Argentina are currently top of the Conmebol 2026 World Cup qualifiers with 15 points after six games. However, a major sanction has been announced which could complicate their path to defending their title won in Qatar 2022.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee imposed a partial stadium closure on the national team. This penalty is the result of incidents that occurred during games played between September and November in 2023.
Argentina will have to close at least 50% of the seats in the stadium they have chosen as the host venue for the match against Chile in September 2024. A huge disadvantage facing the historical rival in the qualifiers.
The decision is a result of “misbehavior by the team (delayed kick-off), discrimination (discriminatory behavior by fans) and pitch invasion” during matches against Ecuador and Uruguay.
Lionel Messi and Argentina receive major sanctions
In addition, the Argentine Football Association will have to pay a fine of $58,000 for the incidents in the two matches and another fine of $23,000 for “lack of order or discipline in or around the stadium” during the match at the Maracana Stadium. faced Brazil.
The match between Brazil and Argentina caused a worldwide scandal when the police clashed with several Argentina fans in the stadium. Messi approached the stands and then ordered his teammates to go to the dressing room, delaying the start of the match.
Notably, FIFA did not impose a stadium ban or reduced seating capacity for Brazil as the host nation for this match. Instead, they will only have to pay a $58,000 fine for “failure to maintain law and order in and around the stadium and for lack of order or discipline in the stadium.”
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