2026 North American World Cup final saw a brawl involving Argentine players, leading to sanctions from FIFA. Midfielder Leandro Paredes received a significant penalty of a 10-match suspension.
According to a report by Yonhap News on August 22, citing the Associated Press, FIFA announced on August 21 that Paredes would be suspended for 10 matches, while Nahuel Molina received a 7-match suspension and Thiago Almada was given a 1-match ban. Paredes and Molina were also fined $90,000 each (approximately 125 million won), while Almada was fined $30,000.
The players engaged in violent confrontations with Spanish players immediately after losing the final. Paredes was specifically noted for his aggressive actions, including grabbing the neck of Spanish defender Eric Garcia and pushing Gavi to the ground.
Paredes' 10-match suspension is one of the heaviest penalties issued in World Cup history.
The Associated Press referenced past similar severe sanctions, including the case of Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, who received an 8-match suspension and a 4-month ban from all football activities for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup.
In 2013, Croatia's Josip Šimunić was also handed a 10-match suspension for shouting Nazi slogans to the crowd after a World Cup qualifying playoff victory.
As a result of this suspension, Paredes will effectively be unable to participate in Argentina's national team matches for nearly a year. He will miss all scheduled international matches until June of next year, during which Argentina's games will all be friendlies.
Argentina's coach Roberto Ayala received a 3-match suspension and a $30,000 fine. In Spain, Gavi was handed a 1-match suspension, preventing him from participating in next month's UEFA Nations League match against England.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) also faced penalties. FIFA fined the AFA $110,000 due to players displaying political banners related to the Falklands War after their semifinal victory, as well as discriminatory chants from fans. Additionally, the AFA was required to contribute $100,000 to FIFA's anti-racism initiatives.
Furthermore, the AFA was ordered to limit attendance at their next home match to 50% of the venue's capacity.
The AFA announced it would appeal FIFA's decision and is considering filing a case with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
* This article has been translated by AI.
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