FIFA to investigate brawl after Spain's World Cup final win over Argentina

The governing body confirmed that a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor has been appointed to look into the scenes that followed the final whistle, with the fallout from the game still continuing even after Spain lifted the trophy.

The final itself had already been tense for long stretches. Spain eventually got the job done thanks to Ferran Torres, whose extra-time goal settled the match and delivered the country's 2nd World Cup title. But by the time that goal went in, the game had already turned bad-tempered and scrappy, with frustration growing on both sides.

Argentina were also down to 10 men before the end. Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the 93rd minute after picking up a 2nd yellow card, leaving Lionel Scaloni's side to try to survive the rest of normal time and extra time with a man less. They nearly dragged the game to penalties, but Torres's finish finally broke them.

That was not the end of the drama, though. As soon as the final whistle went, players from both teams got involved in a confrontation on the pitch. According to the early reports, Leandro Paredes was at the centre of the first clash, with Eric Garcia and Gavi among the Spain players involved as the situation quickly got out of hand.

What started as a small argument did not stay that way. The confrontation spread, players pushed and shoved, and several members of both squads had to be physically separated. Scaloni was also seen stepping in as he tried to calm Argentina's players after the defeat. That scene now appears to be the focus of FIFA's investigation.

At this stage, there is no word yet on how long the process will take or whether any immediate punishments are being considered. FIFA has also not publicly outlined which individuals may be under the most scrutiny, but once an ethics and disciplinary prosecutor is involved, it is clear the matter is being taken seriously.

That means the final may still produce more consequences. Spain already have the trophy and the medals, but Argentina and Spain could yet face sanctions depending on what FIFA decides after reviewing footage and official reports. That could mean suspensions, fines or other disciplinary measures if the governing body believes the post-match scenes crossed the line.

For now, the story is simple enough. Spain won the World Cup, but the mess after the whistle has made sure the final is still not fully over.