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FIFA has officially imposed severe disciplinary sanctions on Argentina players and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) following a volatile post-match brawl at the conclusion of the World Cup final against Spain, according to reports from multiple outlets including Medcom.id, Kompas.com, and CNN Indonesia. The penalties include a cumulative total of 21 international match bans distributed among key squad members, alongside heavy financial fines and stadium capacity restrictions.
Disciplinary Penalties and Player Suspensions
Midfielder Leandro Paredes received the harshest punishment from the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which began investigating the incident in July following the 1-0 extra-time final on July 20. According to Medcom.id and CNN Indonesia, Paredes was slapped with a 10-match international suspension and a fine for violent conduct, which included grabbing the neck of Spain’s Eric Garcia and bringing down Pablo Gavi. Defender Nahuel Molina was handed a seven-match ban and a fine after striking Spain midfielder Rodri in the stomach. Additional suspensions issued by the committee include a three-match ban for Roberto Ayala and a one-match ban for Thiago Almada, alongside respective fines. From the Spanish side, Gavi received a one-match ban and a fine for unsportsmanlike conduct. Governing body rulings dictate that these suspensions apply exclusively to official international matches and do not restrict players from competing for their respective club teams.
Sanctions Against the Argentine Football Association
Beyond individual player discipline, the AFA faces substantial organizational penalties. Reports from Medcom.id note that the governing body issued a total fine against the federation. Furthermore, the AFA must leave 50 percent of its stadium capacity empty during its next home fixture. These measures stem from supporter misconduct, including discriminatory and racist behavior, as well as the display of a political banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” following the semifinal fixture against England. Out of the total financial penalty levied against the federation, a portion is earmarked specifically to fund anti-discrimination campaign programs.
Applets and Legal Recourse
Both the federation and the sanctioned players retain the right to contest the disciplinary rulings. According to Kompas.id and Medcom.id, the AFA and the penalized athletes have a 10-day window from the announcement of the decision to officially file an appeal with FIFA.
Summary of FIFA Sanctions
The disciplinary measures announced by regulatory committees break down across key individuals and the national governing body:
- Leandro Paredes (Argentina): 10-match suspension and fine.
- Nahuel Molina (Argentina): 7-match suspension and fine.
- Roberto Ayala (Argentina): 3-match suspension and fine.
- Thiago Almada (Argentina): 1-match suspension and fine.
- Pablo Gavi (Spain): 1-match suspension and fine.
- Argentine Football Association (AFA): Fine (with funds allocated for anti-discrimination campaigns) and a 50 percent stadium capacity reduction for the next home match.
Pending any successful appeals filed within the designated 10-day review window, the sanctions will govern player availability for upcoming international fixtures.
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