FIFA hits Argentina with heavy sanctions after World Cup final

FIFA has imposed sweeping sanctions on the Argentine national team and its federation following the incidents that marred the end of the World Cup final against Spain on July 19. The disciplinary committee handed midfielder Leandro Paredes a 10-match international ban and a $90,000 fine, with several other players and a coach also punished, as reported by ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, Buenos Aires Times, France 24 — English, Fox Sports, and The Guardian — World.

Paredes, who plays for Boca Juniors, was the hardest hit. According to multiple outlets, he grabbed Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat and wrestled Gavi to the ground at the final whistle as Spanish substitutes rushed onto the pitch to celebrate their 1-0 victory at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The Buenos Aires Times reported that FIFA charged Paredes with three counts of assault during the brawl.

Argentina defender Nahuel Molina received a seven-match ban and a $90,000 fine. Fox Sports reported that Molina appeared to punch a Spanish player in the stomach, while the Buenos Aires Times detailed that he faced two assault charges — one completed and one attempted — and one for unsporting behaviour. Thiago Almada was suspended for one match and fined $30,000, and Roberto Ayala, an assistant coach to Lionel Scaloni, was banned for three matches and fined $30,000, according to multiple sources.

Spain's Gavi was also given a one-match ban and a $30,000 fine for his role in the fracas. As reported by ABC Australia and Al Jazeera, Gavi's ban applies to the Nations League match against England at Wembley on September 26. The suspensions apply exclusively to matches involving national teams and do not affect club playing time, the Buenos Aires Times noted.

The AFA was fined over the display of a banner after the semi-final win over England, which read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" ("The Falklands are Argentine"), as well as for discriminatory chants by supporters. The total fine was reported differently: The Guardian — World and Fox Sports reported $321,000, with $100,000 suspended, while ABC Australia and Al Jazeera reported a fine of $110,000. The AFA was also ordered to spend $100,000 on antiracism projects, a measure reported by both ABC Australia and Al Jazeera.

Argentina were also ordered to play their next home match at 50% capacity, with a second such restriction suspended, according to ABC Australia, Fox Sports, and The Guardian — World. However, the Buenos Aires Times and France 24 — English reported the sanction as playing the next two home matches behind closed doors, with one suspended. The discrepancy was not clarified in the reports.

Paredes' ban, which is effectively a one-year expulsion as Argentina have 10 games scheduled through June 2027, potentially all friendlies, is among the most severe in World Cup history. ABC Australia and Fox Sports compared it to Luis Suarez's 2014 ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini, which included a nine-match suspension and a four-month ban from all football. ABC Australia also noted that Paredes' ban equals the 10-game suspension given to Josip Simunic in 2013 for leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant.

Spain won the final with a goal from Ferran Torres in the second period of extra time, after Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off, as reported by ABC Australia and Fox Sports. Argentina received $34 million in prize money from FIFA, according to both ABC Australia and Al Jazeera.

The banner and political fallout

The banner incident occurred after Argentina's 2-1 semi-final win over England on July 15. Several Argentina players held up the banner, which made a political statement about the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory that was the subject of a war in 1982. France 24 — English provided historical context, noting that the conflict lasted 74 days and resulted in the deaths of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, plus three islanders.

The Guardian — World reported that British politicians condemned the banner, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey calling for the players who held it up to be suspended. The newspaper also noted that UEFA had banned Spain players Rodri and Alvaro Morata for singing about Spain's claims to Gibraltar after Euro 2024, a parallel that was not directly commented on by FIFA.

Separately, the AFA announced on August 6 that it would commemorate July 15 as National Football Teams Day, according to The Guardian — World.

AFA to appeal

The Argentine Football Association said it would appeal the suspensions and fines. In a statement, the AFA said it would request from FIFA the grounds for the rulings in order to file appeals with the governing body's appeal committee, while retaining the option of appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as quoted by ABC Australia and The Guardian — World. The AFA's legal department said it would act "in a timely manner."

FIFA appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to examine the incidents after the final, as reported by Fox Sports, but no further details on that investigation were provided in the reports.