FIFA handed down penalties to three Argentine players, with midfielder Leandro Paredes receiving a 10-match suspension for aggressive actions against Spanish opponents following the World Cup final. Paredes, who forcefully grabbed Eric Garcia and pushed Gavi to the ground, faces one of the harshest punishments in World Cup history, akin to Luis Suarez’s ban in 2014.
Additionally, Argentina defender Nahuel Molina was banned for seven games, while Thiago Almada received a one-game suspension. Paredes and Molina were fined $90,000 each, with Almada facing a $30,000 penalty. The 10-match ban effectively sidelines Paredes from the Argentina team for a year, considering the national team’s schedule comprising 10 games until June 2027, which may include friendly matches.
Spain’s Gavi was also suspended for one game, a Nations League fixture against England on September 26. Argentine coach Roberto Ayala received a three-game ban and a $30,000 fine. Moreover, the Argentine Football Association was fined $110,000 for various incidents during the World Cup, such as displaying a political banner about the Falkland Islands and discriminatory chants by fans. FIFA mandated the AFA to allocate $100,000 towards anti-racism initiatives, while Argentina received $34 million in World Cup prize money.
The AFA has the option to appeal the sanctions and fines to FIFA, and potentially escalate the appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Notably, in 2014, Luis Suarez was banned for four months from all soccer activities and eight competitive matches for Uruguay due to an infamous biting incident during the World Cup. Paredes’ 10-game suspension matches the severity of Josip Simunic’s ban in 2013 for inappropriate behavior during a World Cup qualifying playoff.
The altercations during the World Cup final, labeled as assault cases by FIFA, occurred after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in a heated match. Spain’s Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in extra time, with Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez receiving a red card. As part of the disciplinary measures, FIFA directed Argentina to host their next home game in a stadium operating at 50% capacity, with additional sanctions and fines on hold pending a probationary period.