FIFA has confirmed that financial punishement will be imposed on a number of international football associations as a result of incidents during recent 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches ©Getty Images

FIFA has fined several international football associations as a result of incidents during recent 2018 World Cup qualifying matches.

After receiving match reports and, in some instances, further evidence generated by the governing body's anti-discrimination monitoring system, FIFA has started disciplinary proceedings against countries found guilty of "discriminatory and severe unsporting conduct by spectators as well as religious manifestations".

The nations involved are Albania, Kosovo, Croatia, Estonia, Ukraine, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Iran.

Albania was fined a total of CHF 50,000 ($51,300/£41,100/€46,200) for two cases, while Croatia was fined the same amount for a single incident.

Kosovo, only accepted as a FIFA member in May, were inflicted with penalties totalling CHF 30,000 ($30,700/£24,700/€27,700) while Brazil will have to pay CHF 25,000 ($25,600/£20,500/€23,100).

Paraguay and Estonia were both fined CHF 20,000 ($20,500/£16,400/€18,400) while Ukraine, Chile and Argentina will all pay CHF 15,000 ($15,300/£12,300/€13,800) for individual cases.

All of these proceedings relate to incidents involving discriminatory and unsporting conduct by fans, some of which included homophobic chanting.

As a result of several religious statements during a match Iran are one of the federations to be heavily fined ©Getty Images
As a result of several religious statements during a match Iran are one of the federations to be heavily fined ©Getty Images

In the case of Iran, they were fined CHF 45,000 ($46,100/£37,100/€41,500) for several religiously motivated displays during a match.

"The Disciplinary Committee took the decisions after analysing all of the specific circumstances of each case," said a FIFA statement. 

"In particular, the match officials’ reports, the position adopted by the association (if applicable) as well as the anti-discrimination match observer’s report and the relevant evidence available.

"Mitigating circumstances were also taken into account in some cases, including the member associations’ efforts to raise awareness among spectators and fight discrimination.

"The committee has absolute discretion regarding the evaluation of proof and concerned parties have been notified of their decision."

A wide-scale debate regarding the wearing of poppies on shirts for the World Cup qualifier between England and Scotland on Remembrance Day is currently ongoing.

FIFA strictly bans political, religious or commercial messages on match shirts and the governing body's secretary general Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura has warned of sanctions if the rules are not adhered to.

The football associations of England and Scotland, however, have claimed they will defy FIFA and allow their players to wear armbands with poppy emblems for the match.