Argentina hit by FIFA sanctions after heated World Cup final Against Spain
By Kwame Bediako FIFA has handed out heavy suspensions to two Argentina players for their part in the post-match fracas after the 2026 World Cup final, which Spain won 1-0 after extra time. Midfielder Leandro Paredes has been banned for 10 international matches, while right-back Nahuel Molina received a seven-match suspension. What the players did […]
FIFA has imposed significant suspensions on Argentine players following a heated post-match altercation during the 2026 World Cup final against Spain. Midfielder Leandro Paredes faces a ban of 10 international matches, while right-back Nahuel Molina will be suspended for seven games. The incidents took place immediately after the final whistle, with both players engaging in physical altercations with Spanish teammates, including Gavi, Eric García, Rodri, and others.
Additionally, both players were fined $90,000 each, while fellow Argentinian Thiago Almada received a one-match ban and a $30,000 fine. The Argentina Football Association (AFA) also received punishment, being forced to play its next two home matches at 50% stadium capacity and fined a total of $321,000. This fine is partly due to a politically charged banner displayed after Argentina's 2-1 semi-final win over England, which read "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" ("The Falklands are Argentine").
The 10-game ban for Paredes effectively rules him out of Argentina's international fixtures for approximately a year, given the national-team schedule through mid-2027. FIFA's disciplinary response to this post-match misconduct at a World Cup final is among its most severe.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
