FIFA has imposed disciplinary sanctions on three Argentina players and a staff member following a violent confrontation with Spanish opponents after the World Cup final. Midfielder Leandro Paredes received a 10-match suspension for his role in the incident, which included grabbing Spain’s Eric García by the throat and pushing Gavi to the ground. This penalty, which matches the severity of historical FIFA sanctions like those issued to Luis Suárez in 2014 and Josip Šimunić in 2013, effectively sidelines Paredes from the national team for one year, covering all scheduled fixtures through June 2027.
Alongside Paredes, defender Nahuel Molina was issued a seven-game ban, while Thiago Almada received a one-match suspension. Financial penalties were also levied, with Paredes and Molina each fined $90,000, and Almada fined $30,000. Additionally, Argentina coach Roberto Ayala was handed a three-game ban and a $30,000 fine. Spain’s Gavi was also penalized with a one-game suspension, which he will serve during the Nations League match against England at Wembley on September 26.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) faces further repercussions, including a $110,000 fine for various incidents during the tournament, such as fans using discriminatory chants and players displaying a political banner regarding the Falkland Islands following their semifinal victory over England. The governing body has also mandated that the AFA invest $100,000 into anti-racism initiatives. Furthermore, FIFA has ordered that Argentina’s next home match be played with stadium capacity restricted to 50%, while a secondary stadium sanction and a $100,000 fine remain under a probationary period.
The AFA has confirmed its intention to challenge the rulings. In a formal statement, the federation noted that its legal department is requesting the grounds for the decisions from FIFA to facilitate an appeal to the governing body’s appeal committee, with the potential for further recourse through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The clashes occurred in East Rutherford, New Jersey, following a tense final where Spain secured a victory via a goal from Ferran Torres in the second period of extra time. The match had already been marked by controversy, including the sending off of Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández. FIFA’s disciplinary judges categorized the post-match incidents as assault cases, leading to the current wave of sanctions as the organization seeks to address the conduct of the team during the tournament, for which Argentina received $34 million in prize money. The report also notes that the ban for Paredes — who grabbed Spain’s Eric García by the throat and pushed Gavi to the ground — ranks with the FIFA sanctions for Uruguay forward Luis Suárez in 2014 as among the most severe in World Cup history. The report also notes that all of those games could be friendlies with no competitive games currently scheduled. The report also notes that šimunić used a megaphone to lead fans chanting a slogan used by the country’s pro-Nazi regime during World War II.
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