Vile Argentina got what they deserved – now FIFA need to issue severe punishments | Football | Sport

Disgusting and disgraceful. Just two of the words used to describe the actions of the Argentina players after their defeat to Spain in the World Cup final. You could use a lot more! There was precious little sympathy worldwide for the South Americans even before the mass brawl they incited at full-time. There’s none now – especially in England. This was a shambolic way to lose the final, going without a single shot on target in 120 minutes while repeatedly play-acting, kicking Spain and trying to get their opponents into trouble. Even Lionel Messi.

And their actions at the end just made it even worse. It was truly shameful. To say it marred the final would probably be wrong because it was a very forgettable match, truth be told. The full-time scenes are what will live in the memory – and the fact the moral champions were also crowned the actual champions. “This is a result for football because of the way that they have played,” Alan Shearer said of Spain on the BBC after full-time. He’s not wrong. Emiliano Martinez had to make 11 saves, the most by any goalkeeper on record in a World Cup final, versus Unai Simon’s zero.

Pantomime villains Argentina, if you can even call them that, given pantomimes rarely end in punch-ups, got what they deserved. Both because of their football and their dirty antics. It was the result that everyone who isn’t Argentine wanted to see.

And FIFA now need to act. Starting with Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina, who deserve the strongest punishment for their part in the post-match melee. Paredes grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat while Molina punched out at Rodri as he ran past. It was the definition of violent conduct. The two need to be made an example of.

FIFA also must not forget to dish out the punishment for Argentina breaking strict rules on political messaging against England, too, with their banner about the Falkland Islands. They broke the rules, now they have to pay the price. It really is as simple as that.

It is a shame for a player like Messi, in many people’s minds the greatest ever, to bow out on the international stage like this. Joe Hart commented on the BBC: “There was one man on the pitch who did have class, that was Lionel Messi, who shook hands with every one of those Spanish players.”

That was certainly uplifting amid the nonsense elsewhere. Though even Messi indulged in Argentina’s tactics earlier in the evening, attempting to get Marc Cucurella sent off after the Spain defender covered part of his mouth, for half a second, while speaking.

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“Yeah I didn’t enjoy that at all from Messi,” Hart said. “He realises how on top Spain are in this final Gabby, if even Lionel Messi’s reverting to that.” While Wayne Rooney added: “That was sad to see, Lionel Messi doing that.”

Messi can have no complaints with the result, nor can any of his Argentina team-mates. They cannot complain about the punishment they must inevitably face, either.

An example has to be made of the South Americans so FIFA can show, very clearly, that such behaviour is forbidden. Lengthy bans and massive fines need to be handed out.

Spain defender Aymeric Laporte commented pre-match that Argentina “are a team that leave a lot of little messages with their challenges”. The message conveyed by Molina and Paredes’ actions at the end was one of childish bitterness.

They made a mockery of themselves and their team. The 2022 world champions suddenly looked like a group of sore losers. They can give it out but can’t take it back, particularly when you consider how they reacted to knocking out England and others, goading Jude Bellingham and co and parading around the unnecessary Falklands banner.

And that is why the world is so happy for Spain. They didn’t let the bullies win.