FIFA has handed down suspensions to three Argentina players following an altercation with Spain opponents after the World Cup final. Midfielder Leandro Paredes received a 10-match ban for his actions, which included grabbing Eric Garcia and pushing Gavi to the ground. This punishment is among the most severe in World Cup history, comparable to the sanctions imposed on Luis Suarez in 2014.
In addition to Paredes, defender Nahuel Molina was suspended for seven games, while Thiago Almada received a one-game ban. FIFA also fined Paredes and Molina $90,000 each and Almada $30,000. Paredes’ suspension effectively sidelines him from the Argentina team for a year, as the FIFA national team schedule includes 10 games up to June 2027, although these may be friendlies.
Spain’s Gavi was also banned for a single game, which will see him miss a Nations League match against England at Wembley on Sept. 26. Furthermore, Argentina coach Roberto Ayala was given a three-game ban and a $30,000 fine. The Argentine Football Association faced a $110,000 fine for various incidents during the World Cup, including players displaying a political banner and discriminatory chants by fans. FIFA mandated the AFA to allocate $100,000 towards anti-racism initiatives. Argentina received $34 million in prize money from the World Cup.
The AFA has the option to appeal the sanctions to FIFA and potentially to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The federation expressed its intention to seek grounds for reviewable rulings from FIFA before appealing. Notably, Paredes’ 10-game ban parallels the punishment handed to Croatia’s Josip Simunic in 2013 for misconduct during a World Cup qualifying playoff.
The altercations occurred during the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Spain defeated Argentina, with Ferran Torres scoring the only goal in extra time. Following the incidents, FIFA directed Argentina to host their next home game with attendance limited to 50% capacity, with deferred sanctions and a probationary period in place.