FIFA's Disciplinary Committee has imposed sanctions on the Argentine Football Association (AFA), three members of the national team squad and one of its coaches following incidents that occurred after Argentina's defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
Midfielder Leandro Paredes and two other Argentina players have received bans and fines for their involvement in clashes with Spain players after the final whistle, FIFA confirmed on Friday.
Argentina have also been ordered to play their next two home matches with a 50 percent cap on spectator attendance, although one match of the sanction has been suspended.
The AFA, which has been fined a total of US$321,000, said it would appeal the ruling.
The AFA "will ask FIFA for the grounds for the decisions that are subject to review, in order to lodge appeals with the Appeals Committee of world football's governing body," it said in a statement.
Players hit
Boca Juniors midfielder Paredes received the harshest sanction. He has been banned for 10 international matches and fined US$90,000.
Paredes grabbed Spain defender Eric García by the throat and wrestled Gavi (Pablo Martín Páez Gavira) to the ground while holding his substitute's bib, escalating the clash between players from both sides after Spain's 1-0 victory at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
FIFA found Paredes guilty of three counts of assault during the brawl.
His Argentina teammate Nahuel Molina received a seven-match ban and was also fined US$90,000 after being investigated for two charges relating to assault – one completed and one attempted – and another for unsporting behaviour.
Lionel Scaloni's assistant coach, Roberto Ayala, received a three-match ban and was fined US$30,000 for his involvement in the incidents.
Argentina midfielder Thiago Almada and Spain midfielder Gavi were each suspended for one match and fined US$30,000.
The suspensions apply exclusively to international matches and will therefore have no impact on the players' availability for their club sides.
The decision is a particularly heavy blow for Paredes, whose international career is nearing its final stages. His 10-match ban means he will likely be unavailable for more than a year.
AFA fine, sanctions
The AFA has been fined US$321,000 for breaches of FIFA's disciplinary code relating to using a sports event for making demonstrations of a non-sporting nature, team misconduct, and discriminatory chants and gestures by its supporters.
The case took into account the display of political messages. After Argentina beat England 2-1 in a tense World Cup semi-final, several players held up a banner reading: "The Malvinas are Argentine."
The message referred to Argentina's longstanding sovereignty claim over the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands.
Argentine forces invaded the British overseas territory in the southwest Atlantic Ocean in 1982, which resulted in then-UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher sending a naval task force to reclaim them. The resulting conflict, which lasted for 74 days from April to June 1982, led to the deaths of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen. Three people from the islands also died.
FIFA ruled that, due to breaches relating to discrimination, Argentina must play its next two home matches with spectator attendance capped at 50 percent of the authorised capacity, with the second match suspended.
Argentina must therefore play at least its next home match before no more than half of the stadium's authorised capacity. The second match will only be enforced if there are further disciplinary breaches during the suspension period.
– TIMES/NA/AFP
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