Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes has been handed a 10-match international suspension following his involvement in violent scenes after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
Fifa’s disciplinary committee imposed the punishment after reviewing the confrontations that followed the final whistle at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The sanction represents a significant blow for Argentina, with Leandro Paredes set to miss 10 international fixtures if the punishment is upheld following the Argentinian Football Association’s planned appeal.
Team-mate Nahuel Molina has also received a seven-match suspension, while other players and members of Argentina’s staff have been punished for their roles in the post-match clashes.
The 10-match ban underlines Fifa’s determination to respond strongly to behaviour that overshadowed one of football’s biggest occasions.
Leandro Paredes Receives 10-Match Ban for World Cup Final Incidents
The disciplinary action against Leandro Paredes stems from the chaotic scenes that erupted after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 to win the 2026 World Cup.
Following the final whistle, several Argentina players and members of the backroom staff became involved in altercations with Spain’s players. Fifa subsequently appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor last month to assess the events and determine whether further action was required.
Paredes was found to have played a major role in the confrontation.
The Argentina midfielder grabbed Spain defender Eric Garcia by the throat and wrestled Gavi to the ground before appearing to strike the Spanish midfielder in the face.
Those incidents resulted in the severe 10-match ban, while Paredes was also fined $90,000, approximately £66,000.
The suspension will apply only to international fixtures, meaning Paredes will remain available for his club, Boca Juniors.
For Argentina, however, the absence of the experienced midfielder could be particularly damaging. Paredes has been an important figure for the national side during one of its most successful periods and his lengthy suspension could extend across a substantial part of Argentina’s upcoming international schedule.
Molina and Other Argentina Figures Also Punished
Fifa’s sanctions extended well beyond Leandro Paredes.
Argentina defender Nahuel Molina was given a seven-match international suspension and fined $90,000 for his involvement in the confrontations. Molina was among the players disciplined following the scenes that unfolded as Spain’s players celebrated their World Cup triumph.
Gavi, despite saying that he did not believe Paredes should be punished, was also sanctioned for his part in the confrontation. The Spain midfielder received a one-match suspension and a $30,000 fine.
Argentina’s Thiago Almada was handed the same punishment, consisting of a one-match ban and a $30,000 fine.
The disciplinary committee also took action against Argentina’s coaching staff.
Roberto Ayala, a member of the Argentina coaching team, received a three-match suspension and a $30,000 fine after striking Spain’s Dani Olmo in the face during the post-match clashes.
The series of punishments demonstrates the scale of the incidents and Fifa’s conclusion that responsibility extended across several individuals rather than resting solely with Paredes.
Still, the punishment handed to the Boca Juniors midfielder was the most severe individual sanction, with the 10-match ban reflecting the seriousness with which Fifa viewed his actions.
Argentina Hit With Fine and Stadium Capacity Punishment
Fifa also imposed major sanctions on the Argentinian Football Association.
The AFA has been fined $321,000, approximately £235,000, for breaches of the Fifa disciplinary code involving demonstrations of a non-sporting nature, team misconduct, and discriminatory chants and gestures by Argentina supporters.
Argentina have also been ordered to play their next two home matches with stadium capacity reduced to 50%. However, one of those two matches is suspended, meaning the full punishment will depend on Argentina’s conduct during the applicable probationary period.
Fifa further ordered that $100,000, approximately £73,000, of the fine must be invested in a plan designed to combat discrimination.
Another $100,000 of the financial penalty has been suspended, with a probationary period applying to that portion of the punishment.
The disciplinary case also examined an incident that occurred before the World Cup final.
After Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the semi-finals, several members of the Argentina squad displayed a banner declaring Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, described on the banner as the Malvinas.
The issue formed part of the wider disciplinary action against the AFA, with Fifa finding breaches relating to the use of a sporting event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature.
Why Fifa Came Down Hard on Leandro Paredes and Argentina
The punishment for Leandro Paredes represents one of the strongest responses to an individual player’s conduct following a major international match.
Fifa had particular concerns about the events occurring immediately after the World Cup final, an occasion watched by an estimated global audience of 1.5 billion people.
Argentina’s behaviour after the final created scenes that overshadowed Spain’s victory and tarnished the conclusion of the tournament.
The 10-match suspension handed to Paredes and the seven-match punishment for Molina make clear that Fifa did not view the altercations as ordinary moments of frustration following a defeat.
The governing body also penalised the national association for separate conduct during the tournament, ensuring that the sanctions covered both the World Cup final clashes and other disciplinary breaches.
The 10-match ban therefore forms part of a wider punishment directed at several levels of the Argentina setup.
Paredes and Molina will face substantial periods away from international football, while Argentina must deal with the financial penalties and the prospect of playing a future home match in front of a significantly reduced crowd.
Argentina Plan Appeal Over Fifa Sanctions
The AFA has confirmed that it intends to appeal the punishments imposed by Fifa.
Should that appeal prove unsuccessful, Argentina’s football governing body has indicated it will take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
That means the final outcome of the case could still change.
Until the appeal process is concluded, however, the sanctions handed down by Fifa represent a serious disciplinary setback for Argentina.
For Leandro Paredes, the consequences are particularly severe. The experienced midfielder now faces the possibility of missing 10 international matches, depriving Argentina of one of its established players during a significant stretch of its future schedule.
The punishment also sends a wider message about Fifa’s approach to violent or non-footballing conduct on the game’s biggest stage.
Argentina have established themselves as one of international football’s strongest teams in recent years, but the events surrounding the 2026 World Cup final have now resulted in a damaging disciplinary aftermath.
With the AFA preparing its appeal and a possible CAS case ahead, the story may not yet be over. But as things stand, Leandro Paredes has received the most significant individual punishment from the World Cup final clashes, with his 10-match ban serving as the clearest indication of how seriously Fifa viewed Argentina’s conduct.
