely they must have felt just as bad as we did seeing those reactions.”
An online petition quickly surfaced demanding that Argentina be banned from all future World Cups.
Over 23 million people signed it before being closed after FIFA launched their investigation.
And talkSPORT’s Gabby Agbonlahor believes the punishment for the Argentinian players throwing punches should be severe.
He said: “If you watch it back, Paredes on Garcia, he grabs his neck. And the way Garcia’s neck jolts, that’s assault, it’s as simple as that.
“You want to feel safe on the pitch, the punishment has to be that big that no one ever does that again.
“No matter what happens in football, you can be angry you lost, but be classy in defeat. If you want to fight Paredes, there are places to fight – not on the pitch against Garcia.
“And the way he was manhandling Gavi, a 21-year-old kid, and you were throwing him around on the pitch, that’s someone’s son, brother. Disgraceful. I would ban him from the whole next tournament if I had my way. Coward.”
Bizarre
Following the Falklands banner being widely slammed by media all over the world, the White House came to Argentina’s defence.
They claimed that the South American giants had every right to display the banner.
The executive director of the White House’s World Cup team, Andrew Giuliani told reporters: “We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America.
“And in terms of the ability, the opportunity to be able to make statements, (Argentina) has the ability to do that in the United States of America.”
Meanwhile, the Falklands government themselves called for sanctions against Argentina, saying: “The Falklands government is disappointed – though regrettably not surprised – that the Argentine football team decided to tarnish the result of last night’s World Cup football semi-final – a game that did not in any case involve the Falkland Islands.
“That said, it is hardly news to anyone that the people of the Islands were victims of an aggressive invasion in 1982, which left many traumatised.
“The banner displayed by Argentina last night, therefore, was particularly insensitive for many people in the Falklands.”
They continued: “It is the avowed policy of the Falkland Islands Government that we do not wish to see politics being brought into sport.
“Nor do we wish the Islands and their people to be used as a political football in every conversation about England and Argentina.”
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