FIFA’s disciplinary committee fined Ecuador and sanctioned Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay by partially closing their stadiums for their next matches, following incidents in 2026 World Cup qualifiers played since last September.

Félix Sánchez Bas, the coach of Ecuador, and the challenge of achieving the ‘impossible’ tournament for Tri: Copa América

Argentina will have to close at least 50% of its stadium seats in its next match and pay a fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($58,000), which it will invest in an anti-discrimination plan, and another 20,000 ($23,000). A fine of more than 50,000 francs for six months will also be conditional on adherence to the above plan.

FIFA imposed these sanctions due to the delay of the match against Ecuador in September and the discriminatory behavior of its fans, along with the pitch invasion against Uruguay and the lack of order in the stadium and/or the surrounding area against Brazil in November.

What does Félix Sánchez Bas think of Italy, Ecuador’s possible opponents at the FIFA date in March?

Chile will also have to close their pitch to 50% in their next game due to discriminatory behavior from their fans and delays against Colombia in September and against Peru in October; while paying a fine of 80,000 Swiss francs for investing in an anti-discrimination plan.

Failure to meet this plan within six months will mean another fine (50,000 Swiss francs) for Chile, who will have to pay 5,000 francs ($5,800) more for their team’s misconduct (5 individual sanctions) against Uruguay in September.

Will Ecuador play a friendly match against Italy in March? That’s what the European press says

The Colombian team will play its next match with a partially closed stadium, with at least 25% of the seats, and has been fined 30,000 Swiss francs ($35,000) to invest in an anti-discrimination plan for the delay in the clash against Chile. and the discriminatory attitude of his fans last September, along with a fine of more than 500 francs ($587) for throwing objects and also the postponement of the match against Uruguay in October.

The disciplinary commission imposed another fine of 50,000 Swiss francs on the Colombian team, with the condition that they comply with the mentioned plan within six months.

Uruguay will be the second team to have to close the ground in their next game (at least 25%) and pay a fine of 30,000 Swiss francs, aimed at the anti-discrimination plan, for the delay against Colombia and Brazil and the discriminatory behavior of their fans against Argentina. Failure to fulfill the plan within six months would lead to a new fine of an additional 50,000 francs.

Other FIFA sanctions concern Brazil, with fines of 5,000 Swiss francs for delay and pitch invasion in a match against Bolivia in September; 15,000 for team misconduct (5 individual sanctions) against Uruguay in October and 50,000 for not guaranteeing order in the stadium and surroundings against Argentina in November.

Bolivia was also fined 5,000 Swiss francs for team misconduct (5 individual sanctions) in a match against Paraguay in October; Ecuador with 5,000 to invade Uruguay in September; Paraguay with 4,000 ($4,600) for throwing items against Colombia in November and Peru with 7,500 ($8,800) for the field invasion of Argentina in October and 10,00 for delay against Bolivia in November.

On the player side, the Disciplinary Commission fined Chile’s Víctor Mémdez and Paraguay’s Roberto Rojas two games, both of whom were sent off in a match between their national teams in November; Bolivian Roberto Carlos Fernández, sent off against Argentina in September, and Brazilian Joelinton Cássio, who also saw red against the Albiceleste last November. (D)