ZURICH (AP) — FIFA opened a disciplinary case Friday against the Argentine Soccer Association for alleged misconduct by offensive players and violations of fair play at the World Cup final.
cited by FIFA its media and marketing regulations to prosecute the case, which appears to be related to a boisterous celebration of players running through the interview area after the game on December 18.
Argentina beat France on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium.
Some three hours later, players led by captain Lionel Messi ran and chanted through the official interview area, damaging the flimsy partitions without stopping to speak to the international print and broadcast media.
The disciplinary charges that include “offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play” did not specify Emiliano Martínez, who crudely brandished the trophy he received on the field as the best goalkeeper in the World Cup.
FIFA did not give a timetable for Argentina’s disciplinary case.
In other cases, FIFA imposed fines on the federations of Serbia, Mexico and Ecuador for acts of discrimination against fans at the World Cup.
Serbia was fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000) for offensive fan chants during a 3-2 loss against Switzerland, which had some players with ethnic Albanian ties to Kosovo, and team misconduct for seven players who received yellow cards .
FIFA fined Mexico 100,000 Swiss francs ($108,000) for anti-gay chants by fans in two games, and Ecuador must pay 20,000 Swiss francs ($21,600) for chants in the opening match against Qatar allegedly directed at Chile.
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