Argentina Players Investigated by FIFA for Spain Fight in World Cup Final Video

FIFA is investigating the post-match altercation between Argentina and Spain, when Argentina's Leandro Paredes struck Spain's Eric Garcia in the throat and threw Gavi to the ground and Argentina defender Nahuel Molina appeared to hit Rodri in the stomach.

Paredes was shown a red card following the incident.

FIFA said in a statement that its "disciplinary committee has appointed a Disciplinary and Ethics Prosecutor to investigate potential breaches of the (FIFA disciplinary code) with regard to the post-match incidents."

Argentina was pretty roundly blasted for both those incidents and several moments during the actual game itself, including the style of football they played:

It was a pretty frustrating day for Argentina.

Despite forcing the game into extra time with a resolute defensive performance, the Argentines were completely dominated throughout the entire match and didn't manage to record a shot until the second period of extra time.

Spain controlled possession, quickly won the ball up the pitch when they lost it and effectively took Lionel Messi out of the proceedings for the majority of play. A 1-0 final scoreline somewhat flattered Argentina—Spain were on a completely different level.

Argentina played a fiery brand of football throughout the tournament, frustrating opponents with physicality that often bordered on—or blatantly veered into—illegality.

But Spain's cool, pragmatic game control and composure seemed to make them mostly immune to Argentina's antagonism, and when Enzo Fernández was sent off for a second yellow card during second-half stoppage time, a Spanish victory seemed assured.

That the Argentines were unable to keep their fiery demeanor confined to the game itself is deserving of fairly severe punishments, though FIFA will have its own say on the matter. The process of determining those consequences, if any, is now underway.