FIFA has taken disciplinary action against three players from Argentina, with midfielder Leandro Paredes receiving a 10-match suspension for his actions during the World Cup final against Spain. Paredes was penalized for grabbing Eric Garcia by the throat and pushing Gavi to the ground, resulting in one of the most severe sanctions in World Cup history, comparable to the punishment handed to Luis Suarez of Uruguay in 2014.
In addition to Paredes, Argentina defender Nahuel Molina was suspended for seven matches, while Thiago Almada received a one-game ban. Fines of $90,000 were imposed on Paredes and Molina, and $30,000 on Almada. The ban effectively sidelines Paredes from the Argentine national team for a year, as FIFA’s national team schedule includes 10 games up to June 2027, all of which may be friendlies.
Spain’s Gavi also faced a one-game suspension for the upcoming Nations League match against England on September 26. Argentina’s coach, Roberto Ayala, was handed a three-game ban and fined $30,000. The Argentine Football Association was fined $110,000 for various incidents during the World Cup, including players displaying a political banner after the semifinal win against England and discriminatory chants by fans. FIFA mandated the AFA to allocate $100,000 to anti-racism initiatives. Argentina earned $34 million in prize money from the World Cup.
The AFA has the option to appeal the sanctions and fines to FIFA and potentially to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In a statement, the federation indicated its intention to review FIFA’s rulings and pursue appeals. Notably, Paredes’ 10-game ban is on par with the punishment meted out to Josip Simunic of Croatia in 2013 for incidents during a World Cup qualifying playoff.
The clashes during the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, were categorized by FIFA as assault cases and followed Argentina’s defeat to Spain. Spain’s Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in extra time, with Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez receiving a red card during the match. As part of the disciplinary measures, FIFA mandated that Argentina’s next home game be played at a stadium operating at 50% capacity, with further sanctions and fines deferred pending probationary periods.
