FIFA has imposed sanctions on three Argentina players for their misconduct after the World Cup final, with midfielder Leandro Paredes receiving a 10-match suspension for his actions against Spain players. Paredes, who was involved in altercations with Eric Garcia and Gavi, faces one of the harshest penalties in World Cup history, comparable to Uruguay’s Luis Suarez in 2014.
In addition to Paredes’ ban, defender Nahuel Molina was handed a seven-game suspension, and Thiago Almada received a one-game ban. Paredes and Molina were fined $90,000 each, while Almada was fined $30,000. Paredes’ suspension effectively sidelines him from the Argentina team for a year due to the national team’s schedule, which includes 10 games until June 2027, potentially all being friendly matches.
Spain’s Gavi was also banned for one game, which will see him miss a Nations League match against England at Wembley on Sept. 26. Furthermore, Argentina coach Roberto Ayala received a three-game ban and a $30,000 fine for his involvement in the incidents.
The Argentine Football Association faced fines totaling $110,000 for various infractions during the World Cup, such as players displaying a political banner after the semifinal win against England and discriminatory chants by fans. FIFA also mandated the AFA to invest $100,000 in anti-racism initiatives. Argentina received $34 million in prize money from the World Cup.
The AFA has the option to appeal the sanctions and fines first to FIFA and potentially to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The federation expressed its intent to pursue appeals in due course.
Comparisons were drawn to past cases, like Suarez’s ban in 2014 for biting and Simunic’s suspension in 2013 for inappropriate behavior. The clashes during the World Cup final stemmed from Argentina’s defeat to Spain and subsequent on-field incidents, leading to a series of disciplinary actions by FIFA against the Argentine team.