FIFA says it has opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina for “offensive behaviour” during the team’s World Cup final triumph in Qatar last month.
Argentina beat 2018 champions France on penalties to lift the trophy for the third time.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez leered at his tournament goalkeeper trophy after the match, before being filmed in the dressing room taunting French star Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé won the FIFA Golden Boot trophy after scoring the most goals in the tournament.
World soccer’s governing body said Argentina had potentially breached rules on “offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play” and “player and official misconduct.”
FIFA is also investigating the Argentine Football Federation for breaching media and marketing regulations.
Martínez has also been criticized by pundits and social media for mocking Mbappé during Argentina’s victory parade in Buenos Aires, where he held up a doll with the French player’s face attached to it.
The Croatian team is also being investigated for possible violations of the “discrimination” and “order and security in matches” rules.
The players seemed to be singing a song with fascist overtones following their third-place playoff win over Morocco.
Defender Dejan Lovren defended himself and his teammates, recently telling the AFP news agency that it was “a patriotic song that relates to my country, which means I love my country.”
Meanwhile, FIFA said it had fined Mexico 100,000 Swiss francs ($107,840) for chants by fans during the team’s match against Poland and Saudi Arabia during the group stage.
The team will also be forced to play a FIFA competition match behind closed doors.
