FIFA bans Paredes 10 games for World Cup final brawl

FIFA's Disciplinary Committee imposed sweeping sanctions on Friday against Argentina players and staff for the violent scenes that followed the 2026 World Cup final, handing midfielder Leandro Paredes a 10-match international suspension — one of the harshest punishments in World Cup history.

The Sanctions

Paredes, who grabbed Spain's Eric García by the throat and threw Gavi to the ground in the moments after Argentina's 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was also fined $90,000. Defender Nahuel Molina received a seven-game ban and the same fine for striking Spain captain Rodri in the stomach. Thiago Almada was given a one-match suspension and fined $30,000, while assistant coach Roberto Ayala — who attempted to punch Spain's Dani Olmo — received a three-game ban and $30,000 fine.apnews+2

Spain's Gavi was the only player from the winning side to be punished, receiving a one-match ban and $30,000 fine for unsporting behavior. He will miss Spain's Nations League match against England at Wembley on September 26.apnews

The 10-game suspension effectively bars Paredes from the Argentina squad for a year, as the FIFA calendar for national team fixtures includes just 10 matches through June 2027 — all of which could be friendlies with no competitive games currently scheduled. The ban ranks alongside FIFA's punishment of Uruguay's Luis Suárez in 2014 and Croatia's Josip Šimunić in 2013 as among the most severe in World Cup history.audacy+1

Federation Also Punished

The Argentine Football Association was fined $321,000 and ordered to play its next home match at 50% stadium capacity, with a second capacity restriction suspended for a probationary period. The fine covers multiple infractions, including players displaying a "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" banner after the semifinal victory over England, discriminatory chants by supporters, and broader match-day disorder. FIFA also mandated that $100,000 of the fine be directed toward anti-discrimination initiatives.espn+2

What Comes Next

The AFA announced it would appeal the sanctions. "The AFA legal department will, in a timely manner, request from FIFA the grounds for the reviewable rulings in order to file appeals with the governing body's appeal committee, while retaining the future option of appealing to the CAS as a final recourse," the federation said in a statement.apnews

Gavi, for his part, had publicly urged FIFA not to suspend Paredes. "I don't think he should be suspended," the Barcelona midfielder told El Partidazo de COPE earlier this month. "The most logical thing would have been to send him off during the match, and that's it".sports.yahoo