FIFA To Investigate Argentina’s Behavior After Winning World Cup 2022

The World Cup ended last year, and now FIFA has opened a disciplinary case against the Argentine Football Association. It was launched on Friday for alleged offensive player misconduct and violations of fair play during the final of the tournament.

For prosecuting the case, FIFA cited its media and marketing regulations. The case appears to relate to a boisterous celebration by the football players running through the interview zone after the game on Dec. 18, reported the Associated Press.

At Lusail Stadium in Qatar, Argentina defeated France in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw. About three hours after the final game, players led by captain Lionel Messi ran and sang through the official interview area. They damaged flimsy partition walls without stopping to interact with international broadcast and print media. The disciplinary charges that include “offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play” did not specifically mention Emiliano Martinez. He had crudely brandished his trophy that he received on the field as the best goalkeeper at the World Cup 2022.

The goalkeeper was even filmed in the dressing room mocking French star Kylian Mbappe, who won the FIFA Golden Boot trophy after scoring the most goals in the tournament, reported Al Jazeera. Martinez was also criticized by people on social media for mocking Mbappe during Argentina’s victory parade in Buenos Aires. He was slammed for holding a baby doll with the French player’s face plastered on it.

FIFA has not given any timetable for the Argentina disciplinary case. There were other cases too in which FIFA imposed fines on the federations of Mexico, Serbia and Ecuador for acts of discrimination by fans during last year's World Cup. For offensive fan chants during a 3-2 loss against Switzerland, Serbia was fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000).

As for Mexico, FIFA fined them 100,000 Swiss francs ($108,000) for anti-gay chants by fans at two games. Ecuador has to pay 20,000 Swiss francs ($21,600) for chants at the opening game against Qatar that were said to be directed at Chile.

The Croatian team is also being probed for potential violations of “discrimination” and “order and security at matches” rules. Players of the team seemed to sing a song with fascist connotations after their third-place playoff victory over Morocco. Recently, defender Dejan Lovren said that it was “a patriotic song which relates to my country, which means that I love my country."