FIFA has imposed bans on three Argentina players, with midfielder Leandro Paredes receiving a 10-match suspension for physical altercations with Spain opponents following the World Cup final. Paredes’ actions, which included grabbing Eric Garcia by the throat and pushing Gavi to the ground, have resulted in one of the most severe sanctions in World Cup history, comparable to the punishment given to Uruguay’s Luis Suarez in 2014.
In addition to Paredes, Argentina defender Nahuel Molina has been 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. Paredes’ ban effectively means a one-year exclusion from the Argentina team, as FIFA’s national team schedule includes 10 games up to June 2027, though these may only include friendly matches.
Spain’s Gavi has also been banned for one game, specifically the Nations League match against England on September 26 at Wembley. Furthermore, Argentina coach Roberto Ayala has been handed a three-game ban and a $30,000 fine.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has been fined $110,000 for various incidents during the World Cup, such as players displaying a political banner after the semifinal win against England and discriminatory chants by fans. FIFA has also mandated that AFA allocate $100,000 to anti-racism initiatives. Argentina received $34 million in prize money from the World Cup.
AFA has the option to appeal the sanctions and fines to FIFA and potentially to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The federation stated that they would request the grounds for reviewable rulings from FIFA to file appeals with the governing body’s appeal committee.
In a similar vein, in 2014, Luis Suarez was suspended from all soccer activities for four months, including for his club Barcelona, for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup match. Paredes’ 10-game ban is equivalent to Josip Simunic’s punishment in 2013 for Croatia, following a World Cup qualifying playoff, due to his use of a pro-Nazi slogan.
The altercations during the recent World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, were considered assault cases by FIFA, occurring after Argentina’s loss to Spain. The game ended with a single goal from Spain’s Ferran Torres in extra time, after Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez was red-carded.
Consequently, FIFA has mandated Argentina to play its next home game in a stadium at half-capacity, with the suspension of a second stadium sanction and a $100,000 penalty deferred for probationary periods.
