FIFA imposes severe sanctions on Argentina squad after World Cup final chaos
Disciplinary rulings place a 10-match ban on Leandro Paredes and fine the national federation $110,000 over post-match incidents.
FIFA has handed down a series of disciplinary sanctions against the Argentina national team following a post-match altercation with Spain at the 2026 World Cup Final. The rulings target four players and one team official, with Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes receiving the harshest penalty for his conduct immediately after the final whistle.
Paredes was charged with assault after grabbing Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat and pushing Gavi to the ground. He received a 10-match suspension and a $90,000 fine. This ban is effectively a one-year expulsion from the national team, as the FIFA calendar includes 10 games through June 2027, although these are currently scheduled as friendlies.
Defender Nahuel Molina was banned for seven games and fined $90,000 for attempting to knock over Spain captain Rodri. Thiago Almada received a one-game suspension and a $30,000 fine, while coach Roberto Ayala was banned for three games and fined $30,000 after attempting to punch Dani Olmo. Spain’s Gavi also received a one-game ban, which will be served in a Nations League match against England at Wembley on September 26.
The Argentina football federation was fined $110,000 for a range of incidents during the tournament. These included players carrying a political banner regarding the Falkland Islands after the semifinal win against England, and discriminatory chants by fans. The federation was also ordered to spend $100,000 on antiracism projects and to play its next two home matches with attendance reduced to 50 per cent.
The sanctions follow a tournament in which Argentina secured $34 million in prize money before their defeat in the final. The on-field clashes were charged by FIFA as assault cases after Argentina lost a testy final to Spain, where they were mostly outplayed and barely created a scoring chance. Spain forward Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game in the second period of extra time, after Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off.
The Argentina federation can appeal the longer sanctions and fines to FIFA, and potentially to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The severity of Paredes’ ban ranks alongside the 2014 sanctions for Uruguay forward Luis Suarez, who was banned for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.
