The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has handed down sanctions following the turbulent conclusion of the World Cup final, issuing a ten-match suspension and a $90,000 fine to Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes, according to announcements by major sports outlets.
Leandro Paredes Handed Ten-Match Ban for World Cup Final Altercation
The disciplinary action stems from incidents following the July 19 World Cup final match in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Argentina faced Spain, according to reports by n-tv.de and FAZ. According to records of the ruling, Paredes grabbed Spain player Gavi by the jersey, struck him in the face with his hand, and pushed him to the ground during post-match scuffles. Prior to that incident, Paredes had also pushed Eric Garcia.
In addition to his ten-match ban, Paredes must pay a fine of $90,000, roughly equivalent to 77,000 euros, as reported by FAZ. The governing body confirmed that the suspension applies exclusively to matches played with the national team.
Multiple Players and Staff Disciplined by FIFA Disciplinary Committee
Alongside Paredes, several other individuals involved in the post-match chaos received formal sanctions from the disciplinary and ethics investigator’s report. Argentina defender Nahuel Molina received a seven-match suspension and a $90,000 fine after striking Spain captain Rodri with a fist against the chest, according to coverage by FAZ and n-tv.de.
Spain’s Gavi and Argentina’s Thiago Almada were each handed a one-match suspension alongside a $30,000 fine, corresponding to about 25,700 euros. Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala, a former national team player, received a three-match ban and a $30,000 fine after confronting Spain midfielder Dani Olmo, an incident that prompted widespread backlash when Olmo subsequently refused Ayala’s apology.
Argentine Football Association Faces Fines and Stadium Capacity Restrictions
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was penalized with financial fines totaling $321,000, equivalent to roughly 275,000 euros, due to multiple regulatory breaches across the tournament. According to n-tv.de, the governing body cited team misconduct, discrimination, racist insults, the use of a sporting event for non-sporting demonstrations, and violations of match safety and order.
Part of the association penalty includes an order to invest $100,000 into a dedicated anti-discrimination plan. Furthermore, Argentina must operate its next two home matches with only 50 percent of maximum stadium capacity, though the enforcement of a portion of this sanction is suspended under a probationary period.
The disciplinary proceedings also evaluated political messaging displayed by Argentine players during the tournament. Following their 2-1 semifinal victory against England, players displayed a pitchside banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falkland Islands are Argentine”), referencing the 1982 armed conflict in the South Atlantic between Great Britain and Argentina. While investigated under regulations regarding non-sporting demonstrations, this specific action resulted in inclusion within the broader financial penalties assessed to the federation.
Next Steps and Appeal Window
According to the official statements, all penalized parties have a window of ten days to request a detailed written motivation for the decisions. If requested and granted, those explanations will be made publicly available online. The sanctioned individuals and the federation retain the right to appeal the rulings before the relevant sports tribunals.
Related reading
