Fifa opens investigation after post‑final brawls as Argentina players face bans

Fifa has opened an investigation into the violent scenes that followed Spain’s World Cup final win on Sunday, with several Argentina players facing bans. Leandro Paredes was shown a red card after the final whistle, and Nahuel Molina appeared to strike Spain’s captain Rodri as he ran on to the pitch.

The incidents unfolded in the immediate aftermath of Spain’s victory and have prompted disciplinary scrutiny from football’s governing body. Video and pitchside reports captured a sequence of confrontations involving Argentina players and members of the Spain squad. Alongside those clashes, Fifa is also reviewing a separate matter: a Falklands banner displayed after England v Argentina.

Footage appears to show Nahuel Molina strike Rodri in the stomach as Rodri ran on to the pitch following the final whistle. That moment was among the most widely circulated images from the closing moments of the match and is a central element of Fifa’s inquiry into the post‑match disturbances.

A large melee developed on the halfway line, where Leandro Paredes is shown in footage appearing to grab Eric García by the throat before throwing Gavi to the ground. Those actions were significant enough that Paredes was later shown a red card after the final whistle, a measure that has been noted in the disciplinary review.

Fifa’s opening of a formal investigation places the incidents under the jurisdiction of the organisation’s disciplinary processes. The governing body will examine the conduct recorded in the immediate aftermath of the final and the surrounding circumstances, including the reported banner issue following England v Argentina.

The matters under examination include both the physical confrontations involving Argentina players and the off‑field provocation represented by the Falklands banner. The investigation may result in sanctions once Fifa’s review of the evidence is complete.

Fifa’s probe into the post‑final disturbances and the banner incident signifies that the behaviour surrounding the tournament’s climax will be subject to formal disciplinary assessment, with several Argentina players facing potential bans as part of that process.