FIFA announced Friday that it has suspended three Argentina players a combined 18 games for actions taken following the World Cup final. Midfielder Leandro Paredes received the most severe penalty, a 10-match suspension, for striking Spain opponents after the match concluded.
Paredes' ban, which includes grabbing Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat and pushing Gavi, is among the most severe sanctions in World Cup history, equaling similar penalties for past misconduct. The suspension effectively removes Paredes from Argentina's national team for approximately one year, as the team's schedule includes 10 games through June 2027, many of which are expected to be friendlies.
Defender Nahuel Molina was handed a seven-game ban, while Thiago Almada received a one-game suspension. FIFA also imposed fines of $90,000 on Paredes and Molina, and $30,000 for Almada. Spain's Gavi also received a one-game ban for his part in the incident, scheduled for a Nations League match against England on September 26.
Beyond player suspensions, Argentina's Football Association (AFA) was fined $110,000 for various incidents during the tournament. These include players carrying a political banner about the Falkland Islands after a semifinal win and discriminatory chants by fans. The AFA was also ordered by FIFA to spend $100,000 on anti-racism initiatives. Argentina received $34 million in World Cup prize money.
An Argentina coach, Roberto Ayala, received a three-game ban and a $30,000 fine. FIFA also ordered Argentina to play its next home game in a stadium limited to 50% capacity, with a second stadium sanction and a $100,000 fine deferred under probationary periods.
The AFA stated that its legal department will request FIFA's grounds for these rulings to file appeals with the governing body's appeal committee, while reserving the option to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In past World Cup incidents, Uruguay forward Luis Suarez received a four-month ban from all soccer activities and eight competition games for biting an opponent in 2014. Croatia's Josip Simunic received a 10-game ban in 2013 for using a megaphone to lead fans in a World War II-era slogan.