Key Points:
FIFA bans three Argentina players and one Spanish Player after a brawl happened during Post World Cup Final Match back in July.
Argentina Player Leandro Paredes shoved Gavi on the ground and grabbed Eric Garcia's throat.
Many such bans were given by FIFA, AFA will challenge FIFA for the sanctions.
SINCE THE END OF FIFA WORLD CUP 2026, FIFA has been closely watching the issue that occurred after the World Cup final back in July. During the post-match session, Argentina’s Leandro Paredes was seen shoving Spain’s Gavi on the ground and grabbing Eric Garcia by the throat. The Disciplinary committee was quick on the response and handed them with a punishment of international match suspension.
Paredes received a ten–match ban alongside his teammates Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada and also Spain’s Gavi who were sanctioned as well.
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During the World Cup final, Argentina were outplayed by Spain, it was at a moment when Argentina’s Enzo Fernandes was sent off after his challenge on Spain defender Cubarsi that made things worse for the team. Eventually, Spain’s spare-man Ferran Torres struck the only goal to win for the team in the extra-time. The chaos followed after the final whistle, when Paredes was seen shoving Gavi on the ground and grabbing Eric Garcia’s throat, FIFA disciplinary committee didn’t under-looked in this matter and handed the players involved a punishment in the form of match bans.
Paredes was imposed with a ten-match ban, Molina with a seven-match ban, Almada and Gavi were given just a single-match ban. FIFA also fined Paredes and Molina $90,000 each, Almada of $30,000. A ten-match ban for Paredes will force him to be sidelined from the international games for a year. Since, there is no current schedule set for any competitive fixtures all of his ten matches could be friendlies.
Football has witnessed such bans earlier as well. In 2014, Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez faced a ban from four-months, that included every football match after he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during a group-stage match in World Cup, Brazil. Similar to Paredes’s ban, Croatia’s Josip Simunic in 2013, was given a ten-match ban after the fans started chanting pro-Nazi slogans when he grabbed a megaphone. It was during a World Cup qualifying playoff match.
Such incidents are common in World Cup finals, but this matter went on to the FIFA disciplinary panel to believe that the brawl post-match was enough to draw assault charges. The Argentine Football Association has already made it clear that it does not intend to accept the sanctions. They will challenge the bans and fines given to the players, by first taking the matter to FIFA’s own appeal committee before stretching it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. AFA released a statement in which they clearly state that the legal department will ask FIFA for an explanation for the rulings. But before they can even file any formal appeal, FIFA needs to come up with the details to justify the sanctions. The step can take time because of the complexity of the case.
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