Paredes banned 10 games after World Cup final brawl
FIFA has banned Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes for 10 games and sanctioned teammates and staff after a post-match brawl following the World Cup final loss to Spain. Nahuel Molina received seven games, Thiago Almada one, and coach Roberto Ayala three, as Argentina also face heavy fines and a stadium capacity cut.
Key Takeaways
- Paredes received a 10-match ban and a $90,000 fine for grabbing Eric García by the throat and pushing Gavi.
- Molina (seven games), Almada (one), and coach Ayala (three) were also suspended; Spain's Gavi got one game.
- The Argentine Football Association was fined $110,000 and ordered to fund $100,000 in anti-racism projects.
- Argentina must play its next home game at no more than 50% stadium capacity.
- The AFA said it plans to appeal the longer sanctions and fines.
What happened after the World Cup final?
The clashes erupted at the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, after Argentina lost to Spain. FIFA charged the incidents as assault cases. Spain forward Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the second period of extra time, after Enzo Fernández was sent off for Argentina.
According to ESPN, Paredes grabbed Spain's Eric García by the throat and pushed Gavi to the ground. The 10-game ban ranks among the most severe World Cup-related sanctions in FIFA history, alongside Luis Suárez's 2014 punishment.
How many games will Argentina miss?
Across players and staff, Argentina's bans total 21 games: Paredes 10, Molina seven, Almada one, and Ayala three. FIFA also fined Paredes and Molina $90,000 each and Almada $30,000. Ayala was fined $30,000.
ESPN reported Paredes' ban is effectively a one-year expulsion from the national team, covering 10 scheduled games through June 2027. Many of those fixtures could be friendlies, with no competitive matches currently scheduled.
Gavi's one-game ban applies to Spain's Nations League match against England at Wembley on Sept. 26.
Why was Argentina fined beyond the brawl?
FIFA also punished the Argentine Football Association for other World Cup incidents, including players carrying a political banner about the Falkland Islands after the semifinal win against England, and discriminatory chants by fans. The AFA was fined $110,000 and ordered to spend $100,000 on anti-racism projects.
Disciplinary judges ordered Argentina to play its next home game in a stadium limited to 50% of capacity. FIFA deferred a second stadium sanction and a $100,000 fine for probationary periods.
The AFA said its legal department will request the grounds for the rulings and file appeals with FIFA's appeal committee, keeping the Court of Arbitration for Sport as a final option. For more viral sports fallout coverage, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.