According to French media outlet RMC, FIFA officially launched disciplinary proceedings on Monday to investigate the violent clashes between Argentina and Spain players after the World Cup final. Several Argentina players and assistant coaches were reportedly involved in the brawl, and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) could face both player suspensions and a hefty financial penalty.

After the final whistle of the World Cup final, the pitch quickly descended into chaos. When Spain midfielder Rodri approached to celebrate, Argentina defender Molina allegedly threw a punch that struck him in the chest, triggering a mass confrontation between players from both sides.

Footage from the incident showed Leandro Paredes aggressively pulling Eric Garcia before appearing to clash with Barcelona midfielder Gavi. Almada then joined in, with the Argentina player and others pushing Gavi to the ground. Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala was also captured on camera appearing to slap Spain midfielder Dani Olmo, while assistant coach Walter Samuel was seen witnessing the entire incident. Several members of Argentina’s coaching staff were reportedly involved in the chaos.

Under FIFA’s disciplinary regulations, violent conduct on the pitch can be considered a serious violation that goes against the principles of fair play and damages the image of football and FIFA. The disciplinary committee will review all details of the case, considering both aggravating and mitigating circumstances before deciding on sanctions. Any suspensions issued could apply to all international A-level competitions.

RMC noted that there have been several high-profile punishments for similar incidents in football history. Luis Suárez’s biting incident at the 2014 World Cup, for example, resulted in a four-month worldwide ban. Although the players involved in this incident are unlikely to receive a suspension of similar length, Argentina’s previous disciplinary record could lead to a stricter punishment this time.

This is not the first disciplinary controversy involving Argentina during this World Cup. After defeating England in the semi-finals, players including Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso and Lisandro Martínez were involved in an incident involving a banner related to the Falklands/Malvinas dispute displayed on the pitch. That matter is also reportedly under review by FIFA. In previous cases involving controversial slogans or messages, national football associations have been fined tens of thousands of euros. In addition, after Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar, controversial celebrations and comments from players led to the AFA paying a €21,500 fine.

RMC stated that with multiple disciplinary issues accumulating, the final’s violent scenes could further increase the risk of severe punishment for the Argentine Football Association. In addition to individual player suspensions, the AFA could also face a significant financial penalty.